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Football: Wherever it may be

~ Laurence's football travels

Football: Wherever it may be

Daily Archives: May 9, 2013

Murphy’s Law

09 Thursday May 2013

Posted by laurencereade in B

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Berinsfield, Chris Murphy, David Murphy, Dec Sheppard, Mark Ingram, North Leigh, Oxon Intermediate Cup Final, Thame United

Wednesday 8th May 2013 ko 19.45

Oxon Intermediate Cup Final

NORTH LEIGH RESERVES 1 (Sheppard 69)

BERINSFIELD 2 (C Murphy 29 D Murphy 80)

Att 70 at Meadow View Park, Thame (Thame United FC)

Entry £3

Programme 50p

I normally avoid anything “Organised” by the Oxfordshire Football Association, the presentation is usually lousy, but it would be remiss of me not to watch Berinsfield FC at least once this season!

In truth it was an interesting fixture with once of the strongest sides in the North Berkshire League taking on a side, nominally at least, a notch higher in the footballing pyramid, two thirds of the way down the Hellenic League Division One West.

The OFA didn’t let me down, they charged £1 more than the advertised entry cost, and the programme was laughably bad even for 50p. They somehow contrived to lose the Berinsfield pen pics, and like in the Senior Cup Final issue eschewed the idea of putting a history of the competition in. I would have thought that would be the FIRST thing to include, but what would I know?

As ever the NBFL committee was notable by their presence with media officer Phil Annets regaling us with tales of comedian Duncan Norvelle. Meanwhile Berinsfield secretary Jackie Cullen was typically nervous, although for this game she at least decided not to commence her usual long-distance power-walking stint around the pitch! Later on she did pick me up on one of my little quirks, and I do feel it may have helped Berinsfield along the way.

This game had been postponed due to a fixture backlog, and it was obvious that the Thame United pitch was not ideal for the passing game. There was also a contrast in ages too, Berinsfield were far the more experienced, only Josh Dutton-Black for North Leigh having any significant first team experience. And early on it told, before Berinsfield made the pressure tell as Chris Murphy’s lob opened the scoring from Mason Curtis cross.

The second half was North Leigh take a much stronger hold on the game. They equalised when Declan Sheppard managed to wriggle free to fire past Toby Coffey in the Berinsfield goal. It was at that point that Jackie spotted my quirk. As a photographer I always seem to be stood behind the wrong goal when a side scores so I was despatched forthwith!

So there I stood, in splendid isolation, behind Toby Coffey’s goal, and the ruse worked, as David Murphy intercepted a poor pass, and blasted a stunning 25 yard shot past Kane Lewis in the North Leigh goal. It was a goal to grace any of the world’s great stadia, and one I will never forget.

My new vantage point was handy for the last few minutes as North Leigh pushed forward, and with just seconds left came the second piece of sublime skill, this time linked with total commitment. The ball fell kindly to North Leigh’s Jacob Hughes, and his scuffed shot was enough to beat Toby Coffey, but as the ball trickled towards the line, about 6 inches out, there was Mark Ingram chasing back. He slid in desperately, but despite his momentum being towards the goal, he managed to get a toe underneath the ball and hook it clear. It was an amazing moment, in many ways as exceptional as David Murphy’s goal, and afterwards his manager Stephen Masterson summed it up.

“That’s what these lads have been like for the last 3 years, commitment mate….. They’d die for me and the shirt.”

The final whistle saw the celebrations that are very much Berinsfield’s forte, I took a few more photos then headed for home. I know the kind of club they are, and the groundhopping fraternity will get to know them too, come September.

Mark Ingram’s concentration is off-putting to Kane Harris, the North Leigh keeper
Jackie will kill me for this.



 

 

That Point

09 Thursday May 2013

Posted by laurencereade in W

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Adi Holder, Alex Stubbs, Charlbury Town, Chris Hirons, hellenic league, jack busby, Kev Lewis, Shaun Mayfield, smiths industries, Tom Perry, Tony Mcleman, West Witney, West Witney Sports Ground, Witney and District League

Tuesday 7th May 2013 ko 18.30

Witney & District League Premier Division

WEST WITNEY 8 (Lewis 21 77 Hirons 33 Holder 62 Perry 79 85 Rayfield 86 Stubbs 90)

CHARLBURY TOWN 0

Att 22

Entry FREE

No Programme

Just over a week ago I watched West Witney agonisingly fail to take the point they needed to secure the league championship at Long Hanborough. It was a mere 30 seconds from full time when Hanborough’s winner went in, and in all honesty I rather felt for the league leaders so it was an easy decision to make for the West Witney Sports Ground on the B4047 Burford Road. One thing is clear, the club’s location means they’re well named, in fact you’re as close to Minster Lovell as you are to Witney!

It’s a well appointed site, featuring tennis and cricket as well as football. It used to be the Smiths Industries Sports Ground, and Smiths Industries FC played Hellenic League football here from 1964 to 1967.

Last week West Witney’s nerves got the better of them when the finshing line was in sight, but since then they haven’t looked back. The first XI have won the the Fred Ford and Witney Senior Cups and the reserves have won the Jack Busby Cup. It also turned out that Charlbury Town weren’t going to put up the level of resistance that Hanborough did.

The visitors though should take credit for fulfilling the fixture. They maintained their Premier Division survival on Saturday, and it would have been easy enough for them to have scratched this fixture. They turned up, and don’t let the scoreline fool you, they fought from start to finish, and had the class to stay around afterwards to applaud West Witney as they received the trophy.

But this evening was all about West Witney, and once Chris Hirons had scored the second, they looked irresistible. The football that had frozen in the tension last week flowed, and the goals rained in. Adi Holder headed home from a cross, before Kev Lewis collected his second. The decision was then made to put centre half Tom Perry up front. He did well, collecting a brace, the second a vicious left foot shot from all of an inch!

There was however one concern as substitute Shaun Rayfield slotted home for his first of the season, and that was where was the cup? As the game re-started a man with a wooden box slowly made his way over from the car park, and everyone relaxed. Alex Stubbs rounded off the rout, before everyone decamped to the clubhouse for the presentation and a beer or ten.

The only question that remains is can West Witney do it all again next season? They won’t take promotion, few clubs do from this league, but there’s no lack of competition to be found in this league.





Even if you’ve just won the league, you still have to take the nets down


 

Viewpoint

09 Thursday May 2013

Posted by laurencereade in B, L

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Barrow Wake, Birdlip, Brad Martin, Dorian Colling, Gloucester City, Gloucestershire County League, hellenic league, hot air balloon, iron age burial, Longlevens, Tuffley Rovers, Western League

Monday 6th May 2013 ko 15.00

Barrow Wake, Gloucestershire, near Birdlip

then,

Gloucestershire County League

LONGLEVENS 2 (Martin 54 70)

TUFFLEY ROVERS 4 (Mann 8 Colling 11 21 64)

Att 220

Entry & Programme £2

I dread to think how many times I’ve passed the viewpoint of Barrow Wake on the A417 between Gloucester and Cirencester without stopping for a look over the Vale of Gloucester. I’ve been in the nearby Hot Air Balloon pub more often.

The area derives its name from the discovery in 1879, of a late Iron Age burial (c. 50 AD) site. Three skeletons were discovered and associated with the central figure, that of a woman aged about thirty years, a rich array of grave goods including the world-famous Birdlip Mirror. The finds represent some of the finest surviving examples of British Celtic metal work, are displayed in Gloucester City Museum.

I suspect that if you know where to look, you can see Longlevens new ground in the Barnwood districts of Gloucester. Tucked away behind the Ibis hotel, the club moved here for this season after their former home at Longford Lane was deemed unsuitable for County League football. That ground is now used by Gloucestershire Northern Senior League outfit Minsterworth, but the new ground is exactly what the Longlevens needs. There’s plenty of parking, a good-sized changing room block and the pitch is fully railed. There are floodlights, currently only suitable for training, but upgrade these, and add a small stand and they’d have a ground suitable for a tilt at either the Hellenic or Western Leagues.

The latter is where Tuffley Rovers, also Gloucester-based see their future. They used to play in the Hellenic, but dropped down due to travelling costs. They feel the Western League, with a glut of journeys down the M5 is a realistic option, and with the club second in the table, and Glevum Park easily fulfilling ground grading necessities, elevation looks possible.

What made this fixture so attractive was that Longlevens were top. Add to that a glorious sunny day and a local derby, and the bumper crowd was only to be expected. A shed served as a highly efficient tea bar, and the club coped well with the influx of people.

Unfortunately the team didn’t fare anywhere near as well, as within 21 minutes they found themselves 3-0 down. The difference was Tuffley striker Dorian Colling, whose movement completely perplexed the home defence; he collected a brace and completed his hat trick just after the hour. The hosts didn’t compete at all until Brad Martin’s late brace gave their performance a veneer of respectability, but even with this set-back Longlevens still have the whip-hand.

Tuffley are 3 points clear with a game left, but Longlevens have 3 games left. You wouldn’t bet against both sides getting what they want, Longlevens the title, and Tuffley the promotion. Its definitely one to watch!





 

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