Long Buckby - Station Road

Thursday 17th. July 2008
Pre-season friendly

Long Buckby v Northampton Sileby Rangers

Admission free
Programme no

Long Buckby is a village in the far north-west corner of Northamptonshire, a halfway stop by rail between Northampton and Rugby. Mound remnants of a 12th. century castle are signposted as you travel through the village. Like other villages and small towns in the county Long Buckby was involved in the shoemaking industry back in the day.

The football club have been ever present in the top division of the United Counties League since 1972.

Ever since the early nineties the floodlights of Station Road have constantly teased me, easily visible to all passengers who have ever sat bored to tears on a train waiting at Long Buckby station. On my many journeys to and from the West Midlands I often wanted to alight and take a walk up the hill leading towards the village and the fix of an evening kick-off, but until now it was not to be.

Finally I made it, not by the comfort of rail but in the tried and trusted Jamobile. The village football ground, rugby club and cricket club are all situated withIn the same large sportsfield, the football ground is roughly a 100 yard walk along the edge of this field. After building it up as a 'must tick' I was initially a touch disappointed, mostly because for a couple of minutes it looked like the match wasn't going to take place in the normal ground. Both sets of players were warming up on the unmarked open section, 4 or 5 people were watching them limbering up and a couple of portable goals lay folded next to them. In contrast there was just 1 person sitting on his lonesome inside the ground proper, not another soul to be seen.

Eventually numbers began to drift in and it was clear that the game was going to take place on the proper pitch after all. I had a chinwag with a hopper from the Midlands to pass the time. The match itself was not much of a contest, Long Buckby (claret and blue) took complete control. A good finish on 18 minutes opened the scoring, the Buckby no. 10 latched onto a through ball and steered it past the keeper. 5 minutes later a soft-free kick doubled the lead (below) and a header added to Long Buckby's dominance on 35 minutes. An easy tap-in from the no. 10 put the home side firmly in command as Sileby Rangers (red) fell asleep at the back just before half-time, another header on 50 minutes and finally the pick of the bunch, a 35 yard drive from the Bucks right-back sealed a fine victory.

Final Score Long Buckby 6 Northampton Sileby Rangers 0 (HT 4-0)

Attendance 36 (h/c)

Bletchley Town - Scots Sports & Social Club, Selbourne Avenue

15:00 Saturday 12th. July 2008
Pre-season friendly


Bletchley Town v Stony Stratford Town


Admission Free
Programme No



It's been almost 16 years since I last ventured to the end of Selbourne Avenue, and in that time virtually nothing has changed. The social club has had a refit, though there are still no spectator facilities as such, visitors can make themelves comfortable sitting on the pub benches or sheltering in the smoking enclosure.


Bletchley's claim to fame is that it was home of Station X, the place where during World War II the Nazi codes were broken through use of the Enigma machine. Bletchley Park museum can be found close to Bletchley Station, sadly I've never been on the proper tour although in my youth I did use to shortcut through the site on the way from school to the leisure centre.


These days Bletchley is a small part of the concrete behemoth that is Milton Keynes. In the past it was a railway town and more recently brickworks were situated next door to where today's game took place.


Stony took control in this early season warm-up with a comprehensive drubbing of South Midlands League newcomers Bletchley. The first two Stony goals were almost carbon copies, as the Stratford strikers dribbled their way through the home defence, almost literally walking the ball into the net. The second half was more of the same, Bletchley Town can take comfort that very few of their division 2 opposition will provide the same sort of test.



Final Score Bletchley Town 1 Stony Stratford Town 6 (HT 0-2)

Attendance 47


Public Transport Bletchley BR, bus no. 4 or 6 from town centre to the Three Trees PH, 5 minute walk from there.


Parking All spaces taken as the bowls club was busy, on road parking within short walking distance.

Open University Res. v Impressions

10:30 Sunday 18th. May 2008

Ostlers Lane (Stony Stratford Town FC)
Milton Keynes Sunday Supplementary Cup Final

Admission Free
Programme Yes





It's a widely held belief amongst the hopping fraternity that the pitch at Stony Stratford is a lengthy trek from the clubhouse. In truth it's actually about 200 yards which isn't overly taxing, although it's not a walk you would want to do in winter as it's all grass, there is minimal tarmac here. The last (and only time) I was here before was roughly sixteen years ago, back then Ostlers Lane had no lights and no stand. The stand is a mainly brick structure, consisting of four steps of terracing, crash barriers and some bench seating along the front. In the distance within sight of the stand is the 'Mogul Palace', an Indian restaurant housed in a building which is more akin to that of a public school, mainly because that is what it once was!

Fifteen years ago the local Sunday league consisted of fifty odd teams and five divisions, virtually every estate pub had a team. These days it's down to just two sections. OU are almost certainly the longest serving side in that time, they have their own pitch within the Open University campus. The opposition for this years final is new side Impressions, a team made up entirely of African players, mostly Ghanaians.

As you may recall, I wasn't too complimentary about last year's final. I expected another feisty encounter but it never materialised. A nasty injury (suspected broken ankle/leg) to the University right winger saw a delay of 40 minutes as firstly a small road ambulance, then a helicopter, then finally a regular ambulance arrived. While the medics did their thing I got chatting to an old boy who was dishing out the Capri-Suns gratis.

After such events it wouldn't have been too surprising if the game had flattened out, but to their credit both teams continued to play at a decent tempo. Open University finally took the lead when a deep free-kick evaded everyone, bounced back of the bar and left a OU forward with the simple task of securing the lead. That was short-lived as Impressions rallied and through a neat ball nullified the offside trap to equalise. Late on it looked likely to go into extra-time but another cross from deep found an OU substitute who had time and space to volley home.

Just enough time to walk into Stony town centre for a pint and a pie and then back for....

Final Score Open University Res. 2 Impressions 1

Attendance 104 (h/c)

Also In Attendance Hockeyshooter back with more pics.

Derelict Grounds # 1 - Manor Fields

Once the ground of Bletchley Town, Milton Keynes City & Milton Keynes Borough. The Manor Fields hasn't been used for football for going on 10 years now.

I used to be a regular here for a season and a half in the early nineties. The picture above shows what remains of the almost pitch long terraced cover. To the left is where the clubhouse is situated. This building is still used by the Irish Centre & Bletchley Rugby Club.

And below is what little remains of the old seated stand. The dug outs were originally in front of this. You can see that the goalposts at this end (the car park end) are still intact. There are no posts at the other end of the pitch.

Pictures were taken a couple of months ago. The area as you can see is pretty much a building site. I would have carried on taking pictures, however a guy from the social club came out and introduced himself as a member of Bletchley Town. He told me they planned to redevelop the site to once again be suitable for football. Watch this space.

Each Game As It Came 2008/09

1. Sat. 14/06/08 PSF/Charity Met. Police Bushey 2 Edgware Town 3
2. Sat. 05/07/08 PSF/Centenary Parson Drove 0 Cambridge City 6
3. Thu. 10/07/08 PSF Brackley Town 0 Northampton Town 0
4. Sat. 12/07/08 PSF Bletchley Town 1 Stony Stratford Town 6
5. Tue. 15/07/08 PSF AFC Brickhill Rangers 1 Buckingham Town 2
6. Wed. 16/07/08 Memorial Mursley United 2 Winslow United 1
7. Thu. 17/07/08 PSF Long Buckby 6 Northampton Sileby Rangers 0
8. Sat. 19/07/08 PSF MK Wanderers 0 Cranfield United 16
9. Tue. 22/07/08 PSF Enfield(1893) 1 Harrow Borough 2
10. Wed. 23/07/08 PSF Northampton Town 0 Queens Park Rangers 1
11. Thu. 24/07/08 PSF Roade 5 New Bradwell St. Peter 0

Venues Visited

last updated 20/07/2008

Total Venues Visited - 231 (and a half!). For it to count as visited I have to have seen an adult mens game there.

Key Bold - seen a Football League game or equivalent
Green - ground no longer / rarely used for 'Saturday' football, but still in use
Orange - ground still exists, but not in use
Red - ground has long gone
italics - have not seen main home team play at this venue
* additional information at foot of page.
those with report links are not colour coded.

Abingdon Town - Culham Road
Aldershot Town - Recreation Ground
Ampthill Town - Woburn Road
Ardley United - Oxford Road
Arlesey Town -Lamb Meadow
Ashford Town (Middx.) - Short Lane
Aveley / Mauritius Sports & Pennant -Mill Field
Aylesbury Vale - Haywood Way *1
Aylesbury United - Buckingham Road
Banbury United - Spencer Stadium
Barking & East Ham United - Mayesbrook Park
Barkingside - Oakside
Barnet - Underhill
Barnsley - Oakwell
Barton Rovers - Sharpenhoe Road
Basildon United - Gardiners Close
Beaconsfield SYCOB / Slough Town - Holloways Park
Beaumont Athletic - Mile End Stadium *2
Bedford FC - McMullen Park * 3a
Bedford Town -Allen Park Recreation Ground, Queens Park
Bedford Town -The New Eyrie
Berkhamsted Town -Broadwater
Bethnal Green United - Meath Gardens
Bierton - Burcott Lane
Biggleswade United -Second Meadow *4a
Bishop Stortford - Woodside Park *3b
Bletchley Town / MK Scot - Selbourne Avenue
Blidworth Welfare -Welfare Ground
Blisworth - Courteenhall Road * 5a
Boreham Wood -Meadow Park
Boston United - York Street
AFC Bournemouth - Dean Court
Brache Sparta -Foxdell
Brackley Town - St. James Park
Brentford - Griffin Park
AFC Brickhill Rangers - Rushmere Close
Brighton & Hove Albion - Withdean Stadium
Brimsdown Rovers - The Downs *6
Bristol City - Ashton Gate
Bristol Rovers - Memorial Stadium
Brook House - Kingshill Avenue *5b
Buckingham Athletic - Stratford Fields
Buckingham Town - Ford Meadow
Bugbrooke St. Michaels - Birds Close
Buntingford Town - The Bury
Burnham - The Gore * 4b
Bury - Gigg Lane
Bury Town - Ram Meadow
Caddington - Manor Road
Calverton Miners Welfare - Hollinwood Lane
Camberley Town - Krooner Park
Cambridge United - Abbey Stadium
Canning Town -West Ham in the Community *7
Canvey Island -Park Lane
Cardiff City - Ninian Park
Chalfont St. Peter - Mill Meadow
Chatham Town - Maidstone Road
Cheltenham Town - Whaddon Road
Chesham United -The Meadow
Cheshunt -Theobalds Lane
Chester City - Deva Stadium
Chesterfield - Saltergate
Clapton -Old Spotted Dog
Clifton -Whiston Crescent
Cogenhoe United - Compton Park
Concord Rangers -Thames Road
Corby Town - Rockingham Triangle
Corinthian Casuals - King George's Field
Cranfield United - Crawley Road
Cray Wanderers - Hayes Lane *9
Crewe Alexandra - Gresty Road
Croydon - Croydon Sports Arena
Crystal Palace - Selhurst Park
Dagenham & Redbridge - Victoria Road
Darlington - Darlington Arena
Daventry United - Royal Oak
Doncaster Rovers - Keepmoat Stadium
Dulwich Hamlet - Champion Hill
AFC Dunstable - Lancot Park
Dunstable Town - Creasey Park
Edgware Town - White Lion Ground
Enfield -The Riverside *10
Enfield - Southbury Road
Enfield Town - Goldsdown Road *11
Epping - Stonards Hill
Flackwell Heath - Wilks Park
Fleet Town - Calthorpe Park
Fulham - Craven Cottage
Garsington - Memorial Field
Gillingham - Priestfield Stadium
Godalming Town - Wey Court
Great Wakering Rovers - Burroughs Park
Grimsby Town - Blundell Park
Hampton & Richmond Borough - The Beveree
Haringey Borough - Coles Park
Harlow Town - Sportscentre
Harpenden Town - Rothamsted Park
Harrow Borough - Earlsmead
Hartlepool United - Victoria Park
Hatfield Town - Sherrardswood School *10
Hayes - Church Road *5c
Hemel Hempstead Town - Vauxhall Road
Hendon - Claremont Road
Hertfordshire FA - County Ground, Letchworth *12
Hertford Town - Hertingfordbury Park
Heybridge Swifts - Scraley Road
Hillingdon Borough - Middlesex Stadium
Histon - Bridge Road (Glassworld Stadium)
Hitchin Town -Top Field
Huddersfield Town - Alfred McAlpine Stadium
Hull City - Kingston Communications Stadium
Ilford - Cricklefields
Irchester United - Alfred Street
AFC Kempston Rovers - Hillgrounds
Kent Athletic - Tenby Drive
Kentish Town - Copthall Stadium
Kettering Town - Rockingham Road
Kidderminster Harriers - Aggborough
Kingsbury Town - Silver Jubilee Park
Leamington - The New Windmill
Leighton Town - Bell Close
Leyton - Hare & Hounds, Lea Bridge Rd.
Leyton Orient - Brisbane Road
Lincoln City - Sincil Bank
London Colney - Cotlandswick *4c
Long Buckby - Station Road
Lowestoft Town - Crown Meadow
Luton Town - Kenilworth Road
Macclesfield Town - Moss Rose
Maidenhead United - York Road
Manchester City - Maine Road
Mansfield Town - Field Mill
Met. Police Bushey - Met. Police Spts. Grnd., Aldenham Road *13
Millwall - The New Den
Milton Keynes Borough - Manor Fields
Milton Keynes Dons -National Hockey Stadium *14
Milton Keynes Dons - Stadium:MK
MK Wanderers - Frithwood Crescent
MK Wanderers - Leon School *10
Mursley United - Mursley Playing Field, Station Road
Nettleham - Mulsanne Park
Newark Flowserve - Lowfields
Newark Town - Station Road *8
New Bradwell St. Peter - Bradwell Road
Newmarket Town - Cricketfield Road
Newport Pagnell Town - Willen Road
Norsemen - Queen Elizabeth Stadium *15
Northampton (various teams) - The Racecourse *16
Northampton Spencer - Kingsthorpe Mill
Northampton Town - County Ground *17
Northampton Town - Sixfields
Northwood - Chestnut Avenue *4d
Norwich City - Carrow Road
Norwich United - Plantation Road
Notts County - Meadow Lane
Old Bradwell United - Abbey Road
Oldham Athletic - Boundary Park
Ollerton Town - The Lane
Olney Town - East Street
Oxford United - Kassam Stadium
Parson Drove - Main Road
Peterborough United - London Road
Phoenix Sports - Mayplace Road East *4e
Potters Bar Town - Parkfield
Potton United - The Hollow
Purfleet - Ship Lane *5d
Radcliffe Olympic - Wharf Lane
Raunds Town - Kiln Park
Reading - Madjeski Stadium
Risborough Rangers - Windsor
Roade - Connolly Way *13
Rochdale - Spotland
Romford - Ford Sports & Social ,Rush Green Road *18
Rotherham United - Millmoor
Rothwell Town - Cecil Street
Rushden & Diamonds - Nene Park
Rushden & Higham United - Haydons Road
St. Albans City - Clarence Park
St. Neots Town - Rowley Park
Salisbury City - Raymond McEnhill Stadium
Sandridge Rovers - Spencer Recreation Ground
Sawbridgeworth Town - Crofters End
Scunthorpe United - Glandford Park
Sharnbrook - Playing Field
Shenley & Loughton / Loughton Orient - Linceslade Grove *19
Shrewsbury Town - Gay Meadow
Sittingbourne - Bourne Park
The 61 FC (Luton) - Kingsway
Southend Manor - Southchurch Park
Southend United - Roots Hall
Southwell City - War Memorial Rec. Ground
Stamford - Wothorpe Road (Newflame Stadium)
Stansted - Hargrave Park
Steeple Claydon - Recreation Ground
Stevenage Borough - Broadhall Way
Stony Stratford Town - Ostlers Lane
Stotfold - Roker Park
Sutton Town - The Fieldings
Sutton United - Gander Green Lane
Swansea City - Liberty Stadium
Swindon Town - County Ground
Thamesmead Town - Bayliss Avenue
Thatcham Town - Waterside Park
Thrapston Town - Chancery Lane
Tilbury - Chadfields *3c
Tottenham Hotspur - White Hart Lane
Tranmere Rovers - Prenton Park
Tring Athletic - Cow Lane (Pendley, Grassroots Stadium)
Uxbridge - Honeycroft
Waddesdon - Westcott Leisure & Social *20
Walsall - Bescot Stadium
Waltham Abbey - Capershotts
Waltham Forest - Wadham Lodge *21
Wantage Town - Alfredian Park
Ware - Wodson Park
Wellingborough Town - Dog & Duck
Welwyn Garden City - Herns Way
Wembley FC - Vale Farm
Wembley Stadium *22
Whitewebbs - Whitewebbs Centre *23
Wigan Athletic - JJB Stadium
Windsor & Eton - Stag Meadow
Winslow United - Elmfields Gate
Witney United - Marriotts Stadium * 4f
Wivenhoe Town - Broad Lane
Wolverton Town / Milton Keynes City - The Park
Woodford United - Byfield Road
Wootton Blue Cross - Weston Park
Wycombe Wanderers - Adams Park
Yeading - The Warren *5c
Yeovil Town - Huish Park
York City - Bootham Crescent

*1 match abandoned after 10 minutes

2 ground is home to Sporting Bengal United of the Kent Senior League

3 saw a different side using this ground as a 'home' venue.
3a Biggleswade Town
3b Harlow Town
3c Eton Manor
4 only seen a cup / play -of final at this venue

4a Watson Shield (Bedfordshire League Div. 3 Cup Final)
4b Slough Town Challenge Cup Final
4c Spartan South Midlands League Challenge Trophy Final
4d Middlesex Senior Cup Final
4e Kent County League Division 1 Play-Off Final
4f Fred Ford (Witney & District) Centenary Cup Final

5 club has since changed name / merged

5a now called JK Blisworth
5b now called AFC Hayes
5c Hayes FC & Yeading FC merged to form (surprise) Hayes & Yeading FC. Hayes's Church Road is currently used as the first team venue, Yeading's The Warren as the reserve team venue. It is likely that Church Road will be sold and that The Warren will revert to hosting first team football.
5d now called Thurrock

6 this is basically a 2nd. pitch next to Goldsdown Road (Brimsdown Rovers /Enfield Town) with it's own clubhouse. The ground was originally used by ex - Spartan Lague company side J & M Sports. It's rumoured that this has been lined up as a youth training venue for a local Premiership club.

7 as the name of the venue suggests, this is a West Ham United community venue, which Canning Town use as a back-up ground.

8 Station Road is in the village of Collingham, and used to be home to the Saturday side of the same name. Collingham still have youth and Sunday sides.

9 Cray Wanderers are sharing long-term at Bromley's Hayes Lane ground.

10 unusual venue used for pre-season friendlies

11 for all intents and purposes this is Enfield Town's home ground, although originally it was solely Brimsdown Rovers'.

12 Letchworth Garden City originally played here, the County Ground was completely redeveloped. This season Baldock Town intend to use this as home venue.

13 have only seen a game on the 'second' pitch

14 only seen a chaity game at this venue

15 an athletics stadium in Enfield. There is a remote possibility that football could come to this venue in the near future.

16 the Racecourse is a recreation ground in Northampton. I saw the Northampton Town fans team (Claret Shoremakers) play here. It is used by several Northampton Town League sides.

17 As everybody knows the County Ground is still used by Northants CCC. I have also seen a handful of cricket matches here.

18 A Premiership side now uses this as a training venue. Romford are currently sharing at Aveley's ground.

19 Used by a local North Bucks League side.

20 Waddesdon have withdrawn from the Aylesbury & District League, I suspect this will be used for Sunday football but not entirely sure.
21. Waltham Forest have since moved to share with Ilford FC, Mauritius Sports & Pennant ae now lined up to play at Wadham Lodge.

22. Saw a League 1 Play-Off Final before redevelopment.

23. Whitewebbs have since folded, the centre is now used by Tottenham Hotspur for training (I think)

Bierton - Burcott Lane

18:30 Tuesday 20th. May 2008
Bierton v Jakemans Sports
Aylesbury & District League Prem.

Admission Free
Programme No

Bierton Sports Centre on Burcott Lane is as the name suggests the local village leisure area. There's a smart community hall plus a pavillion in the corner, tennis courts and a basketball hoop and to top it all a football pitch. No spectator facilities unsurprisingly. It's relatively easy to find, I spied a couple of hoppers walking to the ground so I guess there must be a semi-decent bus service between Bierton and Aylesbury. No problems parking on the street, although the sport centre car park is not that big.

Bierton is a small village outside Aylesbury. A side representing the village has been playing since 1919, picking up local silverware such as the Oving Village Cup and the Marworth Cup along the way.From somewhere I had heard of the opposition so after the game I did some research and found out that Jakemans Sports is a sports shop in Aylesbury town centre.

The attendance consisted almost entirely of hoppers, and in recognition of this the players put on a decent show. Bottom side Jakemans were on fire from the start, scoring in 51 seconds when the Bierton keeper punched a corner onto his own defenders head and into the goal. 3 minutes later it was 2-0. Despite occasional stoppages to retrieve the matchball from the locked tennis court the goals kept coming, 4 within the first 17 minutes. It was hard to see how Jakemans finished bottom as their no. 9 was deadly, he scored 5 of the goals, 2 of the finishes were of a standard much higher than step 7. The rumour going around was that he had been out injured most of the season. It tailed off a little in the second half, yet I was suprised that Bierton who finshed 2nd. never really threatened the outcome of the fixture.

Final Score Bierton 3 Jakemans Sports 6 (HT 1-4)

Attendance 25 appx.

Fishermead Doyles v Great Holm Steel

14:00 Sunday 18th. May 2008
Ostlers Lane (Stony Stratford Town FC)
Milton Keynes Sun. Lge. Knock-out Cup Final

Admission Free
Programme same as early morning game. (see OU Res. v Impressions post)

With the possibility of some fighting and other nastiness taking off I took the precaution of parking in the town centre. Actually that's not true - I wanted to pop out for lunch and rather than take the car I reasoned I could have a pint in one of Stony's many decent drinking places and then walk it off. As it turns out the game was played in the right spirit, a couple of tasty challenges but nothing violent. Doyles took the lead through a solo run, only for Great Holm to equalise straight from the kick-off. Just like this morning's game it looked to be heading for extra-time, until a header and a fine 1-2 and finish by the giant sub Millington saw Fishermead finish up as league and cup double winners.

Final Score Fishermead Doyles 3 Great Holm Steel 1 (h/t 1-1)
Attendance 175 (h/c)

Bethnal Green United - Meath Gardens

14:30 Saturday 17th. May 2008
Bethnal Green United v South Kilburn
Middlesex County League Prem. Div.

Admission Free
Programme 2 sheets of A4 £1






My first delve into the Middlesex League. Basically Meath Gardens is a park pitch with floodlights, a short walk along Roman Road from Bethnal Green tube station. There are no other notable facilities. Bethnal Green originally printed 6 programmes which were snapped up by the early birds, the young chap had to make 2 runs out to the photocopier to satisfy the hoppers demands. I bought one just to reward the guy for his endeavours!

After a forgettable first half in which I remarked that the game was going to end up nil-nil Bethnal Green shut me up by taking the lead. Kilburn scrambled an equaliser but the tide turned when a screamer which I almost missed flew in, and finally United confirmed victory when a forward managed to outjump the Kilburn keeper and nod over him.

Final Score Bethnal Green United 3 South Kilburn 1 (h/t 0-0)
Attendance 45 (headcount)

Stansfeld OB Club v AFC Sheppey

11:00 Saturday 17th. May 2008
Mayplace Road East (Phoenix Sports)
Kent County League Div. 1 Play-off Final

Admission Free
Programme No

One of the perils of travelling by public transport to a game is you might get some random encounter with a nutter on a train. Unlike Jasper Carrot's friend searching for his camel, our carriage were treated to the personal observations of a middle-aged balding guy in a shirt and tie who clearly had 'issues'. After informing all and sundry that "I'm no longer hetero, I'm queer. Double queer" he decided to round on an elderly lady. " Oi fat woman- Hey obese woman. I'm sorry you're not obese- You're f***king fat." Several passengers tried to reason with him, both persuasively and more forcefully but he wasn't having any of it. An African gentleman who tried to dissaude him politely was dismissed as " Mr. Mugabe" before our entertainer did the honourable thing and got off at Kidbrooke, warning us " Do as you're told".

From the station Phoenix Sports Club is a pleasant 10 minute walk through Barnehurst suburbia. On arrival at the ground I was pleased to find that the dressing room pavillion had an area of cover, there was a clubhouse (not serving) and a hollowed out container where hot refreshments were available. The pitch was about fity yards from all these facilities, hemmed in on the other 3 sides by iron fencing. There was a tiny section of 2 steps worth of terracing adjacent to the 2 brick dugouts on the far side, the 'home' dugout being almost twice as big as the other.

Stansfeld (in yellow and black) totally bossed the game, taking the lead through a tidy finish from their no. 9 on 18 minutes. After several spurned opportunities the game turned on it's head 17 minutes into the second period when the Stansfeld keeper had a 5 minute 'mare'. Firstly a tame shot trickled past him into the corner for a Sheppey equaliser, then 3 minutes later the keeper was picking the ball out of his net again after misjudging a deep free kick from just inside the half-way line which sailed straight over him. Sheppey(in red and white stripes) were still second best throughout, although it took until the 86th minute for Stansfeld to scramble an equaliser at the far post. A minute later they were back in front; a Sheppey defender accidentally headed backwards towards an offside Stansfeld no. 9, techically no longer offside he had the simple task of racing towards gaol and tucking the ball home to the delight of his teams fans stood next to me. There was still time for 3 players (2 Stansfeld,1 Sheppey) to walk after a melee which put the seal on a fine morning's entertainment.

Final Score Stansfeld O&B Club 3 AFC Sheppey 2 (h/t 1-0)
Attendance 100 appx.