FIXTURES
Don’t get me wrong, I’d love nothing more
than to commune with Mother Nature.
But what can I do? It’s out of my hands:
Nigeria are playing Croatia.
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What’s that? Another meal on your own?
You’re quite right, there is nothing bleaker.
But this is the big one. I’ve waited all day.
Switzerland – Costa Rica.
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Sorry I shall miss your mum’s funeral
but I should be there in time for the wake.
Do understand, it’s Morocco – Iran
and for both teams there’s so much at stake.
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I see that you’ve filed for divorce.
I’ll sign the papers as soon as I can,
just ten minutes more (plus time added on)
of Colombia versus Japan.
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by Brian Bilston
Tuesday 2nd April 2024
Staying at Garth Ucha, a lovely, but lonely old farmhouse near Llanyblodwel in The Welsh Marches, south and west of Oswestry. Our walk took us down to the fast flowing river and across a rickety footbridge. A false turn brought us into contact with an alpaca, before we encountered a steep bridleway with a bubbling stream cascading downwards which making the footage fairly risky. High up at the top was the tiny hamlet of Soar with its own Methodist Chapel … whilst far away, across the valley, we could espy another, much more conventional religious establishment. We descended by waterlogged fields and a narrow road which drew us toward the church of St Michael the Archangel. The rector, Kathy Trimby, has been in charge for ten years, but is shortly moving to Australia. Across the narrow bridge over Afon Tanat (River Tanat), is “The Horseshoe Inn”, but, sadly there was no sign of life. A mile and a half along the riverside and a steep rise brought us back to Garth Ucha. 6.2 miles and three stiles.
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Tom Parkin & Matt Knowles
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Tom Parkin & Matt Knowles
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Eddie at the front and Matt behind
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Wednesday 3rd April 2024
Lock Stock Ardal North East Division
Penrhyncoch 3
Rhys Jenkins 45+1, 72, Dion Phillips 61,
Dolgellau Athletic 1
Isaac Pridmore (og) 32,
Referee: Jefferson Townsend. Attendance: 131
Admission: £5.00. Programme: £2.00
The tiny village (1,500 souls) of Penrhyncoch down on the Welsh west coast, houses a pretty efficient football set up. The ground has a stand behind one goal with 200 seats and a stand along one side with maybe 70 seats and a further covered standing area. On the pitch, they sit proudly at the top of Ardal North East by a considerable margin and though they fell behind (playing up the gradient) in this match, they had drawn level by the interval and two second half strikes assured them of victory against their local rivals and a step nearer the championship. Very friendly club and a good contest!
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Thursday 4th April 2024
North East Wales Football League Premier Division
Castell Alun Colts 2
Craig Worthington 79, Daniel Woosey 81 (pen),
Mynydd Isa 3
Jack Aitken 38, Lewis Tudor 42, Braden Lavin 90+2,
Referee: Arthur Smallman. Attendance: 43
Admission: F.O.C. Programme: NONE
This is the fourth level of Welsh football, the ground is a railed pitch with hard standing down one side and no cover, which was prescient on a wet evening. It was, however, a cracker of an encounter. Last week, the hosts led 1-0 at Mynydd Isa until the 86th minute when they were hit with two goals. Tonight, they went two goals down by half-time and fought back with vigour, as the local railway train chuntered by, to gain parity with less than ten minutes to go. Mynydd Isa scored the winner in the second minute of added time. Very entertaining contest.
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Saturday 6th April 2024
West Midlands (Regional) League Division 1
Bustleholme 3
Ethan Masson 6, 80, Joe Clarke 56,
Wyrley 0
Referee: Ajay Sharma. Attendance: 25
Admission: £4.00. Programme: NONE
Bustleholme, in their short history, have played home fixtures at Bilston and Tipton and on Oldbury United’s old ground in Rowley Regis. Now, they are ensconced at the Walsall campus of The University of Wolverhampton on a plastic pitch in a soulless cage with viewing down one side only and no cover or seating. On the pitch, this afternoon, they effectively disposed of the opposition, despite the very windy conditions. The ground is heavily outlined at the foot of the plan of the Walsall campus photo (see below).
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The ‘ground’ is the heavily marked oval to the left of the plan
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Home side
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Away side
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Tuesday 9th April 2024
Northants Combination Division 2
Corby Rovers 7
Dylan Griffiths 2, 21, Danny Ward 29, 53, 62, Kaden McAlinden 67, Damien Allanson 85,
Burton Park Wanderers Reserves 1
Brad Towns 10,
Referee: Thomas Lilly. Attendance: 18
Admission: F.O.C. Programme: NONE
On a cold, showery evening at Jubilee Park in Corby, mid-table Rovers routed bottom team Burton Park in a contest that was far from one-sided. It just seemed like all the home sides chances went in, whilst the visitors, albeit fewer chances, missed the target. I haven’t seen a match here since my two eldest sons were playing and it brought back some memories! With John Main.
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Wednesday 10th April 2024
EFL League One
Peterborough United 3
Joal Randall 45+2,Harrison Burrows 55, Alex Iacovitti (og) 86
Port Vale 0
Referee: S. Martin. Attendance: 7,770
Admission: Hospitality. Programme: incl. (£3.50)
A spot of hospitality with my eldest and youngest sons at The Weston Homes Stadium. For some reason, the newish looking stand behind the furthest goal was not in use this evening. Port Vale are relegation threatened, whilst The Posh are looking good for a play-off spot. It took the hosts until the second minute of added time at the end of the opening period to score the first of their goals, but their increasing dominance saw two further second half strikes to seal a decisive victory.
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Liam and Jim, youngest and oldest sons!
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Thursday 11th April 2024
Spartan South Midlands League
Division 1 Cup Semi-final
Rothwell Corinthians 0
Moulton 2
Josh Adams 23, Andy Hall 79,
Referee: Nicholas Marriott. Attendance: 161
Admission: OMGDS £3.00 (£5).
Programme: NONE
Programme: NONE
Grandson, Freddie, was making his first visit to Sergeant’s Lawn, home of Corinthians, and there was a decent crowd for this cup semi-final – certainly double the normal attendance. This was a fractious, ill-tempered match, especially in the second half, when there were several ‘melees’. Moulton were the better side and deserved the victory, but the hosts had plenty of opportunities but never hit the target!
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Grand son Freddie Arthur McGeown
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Saturday 13 April 2024
Southern Combination Division1
Roffey 2
Ricardo Fernandes 62, Kelvin Lucas 87,
Seaford Town 0
Referee: Ryan Calver. Official Attendance: 82
Admission: £6.00. Programme: Included
Chennells Brook, home of The Boars, is a small, sparsely furnished stadium, which nonetheless has both charm and appeal, giving the feel of Hansel and Gretel in the woods with the added welcome and friendliness of the club officials. Roffey are already champions of this division looking forward with relish to step 5 next season, the visitors are favourites for the runners-up spot. The first half was best forgotten, but the champions stamped their authority on this game with two decisive second half strikes. With John Main.
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Yours truly at the entrance!
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Monday 15th April 2024
Premier League 2
Leicester City U21 3
Oliver Ewing 4, 7, Logan Briggs 79,
Stoke City U21 0
Referee: Dale Baines Attendance: 322
Admission: OMGDS £3.00 (£5) Programme: free team sheet
A fairly straightforward stroll in the park for the young Leicester team. Two goals in the first seven minutes laid the foundation and from then on they were never unduly pressured. A third goal came ten minutes from the end to add icing to the cake. It was nice to see Sammy Braybrooke back from serious injury (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) and also Chris Popov. Very cold with a biting wind and patches of heavy rain.
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Tuesday 16th April 2024
Northants Combination Division 1
Crick Athletic 5
Mikey Hall 41, Carlton McKinley 70, Mate Karolyi 76, 89, Dom Gallagher 84,
Bugbrooke St Michael B 0
Referee: Paul Martin. Attendance: 11
Admission: F.O.C. Programme: NONE
A rare evening fixture on The Crick Playing Field with its well equipped facilities – changing rooms and social centre – and amidst the showers and the rainbows, they managed to get a full match in despite the gathering gloom of a spring evening. These two teams are becalmed in mid-table with equal points, until tonight’s match which saw the hosts score a well deserved, convincing victory.
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Thursday 18th April 2024
Cricket @ Stamford School
Girls T20 Knock-out Cup 1st Round
Stamford Girls 113 for 4 (20 overs)
lost to
Greshams Girls (won toss) 116 for 2 (14.2 overs)
by 8 wickets
Umpires: Colin Megennis & Eddie McGeown
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Thursday 18th April 2024
Northern Premier League Midlands Division 1
Anstey Nomads 2
Zayn Hakeem 44, 53,
Corby Town 2
Jack Keeble 42, Tristan Thompson-Matthews 83,
Referee: Attendance: 337
Admission: OMGDS £6.00 (£10). Programme: on line
Fairly wet and miserable – and cold – for this match which had suddenly become important to the hosts with leaders, Harborough Town, deducted six points and losing top spot in the division. Nomads are in second place now and quite capable of achieving automatic promotion. Two goals late in the first period saw the game finely balanced at 1-1 . Early in the second half, Nomads took the lead and held it until seven minutes from full time, when The Steelmen spoiled the party by equalising. The draw was a fair result. With eldest son, Jim.
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Anstey Nomads
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Corby Town
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Saturday 20th April 2024
Cricket @ Stamford School
Stamford School (won toss) 307 for 9 (50 overs)
defeated
Oundle School 184 all out (43.5 overs)
by 123 runs
Umpires: Colin Megennis & Eddie McGeown
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Tuesday 23rd April 2024
Spartan South Midlands League
Division 1 Cup FINAL (@ Newport Pagnell FC)
Moulton 4
Luca Iciafano 4, Josh Melling 7, 84, Nat Ansu 88,
Northampton Sileby Rangers 2
Nathan Burrows 14, Iain Blake 45+5, Dean Love s/o 40,
Referee: Ben Bright. Attendance: 129
Admission: £8.00. Programme: F.O.C.
These two clubs are barely three miles apart as the crow flies. Quite why they had to play twenty miles away was beyond me! Three goals in the opening 15 minutes saw Moulton take the advantage and then, Sileby had their goalkeeper sent off for handling the ball outside the area. The ten men pulled level just before the interval and battled determinedly throughout the second half, but couldn’t prevent two late goals which gave the tie and the trophy to Moulton. The free programme had lots of information on Sileby and none (apart from squad names) about Moulton. With grand son Freddie.
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Wednesday 24th April 2024
Bedfordshire County League Premier Division
AFC Oakley 5
Chisom Amani 17, 70, Emoji Seoluwa 26, Joel Ives 43, Jonathan Tite 90+4,
Elstow Abbey 3
Joel Simpson37, Lamar Smithson 51 (pen), Craig Damon 80,
Referee: Shabz Hussain. Attendance: 41
Admission: F.O.C. Programme: NONE
A well appointed, football community at the small village of Oakley just north of Bedford, with a railed pitch and dug-outs and a very modern social club. The hosts, in fourth place, were hoping to overtake the visitors, one point and one place above them. Oakley raced into an early, two goal lead, were pegged back, but restored their two goal advantage by the break. In the second period, four goals were shared and the hosts gained the victory, the points and third place in the table. With John Main.
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Saturday 27th April 2024
Velocity Wessex League Division 1
East Cowes Victoria 5
Jacob Reynolds 3,Jake Wright 45+2, Jez Conway 49, Ji Nash 62, Raff Boyd-Kerr 76,
Frimley Green 0
Referee: W. Prior. Attendance: 231
Admission: £3.00 (one price). Programme: on line.
An hour on the ferry down the Solent and across to The Isle of Wight and a brisk 25 minute walk uphill to Beatrice Avenue, home of The Vics. There was hard standing all round the pitch, a hundred seater stand and some further cover along the same side. Play-off chasing Vics needed to better Fleetlands result by at least two goals to overtake them into the play-offs and although they scored five against relegation threatened Frimley Green, it wasn’t enough as Fleetlands also won by 4-0. With John Main.
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The ferry that carried us across to The Isle of Wight
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The author in solemn splendour in the outdoor stand!
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Sunday 28th April 2024
Vanarama National League North
Play-off Semi-final
Brackley Town 1
Riccardo Calder 78,
Chorley 0
Referee: Will Davis. Attendance: 1,889 (378 away)
Admission: £15.00. Programme: £3.00
On a cold and wet afternoon at St James’ Park, neither of these two teams played well and at the end of a dour encounter, the hosts progressed to the play-off final with a goal fifteen minutes from time. In the final, they will host Boston United, who eliminated Scunthorpe United in the other semi-final. With son, Jim and grand sons, Sonny and Kingsley.
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An unseemly meleé at the end of the match
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Grandsons, Kingsley (left) and Sonny
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Tuesday 30th April 2024
Cricket @ Stamford School – U17 Knock-out Cup
Retford School (won toss) 275 for 6 (35 overs)
defeated
Stamford School 214 all out (35 overs)
by 60 runs
Umpires: Martyn Dobbs & Eddie McGeown
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