I hadn’t been to Walton since their FA Cup Second Round Qualifying tie with Margate in 1995, one of my all-time favourite Cup games. The Swans had Kent opposition again on Saturday – in the shape of Folkestone, a Ryman division above them. The Seasiders took a sixth-minute lead and threatened to increase it on several occasions against a brittle home defence.
Alison Chapman was in the middle and there were a few predictable cries of "I really fancy you, ref" as she led the teams out for the kick-off. She didn’t stand for any nonsense during the game and sent Walton’s manager up into the stand after he had queried a decision rather too persistently.
If the first half had been a little uninspiring, the second was thrill-a-minute. Walton shocked the visitors with an odd equalising goal on 57 minutes. A left-wing corner was nodded goalwards and the ‘keeper bent to pick up the gently rolling ball. Suddenly it was behind him and, despite the efforts of two lunging defenders, it trickled over the line.
Five minutes later, almost unbelievably, the Swans were in front. Then the home defence stood firm in the face of a battering from a desperate Folkestone side that continued until the fifth minute of stoppage time. Some of the goal-line clearances were miraculous.
It was still warm and sunny at Ealing Central on Sunday as Stanmore Manor breezed into a 4-0 lead after 20 minutes against Conways on Pitch 5, the one over the road from Perivale tube.
With a rampant Manor looking to add to that healthy advantage, their No.14 chased a high bouncing ball into the box.
The ‘keeper rushed out and as he jumped for the ball, his cap flew a couple of feet into the air. Then it came down, albeit briefly, onto the striker’s head. If the cap fits, eh? It was a great piece of entertainment for the crowd of two, self included.
I watched Wealdstone’s Trophy replay last night with Colin Downey, former Referees Secretary at The FA. Stones now share Northwood’s Chestnut Avenue ground and I hadn’t been there for about 25 years. It’s a ten-minute walk from Northwood Hills tube on the Metropolitan line. Both teams are involved in The FA Cup’s Fourth Round Qualifying on Saturday, so there was a real desire to avoid extra-time.
It was 1-1 with two minutes to go and it was cold. I mean gloves and woolly hat cold. Stones’ left-winger fired over a brilliant cross on the run and the No.7 buried it at the far post. Thank you!