So without the Pre-Madonaship today what games will you be watching?

I will be at the now top of the table game between Buckland Athletic v Melksham Town.

I'm getting a "Claret" fix by going to watch South Shields at Witton Albion in the first qualifying round of FA Cup.

Shields are currently on a 44 game unbeaten run so hopefully I don't jinx them

FA Cup too, Wilks.
Buxton v Frickley.

I'm looking forward to it. Been long while since done a non league game. Shields are at Colne in a few weeks as well so may also be going to that

Non-league football is such a refreshing day out I find now a days.

I used to really enjoy watching Barnet when I lived in north London in the 80s.

I often pop down to Eastleigh from Basingstoke when there's no top leagues sport to watch but I'm off to Twickenham for the "double header" RU very shortly.
Eastleigh aren't at home today anyway but Basingstoke Town are at home (to local rivals) in the FA Cup qualifier- so would've walked round there to watch if not already committed elsewhere.
I like to get to at least one non-league game per season - walk around the ground, cheaper food & drink, decent banter.

Quicknick wrote:I used to really enjoy watching Barnet when I lived in north London in the 80s.

Yes so did I..Ah the Gola league days

I was hoping to go to the FA Cup game at Colne against Lancaster, a club I had an affiliation with back in the 1980s. Unfortunately can't make it though so it will be the T20 Finals Day for me.

Ashington v Ryhope Colliery Welfare ---two famous mining communities with no pits in sight these days.
This is a repeat of the FA Cup fixture played at the start of the season which Ashington won 1-0 before being hammered in the next round.
Big bonus is the fact that it is a lovely day up here today. Senior admission, a pint and a pie £5 --what's not to like?

Harrogate v Brackley in National League North, top v 2nd. However Harrogate are without their top scorer Ainge and ex-claret Dom Knowles because of injuries. Tough one, Brackley haven't lost since March.
Yes, Brackley, in the North section..

LeadBelly wrote:I often pop down to Eastleigh from Basingstoke when there's no top leagues sport to watch but I'm off to Twickenham for the "double header" RU very shortly.
Eastleigh aren't at home today anyway but Basingstoke Town are at home (to local rivals) in the FA Cup qualifier- so would've walked round there to watch if not already committed elsewhere.
I like to get to at least one non-league game per season - walk around the ground, cheaper food & drink, decent banter.

My mates lad has just signed for Eastleigh

Mickleover Sports vs Hinckley AFC in the FA Cup today. Hinckley are the phoenix club of Andre Gray's former club Hinckley United.

Penistone Church v Whitby Town, FA Cup qualifying. Five minute walk from home, quite look forward to these breaks now.

Tiny club, 9th tier, but John Stones and Marc Roberts both played for the junior teams there.

Up at sunny Barrow in Furness . Barrow vs Boreham Wood .

Notts claret, didn't know you live in Penistone? Been there a few times... I live in Oughtibridge!

whentheballmoves wrote:Notts claret, didn't know you live in Penistone? Been there a few times... I live in Oughtibridge!

Aye, there's a few Clarets in Penistone, more than you'd think. We go for a pint in Oughtibridge when we play at Hillsborough.

Great game today, down to 10 men early doors, 1-0 down against a team two leagues higher, came back to win 3-2 in last minute of injury time. Magic of the cup etc.

Not a bad game tbh.
With ex Sunderland player Julio Arca pulling the strings in the middle The Mariners beat Albion 2-0

Watching Tranmere on bt their ground as improved our cricket field end looks like something out of the middle ages in comparison!,remember the portakabin toilet for 2.000 plus clarets!!

Been to Lincoln City v Luton Town .
Good game for a 0-0 and big crowd of over 9,000
Cheating though as not non-league

Good 2-0 win for us (Storrington) today against previously unbeaten Langney Wanderers. Must admit it was nice not having to sweat on the Burnley score during the match

Hey, South West, which is your favourite Western League club, Buckland or Melksham? Melksham have a smashing new stadium, and are pulling in record crowds, especially for the 9th tier level.

NickBFC wrote:Good 2-0 win for us (Storrington) today against previously unbeaten Langney Wanderers. Must admit it was nice not having to sweat on the Burnley score during the match

Have langney improved their behaviour?
Personally never had a problem with them but know a lot of officials who got a tough time

I went to Bracknell v Abingdon

wilks_bfc wrote:I'm getting a "Claret" fix by going to watch South Shields at Witton Albion in the first qualifying round of FA Cup.

Shields are currently on a 44 game unbeaten run so hopefully I don't jinx them

Julio Arca play Today? Still find it difficult to get my head around the fact that this bloke plays for the sand dancers.

Buxton 3-2 Frickley
Good comeback after trailing 2-1at HT

Mickleover 2-1 Hinckley, two great goals and through to the next round despite being down to 10

No Ney Never wrote:Julio Arca play Today? Still find it difficult to get my head around the fact that this bloke plays for the sand dancers.

He did. He's the captain and was dictating play from the middle.
They've also got former Norwich midfielder Matty Pattison and have recently signed a youngster from Newcastle u23, Jamie Holmes, who scored both goals today

wilks_bfc wrote:I'm getting a "Claret" fix by going to watch South Shields at Witton Albion in the first qualifying round of FA Cup.

Shields are currently on a 44 game unbeaten run so hopefully I don't jinx them

Found this on the Shields FC website. Good result for you sand dancers today wilks_bfc, that's 45 games unbeaten. Hope you didn't slope off early to beat the traffic and miss that 2nd goal.

Jamie Holmes struck twice late on as South Shields battled to a 2-0 win at Witton Albion to continue their Emirates FA Cup journey.

The Mariners were pushed all the way by their higher-ranked opponents, but Holmes’ well-taken double meant they qualified for the second qualifying round of the competition for the first time since 1997.

They now await the draw for the next round on Monday.

SOUTH SHIELDS: Connell, Baxter, Lough (Callaghan 80), Shaw, Morse, Arca (c), Briggs, Pattison (Nicholson 71), Cogdon, Finnigan, Sullivan (Holmes 51). Subs not used: Norton, Storey, Scott, Richardson.

Goals: Holmes (79, 90+3).

Attendance: 534.

wilks_bfc wrote:He did. He's the captain and was dictating play from the middle.
They've also got former Norwich midfielder Matty Pattison and have recently signed a youngster from Newcastle u23, Jamie Holmes, who scored both goals today

From the report it looks like an inspired substitution. Were they struggling or just unable to make the breakthrough until Holmes came on?

No Ney Never wrote:From the report it looks like an inspired substitution. Were they struggling or just unable to make the breakthrough until Holmes came on?

From the overall performance you wouldn't have known Shields were in the division below Witton.

First half didn't really get going, but not sure if that was down to the heat - it was very hot.

Shields had more of the better chances but their keeper made a few good blocks.
Soon as Holmes came on he scared the full back with his pace. Like I said it was hot & I think the back four were starting to feel it.


Oh & im not the Sand Dancer. My mate who moved down here is, and has stars to go back to see them when they have games in north west and asked if i fancied it.
Will probably be at Colne next week

ontario claret wrote:Hey, South West, which is your favourite Western League club, Buckland or Melksham? Melksham have a smashing new stadium, and are pulling in record crowds, especially for the 9th tier level.

Buckland OC, finished 2-2 Bucks had a man sent off in the 2nd half, the bloke only through the ball at the ref...no sense of humour some people

Good game today in the sunshine, £4 to go in for us "experienced" people, £3.50 for a beef pasty and a cuppa at h.t. Attendance 161.

Yes I believe Melksham do have an impressive ground and like The Bucks if they go up should have no problems with their ground, their gates have improved as well averaging about 350 so it says in the programme.

wilks_bfc wrote:From the overall performance you wouldn't have known Shields were in the division below Witton.

First half didn't really get going, but not sure if that was down to the heat - it was very hot.

Shields had more of the better chances but their keeper made a few good blocks.
Soon as Holmes came on he scared the full back with his pace. Like I said it was hot & I think the back four were starting to feel it.


Oh & im not the Sand Dancer. My mate who moved down here is, and has stars to go back to see them when they have games in north west and asked if i fancied it.
Will probably be at Colne next week

Thanks for that wilks_bfc and pleased you enjoyed it. I've a few friends from Shields so I like to keep in touch with how they're doing. Hope Colne is a good game for you, all the best.

Colne 0 Lancaster City1.
Good game with a decent attendance ( good few clarets )
Colne worked hard against a resolute Lancaster side, rarely troubling an excellent back four. Once Lancaster had taken a first half lead, they were content to let Colne have the majority share of possession, and dealt comfortably with all that the hosts could throw at them. Two late half chances could have thrown Colne a lifeline, but overall the result was a true reflection of thoroughly enjoyable game.
Thank you to all staff and supporters at Colne FC who made this claret very welcome, will definitely be going again in the future. UTC.

dpinsussex wrote:Have langney improved their behaviour?
Personally never had a problem with them but know a lot of officials who got a tough time

No problems yesterday

NickBFC wrote:No problems yesterday

Only with the storrington management team:)

Saw Belvedere hammer Barrowford 5-0 ex-clarets youth player Connor Smith scored the fifth with a fine shot .
..very pleasant in the sunshine and free !

No Ney Never wrote:Found this on the Shields FC website. Good result for you sand dancers today wilks_bfc, that's 45 games unbeaten. Hope you didn't slope off early to beat the traffic and miss that 2nd goal.

Jamie Holmes struck twice late on as South Shields battled to a 2-0 win at Witton Albion to continue their Emirates FA Cup journey.

The Mariners were pushed all the way by their higher-ranked opponents, but Holmes’ well-taken double meant they qualified for the second qualifying round of the competition for the first time since 1997.

They now await the draw for the next round on Monday.

SOUTH SHIELDS: Connell, Baxter, Lough (Callaghan 80), Shaw, Morse, Arca (c), Briggs, Pattison (Nicholson 71), Cogdon, Finnigan, Sullivan (Holmes 51). Subs not used: Norton, Storey, Scott, Richardson.

Goals: Holmes (79, 90+3).

Attendance: 534.

Well done South Shields 45 games unbeaten at any level is commendable.

Maybe in 3 or 4 years we might be chatting about popping down to Ewood on the international breaks.

Taking in the derby against Brent Peters' Bacup Borough...

...with an exhibition of horse buggering and a half-time chappatti it could become a regular day out down amongst the dead men.

Before I forget for any longer I saw Masanka for Wrexham a week on Saturday down at Torquay, he played about 80 minutes as he was getting no change from the home defenders.

Held the ball up well but had no one to lay it off to.