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Homers Heath :: Buckland Athletic

Vs 


Date: Saturday 22nd September 2012
Venue: Homers Heath, Newton Abbot
Full Time: Buckland Athletic 1-2 Bath City
Competition: FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round

My Matchday: 6
Attendance: 367

Despair as we concede to go 1-0 down

A sunny but disturbingly cold afternoon saw Bath City progress by the skin of their teeth into the 3rd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup. Buckland almost became giant killers but Aaron Brown and Kurtis Guthrie salvaged what was a scrappy win for Bath.

A bit of a mix up this time! I decided that I'd join my friend Andy on the train to Buckland rather than the customary Club coach. The price down was very similar and I was assured by Andy that there was a scenic route to be found on the South coast through Exeter which was to be adored. I was up and about early on the day as I was thoroughly excited by the prospect of an exclusive place in the next round of the FA Cup. I met Andy and his dad at around 10.30AM at Bath Spa Railway Station. We made sure we got our tickets and made our way for the platform to catch our first train. We made a short hop to Bristol Temple Meads and then headed to the next platform for our train to Newton Abbot. The journey down took about 1 hour and a half and was probably the best journey on the train I've been on, we came around the Exeter coastline to the gleaming sunshine, bearing down on the ocean that surrounded us. This put me in a brilliant mood for the day. We arrived the sunny yet bitterly cold Newton Abbot at around 1pm. Andy, his dad and myself wandered down Newton Abbot High Street until coming to a Wetherspoons. Me and Andy then decided we'd leave his dad there to have a drink and head for the ground. We walked back down the high street, Andy went and got himself a pasty and we carried on. It took us 25 minutes to walk to the ground, and it was a very pleasant one through some very elegant parks, roads and lovely village areas. We finally found Homers Heath on a road with no paths and made our way up the hill into the ground. 

We parted way with our £6 and bought the best programme of the year to date for £1.50, no other Western League club would produce such a detailed, great feeling matchday programme. By now the sun was out and giving us a roasting, I decided to go into the clubhouse and get myself a can of coke as I was thirsty after that walk. I did look at the food prices which were very reasonable but I wasn't hungry, just thirsty. Me and Andy then went on a walk around the ground and picked up some shots from all the angles. We ventured into the mainstand to find a practice pitch on the other side of it with 10 random stand seats fitted to the back of the stand. After this we decided to make use of the grassy banks and kick back the balls that came over from the City team warming up. I did manage to volley one back over, just missing the head of Jason Mellor. 

HOMERS HEATH is a very unique football ground which is one I love greatly. The ground sits in the lovely outskirts of Newton Abbot in Kingkerswell. It is surrounded by tall trees and provides a lovely setting on a warm sunny day. As you enter the ground you come to the recently furbished clubhouse which hosts a range of sky televisions and the lovely club bar. You come out of the clubhouse into the ground and into the beer garden where you can have a drink and watch the wonderful game. This is the nearside, which is where the car park is situated as well. A rail runs all the way along allowing people to stand along this and watch the game. Opposite this is the main Buckland Stand. It is where reserved people sit and the rest for home supporters and then any left over for anyone else. It can hold about 50 people and is a very smart addition to the ground. It is only a small stand going about 1/4 of the way along. The rest is a grass bank which is also wonderful to sit, enjoy the football and the sun which is exactly what I did. To the left of this stand is the near end goal, which is a rail running along it with plenty of space in front of the trees for standing. Opposite this is another grass bank, further back this time, which can offer a good view with much space to stand and watch the game. Homers Heath is a tidy well organised ground, but lacks cover from the weather. 

Near end goal

Match report, courtesy of Kevin Porter:

Bath City came back from a goal down to ensure their passage into the next round of the FA Cup with a narrow victory over Western League Premier Division Buckland Athletic. It was a nervy afternoon which saw City take a long time to exert their superiority against an in form and confident Devon side, whose play for long periods during the match belied the difference in league status between the two clubs.

The game took place in pleasant sunny conditions on a good surface and it was Bath who showed first, creating an opening in the very first minute. The ball reached Charlie Griffin inside the home box following flicks from both Kurtis Guthrie and Adam Connolly, but the striker’s angled looping effort dropped on to the roof of the net. The hosts began to find their passing touch, and Glyn Garner was forced into an excellent diving save in the 8th minute, when Dean Stevens struck a low shot towards the bottom corner from 20 yards. The same player tried his luck again from similar distance a minute later but, this time, his shot was under hit allowing Garner to field the ball comfortably. Buckland goalkeeper, Kenny Griffiths, failed to deal effectively with a cross into his box on 10 minutes and, when Aaron Brown clipped the loose ball goalwards, it was headed off the line by Karl Green. Griffin was then fouled on the edge of the home penalty area, and Brown’s curling free kick beat the defensive wall, but Griffiths saved well at the foot of his post. Griffin picked up a pass from Chris Allen in the 14th minute, worked his way across the face of the goal, only to fire his eventual effort against the post with Griffiths beaten. Marc Canham’s free kick six minutes later from a useful position drifted harmlessly over the Athletic crossbar. The Bucks were enjoying their share of possession to this point without seriously troubling the City goal. A good move on 25 minutes created a chance for Simon Revell, but the midfielder blazed his shot high and wide from 20 yards out. With Bath struggling to put any consistent passing movement together, the hosts continued to push forward at every opportunity and, with 6 minutes left on the clock, Jamie Mudge fired wastefully wide of Garner’s goal, but the forward should have given his side the lead on 43 minutes. Luke Cummings was robbed by Danny Gaze out wide on City’s right, and the full back delivered a dangerous low cross into the box, which Mudge somehow managed to lift over the bar from inside the 6 yard box.

Buckland commenced the second period in lively mood and deservedly took the lead in the 51st minute. A partially cleared free kick was returned into the City box from the left, and the prolific Gavin Hammon made no mistake with his rasping low drive into the bottom corner of the net. City were clearly stunned by this setback and, for a short spell, they appeared devoid of ideas of how to regain a foothold in the game. However, they drew level on 59 minutes following an incisive move, as the ball eventually reached Brown on the left wing. The wingback took the pass in his stride 25 yards from goal and drilled a thunderous low drive inside the near post, beating Griffiths’ despairing dive. This gave The Romans a massive boost and they began to put the home defense under increasing pressure, driven on by Noah Keats, who had now replaced Canham. Griffin’s looping header from Cummings’ cross was held by Griffiths under his crossbar, and Connolly’s shot was deflected behind for a corner by Ben Carter, after the midfielder had turned adeptly inside Athletic’s box. Guthrie nodded just wide of the post after reaching a deep cross in the 70th minute, but City finally forged in front a minute later. Cummings produced another searching cross from the right, and Guthrie made no mistake as he planted his header into the far corner of the net. The home team fought gamely to find a response, and came close when Mike Booth glanced a header wide of Garner’s post following an in-swinging corner kick from the left. It was the Blue Square Bet South side, however, who were now showing the greater composure and they succeeded in comfortably snuffing out any attacks the hosts could muster. The closest Buckland came to an equaliser was Gaze’s drive from 20 yards that was always rising over Garner’s bar. At the other end, Connolly’s effort from the point of the box was easily gathered by Griffiths, as was Griffin’s scuffed shot in the 89th minute but, by this stage, the mission had been accomplished by the visitors.

There is no doubt that this was not an easy ride for Adie Britton’s men. Buckland gave a very good account of themselves and, for those in attendance, it was clear to see why they have enjoyed such a successful start to the season. Their passing and movement would certainly not look out of place in a higher division than that in which they currently ply their trade, and they can take great encouragement from their performance today, albeit they visibly tired in the final 15 minutes. For City’s part, they showed their greater prowess as the game wore on, will regard this as a job done, and feel relief that a proverbial banana skin has been overcome.

We had just about done it! We overcame what would have been a catastrophe and booked our place in the illustrious 3rd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup. A brilliant day out in all, topped off with a lovely walk through Newton Abbot and an enjoyable train ride home. I was knackered when I got home so opted to go to bed as soon as I got back. I'd definitely go back again!

Follow @mannojunior @TRRBlog 

Far end goal

Main Stand/Grass Bank

AFC Bournemouth V Colchester :: Preview

Vs 


Date: Saturday 15th December 2012 
Venue: Goldsands Stadium, Bournemouth
Competition: Npower League One

My Matchday: 21 

    
So it's game 21 of the season for me! Not many compared to other ground hoppers but not bad either. This week there were no mid-week games to attend due to Bath City V Forest Green being postponed. This weekends game is going to be AFC Bournemouth Vs Colchester United in a League One game. This week I will 
be joined by fellow blogger and friend Andy, who finally managed to sort out the train tickets. Individually our tickets cost £12 each for the game and then £25.45 for train tickets, so a total of £37.45, which is a fairly large sum in comparison to Non League but it will be worth it. 

Me and Andy decided on this game as Bath City were due to play Bromley in the league but Bromley qualified through to the next round of the FA Trophy leaving us with a free weekend. Andy quickly proposed that we go to this game as Bournemouth are my second team and I've never watched them or been to Deans Court. We left it fairly late to get tickets etc... just in case the weather looked to beat the game off, but it looks like it's going to be 9 degrees on the South coast.

Our plan is to meet at Bath Spa train station at around 9.15am, then make our way on the train to Southampton, where we will have an hour wait. We then decided between us that this would be a good chance to see Saint Mary's, so we will be heading off there as well. Our train then leaves Southampton at 12.15 for Bournemouth and arriving into Bournemouth at 1pm. 

I can't wait for the game and if anybody wishes to meet up with us on the day in Southampton or Bourenmouth, you can via the contact option!

Follow: @mannojunior @andyskinner25 @TRRBlog    
  

New Lodge :: Billericay Town FC

Sunset at the 'Ricay!

Date: Saturday 8^th December 2012

Venue: New Lodge, Billericay

Full Time: Billericay Town 2-0 Bath City

Competition: Blue Square Bet South

My Matchday: 20

Attendance: 388

Mugshot in Billericay

Bath City failed to take a big stride towards the play-off places after a disheartening 2-0 defeat to Billericay Town at New Lodge.

Who the hell are they do you ask? Well I can agree with you on that part, not even Pam and Mick could inspire us! (Only a select few will understand that). It was game 20 of the season for me and into December! I’d been looking forward to my trip to Billericay for a while now and the day had finally arrived. I woke up at 7.30 to the sound of my alarm, which was overly loud and luckily did not wake anybody else up. I got dressed, had my shower and then went down stairs to pack my bad for the day. I made some sandwiches and packed them along with some snacks. I packed my scarf and gloves as well as my camera for once! I had to print of some things for people so had to venture down to my nans to print them off and eventually made my way down to Twerton Park at  0845. I got down in good time so went into the local co-op and picked up a bag of cookies and a paper for the journey and made my way to the car park. The coach came on time as ever at 0930.

I assumed my normal position on the coach, on the left hand side, second row back as I always do so I can talk to Andy, Kev and Cheryl as Ashley was taking an exam so was not with us. The trip was a tad longer than usual today as we had to go along the M4 then northbound on the M25 before coming off towards Brentwood and Billericay. The trip was fairly boring and I plugged myself in and listened to some music. We stopped at some random M25 services that I’ve never been to before. I picked myself up some sea salt crisps from the waitrose and made my way back to the coach.

We arrived in Billericay at 1330 and walked down the country roads to the entrance. I didn’t hang around too long outside the ground as it was a rather random place, but took a few pictures and parted company with £10, £8 for my ticket and £2 for the worst programme in the country, it was A4 paper stuck together. It wasn’t even in colour! After this disappointment I picked myself up 3 decent programmes from their good club shop for 60p and had a good look around the shop. They sold a variety of things but I was going to buy a pennant but the £5 price put me off. I then walked around the ground and got myself some decent pictures of the ground and I will say it was a tidy little ground, apart from the mud bath on the pitch. I hadn’t had any of my lunch yet so opted to go over to the snack bar and get myself a burger and chips for £3.50 which was very good value. I must say it was my best lunch at a football ground this year. Especially the chips! I then moved over with my lunch in my hand and spoke to Chairwoman Manda about refereeing and also Paul Williams was there. I opted for another walk around and had a sit down taking some scenic pictures of the surrounding areas. It was then time for kick off!

Near end Goal

NEW LODGE is a very tidy little ground, only let down by the playing surface. The ground is located a bit out of bounds but in a lovely countryside setting. As you enter the ground you come to the near end goal. Behind it is a small covered terrace holding about 50 people under its roof. There is plenty more room for others standing outside of this. This is where I stood in the second half of the game. Opposite this is where I stood in the first half of the game. Behind this goal is a similar but smaller covered terrace with a bit less space but gave a cracking view. On the far side touchline was a low rise half terrace, half stand area, which housed 70 people seated and more stood up. Opposite this was the main stand holding about 50 people and also was where the bar and tea bar was located.

Bath City remain just three points outside the Blue Square Bet South play-off places despite crashing to a two-goal defeat in Essex. The visitors were left with the bitter taste of defeat after a game they did not deserve to lose and, for long periods, looked capable of winning.

Early fears that the game may be called off due to frost were soon dispelled by bright sunshine, although it left a pitch that made Lansdown Playing Fields look like Wembley. On an under-prepared, boggy in places and decidedly bumpy surface, it was little surprise that the home side had all the early possession. Billericay, it must be said, play an unsophisticated form of football. Physical and relying on speed and strength, it took City some time to come to terms with both the conditions and the hosts' tactics. The main threat came either from long balls played up to frontman Charlie Taylor or, when that failed, the throw of Paul Rodgers, which at times easily reached the City penalty spot However, after the quarter-hour mark City got much more into their stride and Tom Nicholls went for an ambitious lob with keeper Nathan McDonald only just off his line. Player/coach Jim Rollo returned to a reshuffled visiting side - with changes forced on the City management team through the absence of the ill Aaron Brown and hamstring injury victim Josh Low – and had to produce a diving tackle to halt Anderson after he cut inside from the right. City's best move of the half came on 25 minutes when Noah Keats released the recalled Kerry Morgan on the left and he put in a great cross which saw Charlie Griffin's shot well saved. Chris Allen then went close and Adam Connolly saw a piledriver from about 25 yards cannon off the home defence. However, City did not have it all their own way. Just before the half-hour mark a long-range shot from Sam Lechemere went wide, while Taylor hit the side-netting from Jay May's good pass. It should have served as a warning to City as five minutes before the interval a simple cross from Alex Cerdeira evaded the defence and allowed May to head home.

City played the better football at the start of the second half, despite the surface, with Morgan revelling in the space on the left, together with good support from midfield. On 53 minutes the ball was neatly passed across the field, from Nichols to Griffin and then on to Morgan, whose cross to Griffin was just touched behind at the near post. However, despite being on the defensive for much of the time, Billericay still looked dangerous on the break, with Morgan and Danny Ball leaving room for Junior Luke to exploit. Twice he made good runs, although on both occasions his crosses were well taken by an increasingly confident Jason Mellor. With Griffin clearly tiring on the heavy surface, Sean Canham arrived to replace him and ten minutes later the substitute was involved in probably the turning point of the game. With City increasingly running rampant, Morgan again cut loose down the left flank and put in a perfect cross for the unmarked striker, who could only fire against keeper McDonald. Allen hit an upright just seconds later but after that City's pressure eased. Billericay began to come back into the game and then killed it dead with a goal three minutes from time. Canham conceded two free-kicks in quick succession, the second some 30 yards out on the left of the City goal. The ball came across the area and the otherwise impeccable Mellor called for it but failed to get there, leaving Rob Swaine to head home.

So a perfectly good day in Essex came to an end with us going home empty handed. I enjoyed the game and the trip back was fairly quick going, so we were home by 8.30pm. I will recommend Billericay Town to all groundhoppers but advise you wrap up warm and do not expect a Barcelona like game.

I’ll be at Bournemouth next week (15^th December) so look out for a preview and report! Until then!

Far side terracing and stand

Main Stand

To view the rest of the set follow this link :http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151297342308841.492895.649793840&type=3

Privett Park :: Gosport Borough

 

Date: 9^th October 2012  

Venue: Privett Park

Full Time: Gosport Borough 3-1 Bath City

Competition: FA Cup 3^rd  Qualifying Round  

Attendance: 342

My Matchday: 9

GBFC Scorer(s): Bennett (53), Flew (60), Wooden (64)

BCFC Scorer(s): Sean Canham  (27)

BCFC Line Up:

1. Glyn Garner
2. Jim Rollo
3. Dan Ball
4. Mark Preece
5. Gethin Jones
6. Noah Keats
7. Adam Connolly
8. Chris Allen
9. Sean Canham
10. Kurtis Guthrie
11. Aaron Brown

The long seated Stand.

Bath City were royally dumped out of the FA Cup in the 3^rd Qualifying Round at the hands of Gosport Borough in the Tuesday night replay.

After knowing it was a replay it took me until Sunday to decide whether I could go to the match. I wasn’t due to finish college until 4pm but thankfully we were notified that the teacher was not in meaning I could leave after my law lesson at 12.10. I got home just before 1pm and picked up a portion of chips from the local pizza shop to have for my lunch. I got home to discover rain had hit the south coast hard and that the game was in doubt. After getting my things ready just in case the game was on I got a message at 3pm saying the game was on and we were to travel down on the coach. I swiftly picked up my things and wandered down to Twerton Park for 4pm to get on the coach to Gosport!

The journey was fairly uneventful, the rain kept pouring down, Yorkie kept telling us the game was off and that every time somebodies phone went off it meant the game was off. Sadly for Yorkie the game went ahead eventually. We arrived into a very sodden and unpleasant Privett Park at around 7pm. I parted way with my £6 and made my way round to the tea hut. I grabbed myself a burger and chips for my dinner and moved over to the small smart stand to cover from the rain and have a sit down. After texting my parents and friends to say I had arrived in Gosport I decided to go over to the club shop. I was amazed to see programmes from previous teams/games were on sale for 6 for £1, I ended up buying £3 worth, so 18 and managed to find a couple to give to Andy. I wandered back around to the small stand where we were covered for the night and had a flick through a few programmes until kick off came. The rain was still coming down and to be fair to the club they did a very good job in getting the game on. 

The brilliant Main Stand.

As always it was kick off and here is the BCFC website report:

“Bath City's season was dealt a savage blow as they crashed out of the FA Cup to Southern League hosts Gosport Borough. Victory in tonight's replay would have netted City Ј7,500 in prize money and a trip to Slough Town - ranked two divisions below them – in the fourth and final qualifying round. Sean Canham put them on course with a first-half opener but Gosport – who came within four minutes of winning at Mayday Trust Park on Saturday – roared back with three goals after the break to progress. The defeat casts a doubt over the future of manager Adie Britton, who had stressed the importance of a cup run and its financial rewards to his side's promotion hopes this season.

Aaron Brown and on loan striker Canham both shot wide early on but Gosport were unlucky not to go ahead when Sammy Igoe's shot on the turn came back off an upright. Ten minutes later Gosport paid the price when City won two corners in succession and Canham scored from close range. After that City began to dominate, with Brown making good runs down the left flank, and the ex-Bristol City man fired a blistering shot narrowly over the bar three minutes before the break.

After the interval it was a different story. On 53 minutes Justin Bennett brought the scores level when he headed home after a fine curving free-kick form Ellis Martin. Suddenly Gosport were flying. On the hour mark a free-kick conceded some 30 yards out and taken by Martin flew through the City wall and beyond keeper Glyn Garner. And City were buried four minutes later when Garner parried Bennett's shot into the path of Dan Wooden, who fired home. There was no way back for the visitors and they ended the evening without even being able to further test Gosport keeper Nathan Ashmore. ”

View from the far end

PRIVETT PARK is a very tidy and enjoyable ground to visit. The ground is your typical 4 sided ground. As you enter via the turnstiles you come onto the near goal end. This is uncovered and allows a good view from behind the goal. Also situated behind this is the clubhouse (to the right) and the club shop (to the left). Opposite this end is another uncovered area for people to stand. The main stand is quite impressive, it has a very old fashioned appearance and can hold around 400 people, but gives the ground something special. It is a fairly tall stand, bigger than at Twerton Park. The opposite side has a long 7 rowed seated stand. This can hold around 200-300 people in it and is very good shelter from the weather as well as giving a very good view. On the whole Privett Park is a ground I recommend you visit if possible, maybe when it’s not raining though.

So it had come to the end, Bath City were knocked out of the FA Cup for another season after a shocking performance from everyone on the field. There was no fight, desire of passion shown from any player wearing the black and white stripes. It looked very much like the end for the failing Adie Britton. We boarded the coach and settled down for the 2 hour journey back to Bath. Fans were obviously upset and moaning, but I managed to get a bit of sleep in, before returning to Twerton Park at around 11.30pm. 

View of the near end

The moral of the visit is….visit Privett Park!

Plain Ham :: Larkhall Athletic (Bath)

 

Larkhall Athletic Football Club (Bath)

Plain Ham, 

Charlcombe Lane, 

Larkhall, 

Bath, 

BA1 8DJ

01225 33492 

I've not watched a game here before but I have visited on many occasions whilst playing cricket on the field behind it, so I will give you the visit only report.

PLAIN HAM is a very basic Western League Ground that has been refused enter into the Southern League on many occasions, limiting the club to this level at the most. Not only is the ground basic but the road leading into the ground is not wide enough for a coach to get down. As you enter the ground to your left is the nicely worked clubhouse with a selection of drinks and snacks at very decent prices, however it is a small clubhouse. You can then enter the ground through a single turnstile which takes you down past the dressing rooms. The near side goal end is raised above the pitch as it is on a grass bank so viewing can be good sat down on the grass bank. To the left is a small untidy seated stand which holds about 30-40 people which is also raised about the pitch. The opposite side to this is a pavement with a railing all the way across allowing standing on the side. It is nestled in front of some big woodland trees. This is the same behind the far goal with a railing and tree's behind it. 

The single turnstile leading to the ground

The near end goal, by the grass bank

The far side, in front of the trees.