Slippery lino
An injury in the 65th minute of the game between Gosport Borough and Hendon recently caused the abandonment of a match. The vital relegation clash in the Southern League Premier South ended when a
linesman slipped on a muddy touchline. The Gosport physio tried to help the linesman, but the game was called off with the score 0-0 after no suitable replacement could be found. Could the physio have done more to help the injured lino? We’ll never know, but don’t shoot the massager.
Blokes in the crowd
At Dulwich Hamlet last Friday, I overheard two cracking comments. The first was, “I always judge the quality of a team on the pitch by who is on the bench”. Really? I wonder whether Pep will start leaving Haaland on the bench to give the Man City fans more hope. Second up was this: “If we keep the ball in their half all game, they’ll only get the odd close-range chance”. Not so.
Wrecks ‘em or not
The Easter Monday game between Wrexham and Notts County was as big as any non-League game gets. The two sides before the game were locked on 100 points, with Wrexham having five games to play and County four. The record number of points when winning the National League is currently 105, achieved by Crawley Town in the 2010-11 season. This season, both of these top two clubs are likely to beat this total, but one will face playoffs against the likes of Woking, Barnet or Eastleigh, who could be 40 points behind. The result was a 3-2 win for Wrexham, which puts them in a strong position. It looked like an exciting game, with each side scoring alternately and Notts County missing a stoppage-time penalty.
Good Friday
Faversham Town may be bottom of the Isthmian League South East
Division, but their two scorers in their 2-2 draw with Haywards Heath Town deserve mention, particularly as the game took place on Good Friday. Goals from Parsons and Christian-Law were not enough to cancel out the two goals by Haywards Heath’s Michael Uwezu.
Online offside
On Twitter recently, a groundhopper claimed he only went to grounds, offering a printed programme. Understandably, there is a move by non-League clubs, particularly those with smaller attendances, to have an online programme or teamsheet. Some clubs hand out teamsheets around the bar just before kick-off. It is a bit of a faff to find an online programme while watching a game and, of course, keeping an eye on live scores from other games. There are quite a few moans about this at many grounds, but presumably, offering a free teamsheet won’t break the bank of most clubs.
Police inquiry as Yate nick points
We reported on the Met Police last week, but they were in the news again in their Friday’s Southern League Premier South clash with Yate Town. Yate are propping up the division, but thanks to two own goals by the boys in blue (they actually play in sky blue), they lost 2-1. Own goals from Bernie Turner and Liam Beach meant that it was no holiday for the Met, who will now struggle to make the playoffs, while Yate Town will need to win their last three games to escape the drop.
Horses for courses
I noticed that the Essex & Suffolk Border League is sponsored by the
Chelmsford City Racecourse. To give it its full name, it makes it the Chelmsford City Racecourse Essex & Suffolk Border League. Are Chelmsford City Reserves top of this league? Well, no. Despite a 2-0 win over Stanway Rovers Community, they are 22 points adrift of leaders Dunmow Town. According to the Chelmsford City Racecourse’s website, Dunmow Town lead Tiptree Heath by a short head.
Quick goals
Last week, we reported how Marc Burrows scored after 2.56 seconds in a game when playing for Cowes Reserves. A reader wrote to me slating a striker, the name of whom we will not disclose, who signed for his club a year or so ago, suggesting that he couldn’t hit a cow’s arse with a banjo. All I will reveal is that the striker had a rather similar name. But why would you want to assault a farmyard animal with a musical instrument?
Bovine theme
The reader continued by noting that last week’s review contained a bovine theme (Cowes Sports, Yaxley, Big Macc and ‘Uddersfield). He also suggested that there was a missed opportunity with no mention of Oxford City. It took me a moment for the penny to drop on the ‘Yaksley’ reference, to be honest. Of course, we also covered the Jersey Bulls a few weeks ago. Next week, there will be a feature on Newcattle Town, who play in the Northern Premier League Division One South East.
