West Ham United LFC 0 Coventry United LFC 4

FA Womens Premier League Southern Division, Sunday 28th February 2016

Following our ‘Women’s Football Special’ show on the Grassroots Football Show last week I thought it apt I’d go and see a Womens game at the weekend and I decided to visit Bridge Avenue in Upminster (home of AFC Hornchurch of course) for an FA Womens Premier LeagueSouthern Division game between West Ham United LFC and Coventry United LFC.

This is the third tier in the Womens game below the Womens Super League One and Two so its a very decent level of football and at just a fiver to get in very good value too. The visitors sat fourth in the table looking for a win that would take them above Cardiff City LFC into third spot whilst the Hammers were down in eighth place (in a league of 14 teams) some seventeen points behind their opponents.

The opponents therefore were probably fancying their chances of victory and they started on the front foot, volleying just wide with their first attack and then on five minutes forced hosts keeper Sanderson into a brilliant save from point blank range although a minute later the breakthrough did come when a long range free kick from Helen Dermody beat keeper Sanderson and gave United the early lead.

The visitors continued to dominate proceedings and on 18 minutes saw a second goal, again from long range and again from Dermody’s right boot, flying past hosts keeper Sanderson into the corner of the net. Coventry were sensing more goals and a third duly arrived on 26 minutes and guess what, it was another long range effort, this time a free kick from the edge of the box from Maz Gauntlett, who chipped her effort beyond Sanderson into the far corner.

It was so nearly four for the visitors two minutes later as well when they chased down a poor touch from Sanderson and after winning the ball off her saw the follow up effort from Dermody saved for a corner. However it was only a brief rest bite as the visitors did make it four from the resulting corner as centre half Nat Lynch ghosted into the box unmarked and saw her powerful close range header parried by Sanderson but the ball just went over the line before being hacked away.

It had been a disastrous half from the Hammers and they would need to come out after the break with much more purpose if they were to salvage any pride from this encounter.

Half Time West Ham United LFC 0 Coventry United LFC 4

To their credit the hosts came out and immediately went on the offensive and try and salvage something from the contest and five minutes into the half finally had a shot on target as they definitely started the half the better. Whether the visitors had not come out with the same intensity or not may have had something to do with it but the Hammers were finally making a game of it.

Despite this the visitors came close to adding a fifth nine minutes into the second half when Gauntlett’s chip over Sanderson glanced off the bar and over and just before the hour mark saw a volley go inches wide before a header across goal also went inches wide of the hosts goal. The hosts though continued to have most of the play and just past the hour mark a good break from the hosts saw a final effort straight at keeper Wood although if the ball had been played square earlier the hosts would of been in on goal.

After another good spell for the hosts it was them who so nearly conceded again on 66 minutes when a shot hit the underside of the bar before the close range follow up went over but this didn’t deter the more improved Hammers in this second half who were causing problems down the right through Sherwood and it was her who had a decent chance with just under fifteen minutes left when she got down the right beyond the full back but her rising effort just went over the bar.

The Hammers continued to try and grab a goal or two but failed to breach the Coventry defence and the game ended in a 4-0 success for the visitors although the hosts could take great heart from their second half performance. Sadly the damage had already been done in the opening half hour of the contest and left the Hammers a mountain to climb. United go third following this victory whilst West Ham remain eighth.

Full Time West Ham United LFC 0 Coventry United LFC 4

Barnet 1 Portsmouth 0

SkyBet Football League Two, Tuesday 23rd February 2016

So finally I managed to make my first visit to The Hive, home of Barnet FC, as they took on the might of Portsmouth in a SkyBet League Two match up.  My friend and fellow co host on our Grassroots Football Show on East London Radio Adam Richardson suggested we go along to this fixture as his second team (after the Arsenal) are Portsmouth, as he has family down there.

Unfortunately for him tickets in the away end were sold out,  resulting in 1,330 (out of a total crowd of 2,557) Pompey fans inside the stadium which more than added to a pretty decent atmosphere.  We both therefore took our seats in the Main Stand in the third row right on the half way line, perfect seats to be honest so Mr Richardson had done well in getting those.  This did also mean me colleague had to try and contain himself from cheering for the men in Blue!!!!

Anyway as kick off approached the excitement and atmosphere continued to build and although the home area's were far from full, they did create a decent atmosphere in the main stand directly above us several rows back.  And then the teams took to the field and the game was almost ready to get going.  I had gone for a 2-0 away win which of course my fellow co host hoped would come true.

The game though lacked any real quality in the first half and chances were at a premium if truth be told.  The hosts best chance saw a long range effort deflect just wide of the Pompey goal whilst Portsmouth's best chance saw a close range header misguided well wide of the target.  It looked as though the half would stay goalless, that was until John Akinde was brought down inside the box by Adam Webster and saw the hosts get a penalty. The Bees' top scorer duly got up and rolled his spot kick into the bottom right corner and saw the hosts go into the break a goal to the good.

Portsmouth boss and the Pompey faithful no doubt demanded a response from their side in the second period and for the first ten to fifteen minutes of the second half did look much more positive and their best chance saw Adam McGurk's header from a Ben Davies' cross brilliantly tipped over by Jamie Stephens.  Even Mr Portsmouth himself (Adam) clapped the save.  However this was the only time the visitors really tested the hosts stopper in what was a fairly disappointing display.

The hosts weren't that much better but dug in and fought hard for each other, which isn't a surprise considering they are managed by Martin Allen.  He always demands this from his sides and he certainly got maximum effort from his side.   Barnet held on for the win , a massive win for them against a name like Portsmouth, and winning manager Martin Allen told BBC Radio London afterwards:

"I thought it was very exciting. Obviously we're playing against one of the big spenders of the division, a club with massive tradition and history, a fantastic following home and away. And our team of free transfers, a humble, down-to-earth group of lads put in a proper team performance.  I would say deserved (win), with fantastic spirit, determination, courage, and they've done our club proud tonight to beat a club like Portsmouth.  I thought we were disciplined. Everyone stuck to their job within the team framework."

Pompey slip out of the play-off places after only one win in six games while Barnet climb to 15th.  If the men from the South Coast are to gain promotion this season they will have to improve drastically on this display, especially up front, where they were lacking in this game.  For Barnet its another win and it takes them 13 points above the relegation spots but only eleven away from the play offs themselves.  Do they dare to dream?  The next dozen or so games will no doubt answer these questions.

Gateshead 3 Aldershot Town 2

Vanarama National League, Saturday 20th February 2016

So I was up in the North East for what should of been an FA Vase Quarter Final between Morpeth Town and Bristol Manor Farm. Unfortunately the pitch at Craik Park fell foul to the weather and saw the match postponed around lunchtime on Friday.

Damn and blast I thought but headed north anyway as hotel, train and friends visiting had already been arranged so sought a replacement game in the area. After much deliberation I decided to make my first visit to the Gateshead International Stadium for a Vanarama National League clash between Gateshead and Aldershot Town.

The Heed get on average around 600 or so for a league game but with their being no premiership this weekend the crowd swelled to 1,074 with most of them hoping for a win that would see The Heed climb back into the play off places. There were 150 supporters fromHampshire which is a very decent effort indeed and those visiting fans were jumping up and down after only five minutes as their team scored a wonderful team goal as great one touch passing and movement saw them slice through the hosts backline and ended with Stephen Browne lofting the ball over Sam Russell for the lead.

It was a poor start from the Heed and they were up against a defence who had not conceded a goal in nearly 300 minutes of football so knew they would face a stern test if they were to get back into the contest. On 16 minutes the hosts were trying to respond but after a volley was miskicked completely at the far side of the box, they fired the next effort way over the bar.

The hosts were having most of the play and pressure but were coming up against the brick wall that was the Shots defence. Just before the half hour mark Ryan Bowman almost saw his dinked cross find its way into the far corner of the Shots net but it drifted just beyond the far post and away from danger. The Heed continued to give the visiting defence something to think about but had yet to test Shots keeper Phil Smith.

However in the 34th minute the hosts finally breached the visitors defence as a cross from the left saw Bowman power home a header beyond Smith and gave the hosts a deserved leveller. It was the first goal Shots have conceded in over 300 minutes and like London buses when you see one you see two as only a couple of minutes later Gateshead had another as a ball laid back to C J Hamilton saw him side foot past Smith brilliantly and the hosts had turned it around just like that.

To their credit the Shots tried to respond and saw a Browne effort go a foot wide of hosts post from outside box five minutes before the break but a minute later they did manage to find a leveller as the Heed switched off at the back, failing to deal with a low cross and Jake Gallagher ghosted in ummarked to side foots home from six yards. It meant the sides went into the break all square in a half that had started slowly but exploded into life past the half hour.

Half Time Gateshead 2 Aldershot Town 2

The first chance of the second half fell to the hosts when Paddy Mclaughlin hit a shot straight at keeper Smith and then three minutes later a good deep cross to the back post from the visitors saw Ross Lafayette head straight at hosts keeper Russell when if it had been either side of him it would have probably given the Shots the lead.

However six minutes into the second half the hosts re-took the lead as a free kick swung in from the right saw Shots defender Joe Oastler, under pressure from his marker, glance a header past his own keeper Smith into the far corner. The visitors felt he had been pushed but the referee was having none of it and the goal stood.

So the Shots had to try and respond again and on 57 minutes were almost gifted a goal when hesitant defending between keeper and defender saw Dan Walker nip in and steal the ball but the angle was too tight and he could only fire across the face of goal and beyond the far post. It was a let off for the hosts though.

The game entered a spell of either side having attacks without really threatening either keeper and on 71 minutes Shots substitute Nathan Ralph drove at the hosts back line but saw his shot go straight at Russell and as the game went on into the last fifteen minutes the hosts began to sit deeper and deeper and allow the visitors to pressurise them a bit, increasing the frustration and anxiety in the home support.

The Heed the playing on the break now and with just under ten minutes to go one such break saw them two on one but the final pass to substitute Danny Johnson saw the forward stray offside although his effort was saved by Smith anyway. It was a good opportunity missed though to seal the game. Two minutes later another hosts attack saw a great drive into the box by Hamilton who then saw his cut back blocked before Johnson could only send his acrobatic effort wide.

The Shots always looked menacing going forward though and with four minutes left came so close to equalising when Browne was played in on the right hand side and after breezing past his marker his low shot squirmed away from Russell before the relieved keeper managed to dive on the loose ball. The hosts managed to see out the remainder of the contest without further alarm and go level on points with Tranmere Rovers in fourth place. The Shots more than played their part in a decent battle but ultimately came up short in the end and they remain in mid table.

Full Time Gateshead 3 Aldershot Town 2

Southend Manor 3 Burnham Ramblers 0

Essex Senior League, Tuesday 16th February 2016

I was over at a rather chilly Southchurch Park for an ESL Essex derby as Southend Manor hosted Burnham Ramblers with both sides coming into this one off the back of weekend defeats.

Manor suffered a disappointing home loss to London Bari whilst Burnham Ramblers went down at home to Barking in a game they had led at the break. The visitors had as a result lost their last three games netting only once in those matches but they almost had a great start when a shot came off the outside of the post as the hosts failed to clear.

However that was to prove Ramblers only real effort on goal in the first half as the hosts quickly began to take over proceedings and on five minutes Rhys Fatt cut inside and drilled a shot just wide of Burnham’s near post and then two minutes later they really should of led but after a great ball into the six yard box, the hosts could only head over from point blank range.

The hosts were now doing most of the pressing and on twenty minutes saw a free kick fly across the box before it was flicked behind for a corner and this was drilled towards the penalty spot and sawMichael Bottone drift towards the near post and leave his marker for dead and finish first time past Harry Aldridge in the Ramblers goal, giving Manor a deserved lead.

The game sort of slipped into a midfield battle briefly thereafter but it was the hosts who continued to look more threatening and on 33 minutes the ever dangerous Fatt forced visitors keeper Aldridge into a decent stop from close range before he received a late challenge and required treatment. He was ok to continue though, much to Ramblers relief.

However two minutes before half time Manor doubled their lead in almost identical circumstances when from another Fatt corner, Christie O’Donahue lost his marker and headed home past Aldridge and gave Manor a two goal half time lead and control of this tussle.

Half Time Southend Manor 2 Burnham Ramblers 0

Ramblers, no doubt with Keith Wilson‘s voice still ringing in their ears after a poor first half, created the first chance of the second half three minutes in when they forced the hosts keeper into a decent stop down to his right. Manor hadn’t really come out for the second period and as a result the visitors were much better in the opening exchanges of the second half, putting the hosts under some pressure.

The pressure didn’t really create any real clear cut chances of note though and on 68 minutes another visiting attack saw a dangerous ball into the Manor six yard box cleared just about before ending up as another corner which saw a header looped wide and off target, again not testing the keeper.

Three minutes later Manor got in down the right but only a last ditch clearance prevented Fatt from what would of been an easy tap in and then on 74 minutes Fatt cut inside but saw his effort deflected wide for a corner and the hosts looked to seal the deal. Burnham though at least continued to make the hosts work for the win and with nine minutes to go more pressure from the visitors saw a closerange effort blocked brilliantly before the loose ball fell to Ramblers but the effort went straight at the keeper.

It was to be Burnham’s last chance to get back into the contest as with four minutes remaining Manor sealed the deal when great work from substitute Sam Short saw him strike an effort at goal which Aldridge saved but saw the ball go back to Short who forced Aldridge into another save but the ball went across goal and Fatt was their to gobble up the rebound from barely a yard out and the points was Manor’s.

The last action of the game saw a rare sight of Burnham Ramblers boss Keith wilson coming on for a cameo appearance but his side have now lost four straight whilst the Stuart Marshall that is three wins in five games since he took charge of the Southchurch Park club.

Full Time Southend Manor 3 Burnham Ramblers 0

Sunderland 2 Manchester United 1

Barclays Premier League, Saturday 13th February 2016


So the alarm sounded at 4.30am this morning (Saturday 13th February) and the reason was me and my step mum were off on our annual pilgrimage to the Stadium Of Light to see Sunderland hosts Manchester United in the Barclays Premier League lunchtime kick off.


Every year around my late fathers birthday (which is the 8th February) we make the trip to watch his beloved Black Cats although we often curse him up their saying 'why couldn't you have supported a team closer to us than Sunderland!!!' Anyway we enjoy our days out in the main despite often seeing them lose.


Today saw them take on the might that was Louis Van Gaal's Manchester United, although not the side they once were, would still prove a tough nut for Sunderland to crack. We of course went into the contest rather hoping that the hosts would at least show some fight and run the Red Devils close.


The game could not have began better though as after only two and a half minutes on the clock recent signing Wahbi Khazri swung in an less than average free kick which Jemaine Defoe dummied and saw an unsighted David De Gea fail to keep out the set piece and it went straight in off the post!!! What a start indeed although there was still a long long way to go.


As the half went on Sunderland sat deeper and deeper as the visitors dominated possession without really testing Vito Mannone in the hosts goal, in fact in took until the 31st minute before Mannone had a shot to save when Juan Mata struck one straight at him.


But then with about six minutes to the break the visitors grabbed a leveller when after Mannone had brilliantly saved Mata's effort down to his right, Anthony Martial clipped the ball over Mannone and into the far corner. It probably was a result of the hosts defensive nature towards the end of the half and at half time we all thought the the hosts needed to push up more and take the game to their opponents.


Well Sam Allardyce must of listened as the Black Cats pretty much dominated the second period and created two wonderful chances, both brilliantly saved by De Gea, to keep his side level. But with eight minutes to go the hosts struck the fatal blow when a corner from Khazri saw Lamine Kone power a header at goal which both De Gea and Martial failed to keep out and send all of us supporting the red n white mad!!!


Despite a few nervy moments towards the end the hosts managed to see the game out and the win takes Sunderland to within one point of rivals Newcastle and safety after a game inspired by manager Sam Allardyce's January signings. Tunisian forward Khazri was making his second appearance and was instumental in their victory scoring early on, and the winner was all thanks to the powerful header from Kone, a signing from Lorient.


It certainly made the early start all the more worthwhile and me and step mum returned home as happy as could be!!! I'm sure somewhere up their in the sky my Dad was looking down on us with a smile and also enjoying his side earn their first win over the Red Devils in the Premier League at the Stadium Of Light. Fantastic!!!