Bus to the Tavern

My four matches last week, with attendances in brackets, finished like this: North Greenford United 0-3 East Thurrock United in an FA Cup replay (102), Whyteleafe 0-3 Grays Athletic in The FA Trophy (145), Ernst & Young 5-3 KPMG in the London Accountancy League (2) and KIKK United 0-3 Hampstead in The FA Women’s Cup (21).

That’s 73 for this season and 6,124 altogether.

NGU had made history last Monday by featuring in The FA Cup’s Fourth Round Qualifying draw for the first time. Their draw was Eastbourne Borough v East Thurrock United or North Greenford United and the Southern League Division One Central side gave as good as they got until the visitors scored right on half-time. This match had no shots at goal until the 22nd minute and that effort, from NGU, went off for a throw-in.  

I’d actually chosen Carshalton v Old Esthameians in the AFA Senior Cup as my Saturday match but half of the buses from Purley had mysteriously been cut from the service. When I realised I was going to miss the start, I took a 407 to Whyteleafe Tavern instead and saw ‘Leafe’s Trophy First Round Qualifying tie with Grays, winners of the competition in 2005 and 2006.

The Essex side, with some decent support, made a whirlwind start and scored twice in the first 13 minutes. Only some outstanding goalkeeping by Paul Smith saved ‘Leafe from a final scoreline of 0-6 or worse. They aren’t having a very happy season, lying 19th in the Isthmian Division One South table and already out of The FA Cup and League Cup.

It was warm and sunny in Regent’s Park on Sunday morning, despite being late October, and there was the usual choice of seven or eight matches. I went for the one that started first, at 10.33, and saw Ernst & Young or ‘EY’ win a contest that produced eight goals and three penalties – two scored and one saved. Two of the spot-kicks were awarded for subtle shirt-pulling as the ball came over from a corner-kick.

I walked back to Baker Street and took the tube to Mile End, changing at Oxford Circus for the Central line. I’m afraid the dream is over for KIKK United, who lost to a better side in their Women’s Cup Second Round Qualifying tie at Mile End Stadium. Hampstead were ahead in two minutes and there was an audible sigh of disappointment around the stand when their third clinching goal went in near the end.

Fran, the skipper, and Jessie were outstanding in defence and the whole team kept going to the end – forcing three corners in stoppage time – but their ambition for this season now will probably be to achieve promotion to the London & SE Regional League’s Premier Division.

We heard last week that Wembley FC midfielder Ian Bates was about to make his 800th senior appearance for the club. This is a fantastic achievement for a player I’ve seen on many occasions at Vale Farm. His enthusiastic displays show a great love of the game. Well done, Ian.