The Lake Isle of Innisfree

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I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,

And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made.

Nine bean rows will I have there and a hive for the honey-bee,

And live all alone in the bee loud glade

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And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow

Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings,

There midnight’s all a glimmer, and moon a purple glow,

And evening full of linnet’s wings.

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I will arise and go now, for always night and day

I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore,

While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,

I heat it in the deep heart’s core.

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William Butler Yeats (1865 – 1939)

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Friday 11th August 2023

Premier League 2

Aston Villa U21 0

West Bromwich Albion U21 3

Rayhan Tulloch23, Jamie Andrews 69, 83,

Referee: Andrew Humphries.                                    Attendance: 298

Admission: £5.00.                                                        Free Teamsheet

The opening game of a strangely structured Premier League 2, with twenty six teams seemingly in one division. Villa were swept away by a powerful Albion side, but were not helped by a two yellow card dismissal just after the hour mark. With John Main.

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John Main at Bodymoor Heath

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Monday 14th August 2023

Premier League 2

Leicester City U-21   2

Amani Richards 34, Zach Booth 45+7,

Derby County U-21  1
Owen Oseni 82,

Referee: David Richardson                 Attendance: 201

Admission: OMGDS £3.00 (£5)       Free Team Sheet

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Tuesday 15th August 2023

Hertfordshire Senior County League Premier Division

Cuffley 0

Hinton 2

Cameron Hough 32, Fabian Brown 87,

Referee:- Les Moody. Attendance:- 56

Admission: F.O.C. Programme: NONE

These two teams are barely five miles apart, the hosts near Potters Bar and the visitors from Enfield. The rivalry is intense, but there was only one winner and with a goal in each half, the visitors, comfortably, took the victory and the spoils!

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Wednesday 16th August 2023

Noerthern Premier League Division 1 Midlands

Corby Town 0

Shepshed Dynamo 1

Reece Morris 89,

Referee: Harley Hetherington. Attendance: 570

Admission: OMGDS £6.00 (£10). Programme: £2.00

A large gathering watched the hosts striving mightily to make an impression on this game and they kept the visitors penned in their own half for long periods without ever looking likely to score. Smash and grab in the 89th minutes and the visitors went away considerably the happier!

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Saturday 19th August 2023

Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round

Stockton Town 2

Adam Nicholson 73, Kevn Hayes 90+6,

Ashington 1

Jordan Summerly 53,

Referee: Sam Ross. Attendance: 321

Admission: OMGDS £7.00 (£9). Programme: £2.00

A modest 3G caged arena that nonetheless boasts two seated stands down one side and a hospitality suite as well as a small covered area behind one goal. Two cans of beer/lager/cider for a fiver was a bonus! Today, the hosts were a tad fortunate. They fell behind to a 53rd minute strike which looked likely to win the game, huffed and puffed to equalise with ten minutes remaining, and scored the winning goal in the 97th minute after their opponents had been reduced to ten men.

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Thursday 24th August 2023

Anglian Combination Premier Division

Aylsham 0

Yelverton 2

Jack Watson 13, Dan King 81,

Referee: Leon Howard.                                              Attendance: 94

Admission: F.O.C.                                                      Programme: NONE

Aylsham first played at their new home – Youngs Park – in the 2016/17 season and already plans are afoot for a £1.25 million 3G stadium to be constructed adjacent to the present site. After tonight’s performance and a pointless three game opening to the season, they may have been relegated from the premier division when they take possession of their new arena! Paul Proctor, Martin Hollands and mxhornet were also in attendance for this league match, unusually played on a Thursday.

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Saturday 26th August 2023

Isuzu FA Vase 1st Qualifying Round

Sutton Athletic 1

Jack Kirby 27,

Pagham 1

Dan Simmonds 57,

Sutton Athletic won 4-3 on penalties

Referee: Bruno Marques. Attendance: 59

Admission: OMGDS £5.00 (£10). Programme: £2.00

Unusual to find such a rustic arena so close to the capital and just over the Thames crossing at Dartford. There was a small scaffolded covered area down the near side and seating (also scaffolded) for around 100 souls on the far side. A small club house, (with changing rooms)and bar completed the amenities. Not a great advert for teams from The SCEL and The SCL, this was a dour contest of few opportunities and the penalty lottery shoot-out was won by the hosts!

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Monday 28th August 2023

Hellenic League Division 1

Tytherington Rocks 1

Kyle Head 43,

FC Bristol 2

Rick Davis 14, Kristian Miller 77,

Referee: Simon Turner. Attendance: 88

Admission: OMGDS £4.00 (£6). Programme: On line

Tytherington, a small village in south Gloucestershire of less than a thousand souls, does very well to support a step six club. The ground, visible from the M5, is situated at the end of a very narrow single track road, with a moderate stand of maybe 50 seats and a small club house with changing rooms and a bar behind the far goal. Today’s visitors, FC Bristol, we’re formerly known as Lebeq and play at the Glos FA HQ in Almondsbury. Today, they had the measure of the hosts and won more easily than the score suggests. The referee added on a total of 25 minutes added time!

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John Main at the entrance to The Harwicke Playing Field

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Tuesday 29th August 2023

Peterborough & District League Premier Division

Stanground Sports 5

Louie Venni 14, 38, 48, 75, James Stainsby 72,

Ramsey Town 0

Referee: Neil Smith.                                                    Attendance: 52

Admission: F.O.C.                                                       Programme: NONE

A railed pitch with substantial dug-outs and a minimum of cover from the persistent precipitation. The hosts were in total command throughout with three second half strikes to add to their 2-0 half time lead. With John Main.

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Wednesday 30th August 2023

United Counties League Premier Division South

Rugby Borough 1

Sam Lockley 58, Max Proudlock (c) s/o 38

GNG Oadby Town 5

Camen Bhanda 33, Mussa Bham 62, 75, 80, Lamar Parkes 73.

Referee: Daniel Miller.                                           Attendance: 88

Admission: OMGDS £3.00 (£7).                          Programme: £2.00

On their 3G pitch on the night of the super moon, the hosts were given a footballing lesson from a very composed GNG side. The 38th minute sending off, for a second yellow card, of the home captain contributed to the heavy defeat, but in truth, the visitors were always the better side. With John Main.

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CRICKET

Tuesday 1st August 2023

District Pathway Cricket at Wellingborough Old Grammarians CC

Kettering & Corby U-11 211 for 7 (35 overs)

defeated

East Northants U-11 (won toss) 61 all out (17.4 overs) by 150 runs

Umpires: Colin Samuels & Eddie McGeown

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Wednesday 2nd August 2023

District Pathway Cricket at Rushden & Higham Town CC

East Northants U13 (won toss) 77 for 6 (20 overs)

lost to

Kettering & Corby U-13 78 for 4 (16.1 overs) by 6 wickets

Umpires: Keith Timpson & Eddie McGeown

In a rain affected match reduced fro the original 35 overs per side, East Northants U=13 were worst affected as the had already completed 10.1 overs when persistent rain showers reduced the match overs.

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Wednesday 2nd August 2023

Northants Women’s Midweek Cricket League

Geddington Women  125 for 2 (Caitlin Connelly 50 no) (20 overs)

Brixworth Women (won toss) DNB – match abandoned, RAIN.

Umpire: Eddie McGeown

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Friday 4th August 2023

County U-15 Match at Oundle School

Buckinghamshire U15 101 all out (35.1 overs)

lost to

Northamptonshire U15 (won toss) 104 for 4 (23.4 overs) by 6 wickets

Umpires: Martyn Dobbs & Eddie McGeown

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Sunday 6th August 2023 (at Burton Latimer)

East Midlands Women’s Cricket League Premier Division

Burton Latimer Women 174 for 7 (45 overs)

defeated

Welbeck Women (won toss) 90 all out (32.1 overs) by 84 runs

Umpires: Martyn Dobbs & Eddie McGeown

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Monday 7th August 2023

County Development Match (at S&L Corby)

Kettering & Corby U-11 (won toss) 100 all out (28.2 overs)

defeated

Northampton & South U-11 50 all out (14.1 overs) by 50 runs

Umpires Martyn Dobbs & Eddie McGeown

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Wednesday 9th August 2023

County Pathway matches at Oundle School

1. T20

Nottinghamshire U-13  Girls (won toss) 95 for 5 (20 overs)

defeated

Northamptonshire U-13 Girls 92 for 5 (twenty overs) by three runs.

2. The Hundred

Nottinghamshire U-13 Girls (won toss) 82 for 5 (100 balls)

defeated

Northamptonshire U-13 Girls 78 for 7  (100 balls) by seven runs

Umpires: Alan Pearce & Eddie McGeown

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Saturday 12th August 2023

Northants Cricket League Division 8

at Great Bowden

S&L Corby II (won toss)  240 for 8 (45 overs)

defeated

Great Bowden 157 all out (34.5 overs) by 83 runs

Umpire: Eddie McGeown

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Sunday 13th August 2023

East Midlands Women’s Cricket League

at Nassington

Houghton & Thurnby Women 160 for 6 (35 overs)

defeated

Nassington Women (won toss) 106 for 9 (35 overs) by 54 runs

Umpires: Colin Megennis & Eddie McGeown

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Monday 14th August 2023

District Development Match

at Rushden & Higham Town CC

Northampton & South U13 239 for 8 (35 overs)

defeated

East NorthantsU13  (won toss) 90 all out (24 overs) by 149 runs

Umpires: Keith Timpson & Eddie McGeown

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Thursday 17th August 2023

District Development T20 Matches

at Wellingborough Old Grammarians CC

Kettering & Corby U-11 119 for 9 (20 overs)

defeated

Northampton & South U-11 104 for 5 (20 overs) by 15 runs

Umpires: Keith Timpson & Eddie McGeown

East Northants U-11 76 for 5 (20 overs)

lost to

Northampton & South U-11 77 for 5 (16.4 overs) by 5 wkts

Umpires Simon Clark & Eddie McGeown

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Sunday 20th August 2023

East Midlands Women’s Cricket League 

at Thrapston CC

Ockbrook & Borrowash Women  92 for 9 (40 overs)

lost to

Thrapston Women   93 for 0 (17.4 overs) by ten wkts

Umpires: Bob Inchley & Eddie McGeown

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Monday 21st August 2023

U-15 T20 Festival 

at Burton Latimer CC

Kettering & Corby U-15 133 all out (18 overs)

lost to

East Northants U-15 137 for 4 (18.4 overs) by six wkts

Umpires: Keith Timpson & Eddie McGeown

Northampton & South U-15 94 all out (19.2 overs)

defeated

East Northants U-15 78 all out (16.5 overs) by 16 runs

Umpires:- Simon Clark & Eddie McGeown

Northampton & South U-15 139 for 2 (20 overs)

defeated

Kettering & Corby U-15 131 all out (19.2 overs) by 8 runs

Umpires: Keith Timpson & Eddie McGeown

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Tuesday 22nd August 2023

County U-14 Match

at Saffron Walden CC

Essex U-14 (won toss) 227 for 9 (45 overs)

defeated

Northants U-14 145 all out (36.4 overs) by 79 runs

Umpires: Martyn Dobbs & Eddie McGeown

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Wednesday 23rd August 2023

U-10 County Match

at Rushden & Higham Town

Warwickshire U-10 117 all out (29.2 overs)

lost to

Northamptonshire U-10 118 for 8 (33 overs) by 2 wkts

Umpires: Steve Dickinson & Eddie McGeown

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Wednesday 23rd August 2023

Northants Midweek Women’s Cricket League Plate FINAL

at Kettering Town CC (6.00pm)

Geddington Women (won toss) 116 all out (18 overs)

lost to

Brixworth Women 117 for 2 (17.1 overs) by 5 wkts

Umpires: Nick Beesely & Eddie McGeown

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Barby is on the Northants and Warwickshire border, and their main team play in The Warwickshire League Division 2. They do, however, amongst their many other teams, have a side in Division 13 of the Northamptonshire League. It is a lovely ground with two full sized pitches separated by a line of trees, a club house with changing rooms and a bar and a substantial score box. Today’s matches were played by enthusiastic sides from Herts and Northants and it was fitting that each team had a victory. Better than that, it was good to see so many talented and enthusiastic young cricketers!