Midweek Musings

Launching straight into our midweek programme of activity for this past midweek which, this week, takes us up to Thursday evening. Tuesday evening out and about, our programme of activity includes news from Ashford Town, who hosted Beckenham Town from the Southern Counties East Football League in a Surrey County Senior Cup, First Round, tie over at Short Lane, along with four Premier Division games, one Division One fixture, two Aldershot Football Association Senior Cup, Second Round, ties and, likewise, two Surrey County Premier Cup, First Round matches, and, finally, one Grant-McLellan Cup, Second Round, tie to complete the activity available to our participating teams Tuesday evening out and about.

First stop Tuesday, we look in at the Robert Parker Stadium where hosts Ashford Town welcomed Beckenham Town of the Southern Counties East Football League for a First Round Surrey County Senior Cup tie. No goals in the first half, the 'Ash Trees' broke the deadlock barely six minutes into second half play courtesy of new kid Will Boye. This slim lead was held for fifteen minutes as back came the visitors. Thankfully, this glitch only lasted six minutes as Jack Beadle restored the lead for the home side. Barely ten minutes later, the contest, score-wise, was over thanks to Josh Andrew when he made it 3-1 and ensuring a fairly safe passage through to the next round.

League wins ten out ten played was secured by Hartley Wintney following a 4-2 triumph executed over at AFC Hayes. During this match, Ross Cook notched up a seventeen minute hat-trick plus a Sam Argent effort. For the home side, Jordan Berry and Bradley Hand duly obliged. ELSEWHERE: Andy Crossley scored the only goal as hosts Chertsey Town overcame Raynes Park Vale and Horley Town went down to a 3-0 defeat against Guildford City. First half goals from Curtis George (24 minutes) and Adam Ntini eight minutes later set the visitors well on the way. The lead was further extended six minutes into second half play via an own goal. Over at Chalky Lane, somewhat shell shocked from their last game against Guildford City where they were thumped 9-3, despite falling behind to a Danny Thompson goal, Chessington & Hook United came back strong at home to Bedfont Sports thanks to goals from Scott Harrison and James Duke to secure maximum points in a 2-1 win.

Division One saw Bedfont & Feltham overcome fellow top six rivals Abbey Rangers 2-0 thanks to a brace from Mick Campbell.

On paper, we were due to see two Surrey County Premier Cup, First Round, matches. Sadly though, just one was played; this being over at Cobham who bowed out on penalties to Shene Old Grammarians (Amateur Football Alliance FL). The Leatherhead Under 21’s (Isthmian Youth FL) versus Ash United contest was postponed due to the pitch being unavailable.

Badshot Lea overcame Fleet Spurs (Wessex FL) on penalties in their First Round Aldershot Football Association Senior Cup match whilst Eversley & California overcame Frimley Green 5-3 in their Second Round tie at home in the same competition while, in the other tie, which, again, was a second round one, hosts Knaphill went down 1-2 to Farnham Town.

Just the one Grant-McLellan Youth Cup, 2nd Round, tie that saw hosts Raynes Park Vale beat Chessington & Hook United 5-1.

Not such a flurry of match activity Wednesday evening, however, goals galore over at the Wibbandune Sports Ground where hosts Colliers Wood United took on Hanworth Villa. With both sides on the back of home defeats in their last League outing - 'Wood' 2-1 against Badshot Lea and 'Villa' badly beaten 4-0 by League new boys Redhill in our Friday evening fixture - something in terms of result wise meant, either way, the outcome of the game would, for at least one of the teams, represent a good result. Looking at the result on final whistle, which read Colliers Wood United 3 Hanworth Villa 4, overall suggestion gives the impression of both sides putting on a grand performance for those in attendance - sadly, I was not in that category but, with a bit of help from very good friend Chris Clapham, who, for those unaware, wastes little time on providing a wonderful and up to date website over at Colliers Wood which really helps analyse games which help hugely when compiling these Musings for your pleasure and which obviously I am always grateful for. Not only that though, in honesty, I find them a great read as well. To get a full taste of the activity from the game, if you go to http://wibbandune.simplesite.com and click on reports, you can get a better picture of events from Chris who was there.

Finally Wednesday, two more Grant-McLellan Youth Cup games were played. Firstly, in a First Round tie, visitors Knaphill made the very short trip to Westfield and came away with a 7-2 victory secured. Over at Cove, the hosts ended the hopes of Guildford City for this season having secured a 4-1 victory on the night.

Thursday night, Grant-McLellan Youth Cup football again was on offer over at AFC Croydon Athletic (Isthmian Youth FL) who entertained Horley Town in a Second Round tie. As I write, details of this match have still to avail themselves to myself. Hopefully, prior to launching into Saturday’s Musings, light can be thrown on this game which I can then transfer to you our precious readers.