The last seven days began with an FA Youth Cup First Round Qualifying tie at Hanwell Town. I’d actually set off from Paddington that evening with the intention of seeing Fulham play Bolton in the Carling Cup – but the District line tube was suspended and that’s the only line that goes there.

The Staines Town lads made a whirlwind start at Reynolds Field, pinning Hanwell back in their own half and taking an early lead. But the home side improved to make a game of it and were in with a shout at 1-2 until Staines scrambled in a third goal in the 90th minute.

I was able to compile a report for the website after Mike from the BBC had lent me a biro and Hanwell supremo Bob Fisher had kindly provided me with the line-ups. "The Barber" aka "The Gormless One" still managed to get one of the scorers wrong.

Dulwich v AFC Wimbledon in the Youth Cup had potential on Thursday evening but the tube was even more of a shambles than Wednesday, with lines either suspended or hit by severe delays. The tie at Champion Hill went to extra time, so at least I missed out on a late night.

An FA Cup weekend followed and, being down on the Sussex coast, there was only one option. Eastbourne Borough, second on goal difference behind neighbours Lewes in Conference South, were at home to Edgware Town, enjoying a good start after elevation to the Isthmian League Division One North. It wasn’t a brilliant game, with numerous stoppages, but Borough deserved their 2-0 win.

On the way I passed a wedding group coming out of the Town Hall. Yes, they were throwing confetti around like yellow cards.

Sunday morning was pleasantly warm and "The Barber" joined 35 assorted mums, dads and kids at Eastbourne Town’s U16s’ County Cup tie with Phoenix FC in Paradise Drive. I was watching a game there on the afternoon of the Hillsborough disaster 18 years ago: Dental Board beat Pebsham Sibex 14-3 and I was feeling quite chuffed until we turned on the car radio.

There were goals galore on Sunday too, Town scoring six in each half to record a 12-1 victory against a team from a lower level. The Phoenix ‘keeper was outstanding – it could have been 20 without his agility and bravery. After watching the first half of the Women’s World Cup Final on BBC2, I went out again to see Eastbourne Town Ladies win 3-0 against Upper Beeding.

Last night’s FA Cup replay at Bromley, my 60th game of the season, provided great entertainment on a rain-soaked surface. Aylesbury United took a 2-1 lead with six minutes to go but conceded a penalty within seconds and finally lost out 4-2 in extra time. I remember seeing the Ducks play at QPR in the Third Round Proper in 1995.