To March
by Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)
Dear March, come in!
How glad I am!
I looked for you before.
Put down your hat —
You must have walked —
How out of breath you are!
Dear March, how are you?
And the rest?
Did you leave Nature well?
Oh, March, come right upstairs with me,
I have so much to tell!
I got your letter, and the birds’;
The maples never knew
That you were coming, — I declare,
How red their faces grew!
But, March, forgive me —
And all those hills
You left for me to hue;
There was no purple suitable,
You took it all with you.
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Wednesday 1st March 2023
Uhlsport United Counties League Division 1
Saffron Dynamo 0
Blackstones 2
Luke Hunnings 24, Ryan Lennon 85 (pen), Jack Wilson s/o 28,
Referee: Stefan Calarasu. Attendance: 52
Admission: OMGDS £3.00 (£5) Programme: £1.00
On a cold , bleak evening at King Park in Leicestershire, Blackstones, from Stamford in Lincolnshire, comfortably took the spoils, despite the 28th minute dismissal of one of their forwards. At that point, they were already a goal to the good and despite continual pressure from the hosts, they never really looked like scoring and the visitors stamped their superiority with a penalty scored five minutes from the end of the match. With John Main.
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Thursday 2nd March 2023
Spartan South Midlands League
Gladwish Trophy Quarter Final
Stotfold 1
Mason Spence 55 (pen), penalty saved 90+1,
Leighton Town 1
Daniel Griffiths 74
Referee:- Sam Laidler. Attendance: 161
Admission: OMGDS £3.50 (£7). Programme: £1.50
Stotfold won 5-4 on penalties
These two heavyweights of the Spartan South Midlands League are likely to fight it out for the championship, with Leighton Town the slight favourites. Tonight’s finely balanced encounter saw a goal to each side in the second half and a penalty saved by the visiting custodian in the 91st minute. In the penalty shoot out, each side missed one of their first five penalties, but then the visitors also missed the sixth and exited the competition on a brutally cold evening in Bedfordshire.
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Saturday 4th March 2023
Wessex League Premier Division
Cowes Sports 1
Mark Taylor 14,
Bemerton Heath Harlequins 2
Oscar Johnston 48, Greg Peel 55,
Referee: Neil Hussey. Attendance: 109
Admission: OMGDS £5.00 (£8). Programme: £1.50
John Main and I had long discussed visiting The Isle of Wight for a match and today, we met up at Blisworth for the 130 mile trip to Southampton, to catch a ferry across to West Cowes.
Twenty minutes on the ferry and a steep-ish fifteen minute walk up to Westwood Park, the neat and well-kept home of Cowes Sports. There is a substantial stand (maybe 200 seats) alomg one side with a raised, covered terrace adjacent to it and a good sized bar and food outlet, on the opposite side of the stand. Neither of these sides are achieving much this season and the first half was comfortable for the hosts, who led at the interval. Whatever was imparted to the visitors in their half time team talk produced the desired effect. They were level within three minutes of the restart and ahead, two minutes later, courtesy of a rather dubious penalty decision. Thereafter, they fended off the hosts and garnered the victory and the points.
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John Main, outside the main entrance to the ground.
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Main stand
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Tuesday 7th March 2023
North West Counties League Division 1 North
Atherton Laburnum Rovers 1
Danny Warburton 23,
Bacup Borough 2
Toby Wright 13 (pen), Michael German 40,
Referee: Lewis Atkinson. Attendance: 91
Admission: OMGDS £3.00 (£5). Programme: £2.00
A quite tidy ground with a very impressive main stand and a covered area on the far side of the pitch. The welcome was warm and free printed teamsheets were available in the bar. Both these sides were in the lower half of the table, but both were on good winning sequences and it was the five match winning sequence of the hosts that was broken. Playing down the slope in the first half as the trains trundled past behind the goal, the visitors took a decisive lead into half time and defended it comfortably in a goalless second half! With John Main, and good to see Johnny Holland there, too!
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The club was founded in 1956, as an under 14s side, by Joe Riley. The side then entered senior competition in The Bolton Combination. Jack Crilly succeeded Joe Riley as club chairman and oversaw promotions to The Cheshire League in 1980 and then to the newly formed North West Counties League in 1982. In 1991/92, they were NWCL champions for a second time and were promoted to The Unibond Northern Premier League. Financial problems meant that the club were relegated back into The NWCL.
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Saturday 11th March 2023
Southern League Premier Division South
Poole Town 1
Wesley Fogden 90+3
Metropolitan Police 1
Conor Lee 64,
Referee: Iain Parsons. Attendance: 337
Admission: OMGDS £8.00 (£12). Programme: £3.00
The BlackGold Stadium must be the least attractive arena in the Southern League Premier Division! There is metal terracing (some of it covered) behind one goal and seating for, maybe, 300 souls down one side, but the whole gives the impression of a mishmashed hotchpotch and car parking is provided by a local school. The team are riding high in the play off places for promotion to National League South, but today, they underperformed against a determined Police side, who took the lead just after the hour mark and then conceded an equaliser in the fourth minute of added time at the end of the contest. It was a dour struggle in murky, drizzly conditions.
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Monday 13th March 2023
Friendly
Hitchin Town 1
Finley Wilkinson 41,
Luton Town u21 1
Millar Matthews-Lewis 52,
Referee: T. Hood. Attendance: 232
Admission: OMGDS £4.00 (£8). Programme: NONE
Teamsheet: £0.20
Only managed to catch this match after consulting Brian Buck’s A1 corridor fixture list. Brian issues a newsletter each Sunday which has reports – and, more importantly, – a fixture list for the coming week of matches on the A1 corridor up from London to Stamford. Entry to the ground at Hitchin has to be paid for, on line, prior to the match and that was the case, even for this friendly. The hosts posted ten substitute and used eight of them, including four at the start of the second half, when they were deservedly a goal to the good! It didn’t help them much. The visitors equalised after 52 minutes and looked by far the better side after that. Good game!
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Tuesday 14th March 2023
Hunts FA Junior Cup FINAL
Peterborough Rangers 1
Dwayne Rankin 36,
Fenstanton 0
(@ Warboys Town FC)
Referee: Mark Simmons. Attendance: 140
Admission: OMGDS £3.00 (£5). Programme: FREE
Huntingdonshire ceased to exist as an English county more than fifty years ago, but the football authorities survive and administer several cup competitions in the area. Warboys Town (where tonight’s match was played), used to play Eastern League Premier Division football, but now grace The Peterborough & District League, where today’s winners also play. The runners up come from the Kershaws Cambridgeshire County League. In a noisy, raucous atmosphere, Rangers just squeezed through in a game littered with missed chances. With John Main.
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Scottish Hop
This year, the Scottish ‘hop’ took place over the weekend of 17 – 19th March 2023. John Main and I went up to Scotland in his car on the Friday morning – a fairly leisurely trip – and arrived at Bathgate Premier Inn for 4.00pm. En-route, we had a meal at Gretna Services, just over a hundred miles from our destination. The Ground hop coach apparently, started its journey in Cardiff at 05.00 and arrived at the Meggetland Stadium, the home of Tynecastle FC (and Boroughmuir RUFC) around an hour before kick-off. There was beer in the bar but it was ice-cold (I like my beer at room temperature), and Chilli and rice was my choice from the food menu (I should have had stovies!).
Friday 17th March 2023
East of Scotland League Premier Division
Tynecastle 2
Gary Hamilton 45+3, 74, Jack Blaney s/o 12,
Sauchie Juniors 3
Ross Hutchison 1, Sam Columbine 60, Brian Morgan 67, Ross Hutchison s/o 4,
Referee: Mark Harris. Attendance: 448
Admission: £8.00. Programme: £2.00
Meggetland Stadium and sports complex is a pretty impressive venue, with a five hundred seater, space age stand, down one side and terracing down the opposite length and behind one goal. The match was a cracker, too, with two sendings off in the first twelve minutes (one to each side), and the early bath candidate in the fourth minute had already opened the scoring (after a mere 23 seconds) for the visitors. The hosts equalised before the break, but conceded a couple more strikes in the second period before pulling one back with around 15 minutes to go. Excellent entertainment for the first match of the Scottish ‘hop’.
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After the match we were surprised, when we got back to the hotel to find that The Toby Carvery next door to our Premier Inn, was closing at 10.00pm! We were unable to get a drink. Fortunately, I had come prepared. I had a half of whisky amongst my luggage! The next morning, we drove the fifty odd miles to Dunbar on the coast, east of Edinburgh. Before the match, we took a stroll down to the waters edge……
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Saturday 18th March 2023
East of Scotland League Division 1 11.15am
Dunbar United 0
Michael McFarlane s/o 25, Willis Hare s/o 90
Coldstream 1
Stuart Briggs 73,
Referee: Lewis Hogarth. Attendance: 553
Admission £7.00. Programme: £2.00
Dunbar United’s New Countess Park, in the shadow of the main line express railway route from Scotland to England, is a neat, compact arena bordered on three sides by a solid brick wall and with a community sponsored stand along one side of the stadium. Runaway leaders, Dunbar, had their wings clipped by relegation threatened Coldstream. The hosts had a man sent off after 25 minutes and thereafter, the visitors fended them off pretty effectively. Then with barely fifteen minutes left, Coldstream struck to win the match and the points and that, despite a penalty chance for the hosts, brilliantly saved by the visiting custodian!
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Excellent headgear available as modestly modelled by Lord Squires!
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Saturday 18th March 2023
East of Scotland Premier Division 2.00pm
Haddington Athletic 1
Guy McGarry 75,
Dundonald Bluebell 3
Keiron Hall 11, Scot Cameron 32, Regan Lumsden 87 (pen), Regan Lumsden s/0 90+3
Referee:- Will Pare. Attendance: 462
Admission: £7.00. Programme:- £2.00
Considering that they are gracing the premier division of this league, this is a pretty basic stadium. Most of the perimeter is of grass with a minimal amount of hard standing at the entrance and in the covered terrace, but there is virtually no seating. A small chimney overlooks the ground on the far side. These two sides are becalmed in mid-table and it fell to the visitors to make the early running with two first half strikes. The hosts huffed and puffed and eventually retrieved a goal before Bluebell finished them off with a penalty at the death, followed by a melee resulting in a dismissal (Bluebell) and a caution (Athletic).
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Saturday 18th March 2023
Scottish Lowland League 5.00pm
Tranent Juniors 1
Nicholas Reid 90,
Bo’ness United 1
Lennon Walker 49,
Referee:- Andy Gamble. Attendance: 607
Admission:- £9.00. Programme:- £2.00
Not the greatest stadium for viewing, especially if you try to use one of the thirty or so seats, a largely innocuous arena painted in maroon with minimal facilities and large queues. The game itself, was pretty dour and occasionally frenetic. The visitors opened the scoring immediately after half-time and the hosts equalused, somewhat fortuitously, in the ninetieth minute! Considering that this was the highest placed team from the Scottish Pyramid on this trip, the ground and the facilities were very disappointing. I know that many other hoppers felt the same way.
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Saturday 18th March 2023
East of Scotland League Premier Division 7.45pm
Musselburgh Athletic 0
Broxburn Athletic 4
Jordan Wright 14, Errol Douglas 45, 67, Gary Brass 69,
Referee:- Brent Falconer. Attendance:- 557
Admission:- £8.00. Programme:- £2.00
The Oliverbank Stadium in the coastal town of Musselburgh, is an impressive arena with a covered standing area down the far side and terracing on the opposite length – and, indeed, the only club today with a bar! Despite being far superior in terms of League position, the hosts were not at the races today and two goals in each half saw the visitors deservedly and decisively, take the match and the points.
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Sunday 19th March 2023
East of Scotland League Premier Division 12.15pm
Penicuik Athletic 0
Andy Mair s/o 39,
Lothian Thistle HV 1
Joe Viola 80,
Referee:- Andrew Strang. Attendance:- 398
Admission: £8.00. Programme: £2.00
A ground with plenty of cover against the elements, but precious little seating, except for scattered individual chairs, but there was hardstanding on the two sides with cover. This was a poor match, not helped by the 39th minute dismissal of the home side no.16 for a second bookable offence.. Thistle gained the upper hand, but seemed unable to clinch a winner. Then, ten minutes from time, the pressure, eventually, paid off and the visitors struck to win the encounter by the narrowest of margins.
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The very impressive Penicuik Athletic programme.
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Thus ended the Scottish Hop 2023 and, interestingly enough, there was not a single home win amongst the six matches! The long journey home started immediately after the final match and I was back in Gretton for 8.30pm. Excellent weekend!
Tuesday 21st March 2023
North-West Counties League Division 1 North
FC St Helens 2
Liam Houghton 35 (pen), Jack Ball 90,
Atherton Laburnum Rovers 2
Danny Warburton 4, Connor Ikin 83,
Referee: Ryan Bostock. Official Attendance: 98
Admission: OMGDS £2.00 (£5). Programme: £2.00
Windlesham Park is a fairly basic ground with hard standing all round the pitch, a small, maybe 50 seater, Meccano stand along one side and some covered standing behind the far goal. There was also a substantial club house and bar where free team sheets were handed out and the official attendance, whilst not announced, was readily available. The match was played in very wet conditions in the first half, but the precipitation relented after the break and the game vastly improved. Promotion chasing FC St Helens were shocked by an early Rovers strike, level by half time, but, towards the end of a rumbustious second period, they conceded again and it took an accurate, edge of the area, 90th minute free kick to save their blushes an rescue a point.
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Wednesday 22nd March 2023
Northern Premier League Midlands Division
Corby Town 1
Cain Noble 83, Toby Hilliard s/o 89
Spalding United 0
Referee: Lee Hartley. Attendance: 659
Admission: OMGDS £6.00 (£12). Programme: £2.00
Always have a soft spot for Corby Town. I have visited all three of their stadia and I was a Corby Councillor when the present arena was sanctioned by the borough. Tonight’s encounter was a dour affair with little between the teams, but an 83rd minute strike from the hosts, won the match and propelled them into the play-off places.
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Saturday 25th March 2023
Wessex League Premier Division
Brockenhurst 3
Harvey Woods 5, 11, Silvano Obeng 58 (pen)
Pagham 2
Stan Bridgman 50, Connoe Geoghegan 53,
Referee:- Lewis Ward. Attendance: 144
Admission: OMGDS £3.00 (£5). Programme: £2.00
The tiny Hampshire village of Brockenhurst (population: 3,552), hosts a pretty impressive football arena, with hardstanding all round and a fine stand for maybe 100 souls. Before the match, John and I dined in The Commoners Wine bar in the town centre. Visitors, Pagham, transferred from the Southern Combination this season, and are struggling in the relegation zone, but only two points behind the hosts, whom they demolished 5-0 a few weeks ago in the reverse fixture. Brockenhurst dominated the first half and took a 2-0 lead into the interval, but this was wiped out within ten minutes of the restart, only for them to regain the lead with a soft penalty decision before the hour mark. There was no further scoring and the hosts recorded their first victory in fifteen games. Good match! With John Main.
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Tuesday 28th March 2023
North West Counties League Division 1 South
Ashville 2
Rocester 0
Referee:- David Copper. Attendance:- 87
Admission: OMGDS £2.00 (£5). Programme: £2.00
Right at the tip of the Wirral peninsular, with St Hilary’s church brooding on the skyline and even a lighthouse peeping around the clubhouse, Villa Park – no, not THAT Villa Park, but the home of Ashville, newly promoted to The North West Counties League – sits in the grounds of Wallasey RUFC. There is viewing on two sides; behind the near goal and along one side which has a cantilever stand to house around 100 spectators. There is also a substantial clubhouse. The visitors are rock bottom of the league and keen, apparently, to get back to the Midland League. Tonight, they were always second best to the hosts, who scored twice in the first half, but despite several promising opportunities, were unable to add to their total, even after the dismissal of a Rocester forward after 75 minutes. With John Main.
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Thursday 20th March 2023
Spartan South Midlands League Division 1
@North Kilworth FC
Lutterworth Athletic 0
Burton Park Wanderers 2
Match abandoned at half-time – floodlight failure.
Referee:- Liam Jackson. Attendance: 28
Admission: OMGDS £2.00 (£5). Programme: £1.00
The game started twenty minutes late when an errant floodlight eventually agreed to shine at half-power, but at half-time the power in a different pylon failed and that was the end of the match, even though many of us felt that there was adequate lighting to complete the game. This encounter was played at North Kilworth’s ground because Athletic are having problems with their 3G pitch. New railings around the ground since my last visit came courtesy of Athletic, but on the night, they were decidedly second best and were lucky to be only 0-2 down when the encounter was curtailed at the end of the opening period.
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The players standing around waiting to see if the floodlight can be repaired and the game can commence!
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The offending floodlight pylon at the top of the picture
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Other Matches:
Monday 6th March 2023
U-21 Premier League 2 Division 1
Leicester City U21 0 Blackburn Rovers U21 1 Attendance: 158
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