The Non - League thread

[Old Man Andrews]

Great draw for Bracknell Town in the FA Vase Quarters. Got to be happy with a home tie. Marske are a good outfit though from what I have read about them hopefully the travel and the 3G pitch will be a leveller.

[Tony Le Mesmer]

FA Vase draw:

Bracknell v Marske
Melksham v Thatcham
Stockton v Windsor
Wolves SC/Leighton v Northwich

Too much to be decided in the FA Trophy with 5 replays, but Maidenhead will be home to NLN Brackley if they win their replay.

[Four Of Clubs]

FA Vase draw:

Bracknell v Marske
Melksham v Thatcham
Stockton v Windsor
Wolves SC/Leighton v Northwich

Too much to be decided in the FA Trophy with 5 replays, but Maidenhead will be home to NLN Brackley if they win their replay.

...not that I wanted our Hellenic sides to be drawn together - but to me, that draw could feasibly see all three of our lot go out.

Windsor's hitherto resilience on the road in this competition, might see them past Stockton BUT Melksham are typical Western league - a big powerful unit - they saw off one of the best 'local' sides around here Hartley Wintney with some ease last season and rarely slip up at home.

Bracknell's tie is a tough one to call & the 3G may prove decisive.
- Marske are possibly the Vase favourites since all Northern sides are perceived to be stronger - most likely by dint of their reluctance to step up when champions/eligible for STEP04. Previous winners abound at the top end of the Northern League; oft referred to in 'anorak' circles as 'The Geordie Mafia'.

The fourth tie is anyone's guess too - Wolverhampton SC are the lowest ranked - Leighton are much improved in the SSMP this season currently sat 3rd. 1874 Northwich are one of those fan-re-constructions - not sure why they took against Victoria enough to form a 'breakaway' : presumably dodgy owners?

If things fall favourably next Sat - might even trek up there for the re-arranged tie.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
...seems as if the two local (Hellenic Premier) games have dodged the freeze tonight (Mon) - might haul myself out for one of them:

Binfield v Windsor
Woodley v Wantage - passed an inspection earlier today.

Kingstonian's game v Merstham @ Leatherhead is OFF though.

[Hoop Blah]

Decent video highlights of the Windsor Hamble game.

https://youtu.be/z7HPTm0VMlk

And from Thatcham vs Bromsgrove

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ke4TTMyAN2Y

[AthleticoSpizz]

Cheers Hoops

Looks like a game that had it all, before during and afters.

[Royal Rother]

Binfield 2-3 Windsor

Windsor 2-0 down after an hour, pull one back but still 2-1 down at 87 mins, then go on to win 3-2.

So many fightbacks this season, there really is a top spirit in this squad.

[Four Of Clubs]

...an earlier than usual review of this w/e's NL - thought I'd post whilst I have some available time midweek:

Saturday 10th February

NAT
17:30 Dagenham & Redbridge v Aldershot Town
Maidenhead United v Torquay United
Woking v Chester
NATN
Blyth Spartans v Brackley Town
NATS
Braintree Town v Bath City
Chippenham Town v Bognor Regis Town
Dartford v Chelmsford City
East Thurrock United v Eastbourne Borough
Hampton & Richmond Borough v Whitehawk
Hungerford Town v St Albans City
Oxford City v Hemel Hempstead Town
Poole Town v Havant & Waterlooville
Truro City v Wealdstone
Welling United v Gloucester City
Weston-super-Mare v Concord Rangers

ILP
Hendon v Dorking Wanderers
Tonbridge Angels v Staines Town

SLP
Basingstoke Town v Bishop's Stortford
Chesham United v Dorchester Town
Hitchin Town v Farnborough
Slough Town v Banbury United
SL1E
Aylesbury v Ashford Town (Middx)
Barton Rovers v Beaconsfield Town
Chalfont St Peter v Moneyfields
Egham Town v Cambridge City
Fleet Town v Aylesbury United
Hayes & Yeading United v Bedford Town
Kempston Rovers v Marlow
Northwood v Uxbridge
Thame United v Hanwell Town
SL1W
North Leigh v AFC Totton
Slimbridge v Kidlington
Swindon Supermarine v Salisbury
Winchester City v Didcot Town
- Watched a very entertaining game in this division on Tue night – visited The Loop for :
- Didcot Town 3-1 Salisbury – att 160 - Claridge’s pre-season favourites amongst many, were humbled by a classic piece of solid defensive organisation, tireless work-rate, guile and counterpunch, over the power and pace

Sunday 11th February 2018
13:00 AFC Dunstable v Hartley Wintney

CCLP
AFC Hayes v Abbey Rangers
Balham v CB Hounslow United
Camberley Town v Guildford City
Chertsey Town v Farnham Town
Hanworth Villa v Epsom & Ewell
Horley Town v Bedfont Sports
Knaphill v Banstead Athletic
North Greenford United v Westfield
Spelthorne Sports v Godalming Town
Walton & Hersham v Redhill
CCL1
14:00 Worcester Park v Kensington Borough
AC London v Badshot Lea
Bedfont & Feltham v Frimley Green
Chessington & Hook United v Farleigh Rovers
Cobham v Staines Lammas
FC Deportivo Galicia v Fleet Spurs
Raynes Park Vale v Ash United
South Park Reserves v Cove
CCL1 Cup
13:30 Sheerwater v Eversley & California

HELLP
Abingdon United v Longlevens
Brackley Town Saints v Binfield
Burnham v Oxford City Nomads
Fairford Town v Bracknell Town
Lydney Town v Highmoor Ibis
Thatcham Town v Brimscombe & Thrupp
Windsor v Highworth Town

- Will not be too surprised to see an ‘upset’ here as Highworth have stuttered badly of late and seem to have lost their momentum – beaten again in midweek this time at home by RWBT, albeit in the one of the League Cup competitions (Floodlit) .
- Was at Binfield on Monday night – thought Windsor looked slow and very porous for the first hour or more but as the ‘Moles’ tailed off badly, so Windsor came more into it and at the end just about deserved their late brace, which switched the game on its head.

Woodley United v Tuffley Rovers
HELL1E
AFC Aldermaston v Penn & Tylers Green
Chalfont Wasps v Holyport
Wallingford Town v AFC Sandhurst Town
Wokingham & Emmbrook v Didcot Town Reserves
HELL1W
Letcombe v Clanfield (85)
HELL2E a rare Div 2 (1sts v 1sts)
Stokenchurch v Abingdon Town

WESSP
Alresford Town v AFC Portchester
Andover Town v Newport (IoW)
Petersfield Town v Cowes Sports
WESS1
AFC Stoneham v Alton
Andover New Street v Christchurch
United Services Portsmouth v Tadley Calleva
Whitchurch United v Downton

...and finally ..... 'Magpies' bow out of the FA Trophy beaten 3-2 aet at Stockport County having led 2-0 until quite late in 2nd half - both County goals in normal time scored after 80'. Home side reduced to 10 men in ET too.

Draw for 1/4 Finals

Fourth Round (Quarter-Finals)

3p.m. Saturday 24th February

1 Stockport County (NLN 6) v Brackley Town (NLN 6)
2 Billericay Town (ISP 7) v Wealdstone (NLS 6)
3 Leyton Orient (NL 5) v Gateshead (NL 5)
4 Bromley (NL 5) v Spennymoor Town (NLN 6)

[Tony Le Mesmer]

A rare Sunday 'hop' opportunity courtesy of AFC Dunstable. Excellent.

[Tony Le Mesmer]

Been looking at the proposals for 2018/19.

I just assumed that with 4 divisions at Step 3 next year (8 promotion places) that 4 teams from each of the NLS and NLN would go down. Simple yeah? No.

Looks like the 4 winners of the play offs at Step 3 will instead win a place in another play off. 6 then go up (4 x champions plus 2 x play offs) and bottom 3 in each on NLS and NLN go down.



A true pyramid system should see 2 up and 4 down in every division, surely?

[Four Of Clubs]

A rare Sunday 'hop' opportunity courtesy of AFC Dunstable. Excellent.

srsly thinking along the same lines meself - especially with the counter-attraction being Udderzzzzzfield v Borenmouth

.... is invariably a crap journey up that way tho ....

[Four Of Clubs]

Review 180210

NAT
Dagenham & Redbridge 0-2 Aldershot Town - Sh!ts move up to 2nd a point behind leaders Macclesfield
Maidenhead United 1-2 Torquay United
Woking 1-0 Chester
NATN
Blyth Spartans 3-0 Brackley Town
NATS
Braintree Town 0-2 Bath City
Chippenham Town 1-0 Bognor Regis Town
Dartford 1-2 Chelmsford City
East Thurrock United 0-0 Eastbourne Borough
Hampton & Richmond Borough 1-1 Whitehawk
Hungerford Town PP St Albans City – called off by match Ref not long before KO – reportedly a matter of minutes! Both manager’s agree there wasn’t much else the chap could have decided – just regrettably late in deeming the surface unplayable.
Oxford City 4-1 Hemel Hempstead Town
Poole Town 1-3 Havant & Waterlooville
Truro City 1-3 Wealdstone
Welling United 2-3 Gloucester City
Weston-super-Mare 1-0 Concord Rangers

ILP
Hendon 0-0 Dorking Wanderers
Tonbridge Angels 2-1 Staines Town

SLP
Basingstoke Town PP Bishop's Stortford
Chesham United 2-2 Dorchester Town
Hitchin Town 1-3 Farnborough
Slough Town 0-1 Banbury United
SL1E
Aylesbury 2-2 Ashford Town (Middx)
Barton Rovers 2-3 Beaconsfield Town
Chalfont St Peter 1-2 Moneyfields
Egham Town 1-2 Cambridge City
Fleet Town 0-1 Aylesbury United
Hayes & Yeading United 4-0 Bedford Town
Kempston Rovers 2-1 Marlow
Northwood PP Uxbridge
Thame United PP Hanwell Town
SL1W
North Leigh PP AFC Totton
Slimbridge PP Kidlington
Swindon Supermarine PP Salisbury
Winchester City 2-0 Didcot Town - brace for Barron the first struck from inside his own half.

Sunday 11th February 2018
AFC Dunstable 0-1 Hartley Wintney att 142

- did make it to this (just) no thanks to the A404(M), M25 and Dunstable the 'City of Lights' - that's TRAFFIC lights ....all interminably on red!
- temperatures plummeted mid-PM and we were treated to a heavy hailstorm.
HW won the game with a sumptuous Stow free-kick on 66’, from about 25 yds out that crashed in off the bar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJISY-x0XRE

- Much change at the ground since my last visit approx. 20 yrs ago – has the feel of a new build but the small bar open nearest the pitch got very crowded.... was a larger function room & bar accessible from the next door down but not many of the crowd found there way round there.
- Visitors now up to 5th and visit close neighbours and strugglers Fleet on Tue this MW

- plenty of Postponements locally – I’ve just shown matches played in the CCL, Hellenic and Wessex
CCLP
Camberley Town 3-3 Guildford City
Hanworth Villa 2-3 Epsom & Ewell
Horley Town 1-2 Bedfont Sports
Knaphill 3-0 Banstead Athletic
Spelthorne Sports 2-3 Godalming Town
Walton & Hersham 3-2 Redhill
CCL1
AC London 3-2 Badshot Lea
Bedfont & Feltham 0-3 Frimley Green
Cobham 1-3 Staines Lammas
FC Deportivo Galicia 2-1 Fleet Spurs
Worcester Park 2-1 Kensington Borough
CCL1 Cup
Sheerwater 2-3 Eversley & California

HELLP
Abingdon United 3-1 Longlevens
Thatcham Town 3-0 Brimscombe & Thrupp
Windsor 1-2 Highworth Town
- Quite surprised by this –evidently Highworth recovered quickly from their midweek reverse v RWBT in the Cup – perhaps Windsor were a little flat after their previous two wins

HELL1E
AFC Aldermaston 1-4 Penn & Tylers Green
Wallingford Town 0-1 Sandhurst Town
Wokingham & Emmbrook 4-2 Didcot Town Reserves

WESSP
Alresford Town 2-2 AFC Portchester
Andover Town 2-0 Newport (IoW)
Petersfield Town 2-0 Cowes Sports - rare win for strugglers
WESS1
AFC Stoneham 5-1 Alton

- Managed to get up to the delayed FA Vase 5th Round tie Wolverhampton Sporting Community 3-4 Leighton Town att 158
- Hosts actually based in Great Wyrely, which is up beyond Walsall at the top end of the M6 Toll Road - not far south of Cannock.
- Crazy first half with sides swapping goals and defensive howlers willy nilly – 3-3 at the break. After HT it all calmed down a bit and the game was won with a penalty around the hour mark to put the Beds side into the Quarter Finals for the first time in their history.
- I doubt any watching Northwich fans will be too worried about them; they look terrible at the back and though threatening from set-pieces don’t possess that much else to be concerned about. On the day they were only marginally better than a fairly average – though understandably confident STEP06 side – and are 25-1 outsiders amongst the last 8

[Royal Rother]

Highworth certainly didn’t look like table toppers. Windsor deserved something out of the game, probably 3 points - couldn’t take the numerous chances created.

Just one of those games really.

[Tony Le Mesmer]

Review 180210


Sunday 11th February 2018
AFC Dunstable 0-1 Hartley Wintney att 142

- did make it to this (just) no thanks to the A404(M), M25 and Dunstable the 'City of Lights' - that's TRAFFIC lights ....all interminably on red!
- temperatures plummeted mid-PM and we were treated to a heavy hailstorm.
HW won the game with a sumptuous Stow free-kick on 66’, from about 25 yds out that crashed in off the bar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJISY-x0XRE

- Much change at the ground since my last visit approx. 20 yrs ago – has the feel of a new build but the small bar open nearest the pitch got very crowded.... was a larger function room & bar accessible from the next door down but not many of the crowd found there way round there.
- Visitors now up to 5th and visit close neighbours and strugglers Fleet on Tue this MW

I took in this as well. A biting wind and another terrible pitch didn't make it a great watch. I went to the reverse fixture which was pretty much the same type of game, albeit on a glorious day weather wise. I went the through Berkhamsted and over the hills into Dunstable from the West. Lovely route in!

Crowd swelled to 142 with plenty of supermarket carrier bags on show.

Maidenhead 1 -2 Torquay.

Hosts missing 3 of their back 4 courtesy of an extra time midweek replay on a terrible pitch at Stockport and that probably decided this match in the end. Although I do doubt it was as bad as York Road's right now. It seems that every home match recently has been on a just about playable pitch and as a result its now ruined.

[Four Of Clubs]

...tomorrow's NL fixtures

Sat Feb 17th

NAT
Aldershot Town v Macclesfield Town 2nd host 1st
Guiseley v Maidenhead United
Hartlepool United v Woking
NATN
Brackley Town v Darlington
NATS
Bath City v Whitehawk
Bognor Regis Town v Braintree Town
Chelmsford City v Hemel Hempstead Town
Chippenham Town v Hampton & Richmond Borough
Gloucester City v Concord Rangers
Havant & Waterlooville v Hungerford Town
Poole Town v Eastbourne Borough
Truro City v Oxford City
Wealdstone v Dartford
Welling United v St Albans City
Weston-super-Mare v East Thurrock United

ILP
Dorking Wanderers v Kingstonian
Staines Town v Needham Market

SLP
Farnborough v Biggleswade Town
Frome Town v Chesham United
King's Lynn Town v Banbury United
Kings Langley v Slough Town
Redditch United v Basingstoke Town
SL1E
AFC Rushden & Diamonds v Chalfont St Peter
Ashford Town (Middx) v Kempston Rovers
Aylesbury United v Egham Town
Beaconsfield Town v Fleet Town
Bedford Town v Thame United
Cambridge City v Hayes & Yeading United
Hanwell Town v Barton Rovers
Hartley Wintney v Arlesey Town
Marlow v Northwood
Moneyfields v AFC Dunstable
Uxbridge v Aylesbury
SL1W
Bristol Manor Farm v Winchester City
Didcot Town v Evesham United
Kidlington v Larkhall Athletic
Taunton Town v Swindon Supermarine
Wimborne Town v North Leigh

CCLP
Abbey Rangers v Epsom & Ewell
Banstead Athletic v Walton & Hersham
Bedfont Sports v Redhill
Camberley Town v Spelthorne Sports
CB Hounslow United v Hanworth Villa
Colliers Wood United v AFC Hayes
Farnham Town v North Greenford United
Godalming Town v Horley Town
Guildford City v Chertsey Town
Knaphill v Balham
Westfield v Sutton Common Rovers
SURREY PREMIER CUP – 3rd Round (QF)
14:00 Nottsborough v Chessington & Hook United
ESOTERIC RECORDS DIVISION ONE CHALLENGE CUP – 3rd Round (QF)
14:00 Staines Lammas v Bedfont & Feltham
CCL1
AC London v Fleet Spurs
Ash United v FC Deportivo Galicia
Bagshot v Sheerwater
Cove v Frimley Green
Farleigh Rovers v Eversley & California
Kensington Borough v Badshot Lea
Raynes Park Vale v Worcester Park
South Park Reserves v Cobham

HELLP
Bracknell Town v Burnham
Brimscombe & Thrupp v Highworth Town
Flackwell Heath v Binfield
Highmoor Ibis v Brackley Town Saints
Longlevens v Royal Wootton Bassett Town
Lydney Town v Abingdon United
Oxford City Nomads v Tuffley Rovers
Thatcham Town v Windsor
Wantage Town v Fairford Town
HELL1E
Chinnor v Wokingham & Emmbrook
Holyport v Wallingford Town AFC
Milton United v Didcot Town Reserves
Penn & Tylers Green v Bicester Town
Sandhurst Town v AFC Aldermaston
HELL1W
Letcombe v Kidlington Reserves

WESSP
AFC Portchester v Andover Town
Alresford Town v Horndean
Bemerton Heath Harlequins v Petersfield Town
WESS1
Andover New Street v United Services Portsmouth
Folland Sports v Whitchurch United
Verwood Town v Tadley Calleva

- virtually no action in midweek due to the torrential rain from Tuesday onward - so a very miserable Half-term for your correspondent.
Was far too close to sub-zero to venture out to the wilds of Sw!nedon on Monday - Melksham were also at home but that would have been even further.
Tuesday saw Brackley return to good form, with a comfortable 3-0 win over N.Ferriby. Bracknell Town as expected won their F'lit cup tie 6-2 up at Didcot vs the Reserves and in the Hellenic Premier the following night, strugglers Fairford battered RWBT 4-0 to ease their fears of the drop.
Kidlington's game vs Bideford the same night started but was called off at H/T.

[bcubed]

Not surprisingly it continues to be a lot more fun following Brackley than Reading right now.

[Dick Habbin's hairdo]

I'm off to the Garden Shed tomorrow to infiltrate the East Bank at Aldersh!t.....

C'mon the Macc Lads.

[Old Man Andrews]

Just seen it is Virginia Water v Bracknell in the next round of the Hellenic Challenge Cup. Virginia Water seem to smash everyone they play so that should be a really good game.

[Royal Rother]

I’ve seen VW a few times this season as they are ground sharing at Stag Meadow.

They are very decent at their level but I doubt Bracknell will break sweat.

[Royal Rother]

Thatcham 2-2 Windsor

Not a bad game on a somewhat difficult surface. With the big FA Vase games coming up next weekend both teams rested a few.

Windsor took the lead twice but both times that only lasted 2 minutes. Hard fought game, decent crowd, quite a few Reading badges on view.

[Sutekh]

Thatcham 2-2 Windsor

Not a bad game on a somewhat difficult surface. With the big FA Vase games coming up next weekend both teams rested a few.

Windsor took the lead twice but both times that only lasted 2 minutes. Hard fought game, decent crowd, quite a few Reading badges on view.

How many giving Reading v Derby a miss and going to the Bracknell, Thatcham or Windsor vase games instead?