Petersfield Town 5 Amesbury Town 1
Saturday 4th February 2023
Wessex League Division One

This would be my third visit to a Wessex League club this season and the start of a five week spell involving longer train journeys beginning with this trip to Love Lane, a new ground for me. With Petersfield Town sitting pretty in fourth in the table just eight points off the top while their visitors, Amesbury Town, had been struggling with just two league wins from their 21 games and sitting second to bottom, this looked a banker home win on paper.

The train ride was interesting as usual and for a change problems on the line worked in my favour! There’s always a risk of disruption with a three connection journey, you only need one to have a problem and you’re stuck. I sailed through the first two connections but at Guildford the trains to Petersfield were running late due to a problem with the line between Clapham Junction and Woking. Marvellous. As it worked out, the earlier train was running 20 minutes late so I managed to catch that and reach Petersfield ahead of schedule. Result!

Arriving at the ground I received a warm welcome both at the gate and in the bar where I sat down to enjoy a pint of Atlantic Pale Ale, ordered a burger with chips and set about reading their excellent programme. The quarter pound burger with sausages and a couple of slices of bacon, all cooked to order was delicious and has now crashed into the top three of burgers I’ve had on my journeys this season. The whole meal with the chips cost just £7, a bargain! I put a picture on my Twitter account which has, at the time of writing, received over 4,500 impressions. Not bad in little more than a few hours!

After the burger (and before a second pint!) I took my customary walk around the ground. There’s one hell of a slope from one side to another which the locals joke about, and with a couple of decent covered sitting areas. There’s a skatepark just behing the main stand where you can hear the skateboarders and scooterers (is that a word?) enjoying the park and gives an interesting musical accompaniment throughout the game!

Onto the game and the first fifteen minutes had a frantic start with neither side giving an inch. The closest to goalmouth action we had was a free kick from Connor Hoare being well cleared by the visitors Will Erding and a shot from Petersfield’s Alex Barsa which went well over. Amesbury were playing a high press game with a high line which was stifling the hosts and giving them no space to play.

A lovely crossfield pass from Kieran Alcock to Matt Dougan was somehow flagged by the linesman who’d obviously seen an imaginary offside. I commented at half time that the officials seemed to be influenced by which team shouted the loudest and this was one of those decisions. Dougan was a good 4-5 yards onside when the ball was played. On 23 minutes the away side took a surprise lead. A foul led to a free kick outside the box 25 yards out which Morgan Harvey took, tried curling it around the wall with the ball ending up in the Rams net after taking a deflection. 0-1

Petersfield rallied and from a free kick of their own, Paul Ageseyi narrowly put a header over from a Hoare cross. Another free kick from Hoare was cleared to the edge of the area where it was picked up by Charlie Merritt and his shot forced a brilliant save low down to his left by Nico Trojanowski in the visitors goal. A nice jinking run by Alcock on the edge of the box saw the Rams claiming a penalty after he was bundled over but they were waved away by the referee.

The hosts continued to press and there was pandemonium moments later when a corner ended with shots and blocks pinballing the ball around the six yard box, finally looping up into the air where the forward was clattered by the keeper who got nowhere near it sparking huge protests from the home side. Ageseyi must have been too vehement in his protests as he was sin-binned once things had calmed down.

On the stroke of half time the hosts levelled after a mistake on the edge of the area by Erding let in Archie Greenough who took his time, taking it around a defender before slotting calmly home. A fiesty, scrappy first half finished level.
H-T: Petersfield Town 1 Amesbury Town 1

The second half started with a different feel, Amesbury didn’t seem to come out with the same intensity and that gave the hosts more space and time to play. Shortly after the restart Petersfield were ahead for the first time in the match. Another free kick from Hoare was cleared at the near post but fell to Ollie Davies and he fired in from the edge of the area. 2-1

It didn’t take long for the hosts to add a third, Greenough found himself put through and, in a one on one with Trojanowski, stroked it past him and into the bottom right corner. 3-1.

They almost made it four as Barsa made a good run behind the defence but this time Trojanowski was equal to it, saving well with his legs. Amesbury tried to rally and had a good spell of possession but never quite looked like breaking down the Petersfield defence. Their best chances came from free kicks, Harvey had one in a similar position to his goal but this time could only put it well over.

On 79 minutes Petersfield made it four when a lovely one two between Alcock and substitute Mino Djaura saw the latter race clear of the defence and finish smartly. 4-1

Amesbury battled on gamely and from another free kick claimed a handball after Taylor Budgell’s effort was blocked but once again the referee was having none of it. In added time the hosts wrapped up a deserved victory with a fifth from a well worked free kick. Charlie Merritt played a quick ball in from the right finding the unmarked Zak Sharp in the six yard box and he deftly flicked the ball into the opposite corner. 5-1
F-T: Petersfield Town 5 Amesbury Town 1

A much better performance from Petersfield in the second half and a comfortable win in the end. Connor Hoare and Kieran Alcock would be my stand-out players for them.

A great day out, a decent game and had the chance to meet and chat to some fantastic people once again. Petersfield are a great little club like many others, they don’t have much cash available to splash around but do have many incredible volunteers and fans that make a visit here a pleasure. No doubt I’ll see you all again in the future!

Horley Town 1 Tadley Calleva 0
Saturday 11th February 2023
Combined Counties League Premier South

I was excited about this trip. It was to be my first visit to the New Defence at Horley Town, a team who have been on my list to visit all season, and my 23rd new ground this season. The day started well, the trains all running and on time, and, after a brisk twenty five minute walk to the ground from Horley station, I’d made it. Entry to the ground is £7 and a £1 if you would like a printed programme. First appearances were favourable as was the welcome on the gate. A nice building which houses a spacious bar, and with tea bar pitchside which serves all the usual burgers, hot dogs, chips and hot & cold beverages.

You could easily watch the game from the bar with a great view if you want an “executive box” feel to your matchday experience! A decent cider on tap too I might add, the first I’ve found for a while. On the side of the building you’ll find the main seating area which offers a good view of the whole pitch. There is another seating area behind the goal on the right and a small covered standing area at the other end.

A tour of the excellent facilities complete it was time for the match itself. With Horley Town hovering just above the relegation places while the visitors, Tadley Calleva, sitting comfortably in 7th it was always going to be a battle for the hosts. I spoke to a Tadley fan before the game who mentioned it was their away form that had probably denied them a chance of competing at the very top of the division and it would prove to be their achilles heel again in this match.

The game kicked off slightly late and started as it would continue for the whole game, a tough, tight, bruising encounter. In the early stages Tadley just edged it and made a couple of early chances. A lovely long diagonal ball from Goater to Peart saw the latters shot saved well by Hyde’s legs in the home goal. From the resulting corner the ball fell to Peart again but once again Hyde was equal to it, saving low down to his left.

Horley were always dangerous on the break with genuine pace on each wing and this led to them taking the lead in the 16th minute. A long diagonal ball from Rapson was picked up on the right by Dan Duncanson who took it past Pettet cut back inside and fired across Atkinson in the Calleva goal and into the corner. A brilliant solo goal. 1-0

In the 22nd minute, another new thing for me this season with the Tadley keeper Atkinson getting sin-binned for dissent. Midfielder Kinge took over in goal and Tadley, marshalled impressively by Stow in defence, managed to keep the hosts away from taking advantage of the situation. In that time they did have a half chance on a rare foray forward when a snapshot had Hyde scrambling across his goal but the effort went just wide.

Atkinson returned and the away side finished the half strongly but without being able to break through the home defence.
H-T: Horley Town 1 Tadley Calleva 0

The second half started in much the same manner, a tough midfield battle with neither side making any clear cut chances. The closest we came was when Horley were trying to play it out from the back and Hyde passed the ball straight to Fragata on the edge of the area but recovered well. diving at his feet to reclaim the ball.

Tadley claims for a penalty were waved away by referee Critchlow after Peart went down in the area. At this point Tadley were pressing hard, winning a stream of set pieces but still finding the Horley defence rock solid. The hosts were always dangerous on the break, quite often getting away wide but unable to find that killer pass. Horley were given a free kick in a promising position in a central position 20 yards out but the opportunity went begging as Rapson put his shot over the bar.

Tadley were still pushing to find an equaliser and had a lovely flowing move involving quick first time passing between three players eventually playing in substitute Cousins but his shot was too high. Horley came close to doubling their lead when Rapson again hit a shot from distance only to see it go narrowly wide. The last ten (and I have no idea how much added time!) was a familiar story, Tadley throwing everything at Horley and piling on the pressure but just couldn’t find a way to make the breakthrough.
F-T: Horley Town 1 Tadley Calleva 0

A vital three points and a gritty battling performance from Horley with a superb goal worthy of winning any match. The Horley captain Poplett had a very good game along with Whyte and goalscorer Duncanson. Tadley will no doubt be frustrated with not getting anything out of this game and will probably see it as an opportunity lost. They put the Horley defence under plenty of pressure but the ball never seemed to fall for them and they just didn’t make enough clear cut chances or work the goalkeeper enough.

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Horley and will definitely return in the future. A really welcoming, friendly, family and a club at the centre of the local community with a great band of volunteers who helped make it a very enjoyable day. Thanks also for the lift back to the station as with the game finishing after 5pm I would have not got near catching my train without it!

Whitchurch United 0 East Cowes Victoria 1
Saturday 18th February 2023
Wessex League Division One

It was time for another dip into the Wessex League with a trip to Whitchurch for an important game at the wrong end of the table. Train journey there was another two hour jaunt with three connections each way despite the journey only being around 50 miles, the joys of train travel in modern times. I guess I should be grateful they’re running! Anyway, the train ride went swimmingly with no hold-ups and that left the downhill hike from the station to the ground.

Entry to the ground is £6 and a nice little ground it is too. A dull and drizzly day but the pitch looked in good condition, Longmeadow is part of a leisure centre where there is plenty of parking, a couple of welcoming bars inside and with a tea bar pitchside which serves all the usual burgers, chips and hot & cold beverages. The pitch is on quite a slope, accentuated by new 3G pitches built on a level on the far side. Speaking to someone from the club he says you don’t really notice it when you’re playing although he did say he used to enjoy playing uphill when he played as a forward and downhill when playing in defence!

And so onto the game, the teams were sitting 16th and 17th in the table, both just enough away from the relegation places but both looking for a win to increase the gap. Whitchurch were kicking uphill in the first half but East Cowes started the brighter of the two in the opening minutes. The home side did make the first chance of the game when a quickly taken free kick from Kyle Williams found Sam Freeman at the far post but he couldn’t get a clean touch on the ball. From a free kick of their own, on the right Harrison Taylor curled a beauty towards the far post but no-one had gambled and it went harmlessly wide.

The game settled into a tough midfield battle with neither side being allowed any space. The first shot on goal came after twenty two minutes, Thomas Ashley found himself free in the area and hit a low drive which was well saved by the legs of Whitchurch keeper Joel Halliday. Soon after it was Vics keeper Alex Ram’s time to shine, first saving well after great control, cut back and shot from Brett Denham and repeating the feat five minutes later when Denham rushed onto a great through ball down the left only to see his shot blocked by the keeper’s legs.

Whitchurch were on top at this point but the tables were about to turn. A good long ball sent Aidan Radford running towards the box with only Chris Morris and the keeper to beat. After a heavy touch from Radford, Morris slid in right on the edge of the area, taking the ball but also the player. The referee gave a free kick right on the edge of the box but also adjudged Morris to be the last man and showed him the red card. This led to a few arguments from the home side who thought Radford’s heavy touch had taken him away from goal but the referee was adamant and Morris had to go.

Harrison Taylor stood over the free kick and his shot went under the wall as it disintegrated with all jumping and lodged in the bottom right hand corner. 0-1.

The home side had the final chance of the half when Freeman again found himself free in the area but his shot across the keeper whistled narrowly wide.
H-T: Whitchurch United 0 East Cowes Victoria 1

Had a good chat at half time on all things Wessex League with a chap from Petersfield who was here to do some scouting and report on the game. Always good to talk to football with people especially when it’s someone from a club I visited only a couple of weeks previously.

The second half began with the Jam Boys well and truly fired up. Whitchurch were very much on the front foot as East Cowes sat deeper and deeper. From and early free kick Freeman sent a decent cross into the box where it fell slightly behind Dave Parry and he could only put the ball over. The Vics were now playing very much on the break as wave after wave of attacks came from the pressing home side. A great run down the left by Adam Voller found Denham in space on the edge of the area but his first time shot clipped the top of the bar.

With the visitors sitting deeper it was giving Taylor more time and space in midfield and boy, can that man pick a pass! He split the Whitchurch defence with a fantastic through ball which found Liam Newbold but Halliday again positioned himself well and blocked the shot. Back came Whitchurch, they won the ball well in midfield and Freeman again put in a great ball across the six yard box which Denham just couldn’t get on the end of.

Another quick break from the visitors saw a lovely chipped ball from Taylor find Voller again and he tried a lob from distance which Halliday collected easily under the crossbar. Taylor was again pulling the strings when he played a nice ball in to Sam Cant but he didn’t hit it first time and the delay gave Robbie Henderson time to block.

Still the hosts continued to pile forward looking for the equaliser. For most of the second half you’d have been hard pressed to know which team was down to ten men. A great run down the right took him past a couple of defenders, into the area towards the byline where a cross shot blazed across the six yard box and was well saved by Ram in the visitors goal.
F-T: Whitchurch United 0 East Cowes Victoria 1

A decent performance from Whitchurch especially being a man down for the entire second half, they battled hard and looked the better team for much of it. They constantly pushed to level the match but just couldn’t break through the solid East Cowes defence and didn’t really manage to work the visitors keeper enough. East Cowes made the clearer chances and could have won by more as the hosts pushed further forward looking for the equaliser.

Another nice ground to visit and some nice people running the show. I won’t mention the chase back up the hill to get to the train on time, my calves are still aching!

Badshot Lea 1 Jersey Bulls 1
Saturday 25th February 2023
Combined Counties Premier League South

A top of the table clash between Badshot Lea and Jersey Bulls meant a first visit to Westfield Lane and another interesting journey. Despite it only being 30 miles from where I live, the joys of travelling via the Great British transport system meant three train connections and a bus to get to the Wrecclesham ground. A nice little ground it is too, the Baggies moved here in the 2019-20 season after several seasons groundsharing with the likes of Farnborough, Godalming, Ash United and Camberley Town. Entry is £8 and an excellent printed programme is £2.

I had my usual walk around the ground, the pitch looked in decent condition, before heading back to the bar for a quick catch up with Christofer Walker, @MottysMic on Twitter, who commentates on a range of games including many mainland Bulls games via CW Sport Radio. I’d met Chris back in November at the Fisher v Jersey FA Vase match and it was good to find out what he’d been up to since and where he’d visited. An interesting guy. Next up for me was my own personal Man vs Food moment, taking on probably my most filling burger this season, the Baggie Burger. Even I was blowing a little at the end and all I could hear in my head was the “one more bite” chant from the programme! It’s definitely a test so give it a go if you find yourself at Badshot.

By now the Jersey fans were starting to pour in, many in Gallic related fancy dress. I saw Napoleon, a french maid (who must have been freezing!), plenty in berets and one with the striped shirt with the string of onions around his neck. They certainly brought a carnival atmosphere to the day. I had a flashback to my Bracknell Town supporting past when realising former Robin Gavin Smith is the Badshot Lea manager and it was good to grab a quick catch up with him.

Jersey Bulls fans at Badshot Lea

Onto the game and as you would expect from two teams fighting for promotion, it was a tight and tense opening ten minutes. Badshot had the first chance in the 5th minute when a free kick by Harrison Livingstone from 30 yards out beat the wall and was well saved low to his left by Evan van der Vliet in the Bulls goal. The major incident in the match happened in the 14th minute when the visitors were reduced to ten men with Fraser Barlow receiving his marching orders from referee Connor Fanelli, after consulting his assistant, for what looked like retaliation after a coming together. Even with the Bulls down to ten the game was very even with few chances at either end.

The only real chances in the half were, in the 41st minute when Bulls top scorer Lorne Bickley met a decent cross into the centre but Luke Roberts in the Baggies goal was able to gather. From a corner a Wilks drag back and pass gave a half chance to Badshot’s Mal Thomas but van der Vliet again got down quickly to his left and then in added time, a Bulls free kick from James Queree was initially spilled by Roberts but he recovered well. Adam Trotter then made himself a yard at the edge of the box but Roberts was able to gather his shot comfortably. A half full of endeavour but few clear chances came to a close.
H-T: Badshot Lea 0 Jersey Bulls 0.

The second half started with the visitors on the front foot despite being shorthanded and they went ahead in the 52nd minute. A nice move down the left involving Kamen Nafkha and Trotter looked to have been snuffed out by Wilks but Jay Giles nipped in to nick the ball off the big defender before playing in Bickley who controlled well and then curled the ball past Roberts into the top right hand corner. 0-1

In the 58th minute Jonny Le Quesne made a couple of telling tackles in the midfield with the second falling to Bickley who took the ball into the area but saw his shot drift agonisingly wide of the far post with Roberts beaten. Just minutes later the Baggies levelled. A lofted ball through by Jake Hawker was initially cleared by van der Vliet outside the box, the ball was put back into the area and the Bulls failed to clear with the ball eventually falling to Thomas just outside the box and he lashed a shot into the roof of the net. 1-1

Jersey responded when good play again from Le Quesne made a half chance for Bickley but Roberts just about parried the ball away. Hawker made a couple of good runs down the right as the hosts piled on the pressure in the closing stages but the visitors defended stoutly to keep the Baggies at bay.
F-T: Badshot Lea 1 Jersey Bulls 1

Probably the right result as both sides pretty much cancelled each other out on the day. It could have been different had the Lorne Bickley chance gone in just after the visitors went ahead but both sides will probably take a point and move on. The sizable contingent from Jersey were in good voice all game and certainly brought a bit of colour and humour to the day. Attendance was 362. Good luck to both teams for the remainder of the season.

Another enjoyable day out and Badshot Lea is another friendly and welcoming club and one I’d be happy to revisit in the future. Bit of a hike back to the station from the ground in Wrecclesham but nothing too strenuous, just the usual misdirections from Google maps to contend with and I probably needed to get some extra steps in following my encounter with the Baggie Burger!