Every little helps

Four games in the last week included three at the same ground. But, oddly, they featured three different ‘home’ teams playing in three different competitions: Hanwell Town v Tring Athletic in the Spartan South Midlands League (1-3), Hayes Gate v Cobham in the Combined Counties League (2-3) and Barnet FC Ladies v Reading FC Women in the FA Tesco Women’s Premier League (1-2).

The ‘odd game out’ was Whyteleafe v Merstham in the Isthmian League’s Division One South at the former’s Church Road ground on Saturday. It was 46 years since I’d seen those local rivals play each other. Then it was Merstham’s first-ever away game in the Surrey Senior League, having come up from intermediate football, and they were well-beaten 4-0.

An even more vivid memory from that balmy (or barmy) August evening was that the goal-frames were orange. It wouldn’t be allowed today.

Whyteleafe were shown in 21st place (out of 22) in the League table in the programme but reassurance was quickly at hand. “Please do not be too alarmed at our position in the table above, as this is based on alphabetical order prior to the playing of any fixtures thus far.”

The fixtures page noted that ‘Leafe’s away game at Walton & Hersham was on the anniversary of the start of the War of Jenkins’ Ear and the game at Chipstead coincided with the ‘Day of the Skulls’ in Bolivia. I also learnt that vegetarian cannibals only eat Swedes.

Saturday’s clash was equally as entertaining, with Whyteleafe’s giant goalie, Rob ‘Scarlett’ O’Hara, making some blinding stops in the second half to keep the score at 1-1. I missed ‘Leafe’s equaliser because someone jumped up in front of me. I couldn’t tell you who scored it or how it was scored.

The FA Tesco Women’s Premier League started their season yesterday and I saw the two promoted clubs, Barnet and Reading, meet in the National Division.

It was my third game at Reynolds Field, home of Hanwell Town, in six days. Reading scored with a free-kick and a penalty to lead 2-0 at the break, Stacey Sowden (a very impressive 185 goals in 148 appearances) reduced the arrears and the visitors stayed solid at the back to come away with the three points.

Before the game I chatted with Barnet Secretary Gill Jones, who has had that role at least since the ‘Wembley Ladies’ days in the early 1990s but still looks about 22.