The Wandering Tractor

OCTOBER 23/24 Maidenhead United Women 9 Selsey Women 0 Sunday 1st October 2023 FAWNL Plate Competition First Round After a hectic Saturday it was nice to get back to one game a day and enjoy a trip back to York Road. The train was fine, everything on time after another train strike on the Saturday. Maidenhead is just 9 miles from where I live but with the vagueries of train travel, it takes 1 hour 15 minutes and that includes an half hour wait on the platform at Reading! As usual with a visit to York Road, my first pit stop was the tea hut and a Magpie burger. Top quality as usual, quarter pounder with cheese, two rashers of bacon and fried onions for £5. I managed to catch up with a cold-ridden Neil Maskell, the matchday secretary and programme editor, before heading off for a wander around the historic stadium and a read of the free printed programme. Now this turned out to be a pretty eventful game so be prepared for a long match report! Maidenhead started quickly, kick off played back and a long ball for Imogen Fisher to chase, Charlie Davey got to the ball first but running towards her own goal under pressure from Fisher had to concede the corner, which was well defended. Next Jade Hockey played a delightful ball through the defence for Simone O’Brien to run on to and shoot which Selsey keeper Nicole Robinson dealt with well. O’Brien’s pace and movement was causing the visiting defence all sorts of problems, great link up play with Emily Norfolk resulted in O’Brien fizzing a cross into the box but nobody could get on the end of it. At the other end Shantelle Gray put Magpies keeper Kenny Clarke under pressure following a back pass, Clarke miscontrolled it and Gray ended up on the floor when the keeper went to ground but no foul given. Emily Norfolk and Simone O’Brien again teamed up down the right flank making an opening for Izzy Stockton, her first shot from the edge of the area was blocked and she recovered but hit the rebound just wide. The first goal came in the 16th minute, a driving run from defence from Sarah Thompson found O’Brien who touched it on to Natasha Rasmussen, her first time shot was brilliantly parried away by Robinson but went straight to Fisher following up and she stroked the ball into the empty net. 1-0 Maidenhead were in the mood for more goals and a nice passing move between Stockton and O’Brien led to the latter firing a shot just wide. Next Rasmussen hit a rasping effort from 25 yards which Robinson showed good hands to deal with it well. Stockton ran onto a pass from Fisher, shook off a tackle from a defender and sho low to the keepers right where she saved well with her legs. In the 23rd minute Selsey tried to break but could only make it to the halfway line with Thompson hauling back Phoebe Hamilton and being shown the yellow card. Two minutes later the Magpies doubled their lead with a fantastic goal. A superb ball from Rasmussen found O’Brien in space on the right, she slid in a lovely cross from the byline and Stockton was there on the edge of the 6 yard box to side foot home. 2-0 Still the hosts weren’t satisfied and on the half hour mark O’Brien got the goal her display deserved when Fisher played her in and she fired into the far corner across the keeper. 3-0 Emily Norfolk, who had been making me feel tired with her endless running up and down the right, linked up nicely with Rasmussen in the 35th minute, Rasmussen flashed a cross into the box from wide which was turned behind for a corner. The corner caused chaos in the box as the visitors couldn’t clear with the ball falling kindly for Imogen Fisher at the back post and she made no mistake, firing home. 4-0 The visitors were struggling to defend the corners being swung into the 6 yard box and it was from another set piece Maidenhead added a fifth. Another corner wasn’t dealt with and a Sarah Thompson glancing header seemed to get the final touch. 5-0 Izzy Stockton got in behind the defence and nearly sneaked one in at the near post but Robinson did well to turn it behind for a corner. Simone O’Brien swung another teasing corner into the 6 yard box where Thompson planted a powerful header past the stranded Robinson. 6-0 There was still time for yet another save from the impressive Nicole Robinson in the Selsey goal, Stockton won the ball back on the left, passed to Rasmussen who turned the defender and fired low to the keepers right but Robinson got down quickly to save once more. H-T: Maidenhead United 6 Selsey 0 A dominant half from the hosts and the scoreline could have been a lot worse but for a string of great saves from Robinson. Selsey started the second half brighter, Isabelle Wheatley latched on to a through ball and battled to get the better of Ruth Topping, getting a shot away which was saved by Clarke in the Magpies goal. On another foray forward Thompson was again penalised for pulling Phoebe Hamilton back following a mazy run and received her second yellow, quickly followed by a red card. This didn’t seem to faze the hosts as they continued to pour forward, a Stockton run into the area led to another shot well saved by Robinson, then a brilliant back heel through the legs of the defender by O’Brien wasn’t rewarded as she was crowded out on the edge of the box. A strong run from her own half by Imogen Fisher, taking her past three Selsey players, before hitting a powerful shot again well saved by Robinson. In the 63rd minute Maidenhead had a seventh. Rasmussen and O’Brien linked well again down the left before putting over a great cross to Fisher at the back post. She controlled the ball and saw her first effort blocked but she picked up the rebound and fired into the left corner for her hat-trick. 7-0 Selsey were battling hard and showing good character but still couldn’t find a way to stem the home side’s attacks. First O’Brien wriigled free inside the area and got a shot away which Robinson was again equal to, then, in the 72nd minute great feet from Stockton saw her power through two challenges before firing into the corner from inside the area. 8-0 Substitute Maisy West showed nice footwork of her own moments later but was brought down with the resulting free kick sailing straight into the arms of Clarke. Another substitute, this time for the Magpies, Macey-Nikiah Walters, introduced herself into the game with a stunning effort from 25 yards out which forced Robinson into a brilliant save to tip it over. A fine run from Ruth Topping freed Stockton inside the area but her shot went wide of the near post. Walters frightening pace down the right and fired a cross into Fisher but CharlieDavey closed her down well and got an important block in. In the final minute of the ninety Maidenhead made it nine. A beauty of a pass from Tarran Williams found the run of Walters and she buried it across the keeper and into the far corner. 9-0 F-T: Maidenhead United 9 Selsey 0 A good win for the hosts and they will be happy with the amount of chances they created while keeping the door firmly shut at the back. Impressive performances from Natasha Rasmussen who oozes quality in midfield, Emily Norfolk who played her first 90 minutes at this level and didn’t look out of place with a fine performance, Imogen Fisher with a fine treble and Izzy Stockton too had a great game, looking dangerous with every run into the area and two goals. But there can only be one person for my player of the match, a fantastic all round performance from Simone O’Brien (just how many times did I write her name down in the report??). So dangerous throughout with Selsey finding her unplayable on the day. Selsey are a young side, I’m told the average age of their squad is under 19, and they battled hard showing there is a lot of character in their squad. Obviously the keeper, Nicole Robinson, had a blinder but shout-outs also for Anwen Evans, Isabelle Wheatley who has some engine, she chased after everything including lost causes, and Phoebe Hamilton. It can’t be easy at the moment but there are encouraging signs for the future, hopefully they’ll stick together and continue to develop over the course of the season.

October 2023/24

Maidenhead United Women v Selsey Women - FAWNL Plate 1st Round (1st Oct) Tilbury v Stanway Rovers - Essex Senior League (7th Oct) Abbey Rangers Ladies v Fleet Town Women - SRWFL Division 1 South (8th Oct) Badshot Lea v Chipstead - Isthmian South Central (14th Oct) Ashridge Park Women v Wantage Town Women - BBFA Trophy 2nd Round (15th Oct) Virginia Water v Woodley United - FA Vase First Round (21st Oct) Berks County Ladies v Wokingham & Emmbrook Ladies - TVCWFL Dev (22nd Oct) Bagshot v Bedfont - Combined Counties Division One (28th Oct)

Tilbury 3 Stanway Rovers 0 Saturday 7th October 2023 Essex Senior League Premier Division My longest single day trip including three hours of train travel each way on four trains (good job there wasn’t a strike this weekend!) and with a bit of walking involved for good measure, with a trip to wander around Tilbury fort planned. Because of this I had an early start and, I’m pleased to say, everything went smoothly trainwise for a change! I arrived in Tilbury just before midday. I took a nice walk down to the Thames Estuary in the autumn sunshine past the docks and watched the ferry leave before walking on to the fort. Seeing all the gun emplacements still there as if waiting for ghosts of Lutfwaffe planes to come into view was quite surreal. There was an old plane that flew over but I couldn’t make out what it was. Check out my Instagram page for a few of pictures. After a quick stop off in the Worlds End pub it was on to the ground. This was my first visit to Chadfields although not the first time I’d seen Tilbury in action. The first time was as a fresh faced 11 year old when they played, and beat, Bracknell Town in the FA Cup qualifying rounds in 1977 with the second time being probably two or three years later at the much missed Finchampstead Road, home of Wokingham Town in the Isthmian League. So just 40+ years between seeing The Dockers play! Into the ground, which went well from the off with their choice of matchday music, and one of my reasons for wanting to visit Tilbury was seeing the pictures of one of their selection of burgers on the Footy Scran Twitter page. I can only say it didn’t disappoint and you can see my review on my new Matchday Fayre page. All their matchday food, and extremely high quality it is, is produced by Eat Street Catering (@Eatstreetessex on Twitter or X, whatever you want to call it). Definite thumbs up from me for them! So, onto the game. At the start Tilbury were sitting in 7th place in the ESL and on a good run, unbeaten in four games and winning their last three by a 3-0 scoreline (two in the league and one in the FA Vase). Stanway Rovers for their part were 19th having recently parted company with manager Karl Duguid, and on a bad run of four consecutive defeats. The first half hour of the game was nip and tuck, both sides battling for everything but not able to forge a decent opening. The hosts looked the more dangerous through the wickedly inswinging corners from Tom Salter but the only real save either keeper had to make was a smart save from Tilbury’s Page low to his left after Tom Lewis made himself some space on the edge of the area. In the last minute of the half Tilbury broke through the steadfast defence of the visitors when Dan Trendall’s pace took him into the area where he crossed into the box and Harry Donovan stooped low to head the ball over the line. 1-0 H-T: Tilbury 1 Stanway Rovers 0 The second half began and the Dockers took control from the off. Salter hitting an effort just wide from the edge of the box, Roman Campbell just failed to get on the end of a cross from Oli Spooner and Salter again hitting a volley from 20 yards straight into the keepers arms. Tilbury finally made all the pressure count in the 79th minute when Browne found Campbell in the area and he stroked the ball past the keeper to double their lead. 2-0 The Dockers made it three with just a couple of minutes remaining after Spooner was upended inside the area and Campbell comfortably struck the spot kick home. 3-0 F-T: Tilbury 3 Stanway Rovers 0 An entertaining game in the unseasonably warm autumn sunshine and a deserved victory for the hosts. I really enjoyed my day out in Tilbury and shall return at some point in the future! Best of luck to both teams for the rest of the season.

Abbey Rangers Ladies 2 Fleet Town Women 1 Sunday 8th October 2023 Southern Region Women's Football League Division One South I mentioned on Twitter before the game that this time last year I didn’t know Abbey Rangers existed. I guess this is something that happens to a lot of clubs throughout the country. If you don’t get any coverage in the local media, how do you let people know you are there and what you can offer? Abbey Rangers is a great club with fantastic facilities (one of the best pitches in the area) and they have built a really welcoming family oriented community club. I’ve been back for both men’s and women’s fixtures several times since my first visit so they must be doing something right! As you may know, I’m partial to a little food at a game and Abbey have The Dug Out, a great place to grab something to eat on a matchday. If you’ve been following my journey since last year you’ll know they had two different burgers that finished in my top five from my games in 22/23 including the one I deemed the best of the season. Check it out if you get a chance, you won’t be disappointed! After catching up with a few people I had the pleasure of meeting on my travels last season, it was time for a quick chicken nuggets and chips before heading out into the autumn sunshine for the game. Who’d have thought people would be turning up in t-shirts and shorts for a match in early October? The game started with Abbey on the front foot and they fashioned a couple of early chances while the visitors were still trying to settle. Lauren Timbrell saw an early chance just beat the far post before Leah Robertson ran onto a through ball in the area and managed to get there before Ellie James in the Fleet goal but she just couldn’t get enough on it to send it goalwards and that allowed Abbie Burrows to clear. Robertson was in action again soon after when she made another clever run into the area and this time she did get a shot in which was beaten away by James at point blank range. Carla Hobbs had also started well and she won the ball midway in the Fleet half and again found the run of Robertson, who was causing the visitors defence all sorts of problems with her pace, but her effort went narrowly wide. The waves of attacks continued for the hosts, Millie Hackney tried her luck from outside the box which James did well to parry away for a corner and from the set piece Izzy Saunders saw her shot from distance again well saved by the busy Fleet goalkeeper. Next a lovely through ball from Bethany Easterman found Hobbs in space but she blazed her effort over the bar. It had been a blistering start from the home side but they had nothing to show for it and Fleet slowly started to claw their way into the match. A nice move between Jade Ferguson and Jamie-Lee Osbourne made space for the latter to get a cross in which Mel Anders managed to block away for a corner. Back at the other end, Lauren Timbrell was fouled on the edge of the area and got up to take the set piece, trying to curl it into the top corner but James was there again to save. Lisa Smith had the next chance after the ball fell kindly for her from a corner but again her effort was too high. In the final action of the first half, a Carla Hobbs run down the right flank where she twisted and turned the defender inside out before firing a “come and get me” ball across the six yard box but it was just a yard in front of Smith running in and was cleared away. H-T: Abbey Rangers 0 Fleet Town 0. Rangers would have gone into the dressing room wondering how they weren’t ahead and carried on in much the same vein after the break. A nice move down the left led to Saunders finding Timbrell on the edge of the box and her first time effort had to be tipped around the post by James. Fleet then had their best spell of the game so far, first Ferguson nicked the ball in midfield and played it through to Molly Greenaway whose shot was well saved by Sadie Trotter. Then a mix up in the home defence from a corner gave Ferguson the chance to block a clearance and play in Beth Graves who fired over. At the other end a defence splitting ball played through by Lucie Hill was picked up by Lisa Smith but she saw her effort deflected just wide of the keepers near post. Abbey finally got a bit of luck and made it count. Carla Hobbs ran onto a great diagonal ball from Saunders where she managed to just beat the keeper to the ball and it rolled into the empty net. 1-0 The hosts double their lead soon after. They were awarded a free kick on the edge of the area which Jess Tripp managed to get up and over the wall and into the roof of the net with James stranded. A cracking strike from their free kick specialist! 2-0 To their credit Fleet looked to get get straight back into the game and managed that minutes later when the impressive Ferguson picked out the run of Teyla Poulter and she coolly took the ball around Trotter and stroked the ball home. 2-1 The visitors had their best spell in the game as they pushed for an equaliser. Molly Greenaway chipped a lovely free kick from the left flank into a dangerous area which somehow the home defence managed to scramble clear before a nice move down the left sent Ferguson clear but Lucie Hill was there to make a great covering tackle. In the last action of an end to end second half, a Saunders free kick from 20 yards out was saved by James as the ball looked to be heading inside her near post. F-T: Abbey Rangers 2 Fleet Town 1 Abbey will probably be wondering how they didn’t win this game by a wider margin but they will be encouraged with the amount of chances they created. Fleet for thir part battled on gamely and could have nicked something from the game late on. There were plenty of good things to build on for both teams coming from today’s game. An enjoyable game to watch and good luck to both teams for the rest of the season. You’ll both probably see me again at some point! The least I say about my train journey home the better too…

Badshot Lea 4 Chipstead 2 Saturday 14th October 2023 Isthmian League South Central Division After experiencing an excellent visit to the Operatix Community Ground last season, it was time to take a trip back and see how they were getting on. Badshot won promotion from the Combined Counties South in 22/23, finishing runners-up to Raynes Park Vale while amassing 94 points and scoring over 100 goals. They have started the season well so far in 23/24, finding themselves just outside the play-off places at this early stage. With the visitors being in and around the upper reaches of the table too this promised to be a cracking match-up. As you’ll know from my previous reports, nothing is ever easy with the rail system. The 20 mile trek from where I live to Farnham would mean a journey time of one and a half hours and entail catching three trains. This time the system worked like clockwork and I found myself waiting for a bus to the ground. Unusually this was the leg that caused the delay with the bus being 20 minutes late, thank heavens for tracking on the app being available otherwise I would have ended up walking to the ground as I did last year and that is quite a distance! It was at the bus stop I met and started chatting to a groundhopper making his first visit to Westfield Lane. A really interesting man, he’s been to over 670 grounds in the UK including all the current 92 English League grounds (apart from Brentford’s new gound), all of the Scottish League grounds and countless non-league grounds up and down the country. Fascinating to hear some of his experiences. When the bus did finally turn up we reached the ground around 2pm, entry was £10 and with an excellent printed programme costing £2. As usual my first port of call was to order my burger, this time I went for The Moxy after taking on the fantastic Baggie Burger last season and you can find out more about that on my Matchday Fayre page. So, onto the game. Badshot started the game well, controlling the football and probing to find an opening. In the 9th minute a nice passing move resulted in them winning a corner on the right. The outswinging set piece was headed back across goal by George Frise with Adam New beating two defenders to the ball and made enough contact for it to bounce into the right corner of the net. 1-0 Badshot were now firmly on top and playing some lovely patient passing football. Chipstead for their part looked to be chasing shadows and struggled to cope with the hosts high pressing game. Another passing move led to an opening for Reece Robins, who beat the offside trap only to be beaten to the ball by Chips keeper Harrison Frith diving at his feet and taking the ball cleanly. The visitors had their first half chance midway through the half when a diagonal free kick into the box from Bradley Wilson was headed on but Badshot custodian Myles Bowman gathered well. The action was all coming at the Chipstead end with them defending valiantly to turn away wave after wave of home attacks. Kai Allsopp sent another dangerous corner into the box from the right but this time New couldn’t get on the end of Frise’s header and it was cleared for a corner on the opposite side. A quick short corner one-two between Baback Dehgani and Robins made space for the former to whip another cross in towards the far post where it was well defended by Matt Kellet-Smith. Chipstead then started seeing a bit more of the ball and had their best spell of the half just on the half hour mark. A lovely move down the left culminated in Martin Sontan firing the ball into the box from the byline which was blocked and fell kindly for Badshot keeper Bowman to gather. Badshot came back and doubled their lead in the 38th minute. A storming run into the area from Allsopp looked like it he was going to be muscled out by the defender but Allsopp battled well, took it round the outside to the byline, looked up and then cut a lovely pass back to Lamin Ceesay who sidefooted the ball into the net. 2-0 The hosts tried to kill the game off and, but for excellent defending from Zohair Ali, looked likely to score following another sweeping move across the pitch. Chipstead nearly got themselves back into the game on the brink of half time when a nice move down the left finished with a good shot which was well tipped away by Bowman. H-T: Badshot Lea 2 Chipstead 0. A fantastic first half of football which was about to be succeeded by an even better second. The visitors came out all guns blazing from the restart and in a total reversal of the first, started causing the home side problems. From a Wilson free kick wide on the right the ball was cleared but only to Danyall Iqbal who struck his shot well but it took a deflection to go out for a corner. This was well defended and cleared to Ceesay who controlled well and skipped past a challenge midway inside his own half. He ran on with no support and two defenders for company and tried an audacious lob from fully 45 yards out which sailed over Firth’s head but also the crossbar. Jaden Edwards was causing problems for the Baggies defence with his pace down the right in the second half and in the 61st minute it was a great cross from him which found Wilson’s run into the box and he glanced his header across Bowman and into the far corner. 2-1 Chipstead’s tails were now up and they came close again moments later, substitute Arlie Desanges had a half chance just inside the area but he could only stab it just wide. In the 66th minute the visitors got the equaliser their play deserved. A smart pass from Desanges found Daniel Berry on the edge of the box and he showed good strength to shrug off a challenge before calmly firing under the onrushing Bowman’s legs and into the net. 2-2 The Chips nearly took the lead moments later but Sontan fired over the bar from just outside the box. Back came the hosts and in the 71st minute retook the lead. A fine Rohart-Brown cross from the left was met at the back post by Anuar Ceesay who finished nicely. 3-2 The visitors were still in this and Daniel Berry’s direct running down the left flank was causing headaches for Badshot Lea. One such run saw him gather the ball inside his own half and outstrip two defenders to get to the byline before pulling it back for Desanges on the edge of the six yard box. The ball was just behind him but he managed to gather and turn in one movement but saw his effort blocked superbly by George Hedley. Both sides were searching, the Baggies to seal the win and Chipstead to get something out of the game and it was the home side that prevailed. In the 89th minute the visitors were looking to break but were stopped in their tracks by an excellent tackle and cross from Anuar Ceesay which was converted by Rohart-Brown at the back post. 4-2. Still the two sides went toe to toe in added time but there was no further scoring in this enthralling game. F-T: Badshot Lea 4 Chipstead 2 A fantastic game of football for a neutral, I’m sure the supporters of the two sides might not agree and would have experienced many ups and downs throughout the 90 minutes! A cracking advertisement for Step 4 football. Good to catch up with Gavin Smith who I’ve known for many years through his time at Bracknell Town, and to all the fantastic people involved with the club from the chairman down, thanks for another great day out and I’ll no doubt see you again at some point this season (after all, I do have a couple of extra burgers to try!) Now plotting a first trip to Chipstead and will hopefully see them later on in the season too. Good luck to both sides for the rest of 23/24.

Ashridge Park Ladies 6 Wantage Town Women 0 Sunday 15th October 2023 Berks & Bucks FA Women’s Trophy Second Round A first trip to Cantley Park to check out Ashridge Park and the journey there went smoothly. The bus arrived on time and I left myself plenty of time to find the pitches which I needed as apparently I did a lap around the place, walking for 20-25 minutes, where I could have been there in ten! Still, you live and learn. The 3G surface at Cantley is so much better than the one at Bracknell Sports Centre, and looks massive, it’s apparent someone there looks after it which they certainly don’t seem to at Bracknell. The game was a second round Berks & Bucks Women’s Trophy match-up with the hosts being the hot favourites for the tie considering they play two levels higher in the TVCWFL. As expected Ashridge had most of the possession in the early stages and won an early corner following good work down the right falnk by Molly Brookes. The corner was cleared well by the defence and on the break Ellie Day went down with what looked like a nasty injury. After being tended to she was helped off the field and wasn’t able to return. Something that would become apparent throughout the game is Amy Linge is very good at taking corner kicks! Time and again she crossed into a dangerous area in the six yard box and that caused Wantage massive problems throughout. After ten minutes she swung in her first, meeting the run of Lauren Broadhurst but she couldn’t get enough on it to steer it into the net. After that it was shooting practice for Ashridge with most being straight at Bells Rowan in the Wantage goal. Broadhurst played in Lily-May Varney but her shot went wide, Laura Comerford hit a couple straight to Rowan and then Broadhurst, Varney and Katie Sayer tested the Wantage keeper but she was having a game where she was holding onto everything. Varney then had a good run down the right flank before pulling it back into the 6 yard box but again Rowan just managed to grab the ball in front of Sayer. And so it continued, a lovely ball from Mia Leonard splitting the defence played in Broadhurst and her shot was well saved by Rowan again at her near post. After 32 minutes Sayer was played into space inside the area and fired a shot at point blank range which Rowan did well to parry and quickly recover to dive on the loose ball in front of Comerford. Leonard was again the architect in the next attack, this time feeding Varney inside the area, she pulled the ball across, Sayer got a touch before it ran through to Comerford with her back to goal. She turned sweetly and got a shot away which just went the wrong side of the post. The hosts thought they’d broken through towards the end of the half when Varney broke clear and put the ball in the net but she had strayed half a yard offside. There was still time for Rowan to punch away a free kick floated in by Brookes and pull off another save from Varney low to her right. H-T: Ashridge Park 0 Wantage Town 0 A frustrating half for the hosts but credit to the visitors, they battled away gamely with Sophie Green and Chelsey Newport winning some important tackles. This was always likely to be a floodgates open scenario once Ashridge broke through the stoic defensive effort from Wantage and it took them a minute into the second half to do just that. Laura Comerford picked up the ball wide right and played a lovely ball across the 6 yard box where Lauren Broadhurst got the goal her play in the first half deserved, tapping in from close range. 1-0 The same move nearly brought a rapid second, this time Varney supplying the cross only to see Leonard sidefoot it over. Subsitute Megan Averill made an instant impact, picking up the ball 30 yards out, took two touches and then hit a belter of a shot which just flew over Rowan’s bar. The home side did make it two moments later following more good work from Broadhurst, she picked up the loose ball outside the box and fired a shot goalwards. This time Rowan could only parry the ball away and Sayer was well placed to beat her to the rebound and steered the ball home. 2-0 Wantage had their first real chance of the game soon after, Sara Comley hitting a shot from outside the area which Kari Mietle saved comfortably. After that it turned into the Grace Bull show. On as a substitute, she set up the third with a great run down the right and cross which picked out Sayer at the near post and she headed the ball past Rowan with aplomb. 3-0 Megan Averill played another delicious ball through to Comerford but she could only drag her shot wide. Another wicked corner from Linge picked out the intelligent late run from Broadhurst and she headed powerfully past the stranded Rowan. 4-0 Moments later it was five, Bull again made a superb run down the right flank sliding the ball across the 6 yard box where Varney was there to slot the ball into the net. 5-0 Another storming run from Bull found Varney in the D but Ange Cross managed to block, the deflection hitting the bottom of the post and went out for a corner. This time Wantage managed to clear the corner but it wasn’t long before another exquisite through ball from Averill found Sayer with her shot drifting agonisingly wide of the post. Rowan was back in action moments later saving another Sayer shot from an Averill through ball. Grace Bull again terrorised the visitors defence with another run and shot which Rowan palmed over the bar. From another teasing corner by Linge, the defence were in sixes and sevens and in the melee, Sayer took advantage to complete her hat-trick. 6-0 F-T: Ashridge Park 6 Wantage Town 0 A good team performance from the hosts with everyone playing their part. While having probably one of their easier games, the defensive trio of Molly Brookes, Rachel Stevens and Olivia Slom covered virtually every chance Wantage made and linked up well going forward. Ashridge also have very good options from the bench with Averill & Bull particularly impressive in the second half. This will be all part of the learning experience for Wantage. You certainly can’t fault them for heart and commitment. Missing a few players through injury or unavailability and also only having two subs, which was down to one following Ellie Day’s early injury, it was alays going to be a tough task. They never gave up and battled to the final whistle which is a good sign for the future. Wishing Ellie Day all the best, hope her injury isn’t too bad and she makes a speedy recovery. Good luck to Wantage for the rest of the season.

Virginia Water 1 Woodley United 1 (Woodley won 4-3 on pens) Saturday 21st October 2023 FA Vase First Round So in the week that Storm Babet wreaked havoc around the UK with social media showing the wind and deluge that left many grounds underwater or storm damaged, it was a blessing that this game survived. The Thames Valley looked to have escaped the worst of the storm and, although the pitch at Stag Meadow was heavy from the rainfall, it was playable. This looked to be a fascinating match-up in the FA Vase First Round. The hosts, sitting in a play-off position in the Combined Counties Premier North, were looking to make their first appearance in the second round of the competition for 48 years. For the visitors, sitting mid table in the Combined Counties Division One table, reaching this round had already surpassed their best ever run in this competition so they would be looking to create more history in this fixture. Thanks to FA competitions guru Phil Annets, @favasefactfile on Twitter, for that little snippet! More rain was forecast for the afternoon but the game at least started dry. Virginia Water began the game quickly and had the first chance when Reece Gairy beat the offside trap and raced onto a through ball. Sadly his first touch was a little heavy which took him away from goal and allowed a defender to get back and block his effort. In the 12th minute, a nice one two down the right flank from the hosts released Andrio Brandao whose pull back from the byline found Adam Sewell alone in the area but he blasted over from close range. The waves of attacks continued from the step 5 side and they came close again minutes later when a Casey Boccaro free kick from the left was swung in deep towards the back post. Woodley keeper Killian Barrett misjudged the flight and it found its way to Sewell again who saw his header rebound off the base of the post and cleared away to safety. Woodley had been forced onto the back foot early on but against the run of play, took the lead in the 23rd minute. Tahir Carmichael produced a great tackle in midfield and sent the ball wide left to Connor Richardson. A burst of pace and good footwork took him clear of the defence and he whipped a lovely cross into the six yard box where Sid Gbla ran in to sidefoot past Matthew Jones in the home goal. 0-1 Despite this setback Virginia Water continued to push forward. A cracking Josh Blakebrough shot from 25 yards was brilliantly saved at full stretch by Barrett. On 28 minutes Bocarro and Brandao linked up well setting up a chance for the latter but again Barrett was equal to it, tipping it wide of the far post. The hosts looked dangerous from set pieces and one swung in to the six yard box caused panic in the visitors defence but was eventually headed clear by Dan Watkiss from just under the crossbar. Woodley had a rare attack soon after where a nice first time passing move between Connor Suckling and Rafa Brandao released Gbla. He was on his own and had two defenders for company but still managed to get a shot on target which was well saved by Jones low to his right. The home side had the final two chances of a breathless half when first, Bocarro found space in the area for a shot but could only fire it straight at Barrett and then, just before half time, Bocarro hit another fierce drive which deflected off a defender and over the bar. H-T: Virginia Water 0 Woodley United 1 An action packed first half where the Waters fashioned a host of chances that they couldn’t take advantage of and Woodley fighting a rearguard battle but took the one real chance they made. The second half started off in a similar fashion with the hosts having the majority of the play. The rain began to come down which made the surface more slippery. In the 53rd minute the home side levelled when a Brandao corner from the right was flicked on and fell between Sewell and Gairy with the latter managing to poke the ball into the Woodley net. 1-1 The goal seemed to galvanise the hosts and they pressed forward looking to take the lead. Gairy had a half chance when he slid in and knocked the ball past Barrett only to see Joshua Nwokobia clear the ball from just inside the right hand post. Brandao had another shot saved by Barrett before the Woodley keeper pulled off another stunning save from Bocarro. He saw his first shot blocked just inside the area by Watkiss but reacted quickest to volley a cracker goalwards only to see Barrett claw the ball away to his right. At the other end, a lung busting run down the right wing and a nice one two with Gbla gave Manny Adu Essah a chance to shoot inside the area but Jones managed to save his effort with his legs. Soon after a long throw from Watkiss fell to Nwokobia just inside the area but he fired over. In the final chance in normal time, James Goodey, who impressed after coming on as a second half substitute, picked up the ball on the right and drifted in past two Woodley players but his attempt at a curler went well wide. After 8 minutes of time added on in which both sides desperately searched for the winner, the referee blew the full time whistle and the match was to be decided by penalties. F-T: Virginia Water 1 Woodley United 1 Woodley took the penalty shoot out 4-3 with Virginia Water missing their third and fifth penalties, one a superb save from Barrett, and Woodley only missing their fourth to spark jubilant scenes from all involved with the visitors. Make no mistake, Virginia Water are a good side and made more than enough chances to win this game but they came up against an inspired goalkeeper and will probably feel they gave the ball away unneccessarily on too many occasions. They worked the ball into some good positions but the final ball let them down too often. This was a gutsy, resolute team performance from Woodley and all their players deserve the plaudits after following their coaches game plan to a T. Every one of their players battled so hard against a team from the league above and in the end deserved to take something from the game. Good luck to them in the next round. Go and make some more history! The excellent Marcus Rashid was there photographing the game so to see his collection check out his website.

Berks County Ladies 3 Wokingham & Emmbrook Ladies 0 Sunday 22nd October 2023 Thames Valley Counties Women’s Football League Developmental Division A trip of all of 10 minutes down the road today to catch a TVCWFL Developmental Division match between two brand new teams in the area for me today. There were a few familiar faces and it was nice to be able to catch up with them and find out all about their new set-ups. The other really pleasing thing was it wasn’t raining. Hallelujah! It was actually quite sunny, albeit a little chilly in the shade, which certainly made a change from the last few days. The game began at a furious pace and Berks County nearly opened the scoring within a minute. A strong header forward by Kiah Owen ran into the path of Jess Brome-Mbaya who managed to shoot early but it just went wide of the post. Next, a nice pass out to the right wing found Leanne Harkins who cut back inside the defender and put a cross into the box which was well dealt with by Louise Galway in the Sumas goal. It was a strong opening 15 minutes from the hosts but their opponents were defending well and they struggled to make any clear cut chances. Kiah Owen, who was heavily involved in every attack for the hosts, came close to opening the scoring after 16 minutes. A couple of deft touches made herself some space on the edge of the area but her shot flew just wide of the post. Owen then linked up well with Harkins and Lucie Harvey which ended with another shot on goal saved by Galway. Wokingham & Emmbrook had their first chance of the match moments later when the lively Genevieve Richards picked up the ball from a throw and flicked it over her head. This was picked up by Lauren Evans and her first time effort went agonisingly wide of the far post with the keeper beaten. At the other end, Harvey had another half chance but could only put the ball into the side netting. Evans had another chance for the Sumas soon after when she cut inside Annalise Young and sent a shot goalwards but County keeper Charlee Bradbury was equal to it. Lydia Farruggio saw an effort saved well down low to her left by Galway at the other end before Wokingham won a free kick 25 yards out on the left side of the box. Captain Megan Bartlett took it and it looked to be heading into the roof of the net until Bradbury managed to get her fingertips to the ball just under the crossbar then catching the ball. Kiah Owen again came close after picking up the ball inside her own half and setting off on a long run before firing another shot from just outside the box that Galway again saved well. In the final attack of the half Owen again went on a solo run, this time down the left flank, which Galway could only parry away and Becky Drablow managed to get to the ball in front of Farruggio and clear. H-T: Berks County 0 Wokingham & Emmbrook 0 Quite how this was goalless at half time I have no idea! So many chances for the hosts but excellent goalkeeping from Galway and a resolute defence had kept Berks County at bay. At the start of the second half the pattern of play was similar with the home side powering forward and the visitors defending well and trying to use the pace of Richards and Evans to counter. The opening goal came in somewhat bizarre circumstances. The ball was bouncing around in the area and Caitlin Taylor went down after the ball hit her and she was struggling to breathe. The game carried on and Galway, worried about her teammate stopped to help her and Amber Riddle rolled the ball into the empty net. 1-0 I spoke to the referee after the game and he explained that the visitors, bar the goalkeeper and the stricken player, had continued to play rather than kick the ball out so the goal would stand. The current laws of the game state the official can only stop play for a head injury which seems a farcical rule especially if someone is struggling to breathe. So, there you go. That was the reasoning behind it. The Sumas reacted well and came close to an immediate leveller when Evans hit a decent shot which somehow Bradbury managed to scramble away to safety. Back came Berks County and inevitably it was Owen who came close to doubling the lead. She picked up the ball and ran to the left side of the area before unleashing a shot which took a deflection and that was enough to take the ball past the far post. Next Louise Galway was at the centre of events, pulling off saves from Emma Gaywood, Harkins and Brome-Mbaye, before getting a strong hand to Harvey’s attempt to lift it over her after being put through. At the other end Evans again made some space for herself on the left and fired a shot across goal which whistled just wide of the far post. In the hosts next attack Lucie Harvey played a lovely ball through the middle of the defence picking out Brome-Mbaye’s run but she hurried her shot and the advancing Galway saved with her legs. For the Sumas, Evans won the ball in a tackle and ran in on goal but scuffed her shot allowing Bradbury to gather. From this Bradbury sent a long kick towards Owen, she headed it on into the path of Brome-Mbaye who hit a clean strike but again wide of the target. The home side finally doubled their lead through Owen after she picked up the ball on the left and surged into the area before sliding it across Galway and into the bottom corner. 2-0 Galway again kept Berks County at bay with a superb double save from Farruggio, the second from point blank range, and soon afterwards they did make it three when Brome-Mbaye’s pace again took her clear of the defence and this time she managed to poke it past the advancing Galway and in. 3-0 There was still time for Galway again to make another stunning save from Owen before the referees whistle brought an entertaining game to a close. F-T: Berks County 3 Wokingham & Emmbrook 0. Good performances all round with Annalise Young, Kiah Owen, Lydia Farruggio and Lucie Harvey all impressing for Berks County, and Megan Bartlett, Lauren Evans and Genevieve Richards doing the same for the visitors. There can only be one candidate for my player of the match though, a simply superb display from Wokingham & Emmbrook’s goalkeeper Louise Galway. Good luck to both sides for the rest of the season and it certainly won’t be the last time I’ll be catching up with both clubs in 23/24!

Bagshot 1 Bedfont 3 Saturday 28th October 2023 Cpmbined Counties League Division One A hastily arranged replacement fixture for me as my planned match at Burnham was postponed earlier in the week due to a fixture issue with the league and then heavy rain once more took its toll on many games in the area. Krooner Park has a good playing surface so this, together with the Thames Valley not getting the deluge that swamped much of the southern and eastern counties, meant that this game would go ahead with a 2pm kick off. Entry to the ground was £7 and I received a warm welcome from the hosts including a good chat with one of their fantastic band of volunteers who manned the turnstile about the difficulties facing clubs with few volunteers to help them out and trying to compete against teams with a much bigger playing budget. There was a very dark and foreboding sky overhead which would be a taste of things to come as I took my place in the stand. Bedfont started the game quickly playing some nice football on the slick surface. They took advantage of the pace of Cyril Ocansey early on, he raced onto a couple of balls into space down the right flank, whipping in dangerous crosses which Bagshot defended well. For the next 20 minutes or so it was a very even match. Bagshot’s Ezekiel Coker forcing a good save with his legs from Sam Bersey and minutes later Bersey was called into action again, this time tipping over Coker’s shot. Bedfont were making chances of their own when first, a nice cross from Sekani McCalmon found the head of Luke Dunn who saw his header well saved and then Ben Bell had a shot from outside the area which was again well gathered by the Bagshot keeper. Ocansey also had a chance but his drive across the keeper went wide of the far post. The pressure was building on the hosts as Bedfont won consecutive corners which were again well defended. Then came a mad five minutes. In the 31st, Ocansey expertly picked out the overlap from the full back Kieran Brown and his cross into the six yard box from the byline found Kildane Tesfu all alone and he coolly sidefooted the ball home. 0-1 A minute later a Luke Bersey free kick to the near post found the head of Luke Dunn and he made no mistake glancing the ball past the stranded Baghot keeper to double their lead. 0-2 In the 35th minute Ocansey again made an opening, this time finding McCalmon just inside the area and he smashed his effort into the back of the net to make it three. 0-3 McCalmon was again involved on the verge of half time, making a great run but his cross flashed across the box beating everyone and was cleared. H-T: Bagshot 0 Bedfont 3 Just before half time and during it the heavens opened. I don’t think I’ve seen such a heavy downpour in quite a while and that would make conditions much more difficult in the second half. Bedfont continued to try to play nice passing football but everything was a bit tentative with the underfoot conditions early on. The hosts had made a couple of substitutions and pulled a goal back through Coker, firing past Sam Bersey to reduce the deficit. 1-3 Bedfont came straight back and another good Luke Bersey delivery from a corner found Harry Tubb but he couldn’t get enough power on his header and the keeper gathered safely. There then followed a delay to the game after a member of the Bagshot bench was dismissed for something he said to the referee which led to an argument, the offender refusing to go and both managers being talked to by the official. By now the pitch was cutting up with the game getting a little scrappy but Bedfont were still making chances. A Bersey corner from the right found Charlie Lawrence but he could only put his header over the bar under pressure. Another chance to add to the visitors lead came and went towards the end of the game, Chris Martin-Thomas picked up a long ball forward leaving a two on two situation, he drew the defenders and slipped the ball to McCalmon. His first touch was a little heavy and the keeper saved well at his feet, the ball rebounded back to Martin-Thomas who hit a first time shot which was thwarted by a brilliant piece of defending by Bagshot captain Kevin Beaumont. He chased back and was there to head the ball clear from underneath the crossbar. The home side had one final chance in the closing minutes, Coker picked up the ball outside the Bedfont area and played a lovely ball with the outside of his left foot but Sam Bersey had seen the danger and saved well at the feet of the onrushing forward’s feet and gathered safely at the second attempt. F-T: Bagshot 1 Bedfont 3 A good game despite the conditions and deservedly won by the visitors. Bagshot gave everything and certainly don’t look to be a bottom two side. If they play like this then hopefully they will be able to pick up valuable points in future games and climb away from the bottom of the table. Bedfont look a good side who make a lot of chances, they look a good bet to be involved in the play-off picture this season. Thanks to Bagshot for their hospitality and to the many Bedfont supporters I had the opportunity to chat to. I’ve pencilled in a visit to The Orchard so I’ll be seeing you again later in the season!

The Wandering Tractor

October 2023/24

Tilbury 3 Stanway Rovers 0 Saturday 7th October 2023 Essex Senior League Premier Division My longest single day trip including three hours of train travel each way on four trains (good job there wasn’t a strike this weekend!) and with a bit of walking involved for good measure, with a trip to wander around Tilbury fort planned. Because of this I had an early start and, I’m pleased to say, everything went smoothly trainwise for a change! I arrived in Tilbury just before midday. I took a nice walk down to the Thames Estuary in the autumn sunshine past the docks and watched the ferry leave before walking on to the fort. Seeing all the gun emplacements still there as if waiting for ghosts of Lutfwaffe planes to come into view was quite surreal. There was an old plane that flew over but I couldn’t make out what it was. Check out my Instagram page for a few of pictures. After a quick stop off in the Worlds End pub it was on to the ground. This was my first visit to Chadfields although not the first time I’d seen Tilbury in action. The first time was as a fresh faced 11 year old when they played, and beat, Bracknell Town in the FA Cup qualifying rounds in 1977 with the second time being probably two or three years later at the much missed Finchampstead Road, home of Wokingham Town in the Isthmian League. So just 40+ years between seeing The Dockers play! Into the ground, which went well from the off with their choice of matchday music, and one of my reasons for wanting to visit Tilbury was seeing the pictures of one of their selection of burgers on the Footy Scran Twitter page. I can only say it didn’t disappoint and you can see my review on my new Matchday Fayre page. All their matchday food, and extremely high quality it is, is produced by Eat Street Catering (@Eatstreetessex on Twitter or X, whatever you want to call it). Definite thumbs up from me for them! So, onto the game. At the start Tilbury were sitting in 7th place in the ESL and on a good run, unbeaten in four games and winning their last three by a 3-0 scoreline (two in the league and one in the FA Vase). Stanway Rovers for their part were 19th having recently parted company with manager Karl Duguid, and on a bad run of four consecutive defeats. The first half hour of the game was nip and tuck, both sides battling for everything but not able to forge a decent opening. The hosts looked the more dangerous through the wickedly inswinging corners from Tom Salter but the only real save either keeper had to make was a smart save from Tilbury’s Page low to his left after Tom Lewis made himself some space on the edge of the area. In the last minute of the half Tilbury broke through the steadfast defence of the visitors when Dan Trendall’s pace took him into the area where he crossed into the box and Harry Donovan stooped low to head the ball over the line. 1-0 H-T: Tilbury 1 Stanway Rovers 0 The second half began and the Dockers took control from the off. Salter hitting an effort just wide from the edge of the box, Roman Campbell just failed to get on the end of a cross from Oli Spooner and Salter again hitting a volley from 20 yards straight into the keepers arms. Tilbury finally made all the pressure count in the 79th minute when Browne found Campbell in the area and he stroked the ball past the keeper to double their lead. 2-0 The Dockers made it three with just a couple of minutes remaining after Spooner was upended inside the area and Campbell comfortably struck the spot kick home. 3- 0 F-T: Tilbury 3 Stanway Rovers 0 An entertaining game in the unseasonably warm autumn sunshine and a deserved victory for the hosts. I really enjoyed my day out in Tilbury and shall return at some point in the future! Best of luck to both teams for the rest of the season.

Berks County Ladies 3 Wokingham & Emmbrook Ladies 0 Sunday 22nd October 2023 Thames Valley Counties Women’s Football League Developmental Division A trip of all of 10 minutes down the road today to catch a TVCWFL Developmental Division match between two brand new teams in the area for me today. There were a few familiar faces and it was nice to be able to catch up with them and find out all about their new set-ups. The other really pleasing thing was it wasn’t raining. Hallelujah! It was actually quite sunny, albeit a little chilly in the shade, which certainly made a change from the last few days. The game began at a furious pace and Berks County nearly opened the scoring within a minute. A strong header forward by Kiah Owen ran into the path of Jess Brome-Mbaya who managed to shoot early but it just went wide of the post. Next, a nice pass out to the right wing found Leanne Harkins who cut back inside the defender and put a cross into the box which was well dealt with by Louise Galway in the Sumas goal. It was a strong opening 15 minutes from the hosts but their opponents were defending well and they struggled to make any clear cut chances. Kiah Owen, who was heavily involved in every attack for the hosts, came close to opening the scoring after 16 minutes. A couple of deft touches made herself some space on the edge of the area but her shot flew just wide of the post. Owen then linked up well with Harkins and Lucie Harvey which ended with another shot on goal saved by Galway. Wokingham & Emmbrook had their first chance of the match moments later when the lively Genevieve Richards picked up the ball from a throw and flicked it over her head. This was picked up by Lauren Evans and her first time effort went agonisingly wide of the far post with the keeper beaten. At the other end, Harvey had another half chance but could only put the ball into the side netting. Evans had another chance for the Sumas soon after when she cut inside Annalise Young and sent a shot goalwards but County keeper Charlee Bradbury was equal to it. Lydia Farruggio saw an effort saved well down low to her left by Galway at the other end before Wokingham won a free kick 25 yards out on the left side of the box. Captain Megan Bartlett took it and it looked to be heading into the roof of the net until Bradbury managed to get her fingertips to the ball just under the crossbar then catching the ball. Kiah Owen again came close after picking up the ball inside her own half and setting off on a long run before firing another shot from just outside the box that Galway again saved well. In the final attack of the half Owen again went on a solo run, this time down the left flank, which Galway could only parry away and Becky Drablow managed to get to the ball in front of Farruggio and clear. H-T: Berks County 0 Wokingham & Emmbrook 0 Quite how this was goalless at half time I have no idea! So many chances for the hosts but excellent goalkeeping from Galway and a resolute defence had kept Berks County at bay. At the start of the second half the pattern of play was similar with the home side powering forward and the visitors defending well and trying to use the pace of Richards and Evans to counter. The opening goal came in somewhat bizarre circumstances. The ball was bouncing around in the area and Caitlin Taylor went down after the ball hit her and she was struggling to breathe. The game carried on and Galway, worried about her teammate stopped to help her and Amber Riddle rolled the ball into the empty net. 1-0 I spoke to the referee after the game and he explained that the visitors, bar the goalkeeper and the stricken player, had continued to play rather than kick the ball out so the goal would stand. The current laws of the game state the official can only stop play for a head injury which seems a farcical rule especially if someone is struggling to breathe. So, there you go. That was the reasoning behind it. The Sumas reacted well and came close to an immediate leveller when Evans hit a decent shot which somehow Bradbury managed to scramble away to safety. Back came Berks County and inevitably it was Owen who came close to doubling the lead. She picked up the ball and ran to the left side of the area before unleashing a shot which took a deflection and that was enough to take the ball past the far post. Next Louise Galway was at the centre of events, pulling off saves from Emma Gaywood, Harkins and Brome- Mbaye, before getting a strong hand to Harvey’s attempt to lift it over her after being put through. At the other end Evans again made some space for herself on the left and fired a shot across goal which whistled just wide of the far post. In the hosts next attack Lucie Harvey played a lovely ball through the middle of the defence picking out Brome- Mbaye’s run but she hurried her shot and the advancing Galway saved with her legs. For the Sumas, Evans won the ball in a tackle and ran in on goal but scuffed her shot allowing Bradbury to gather. From this Bradbury sent a long kick towards Owen, she headed it on into the path of Brome-Mbaye who hit a clean strike but again wide of the target. The home side finally doubled their lead through Owen after she picked up the ball on the left and surged into the area before sliding it across Galway and into the bottom corner. 2-0 Galway again kept Berks County at bay with a superb double save from Farruggio, the second from point blank range, and soon afterwards they did make it three when Brome-Mbaye’s pace again took her clear of the defence and this time she managed to poke it past the advancing Galway and in. 3-0 There was still time for Galway again to make another stunning save from Owen before the referees whistle brought an entertaining game to a close. F-T: Berks County 3 Wokingham & Emmbrook 0. Good performances all round with Annalise Young, Kiah Owen, Lydia Farruggio and Lucie Harvey all impressing for Berks County, and Megan Bartlett, Lauren Evans and Genevieve Richards doing the same for the visitors. There can only be one candidate for my player of the match though, a simply superb display from Wokingham & Emmbrook’s goalkeeper Louise Galway. Good luck to both sides for the rest of the season and it certainly won’t be the last time I’ll be catching up with both clubs in 23/24!

Bagshot 1 Bedfont 3 Saturday 28th October 2023 Cpmbined Counties League Division One A hastily arranged replacement fixture for me as my planned match at Burnham was postponed earlier in the week due to a fixture issue with the league and then heavy rain once more took its toll on many games in the area. Krooner Park has a good playing surface so this, together with the Thames Valley not getting the deluge that swamped much of the southern and eastern counties, meant that this game would go ahead with a 2pm kick off. Entry to the ground was £7 and I received a warm welcome from the hosts including a good chat with one of their fantastic band of volunteers who manned the turnstile about the difficulties facing clubs with few volunteers to help them out and trying to compete against teams with a much bigger playing budget. There was a very dark and foreboding sky overhead which would be a taste of things to come as I took my place in the stand. Bedfont started the game quickly playing some nice football on the slick surface. They took advantage of the pace of Cyril Ocansey early on, he raced onto a couple of balls into space down the right flank, whipping in dangerous crosses which Bagshot defended well. For the next 20 minutes or so it was a very even match. Bagshot’s Ezekiel Coker forcing a good save with his legs from Sam Bersey and minutes later Bersey was called into action again, this time tipping over Coker’s shot. Bedfont were making chances of their own when first, a nice cross from Sekani McCalmon found the head of Luke Dunn who saw his header well saved and then Ben Bell had a shot from outside the area which was again well gathered by the Bagshot keeper. Ocansey also had a chance but his drive across the keeper went wide of the far post. The pressure was building on the hosts as Bedfont won consecutive corners which were again well defended. Then came a mad five minutes. In the 31st, Ocansey expertly picked out the overlap from the full back Kieran Brown and his cross into the six yard box from the byline found Kildane Tesfu all alone and he coolly sidefooted the ball home. 0-1 A minute later a Luke Bersey free kick to the near post found the head of Luke Dunn and he made no mistake glancing the ball past the stranded Baghot keeper to double their lead. 0-2 In the 35th minute Ocansey again made an opening, this time finding McCalmon just inside the area and he smashed his effort into the back of the net to make it three. 0-3 McCalmon was again involved on the verge of half time, making a great run but his cross flashed across the box beating everyone and was cleared. H-T: Bagshot 0 Bedfont 3 Just before half time and during it the heavens opened. I don’t think I’ve seen such a heavy downpour in quite a while and that would make conditions much more difficult in the second half. Bedfont continued to try to play nice passing football but everything was a bit tentative with the underfoot conditions early on. The hosts had made a couple of substitutions and pulled a goal back through Coker, firing past Sam Bersey to reduce the deficit. 1-3 Bedfont came straight back and another good Luke Bersey delivery from a corner found Harry Tubb but he couldn’t get enough power on his header and the keeper gathered safely. There then followed a delay to the game after a member of the Bagshot bench was dismissed for something he said to the referee which led to an argument, the offender refusing to go and both managers being talked to by the official. By now the pitch was cutting up with the game getting a little scrappy but Bedfont were still making chances. A Bersey corner from the right found Charlie Lawrence but he could only put his header over the bar under pressure. Another chance to add to the visitors lead came and went towards the end of the game, Chris Martin- Thomas picked up a long ball forward leaving a two on two situation, he drew the defenders and slipped the ball to McCalmon. His first touch was a little heavy and the keeper saved well at his feet, the ball rebounded back to Martin-Thomas who hit a first time shot which was thwarted by a brilliant piece of defending by Bagshot captain Kevin Beaumont. He chased back and was there to head the ball clear from underneath the crossbar. The home side had one final chance in the closing minutes, Coker picked up the ball outside the Bedfont area and played a lovely ball with the outside of his left foot but Sam Bersey had seen the danger and saved well at the feet of the onrushing forward’s feet and gathered safely at the second attempt. F-T: Bagshot 1 Bedfont 3 A good game despite the conditions and deservedly won by the visitors. Bagshot gave everything and certainly don’t look to be a bottom two side. If they play like this then hopefully they will be able to pick up valuable points in future games and climb away from the bottom of the table. Bedfont look a good side who make a lot of chances, they look a good bet to be involved in the play-off picture this season. Thanks to Bagshot for their hospitality and to the many Bedfont supporters I had the opportunity to chat to. I’ve pencilled in a visit to The Orchard so I’ll be seeing you again later in the season!