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Harborough Town 1-1 Spalding United  (Southern League Central Division) I’ve spent the day ranting on X to Miguel Delaney of the Independent about Crystal Palace and their administrative failings which has prevented them from playing in this seasons Europa League. He thinks Palace have been treated with unjust by UEFA and CAS (the Court of Arbitration). I think they have been idle, ignorant, arrogant and only have themselves to blame. We’ll move on. Harborough Town had a magnificent FA Cup run last season. A modern club built upon youth foundations has only appeared in current name since 2007, they reached the second round of the famous old competition before losing a thriller, 5-3 at Reading in December. That cup money has helped a side that were Northants Combination fodder as recently as 2010, to become a thoroughbred at the level, they have been backed by the Football Foundation and have an ‘everything new-new’ type modern day set up on the outskirts of town, United Counties League promotion to their current tier, seven on the pyramid, has taken just four years, and last season, their first in the Southern Premier Central, they finished a commendable fifth, before losing in the playoff semi-finals on penalties at Kettering Town. Spalding United I remember from my own coaching days, back in the Northern Premier League South Division ten or so years ago, they were chucking around some dough but never quite made the step up, despite some good seasons, they finally made the break in 2023/24 winning the ‘revised’ Northern Premier League Midland Division, thus gaining step 3 status for the first time in the clubs history. Last season they finished seventh and like Harborough Town, have spent to strengthen in what looks a real competitive squad for the level. The Tulips, formed in 1905, have long played at their Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field ground (named after a local MP) which is currently under renovation to install a brand-new artificial playing surface. That work has overlapped the start of the season and because of that, the original tie which had Spalding to host Harborough, has been reversed. The Venue I’ve driven directly through the quintessential Market Harborough centre to the outskirts of town where this modern facility lays. There’s a new build estate and retail units opposite the Northampton Road, Market Harborough Rugby Club is here, as well as Harborough Leisure Centre, and there’s pitches everywhere, parking is plenty but already full, I’m able to pop my car by the Busy Bees Day Nursery just a short walk away, before trotting through the car park towards the clubhouse where the turnstiles are beside. It's £15 contactless, as I enter behind the goal, a crowd gathered around the pitch perimeter, the sun is beaming down as it dusks slowly behind the seated stand which I’m about to head for, after a quick wee, I grab a coffee from the clubhouse and notice outside, a pop up real ale bar which I’m very tempted by, not tonight though, as I have some work to do. I’ve sat down in one of two new seated tin stands, around five levels high it offers a great view compact, the pitch in front flat 3g, the thud of the ball clashing against mesh fences in the warm up, each end is fenced but open, opposite has a couple of low standing areas which are roofed, either side of the dugouts. Everything is new, perfect, pristine, I had low expectations on coming here, but I must admit I’m very impressed with the facilities. It has ‘community hub’ feel about it. Wealth a plenty, you get the feeling of ‘start up business with rapid growth’ which is very much the Harborough Town story. The Game The bees in all yellow are buzzing around the pitch from the off. They show intent, managed by Mitch Austin they look a bloody good side. Striker Riley O’Sullivan, tall, leggy, is powerful and direct. Josh Walsh in midfield has lovely feet, right winger Dempsey Arlott-John who I rated when at Ilkeston Town is attempting to take on his full back every time he gets the ball. Spalding don’t know what’s hit them, but somehow, they cling on. The pace is frightening, both sets pressing hard, but there’s moments of real quality, mostly from the home team who pen in Spalding with some flashes across the goal, but Jimmy Dean’s side have ability too, Jamaica international Liam Moore is in defence, they have Dion Sembie-Ferris playing right back, he’s usually a winger but looks to be doing a good job defensively. A lad I watched play for St Albans City last season, whilst on loan from Colchester United, Alfie Bendle has recently signed, and he whips a wonderful ball into the box, where the bald-headed James Clifton heads home, a great goal, completely against the run of play, Spalding, are somehow, in the lead. The Score If anything, United improve after that goal, and look to use the speed they have on the break, in wide areas they are dangerous, as Yusifu Ceesay and Jack Roberts become more prominent. Roberts on the right is brilliant, he takes the ball down and shoots low inside the box, Elliott Taylor on his 200th appearance making a good save to deny him, it should really have been two. After the break, it’s mostly Harborough attacking, but Spalding are clever, they look for their out ball in wide areas and you don’t really know how the remainder is going to evolve? The better team, with stronger personnel is clearly the home side who might have had a penalty when Moore got himself in a tangle, but the visitors have some bloody good players in attack, and give them space, they look to have enough quality to make you pay. Spalding do actually have the ball in the back of the net, but offside is rightly called, before their Manager Jimmy Dean is red carded for an outburst at the official. By now the darkening skies have seen substitutes below, the glowing green pitch has yellow pressing against white, former Brackley Town striker Danny Newton is now on for Harborough, so to is Brady Hickey, signed from Barwell where he's a local legend, whilst Jutorre Burgess on the left has also came off a bench filled of quality, but it’s a mainstay in Josh Walsh, who’s been brilliant today, who glides inside towards the edge of the box, his low shot right footed finally piercing Spalding resistance, to put Harborough level, they’ve probably deserved it, but you feel for Spalding who have been great in defending their lead. Late on, you feel there’s more to come, but it seems a point is also fair reflection on both efforts, and although there’s chances at each end, the winning goal alludes both boxers, now fighting without the energy they had in the earlier rounds, after nine or ten minutes of injury time, I think everybody is just relieved that the point shared, is probably for the best all around. The Stars The game was littered with high quality from both goalkeepers to what each team had on their bench. I was impressed with a number of Harborough players, right back George Carline who they signed from Brackley Town, did well against a tough opponent in Yusifu Ceesay, who Spalding have signed from Hereford. Eliot Putman on the opposite side was also solid, dependable, reliable, their defence lead by Connor Kennedy and the evergreen slightly barrelled Liam Dolman who looked to be their achilles heel, but at times shown maturity can sometimes outweigh pace, in midfield, Josh Walsh was my star performer, a player with real quality, who got his goal, but Devon Kelly-Evans in the 'Makelele role' kept them ticking, he played the ball simple, backwards, sidewards, and shown up in areas voided by others. In attack, Riley O’Sullivan started well, but drifted, Dempsey Arlott-John was a constant menace until he took an elbow off Spalding enforcer Josh McCammon, who’s a player previously of Peterborough Sports and King's Lynn Town, who I really like for the level (and above). For Spalding, I was mightily impressed with the finesse of their right winger Jack Roberts, good feet, quick, positive in his play, whilst defensively Connor Johnson beside Liam Moore did well. The Verdict I might just be three matches into my league season, but this was by far the best game I have seen so far, two very good sides, one I think, has the potential to go all the way, in Harborough Town, one I think, could push for playoffs, in Spalding United. The town of Market Harborough should be very proud of this team right now, a growing dynasty which all feels very new and modern, I certainly think there’s room for further growth, a feel good factor in this Leicestershire football club, and there’s probably more still to come. The Teams Harborough Town: Elliott Taylor, George Carline, Elliot Putman, Liam Dolman, Connor Kennedy (Brady Hickey 62), Alex Morris, Devon Kelly-Evans, Josh Walsh, Riley O'Sullivan (Luis Rose 79), Ben Stephens (Danny Newton 57), Dempsey Arlott-John (Jutorre Burgess 55). Spalding United: James Dadge, Dion Sembie-Ferris, Matthew Bondswell, Liam Moore, Connor Johnson, Alfie Bendle (Lamine Sherif 58), Jack Roberts (Jordan Nicholson 90), Dan Lawlor, Josh McCammon, James Clifton (Bart Cybulski 68), Yusifu Ceesay. 7:45pm Kick Off. Tuesday 12th August 2025, Bowden Park, Market Harborough (att: 650).

Derby County 2-0 Atromitos  (Friendly) Whisper it quietly, but I’m a Nottingham Forest fan, and today I’m sitting in the Derby County end, at Pride Park, enemy territory, although I have no ‘beef’ with anyone from Derby, I don’t even know that many people from the city, although I did once date a Derby fan, before quickly nipping that one in the bud. I think the rivalry comes from the early 80’s when Peter Taylor parted with long-term friend Brian Clough to re-join Derby as Manager from his assistant role at Nottingham Forest. Taylor wanted Clough to go with him, back to the side they won the championship with in 1972, but Clough stayed at Forest where he had already won two European Cups, and when Taylor tempted an ageing John Robertson to join the Rams in 1983, Clough would never speak to his bestie again, from there I suppose a football rivalry grew, and today the East Midlands Derby is one of the most heated in the English game. The word ‘Derby’ used globally for big events in all sports, actually comes from the Earl of Derby, who in 1780 organised an elite horse race which has long been staged ever since at Epsom, rivalries have used the term ‘Derby’ to showcase their hatred for one another ever since. Back to Derby County, they were formed in 1884, they won the FA Cup, their first major trophy, in 1946, after three times previously finishing as cup runners-up. Under Brian Clough and Peter Taylor, they went from second division relegation fodder to first division champions within four years, they won the title again in 1975 under Dave Mackay but ever since have faltered to achieve anything near their success of the seventies. After a couple of seasons in League One they finished 19th in the Championship last year, but have signed well this summer and will be looking to make a push for the playoffs at least. Atromitos are a Greek Super League side, formed in 1923 they are based in Peristeri, Athens, finishing seventh in the table last season, their highest super league finish back in 2013 was third, whilst they have twice been Greek Cup runners up. The Venue I’ve arrived at Derby a good hour and half before kick-off, parking is problematic as there’s no spaces at the Park & Ride Derby Arena which I tried to book online in the morning, the official club are charging £10 which I think is extortionate for a 'friendly', so after driving aimlessly around I chance it in a retail car park across the way which has a two hour duration limit, I even buy some trainers from Sports Direct in a hope that I can use that receipt as evidence for my lengthy shopping trip if needed. These stadiums on the edge of industrial suburbia are all a much of a muchness, nowhere to park, nowhere to drink or eat, just soulless bowls appearing midst many retail units with car garages and factories everywhere set back off wide roads. To be fair to Derby, it does have a Greggs attached to the ground which I find intriguing, inside you walk through the turnstile and at base level is the wide concourse, before taking the steps up, or down, to your seats, a magnificent cauldron of black and white then greats you wrapping around the sunlit green surface of the playing field in perfect condition, not trod on since May. I’m up on row X, which is quite a walk, but you get an unobstructed view of the playing surface and with Pride Park being a 35,000 seater stadium, or thereabouts, you never feel too far away from the action. The Game As pre-season friendlies go, I’ve chosen this match as it’s only half hours’ drive from my house and I’m going out for a meal in Nottingham tonight, a quick entrance/exit is needed and there’s only a few thousand in attendance so it shouldn't be too difficult to get away. The beginning is played at pedestrian pace but it’s all Atromitos who keep possession for all of six minutes, Derby don’t have a touch, it’s one way traffic in the centre of the park, but the Rams get into gear with their more direct and robust style, Ebou Adams often racing down the left midst chants of 'booo' from the crowd, then Corey Blackett-Taylor cuts in before being fouled softly in the box, the same player stepping up, and dispatching the penalty after fifteen minutes. There’s a lot of fouls, in a niggly first half, where the game hardly flows, let alone ebbs, there's some good stuff, mainly on the break from Atromitos, where the diminutive number ten Brayan Palmezano shows quick feet, whilst Derby more powerfully move forward, Ebou Adams, Blackett-Taylor, strong, quick, direct, new signing Carlton Morris is winning his battle in the air against defenders, in midfield Kenzo Goudmijn and Kayden Jackson are combative, high energy, whilst it feels like Liam Thompson is covering all bases across the park. The Score There's been a couple of chances at either end, but the second half is less open, Derby by now have full control, Atromitos neat, but pretty toothless in attack, I like Ismahila Ouedaogo in midfield who's not missed a pass, but the strength, physicality and fitness of Derby is their to see, the stronger bigger team always looks like doubling their advantage, and they do, when a Kenzo Goudmijn corner goes straight in, on 50 minutes. Thereafter, a plethora of substitutes stop and start the game, a lot of niggly fouls reward bookings for culprits, there were chances, Kayden Jackson blazing wide and Dajuane Brown on the end of a fine move blasting over from close range, late on Makana Baku, the Atromitos right winger caused a bit of panic in the Derby defence, he rounded Zetterstrom but couldn't get his shot past the big Swedish goalkeeper who stood firm. The Stars Derby looked better going forward than they did defensively, caught on a couple of occasions with a simple looking straight through ball, they lack pace in defence which might be a telling factor during the upcoming Championship campaign, in midfield though I was hugely impressed, Goudmijn is a good solid technical footballer who grafts, Jackson hard working with energy is snappy out of possession, but working harder than most is Liam Thompson who was brilliant on the day, covering every blade of grass whilst showing neat passing skills and good technique on the ball, aged 23 he can become a very good player at the level should he keep up the consistency over the next nine or ten months. Up front, Carlton Morris a recent signing from Luton Town, put himself about a bit in the good old English way, he won his battle against his opponents despite not scoring, Corey Blackett-Taylor was very good on the ball, as was Eboue Adams, both have pace and skill and get the Derby fans off their seats which excites. For Atromitos, they didn't have the power of their English opponents, but they were good in possession, and organised defensively, at the helm, led by Brazilian defender Mansur at centre half. I really liked Ismahila Ouedraogo who played it simple in midfield, he always came short looking for the ball, whilst their talisman is Brayan Palmezano, a former Venezuelan U20 international, German winger Makana Baku was also a real nuisance, tricky and teasy he perhaps should have got himself a goal. The Verdict I think Derby will certainly improve on last seasons fortunes under John Eustace, a useful outfit going forward, they also have new signings Andreas Weimann, Patrick Agyemang and Rhian Brewster to come, but they may need to add some steel to their defence if they are to keep enough clean sheets to get them into the top half of the table? As for Atromitos, same again, last season they finished seventh in the Greek Super League, I expect them to be ok just plodding along as they do, with a neat style based on possession unless there's opportunity to break, they start their season on the 23rd August and have Lazio to play in a friendly before then, whilst Derby start their Championship season on Saturday, at Stoke. The Teams Derby County: Jacob Widell Zetterstrom, Ryan Nyambe (Isaac Gordon 46), Danny Batth, Jake Rooney, Craig Forsyth, Liam Thompson, Kenzo Goudmijn, Kayden Jackson, Eboue Adams, Corey Blackett-Taylor, Carlton Morriss (Dajuane Brown 65). Atromitos: Lefteris Choutesiotos, Mattheo Mountes, Dimitros Stavropoulos, Mansur, Jere Uronen, Quini, Ismahila Ouedraogo, Peter Michorl, Georgios Tzovaras, Brayan Palmezano, Baku. 3:00pm Kick Off. Saturday 2nd August 2025, Pride Park, Derby (att 4,746).

Hemel Hempstead Town 1-1 Maidstone United  (National League South) I’m at Merchant Taylor’s School for the cricket and Middlesex women have just bowled Derbyshire out for 76. An early finish is on the cards, but I can’t go home to Nottingham just yet as I’m already booked into a hotel near Hemel Hempstead as I’m at Lords for the men’s game v Sussex on Sunday. I get out my Futbology app to see if Watford or Luton Town are at home. No such luck? By the time Middlesex have chased down Derbyshire’s measly total, I’ve already made up my mind what to do with my spare afternoon, Whipsnade Zoo and Harry Potter tours aside, I’m tempted by Wealdstone v Truro or Boreham Wood against Rochdale, then I notice Hemel are at home against Maidstone, just a short drive from my hotel near Redbourn. It’s only just gone half one, I’m in the car with Sat Nav on heading up the M1 towards Vauxhall Road, the first game of the National League South season, Maidstone the opponents, a good team who fell in the playoffs last year after being much fancied for promotion, a side managed by former Wolves defender George Elokobi. The Venue I’ve been here before, once, so I park up on a side street and walk up past the houses towards the venue, £17 to get in, I pay contactless and enjoy the sun whilst sitting outside the Tudors Bar with a cold San Miguel in a plastic pint tankard emblazoned with club logo. It’s a lovely ground, packed, the pitch above the side walk as you look up from the bottom corner near the changing rooms where music blares out, the bottom end has a roofed stand for seating, the top end a roof end for standing, the two sides have covered areas for sitting, open spaces for standing, one end feels higher than the other, a definite slope down which can give either side kicking downhill steep attacking advantage. As I’m ‘off duty’ today (and supposedly still working at the cricket) I’ve not done too much digging on team news, but it looks like Hemel Manager Lee Allinson has made a few changes to his side from last season, just a couple of familiar faces in the starting XI who I remember when I last watched the Tudors beat St Albans here in February. Samuel Adenola, Kyle Ajayi and Joe White those who I recognise. As I finish my beer from a perched stool near the entrance to the dark and homely clubhouse which is still showing Southampton v Wrexham on the box, I walk down to the bottom left hand corner of the ground which is open to the elements, a full crowd today there’s limited space to park yourself without restriction or touching somebody, but a lowdown view by the corner flag gives you a panoramic shot of the complete venue in its glory, the synthetic pitch glistening in the sun, typically for August it’s a hot one to start the season with. The Game The match starts at laboured pace, the two sets of teams ‘finding each other out’ with long balls back to front, not much cohesion or substance to eithers attack, nothing prolonged, just get it away, and out of danger in the opponents half, it’s percentage football and Maidstone are slightly better at it, than their hosts. United in gold and black have the early opportunities, Jesse Nwabueze attempts to dink over Michael Johnson who dives left to palm the cheeky chip shot over the bar, before an attempt from the following corner is headed over by Samuel Adenola who blocks a goalward Maidstone effort with his brave noggin. Journeyman striker Deon Moore is providing to be a handful, he’s physical up top with good feet and Kyle Ajayi and Jordan Thompson give him too much respect. On 28 Moore brings a ball down and canters inside the area too easily, lining up Dajon Golding for a chance he cannot miss. Golding puts his hands over his mouth as he runs away in celebration in front of the silenced home support behind the goal. The Score It’s no less than what Maidstone deserve, the better team on the day, they are organised, solid, unfashionable, irritating, and Hemel Hempstead can’t lay a glove, the midfield battle is won and there’s only really one team in it at half time. That trend continues into the second half too. The Stones dominate early on as their noisy following behind one goal sing ‘That’s the way (I like it) by KC and the Sunshine Band, possibly to the lyrics of ‘Stones away aha aha’ before daringly offering a jovial rendition of ‘we’re gonna win the league’. It looks like more goals to be added too, Moore is denied with a header before the striker drills inches wide, John Gilbert their number ten goes close after a good run but as the home team make changes a plenty, they give it one last push and hit the bar on 86 after a goalmouth scramble when Ajayi clatters the woodwork, then in injury time another ball bouncing in the box falls nicely to second half substitute Millar Matthews-Lewis, he smashes home and celebrates in the crowd to pull the home side even with their first 'actual' shot on target. The Stars Despite them being held to a draw, Maidstone are the better side and they’ll rue not putting their opponents to bed when they had chances to double advantage, Leo Hamblin at left back defended well on debut, Sam Corne, skipper, sprayed the ball around in midfield effectively, but in attack, they possess strength, power, speed, trickery, in Deon Moore they have a real pedigree for the level, if they can keep him at the club? Now 26, he started at Peterborough United and joined Bristol Rovers in 2018 before numerous spells across non-league, most notably at Lewes FC, but too often he’s flattered to deceive and has bounced from club to club. He’s strong, good feet, holds the ball up well and looks to have enough ability to get regular goals, partnered with young Jesse Nwabueze and Dajon Golding (two other new signings) I think the frontline of Maidstone is a real nuisance for opposition defenders, they just have to stay together some more so they can gel. Hemel’s back line did ok on the day, a little too much respect of Moore in the first half, they tightened in the second, Adenola at right back was no nonsense and athletic as he was when I first watched him back in Feb, pretty solid in the air and defending crosses were both Ajayi and Thompson at centre half, but going forward they offered little until Millar Matthews-Lewis came on, Mauro Vilhete earlier substituted, he of ‘Baller League’ fame, was largely on the periphery. The Verdict Last season, Hemel Hempstead Town finished mid table (12th) and I can see something similar happening again, Maidstone in the end, ended seventh in the National League South, and they’ll be expecting better than that this time around. Not a bad result for either team to open the campaign with, but both Managers will be looking towards their next games on Saturday, with improvements in all areas to build on.   The Teams Hemel Hempstead Town: Michael Johnson, Samuel Adenola, Darion Dowrich, Kyle Ajayi, Jordan Thompson (Devante Stanley 75), Jake Gray (Jack Bateson 86), Joe White, Finley Wilkinson (Hamza Semakula 60), Ade Azeez. Mauro Vilhete (Millar Matthews-Lewis 60), Jermaine Anderson (Kyran Wiltshire 60). Maidstone United: Nathan Harness, David Sesay, Leo Hambin, Lexus Beeden (David Agbontohoma 90), George Fowler, TJ Bramble, Sam Corne, Deon Moore (Josh Redfearn 78), John Gilbert, Dajon Golding (Riley Court 72), Jesse Nwabueze (Jephte Tanga 69). 3:00pm Kick Off. Saturday 9th August 2025, Vauxhall Road, Hemel Hempstead (att 936).

Oxford United 1-1 Leganes  (Friendly) Only my second game of the month tonight, I’ve been busy cricketing and summer holidaying, so pre-season football has been well down the pecking order thus far, restricted to the odd TV viewing of the FIFA Club World Cup which Chelsea won earlier this month, and of course, the women’s Euros, which England won dramatically against Spain in Switzerland on Sunday. It’s my first trip to the Kassam Stadium, ever, I’ve got a budget hotel in Swindon booked after as I’m off to Taunton for Somerset v Durham in the morning, another ‘England’ v ‘Spain’ encounter as two second tier teams take on each other in their pre-season friendly warm up schedule. Oxford will begin their second season in the Championship after 25 previous years outside the second tier of English football. When I woz a lad  they were in the topflight, Milk Cup winners in 86 they had the likes of John Aldridge, Ray Houghton, Dean Saunders, Kevin Brock, Billy Whitehurst, Gary Briggs, proper footballers who made use of the old Manor Ground slope to provide this small team known until 1960 as Headington United regular visits from the established and elite. They lasted three seasons in English football’s highest division between 1985-88. Leganes are equally as small in size and stature, but established in 1928, they first appeared in the Spanish topflight, La Liga, as recently as 2016, and spent four seasons mixing it on a level with Real Madrid and Barcelona before relegation, in 2023/24 they won promotion back after winning the Segunda Liga but last season were relegated and they’ll try again in La Liga 2 during the 2025/26 campaign. The Venue I’ve arrived on the southern outskirts of Oxford, the suburb of Littlemore is filled of business parks and modern factory units, the ground appearing as I cross over the many roundabouts of Grenoble Road in between a Hollywood Bowl, cinema complex and Holiday Inn hotel. It’s free to park (which surprises me) as I pull up behind the East Stand, the three-sided venue is one of those peculiar in the English game, unfinished, but impressive, modern in design, there’s a rumour Oxford are planning to move elsewhere though, its perimeter left to ruin slightly outside the venue, but inside it’s good, opened in 2001 it holds 12,500 but just a couple of thousand in today, including around 40 or 50 from Leganes. The Game Oxford in yellow and black do the early pressing against their opponents in camouflage green. I chat to an old boy next to me who has the odds up on his phone for the Championship next season. “What are the odds for Oxford to go up” I ask. “I haven’t come to those yet” he says. “I’m still on the relegation odds page. We’re second favourites to go down behind Sheffield Wednesday”. Oxford finished seventeenth last season and under Gary Rowett play a simple but effective game, 4-3-3 in formation they have two old fashioned centre halves, solid full backs with pace and power, a three-man midfield with grit and physicality, two wingers chalk on their boots pacey and direct, but a striker with limited goal threat, hitting the onion bag mainly alludes them, Matt Phillips in attack today is yet to score a league goal having played 22 matches for the club last season. That lack of goals aside (only six teams in the Championship scored less last season), I’m in the ‘Oxford will do ok’ camp, as they get the ball back to front quickly and in Siriki Dembele on the left, they have a wide man who’s a nuisance to defend against, whilst on the right, Tom Bradshaw is putting some good balls into the danger area, they have a couple of sniffs before they do score, when Leganes concede possession in their own half, Dembele feeds Bradshaw and he slides home all be it with a bobble or two past the goalkeeper. It’s a deserved lead for the better, more physical team who play on the front foot, Leganes are neat, without really troubling the Oxford back-line, but a free kick awarded in the United half is floated into the box, and the hosts offside trap fails, Ignasi Miquel, once of Arsenal, is up from the back, he heads home and levels just after the half hour. The Score It’s had its moments, feisty in parts, there’s a couple of bookings a side and a flare up, but mainly it’s about stretching the legs and very little action in either area, Oxford hardly trouble the Leganes goal as the Spaniards unleash a couple of attempts from Cisse outside the box, one good save is made by Cumming who punches a shot over the bar after De Keersmaecker is caught in possession, the Belgian midfielder has a cracking game, but he’s subbed after his only error which is almost costly, perhaps caught out with a little fatigue. On the whistle of Darren England I head straight for the stairs, I’ve had a steak and ale pie which was decent, but is repeating on me, time for the short trip to Swindon as I head down further south and west, ahead of the cricket tomorrow morning. The Stars Oxford impress across the park, Cameron Brannagan is that snappy style midfielder that 'every' Championship club needs, he floats passes left to right and is busy, hard-working in the centre, next to Brian De Keersmaecker who I really like, recently signed from Heracles in Holland, he's a Belgium born playmaker who looks and plays not-dissimilar to Kevin De Bruyne, he takes all the set plays, is thick set and solid looking, neat on the ball and is happy to put his foot in. Out wide Dembele is a real pain as he tears the Leganes full back inside out for 45 minutes before he's rested at the interval, but he looks frustrating too, a couple of overlapping runs by left back Greg Leigh are ignored. In defence, I really like Oxford, Cumming in goal solid, Long at centre back has good feet, Moore beside him no nonsense, in the wide areas, both Spencer and Leigh offer attacking alternative options. For Leganes, neat is the word, defensively they all have good footballers who can play, 34-year-old wing back Ruben Pena providing an outlet out right, Marcel looks solid on the left, I quite like their captain Seydouba Cisse who gets it, and gives it, but is on occasion caught out in the centre of the park, but I'm mostly impressed with their number 26 Carlos Guirao who comes on as a second half sub, he's looking to get the ball off defenders and is really neat in possession, looking to make things happen, in the Isco mould (he did have a short loan spell at Betis last season), he's only 22 and is certainly one to keep an eye on. Another youngster who i'm keen to see ahead of the game is Belgian winger Benjamin Pauwels, he has a stinker, gets taken off at half time and his replacement, the Cape Verde international Duk, is much better on the left, attacking at his opposite number all be it without much luck. The Verdict Another 'stadium' ticked off, there comes a point in life when you've been to most grounds in England, that you feel you must do those you've not yet been to. That was my main reason for visiting Oxford, but I did at least leave feeling impressed by the team in yellow, who are let's remember, a Championship team having survived relegation last year, their first year in the division this millennium. I think under Gary Rowett, and I hope, Oxford will do ok. I like the way they play for the division, I like the players they have, just perhaps lacking that fifteen-twenty goal forward. I'm not entirely sure how playing a team like Leganes, slow but neat in possession, frail in size, will help them in any way ahead of the new campaign of rough and rugged Championshipness, but getting minutes into legs is all important, and both teams will be better for it from a physical and fitness perspective at least. The Teams Oxford United: Jamie Cumming, Greg Leigh (Jack Currie 74), Elliott Moore, Sam Long (Luke Harris 68), Brodie Spencer, Brian De Keersmaecker (Louie Sibley 74), Cameron Brannagan, Matt Phillips (Peter Kioso 68), Stanley Mills (Leo Snowden 82), Siriki Dembele (Tyler Goodrham 46), Tom Bradshaw (Gaitlin O'Donkor 74). Leganes: Sam Roman, Ruben Pena, Lalo Aguilar, Ignasi Miquel, Marvel (Said Imigene 74), Roberto Lopez (Naim Garcia 62), Seydouba Cisse (Sergio Fernandez 86), Andres Campos (Sebastian Figueredo 75), Benjamin Pauwels (Duk 46), Alex Millan (Carlos Guirao 62), Miguel del la Fuente (Alvaro Gonzalez 74 (Jorge Saenz 86)). 7:00pm Kick Off. Tuesday 29th July 2025, Kassam Stadium, Oxford (att 2,085).

England 1-3 Senegal (Friendly) The last time I watched England, ten months ago, Lee Carsley was taking temporary charge of his first game against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin, before the match he sent a member of his coaching staff into the UEFA office where I was stood, to get him a cup of tea, never did I feel more proud of an England Manager. I always start my day with a brew. Carsley's new look team destroyed the Irish (home and away) playing a scintillating brand of attacking football, following on from England's dismal Euros campaign under Gareth Southgate, where remember, they reached the final, before losing to Spain, often branded 'defensive' and 'pragmatic' was Mr Southgate, having Carsley at the helm, it felt like a new era. Even though it was short, it was sweet, minus one hiccup. Fast forward to March 2025... Thomas Tuchel's first game in charge against Albania. The German Coach, hired because he's a serial winner, had promised 'exciting football'. A 2-0 win at Wembley was hardly exciting, but better to come? A 3-0 victory over Latvia followed, before Saturday's 1-0 edging of minnows Andorra, ranked 173 in the world. Tuchel is now under pressure to deliver, a World Cup just a year away, England taking on a Senegal side unbeaten in 23, it might be a friendly, against really tough opponents, but anything but a win will be seen as a disaster, England have never previously lost to an African nation. The Venue I'm at the City Ground today, as a fan, not a scout, because I've seen England so often in the past, home and away, near and far, I can't really pass up opportunity to watch them on my doorstep, even if it's £65 a ticket. England have played in Nottingham just three times previously, in 1897 at Trent Bridge, they beat Ireland 6-0, in 1909 at the City Ground, they beat Wales 2-0, and again in 1941, they beat the Welsh 4-1. The last time they were here, 84 years ago. A bit has changed since, I suspect, parking, probably more difficult, as I manage to get my car a mile or so away off Musters Road, I'm walking past Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, a bloke on a push bike with a huge speaker on the back of it is playing some rave to get the fans going, there's queues to get in the Trent Bridge Inn as well as all the local eateries as I head down a packed Radcliffe Road, my ticket today in the Clough Stand lower tier, a bit of a walk around the houses from where I parked. I'm an hour early, so entrance is easy, straight into the kiosk for a steak pie and brew, I sit down in the sun in the tight seats fairly central, the stunning curvature of the stadium roofs, all a bit of miss match, the Bridgford End to my left, with some sporadic Senegal fans up above, the Main Stand opposite, tired looking, small, propped up by posts, the Trent End to my right, delightful, two tiered, the stadium slowly filling as we near kick off, a DJ plays music as you spot Ian Wright and Roy Keane on the pitch doing their pre-game analysis for ITV, a fireworks display and fire show then a bit of a wait for the two teams to come out, Senegal's national anthem then a loud and proud god save the king. The Game I'm not expecting high tempo, due to the 'friendly' nature of the game, so am not shocked, when England start knocking it around uneasily between their back four, but am shocked to see that Senegal have already had two chances, before Harry Kane breaks the deadlock, on seven minutes he pokes in after Mendy spills Gordon's effort, Eze starting a move after stealing possession from a Senegalese player. Anthony Gordon should indeed make it two, he stabs wide from a Kyle Walker cross when it looked easier to score, but Senegal have been the better team, looking dangerous down the flanks, they have pace, confidence, a real good midfield trio in Camara, Gueye and Diarra, Ndiaye out right is giving young Myles Lewis-Skelly a torrid time, whilst Ismaila Sarr on the left is too quick for the ageing Walker. So much so, Crystal Palace winger Sarr beats Walker to the ball to stab home an equaliser after winning a race, he should not have won. The Score At half time it's crying out for a few changes to kick the backside of a pedestrian England performance. I've been impressed with Eze, who in a 4-4-2 is alongside Kane in attack, whilst Gallagher and Rice have 'tried' in midfield, Saka has done little, Gordon has lacked service, and behind them, defensively I'm concerned, I've also became irritated, by Myles Lewis-Skelly, who's not passed one ball forward, or indeed ventured past the half way line, in the whole of the first forty-five minutes. It's more of the same in the second half too, but England shuffle their pack, the home star, Morgan Gibbs-White, the first Nottingham Forest player to play for England at the City Ground, he gets a warm round of applause and a few locals singing his name, he immediately looks to get on the front foot, whilst Morgan Rogers and Curtis Jones are also brought on. The changes do spark life into the game, but a long ball forward catches England unawares, Lewis-Skelly is out of position, Diarra is running, still running, no-one near him, Chalobah falls over, Diarra by now is inside the box, his only option is to dink home past Henderson to give Senegal the lead. Unexpected? But deserved? England a goal behind actually come out and play some of their best football, as Eze, delightfully flicks into the path of Gibbs-White who's hard shot is well saved, before Saka, goes close with a low drive turned around the post. Gibbs-White again involved. England do level, with just a couple of minutes to go, substitute Jude Bellingham the hero, but a lengthy delay leads to the Referee cancelling out the goal after VAR interjection, Levi Colwill alleged to have handled, it was probably the right decision. And in vein, an injury time free kick by Noni Madueke can't beat the first man, England have sent everyone up, Curtis Jones robbed in possession with his back to goal, Camara is now running, and running, and running, before finding Cheikh Sabaly, he makes it three and there's wild celebrations from up above, the couple of hundred Senegal fans who have been in party mode all night, now have something historic, to celebrate. England fans exit, to the sound of boos, along with a large rapturous clatter of seats flipping back. The Stars Senegal are unbeaten in 24 matches, and after earlier watching former player El Hadji Diouf take selfies with fans ahead of kick off, I wonder if this 'team' is even better than that of 2002, when Diouf's side beat world champions France in the World Cup, Papa Bouba Diop famously scoring the winning goal. I really like the midfield trio. Idrissa Gueye is a pocket rocket who we all know and love from Everton, who sits in front of the back four and protects, whilst two 21-year-olds, offer legs either side, Lamine Camara of Monaco and Habib Diarra of Strasbourg are both excellent, and will I'm sure go on to very exciting careers. In attack they offer real threat with pace and dynamism, Iliman Ndiaye was excellent, Ismaila Sarr electric, whilst Nicolas Jackson is a footballer that get's unfair criticism, he's a striker who makes himself chances with hard work, which is a real skill set in the first place. For England, not many, on the night, would come off the pitch having earned credibility. Goalkeeper Dean Henderson perhaps the best (or busiest) player, which says it all, I actually like both Levi Colwill, and Trevoh Chalobah individually, but as a centre half duo, I don't trust them to keep clean sheets, in full back areas England suffered, but in attack they have plenty of promise. Eberechi Eze was sublime in moments, gliding with deft touches, Anthony Gordon a nuisance when found, very quick and direct, Gibbs-White and Bellingham doing well off the bench, they provide X-Factor, whilst Harry Kane, well without him, you wonder where England would be? The Verdict Thomas Tuchel's side now need to 'qualify' for the World Cup in 2026. Andorra (again) and Serbia, in September, next up, the latter fixture in particular, key to who potentially wins the group. Senegal, well they still need to win their own group and are currently below DR Congo in qualification, but i'll be very surprised if we don't see them in USA, Canada and Mexico, and if they do qualify, as they should, they could certainly have a very good run, in the competition finals. The Teams England: Dean Henderson, Kyle Walker, Trevoh Chalobah, Levi Colwill, Myles Lewis-Skelly (Ivan Toney 88), Bukayo Saka (Noni Madueke 71), Conor Gallagher (Curtis Jones 59), Declan Rice (Jude Bellingham 71), Anthony Gordon (Morgan Gibbs-White 58), Eberechi Eze, Harry Kane (Morgan Rogers 59). Senegal: Edouard Mendy, Krepin Diatta, Kalidou Koulibaly, Moussa Niakhate, El Hadji Malick Diouf, Habib Diarra (Pape Gueye 71), Idrissa Gueye, Lamine Camara, Iliman Ndiaye, Nicolas Jackson (Boulaye Dia 82), Ismaila Sarr (Cheikh Sabaly 70). 7:45pm Kick Off. Tuesday 10th June 2025, City Ground, Nottingham (26,322).

Hartlepool United 1-1 Forest Green Rovers  (National League) The games are dwindling down as we head towards the end of the campaign it feels everyone in May is potentially my last match of the season, but I’m hopeful of a couple more to come. This bank holiday Monday, for the last round of the National League fixtures, I’m heading north. Hartlepool have had an average season, a club which spent 89 consecutive campaigns in the football league before relegation to the National League in 2017, did gain promotion back into the 92 after a playoff winning end to 2020/21 but have since fallen back down to the fifth tier and are in their second successive after a twelfth placed finish last season, this season under their third Manager of the campaign in Anthony Limbrick, they lie eleventh. Forest Green are going rather better under Steve Cotterill, I watched them play Oldham last time out and they end the season already in third, awaiting the playoff places to be finalised before they can crack on for another attempt at returning to League Two after a single year at this level. It’s a two-and-a-half-hour drive over 140 miles and I’m on the road at 10am to give myself some plenty of time along with a pit stop for some food. From Nottingham I travel up the M1, M18 onto the A1 and off onto the A168 (A19) where there are signposts for Thirsk, the roads are quiet as I pass the odd towed caravan along the way, circling around the top of Middlesbrough where things start to get industrial looking, before arriving in the town of Hartlepool for well before 1pm. The Venue I park on the Lancaster Road which is a short walk down to the stadium, a bright spring day with a chill in the air, slight breeze off the North Sea as I cross onto Clarence Road before pulling into reception where my ticket is passed over by a smiling old lady who says she can’t wait for five past three. I walk through the players car park where a couple of the lads are having photos with fans ahead of going into the changing rooms, I’m walking around the back of the Rink End to the Niramax Stand where the press area is at the very top, as I sit down and take a panoramic view, I’m greeted by a young local radio presenter who’s also a Pools fan, before the Forest Green social media guy who I chatted with only last weekend, says hello, he says it only took them ‘five hours’ to get here. Thankfully though, the players stayed a little closer overnight. The view is grand, the stadium is a little dated but homely, a proper English football ground, the Cyril Knowles Stand opposite has some corporate facility, apparently only seven Eastleigh supporters came to Victoria Park earlier this season for a Tuesday night game, and rather than open up the Rink End which houses away fans, they gave them a box, “good for PA” I was told, but the real reason was to save on money of opening a whole stand for just seven people. Win win for all those involved. Above the Cyril Knowles Stand you can just about see the sea but more noticeable are the sails of HMS Trincomolae built in 1817 in Bombay, India, these days docked permanently at the Hartlepool Marina and National Museum of Royal Navy by the Quayside a short walk away. The blue seated stand to my left, the Rink End has a few from Forest Green sat over in the far corner, just a hundred or so today, I’m told, whilst the Town End to the right, packed with people standing behind the goal, Pools usually get 3,500 to 4,000 and today is a little over that, as fans come out to watch their town’s last match of the campaign. The Game The two teams are playing out their season with nothing but pride and points that are rather meaningless, which means for a start of ‘friendly’ nature. Not much happens, Forest Green players look happy to sit off and not get hurt, but in the opening couple of minutes Hartlepool’s left wing back Reyes Cleary barges over Sean Long to tell his opponent, ‘You’re going to be in a game whether you like it or not'. There is an injury worry to Ryan Innis who hobbles off early doors, last week they lost a centre half after 20 minutes in Cian Harries to injury, this week it’s Innis, hopefully more as a precaution with the playoffs for Forest Green to come. That aside there’s not much action, Hartlepool the better of the two teams because they probably want it a little bit more, not much, but they are on the front foot more often, and in Cleary on the left, they have a player on loan from West Brom, who I’m told is also out of contract this summer, who is powerful, fast, direct, and can cut in on his right foot, or even go down the outside and get to the by-line. Cleary is star of an average show, and it is he who delivers with a run into the box which he cuts back to an unlikely source, David Ferguson who’s up from the back, deftly flicking the ball past Tedd Cann for an opener on 37 minutes. The Score It’s what Hartlepool have deserved, they have a good solid side, but lack invention when Cleary is not on the ball terrorising right backs, defensively they protect each other, in midfield they have experience, perhaps not so much legs, although Jamie Miley who’s recently signed from Newcastle has some spark, he knocks one cross field pass to Cleary which I’m right behind, a ball that started out straight with late whip to the wing backs feet, nonchalant to perfection, but other than that, Miley’s afternoon was fairly quiet. So to is the afternoon of Charlie McCann, other than a booking for the Forest Green playmaker on the hour, Steve Cotterill immediately taking his star man off, as he cannot afford to lose his best player during the playoffs. And in the changes made Forest Green become more direct, big target men in Joe Quigley and Christian Doidge offer new threat up top, and during their best spell of the game, the visitors level up, when Adam May puts a long ball into the danger area, headed down by Quigley into the path of Doidge who can’t miss. That provides the Greens a point they hardly deserved, but in fairness, their own keeper wasn’t tested too much on an afternoon of mostly nothingness and Hartlepool more often than not, from good chances provided, flatted to deceive. In the end a game that didn’t mean much, other than getting the ‘regular’ campaign done and dusted, Forest Green now will have bigger fish to fry, whilst the Pools players can start heading on their holidays, although some will be out of contract though and now looking for new clubs. The Stars Of those players out of contract this summer Joe Grey is one I’ve watched previously and having previously turned down money from Sunderland for him, Hartlepool now risk losing a promising youngster on a free. “This was supposed to be his season” I was told on Grey who after netting 13 league goals and 10 assists in 2023/24 has registered just 6 goals and 2 assists in 2024/25. I still think he’s worth a punt at the league above, a talented footballer with good feet and trickery, but who’s a little light, and it looks more often than not this season in particular, he’s gone missing when it matters most, but he has also struggled with injury and had a previous manager in Darren Sarll who didn’t really want to play to his strengths. One lad with plenty of strength is Reyes Cleary who’s a powerhouse with pace on loan from West Brom. Too good for the National League, but not yet perhaps good enough for the Baggies, it’ll be interesting to see where he ends up, and how he progresses, a direct and positive player who’s supposed to be a good boy as well. And another good boy at Hartlepool is their right sided defender Louis Stephenson, still only 19 he’s solid looking and very dependable for his age, not your full throstle attacking wing back that Cleary on the opposite side is, but one who is solid, reliable, and makes defending his number one priority. One player I’m yet to mention who did well on the day is the Pools centre forward Manny Dieseruvwe, awkward at times but he’s a handful and is the sort of player that Forest Green could perhaps do with, for all their ball retention and stylish play in midfield, they could do with a goalscorer to get them to where they want to be. Impressing on the day for FGR was Adam May who played the ball at ease from deep midfield whether it was five or ten yards, or thirty or forty, his distribution and work rate was good, whilst the subs who made the difference, Quigley and Doidge posed more threat in the twenty minutes they were on the pitch, than the previous attacking outlets did for seventy. The Verdict Forest Green have a real shot at going straight back up, probably the best set of players in the league, perhaps the best Manager in Steve Cotterill too? Their playoff round however isn’t for a few weeks and that might play advantage to the four teams in the eliminators as they and York await the winners of ties that involve Rochdale v Southend and Oldham v Halifax. Hartlepool will end their season with a concerning doubt on what’s to come, a potential take over could take place this summer, if not, it could be worrying times, whilst a good few players are out of contract, they’ll certainly be some changes being made. The Teams Hartlepool United: Adam Smith, Louis Stephenson, Tom Parkes, David Ferguson, Reyes Cleary (Luke Charman 67), Jack Hunter, Nathan Sheron, Nicky Featherstone, Jamie Miley (Adam Campbell 79), Joe Grey (Sam Folarin 77), Manny Dieseruvwe. Forest Green Rovers: Tedd Cann, Sean Long (Kyle McAllister 73), Ryan Innis (Harvey Bunker 13), Charlie McCann (Joe Quigley 63), Liam Sercombe, Tom Knowles (Emmanuel Osadebe 74), Jordan Moore-Taylor, Jamie Robson, Adam May, Teddy Jenks, Harry Cardwell (Christian Doidge 73). 3:00pm Kick Off. Monday 5th May 2025, Victoria Park, Hartlepool (att 4,176).

Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester City (FA Cup Semi Final) I was supposed to be scoring Leicestershire v Worcestershire women at Uppingham School in Rutland today, but the last time Nottingham Forest were in the semi-final of the FA Cup was 1991 when they beat West Ham United 4-0 at Villa Park. So forgive me if I prioritise my love for the reds ahead of some red ball action instead. It's been a while. It's actually the first game of the season I'll be watching as a 'fan' so I'm excited to stick on my adidas retro 1979 European Cup final shirt, dust off my red and white scarf which has been locked in my bottom drawer for a good year or more, and head down for a beer and some buzz with the chance for some cup nostalgia, creating new memories, down the M1 where we pass plenty of others in red and white along the way. My next door neighbour who's a Forest member got me a ticket, I'm also giving a lift to the father in law who's got his seat somewhere nearby, leaving at 11:30am, I'm driving down and parking pretty much outside the stadium, I can't be bothered with trains and buses and hanging around with thousands of drunks at Covent Garden or Baker Street. Made it in good time, pulling up outside some factory for 2pm on Atlas Road, where we are charged £20 to park, it's a bit of a walk to anywhere good for a drink as we wonder past the steps at Wembley Way covered in red, there seems to be no City fans here, although it is their 28th time at the new Wembley, Forest have been here just once before, when they beat Huddersfield in the playoff final in 2022. Eventually, we find a bar with plenty of red fans in the window at La Regina Restaurant which is underneath the St George's Hotel on Wembley Hill Road. It's a good atmosphere and not too busy, just a five minute walk from the stadium so we settle down with a seat and talk tactics whilst drinking from plastic cups. The Venue Supped up, a good half hour from kick off, we head down towards the stadium which is imposing and circular shaped, peering around tall buildings of newly built apartments, the arch in view between blocks with blue partially cloudy skies above. We're up in the gods today, it matters not as it's all about the atmosphere, and being here, the third tier which is thankfully mostly escalators to the top, upon reaching the concourse we are greeted by everyone in good mood, wearing red, singing along some old Forest favourites in a fun party atmosphere. We grab a quick drink and some chicken and chips which I take out a new mortgage for, then up the steps to row 44, just one off the back of the stand, last but one of the highest bit of Wembley you can go, Forest fans beneath joining in to sing Mull of Kintyre as City follow up with a rendition of blue moon. I'm disappointed in Manchester City's following, they've been here so many times before it seems that half their supporters don't have any interest in attending today? But rumours of train tickets from Manchester costing over £200, tickets to the game from £50-70 upwards and the chaos of a London Marathon and even the boxing last night between Eubank and Benn at Spurs, you sort of feel sympathy, but it really deflates the atmosphere that they have only half filled their allocation. The Game That atmosphere soon deflates further after just one minute played, Mateo Kovacic finds Rico Lewis on the edge of the box, he has an age to get a shot away and put City in front with a low drive, the sky blues celebrate, suddenly all the noise is coming from their half-filled end. Forest fans are quiet, flat, deflated, their side is too, struggling to keep the ball, plan A to sit off City, to make themselves hard to break down, then catch them on the break, has failed after just 90 seconds. It's largely one way traffic as Pep Guardiola's side, who have struggled this season, suddenly look like their old confident world beating selves. They spray the ball around, not without the odd hiccup, but Kovacic and Silva dominate the midfield, Nico O'Reilly looks some player at left back too, supposedly a forward, he's big, technical, tough to get the ball off, he shields it well. City do what City do which is keep possession to ensure the first half of this semi-final is one sided and largely uneventful, which leaves us no choice but to go down on 42 minutes to grab a drink and some more food, as I see a couple of old friends at the kiosk who have done the same. The Score Forest are without both their usual full backs and Ryan Yates, which severely hinders their chances against a City side who have Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden, Ilkay Gundogan and Jeremy Doku sitting on the bench. The Reds Manager Nuno gave a first start to teenage centre half Zach Abbott at right back, whilst benching the super speedy Anthony Elanga, which is a plan which looks to have backfired. Elanga is brought on after half time and before we've even got back to our seat, rumour is he missed a good chance, but by the time we've reached the top of Mount Everest to return to our lofty pew, Matz Sels is forced into a good stop, the following corner is then swung in for the unmarked Gvardiol to head home, any slim hope of a comeback is quashed after just five minutes played. That should flatten Forest's fire but a spirited second half display has them go close on a number of occasions, Morgan Gibbs-White crashes the bar with a wonderful left footed volley, before he smacks the upright from a City mistake, rounding the goalkeeper and hitting right footed against the post when it looked easier to score. Late on from a corner the ball bobbles against the post again, but by now, City have switched their team around, so indeed have Forest, it's all about playing out the minutes and giving fresh legs some Wembley runouts, a prolonged finale until the whistle is called time on what really is the most routine of wins. In the end the City fans are bouncing back to goal doing the Poznan, not much to see for them, they've seen it all before, as the Forest fans applaud their players off, it's a game where you can feel proud to be a red, but the gulf of class in them and City, is evidently huge due to the differences in squad depth. The Stars Mateo Kovacic was man of the match and strutted around in midfield breaking up play well for City, an underrated midfielder it seems when he plays well, without Rodri, City do well, perhaps he's not played well enough this season for City to be at their best? Another player who's not played well enough this season, to his usual huge high standards, is Bernardo Silva, who I thought was exceptional in doing what he does best. Jack Grealish given a rare start doing ok too, whilst youngsters Rico Lewis and Nico O'Reilly proving they have what it takes to look comfortable against good honest Premier League opposition. That honest opposition was on a couple of times indebted to their goalkeeper Sels, who has arguably been the best in the league this season, whilst Murillo and Milenkovic did well at centre back, they missed their regular help from Ola Aina and Neco Williams who were injured and suspended respectively. One bright spark for Forest was Morgan Gibbs-White who huffed and puffed but couldn't break the woodwork barrier which he twice hit, he has a £60m price tag on his head, and is very much a player touted by City, as one that could be wearing sky blue next season? The Verdict I said ahead of Manchester City v Aston Villa who played in midweek, whoever wins this, will probably go on to finish third in the Premier League, and will most likely go on to win the FA Cup too... City beat Villa with a late goal by Nunes, and it seems to have given them an uplift in confidence. They now have an easy looking run in for the league where Champions League placing is top of their agenda, although I doubt Crystal Palace, a bogey side of theirs in recent years, will give them an easy a ride as Forest did, when it comes to the cup final. Forest now face Brentford on Thursday night in what is a huge must win Premier League game to now save their season from self-destruct. The Reds have largely sat third during almost the entirety of the campaign, suddenly they are sixth with their Champions League dreams fading away, but on the plus, that is now sole focus, a dream that is still alive, they just need to have their best eleven on the pitch, if they are to do it. The Teams Nottingham Forest: Matz Sels, Zach Abbott (Ramon Sosa 83), Niko Milenkovic, Murillo, Harry Toffolo, Morgan Gibbs-White, Nicolas Dominguez (Jota Silva 82), Danilo (Anthony Elanga 46), Elliot Anderson (Ibrahim Sangare 71), Callum Hudson-Odoi, Chris Wood (Taiwo Awoniyi 71). Manchester City: Stefan Ortega, Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Nico O'Reilly, Mateo Kovacic (Nico Gonzalez 89), Rico Lewis, Savinho (Phil Foden 81), Bernardo Silva, Jack Grealish (Ilkay Gundogan 71), Omar Marmoush (Jeremy Doku 81). 4:30pm Kick Off. Sunday 27th April 2025, Wembley Stadium, London (att 72,967).

Forest Green Rovers 1-0 Oldham Athletic (National League) It's a big weekend for me. Forest today, Forest tomorrow, as the Reds take on Manchester City in the FA Cup at Wembley on Sunday, I'll be there, as a fan, but first at work, the Greens take on Oldham Athletic in the National League at the New Lawn. Both teams have already reached the playoffs as we enter the penultimate round of the regular season. Steve Cotterill's FGR have 79 points with two games to play, they are third and assured of a semi-final spot. Nicky Mellon's Latics fourth on 70 points will get to play off before potentially taking on either Forest Green again or York City, who have guaranteed finishing second behind champions Barnet who have already gained promotion back to the Football League. It's a two and a half hour drive to deepest rural Gloucestershire so I set off at 11am, cloud covering the overcast skies with glimpses of sunlight peering through as I head cross country down the M42 with a spring in my step this late April Saturday brunch. I'm off the M5 at junction 13 and through the pretty town of Stonehouse before heading up the Selsey Hill and driving past the earthy looking Selsey Common through the idyllic valley village of Woodchester before hitting the small town of Nailsworth where I drive up some scary single track lanes skimming sandstone made house walls with Go Green signs up in their gardens as I pass nose bleed bending tight hilly roads that I dare not drive up again. The Venue Finally arrived without scratches on my car, just, parking is not great in this part of the village, cones set out on roads around the ground, but there's a little housing estate which has succumbed to Saturday football needs, I park on the corner of a close where I chat to an Oldham fan from Cheltenham before walking up the Nympsfield Road towards the ground. There's the sound of drums, music playing in the background, a band on in the school field nearby and a rock band on in the tent outside the ground as I collect my ticket and have a wander around, the club shop packed full of green things, people outside marvelling in the atmosphere, drinking beer, eating pizza, vegan made of course. As it's Oldham's last away game of the season there's plenty of fans in fancy dress, I spot a couple of Mario brothers before noticing a team of butchers in whites and red aprons, very funny, a meaty joke in these parts. On entrance via the Main Stand I noticed the lawn is lush, pitch in spanking condition with sprinklers on, I grab a cup of tea from under the stand before forgetting they only do oat milk here, than I wander up to my seat in the press area behind the Oldham radio team. It's a lovely ground, as I tell the Forest Green social media updater, just a nightmare to get to, the stand I'm in is large and seated with corporate boxes at the back, opposite is largely open ended with an odd looking roofed seated section for around 50 fans perched to my left, behind each goal are covered areas for standing, housing home support in both. The Game It's a tricky one to call today as neither team have much to play for but sizing out the opposition ahead of a potential playoff game against each other next month. Oldham look quite attacking in personnel and have a bit of the ball early on, Tom Pett in particular their stand out enforcer in midfield, he rolls the ball around easily on the magnificent lush carpet, Forest Green are solid in all areas, out wide they offer danger through the talented Kyle McAllister on the right, in their midfield they have Charlie McCann who like his opposite number Pett, is small, agile, neat in play and hugely talented, standout for the level he's at. Despite the quality on show in the middle of the park, there's not much opportunity as two teams nullify each others threat, the only sparks of note coming from the mouth of Forest Green Manager Steve Cotterill who's up in the stands today, behind us, shouting down at his players from the executive boxes. Cotterill is serving a touch line ban after a red card last week for kicking the ball at an official, it's funny because last time I was here in October, he was serving a ban, shouting orders from behind us against York, he easily gets his message across just ten or so rows up from his usual seat down below, which seems to make you wonder if banning him from the touchline is indeed worth it at all? The Score As fans around me start to niggle and moan at the lack of action the board goes up for five added in the first half, a head injury to Forest Green defender Cian Harries saw him receive lengthy treatment before being substituted early on, to prolong what is a largely miserable half further, but on the stroke of half time Joe Quigley wriggles through some challenges on the edge of the Oldham box, before playing to McCann, who takes aim right footed and curls a beauty into the corner of Matt Hudson's net. A goal from nothing, from not the games best player, but the best player on the pitch, McCann has been relatively quiet, but when needed, his class shines through. The second half you feel the home side improve, on the front foot in search of a second, they have a lot of the play, Oldham hardly lay a glove as a succession of home corners leads to little. Forest Green do have their moments though, their best to double advantage on 70 when McAllister weaves his usual magic this time from the left, inside the Oldham area to lay everything on a plate to Sercombe who has the open goal at his mercy, the number ten blazing over from six yards out, what could potentially have been a guilt edged miss. It matters not however, as despite some late Latics pressure, Jamie Searle's goal is hardly ever tested during the whole 90, the defence in front of him proving too solid for Oldham to breakthrough, they'll have to play better than that, if they are to meet again. The Stars Charlie McCann has the honesty and elegance you need to be a top player. A pedigree of Manchester United and Rangers too. The best player in the division? He's certainly in the conversation and at 22 can no doubt get back into the football league and rekindle his shining light. A lovely central midfielder to watch. A close second in the ability stakes is Kyle McAllister. He's been around a bit longer aged 26, the former Scottish U21 star can do damage on either flank, electric from the right, he switched in the second half to cause more Oldham misery on the left, he has pace and is direct, loves to run at opponents defenders. Also on the left is another Scottish footballer and a very good one at that. Jamie Robson is determined and decent on the ball, he likes to get forward but also knows how to defend, the former Dundee United full back keeping first Ollie Hammond and then Jes Uchegbulam, well at bay. Oldham didn't have their best day, their star players in advanced roles weren't particularly on it. Mike Fondop is the Latics top scorer and although he battled, he often came off second best against a big resilient centre half in Greens skipper Ryan Innis. Tom Pett perhaps the only player to walk off the pitch in blue having really impressed me with his subtle touches in midfield, but youngsters Will Sutton and Vimal Yogananthan played with honesty and shown at times good technique. Sutton is a defender who can play centre half or right back. Yogananthan a creative midfielder on loan from Barnsley. Tall and awkward looking he has good feet, although on the day, not a lot came off for him, or his team-mates for that matter. The Verdict As I packed up my laptop bag to leave the stadium, the tannoy announcer read aloud 'Vegans one Butchers nil' as a jesting jibe towards those that came in fancy dress. Should the two sides meet again, I see another close contest, but I do think Forest Green have that beefy edge. They are the best team I've probably seen in the National League this season. A better team than Barnet and York, for me, just lacking that striker needed to see them over the line, which has evidently cost them being top of the lot. The Teams Forest Green Rovers: Jamie Searle, Sean Long, Ryan Innis, Kyle McAllister (Emmanuel Osadebie 88), Charlie McCann, Liam Sercombe (Teddy Jenks 90), Jamie Robson, Adam May, Joe Quigley (Harry Cardwell 83), Jordan Garrick (Tom Knowles 72), Cian Harries (Harvey Bunker 28). Oldham Athletic: Mathew Hudson, Mark Kitching, Tom Pett, Shaun Hobson, Mike Fondop-Talom (Joe Garner 55), Tom Conlon, Charlie Raglan, Jes Uchegbulam, Will Sutton (Reagan Ogle 65), Ollie Hammond (Joe Pritchard 51), Vimal Yogananthan (Corry Evans 77). 3:00pm Kick Off. Saturday 26th April 2025, The New Lawn, Nailsworth (att 2,801).

Alfreton Town 3-2 Buxton  (National League North) I’ve been here before. A touch of déjà vu? Less than a week ago, Alfreton secured the Derbyshire Senior Cup on penalties, after what was a drab goalless affair against Buxton, at Chesterfield, today, bank holiday Monday, I’m expecting it to be much better. The Bucks are in the playoff zone, with two games remaining of the season to play, they’ll be hoping to stay there, consolidate, a win or draw at North Street will put them in good stead going into their final match against already relegated Warrington, a defeat however, and it might not be in their hands. Alfreton have little to play for really. Their lower mid table finish has them thankfully well clear of the bottom four, but well below the top seven, simply playing for pride and to get yet another one over their cross peak neighbours, ish… Buxton to Alfreton is 50 minutes and 33 miles away, across West to East of northern Derbyshire County. It’s been a quiet bank holiday for me, no game on Good Friday as I decided to spend time with the wife and dog, that’s because I had my first cricket game of the season on Saturday, scoring at the stunning test venue of Headingley in Leeds for a match between Yorkshire and Worcestershire women, then home yesterday for a lamb dinner with the in-laws, I long booked in my bank holiday fixture on the premise that it always rains on Easter Monday and we probably won’t risk a family day out, so after the wife spends the morning car shopping, I’m out early afternoon, as the heavens start to open, up the M1 to junction 28 and onto the A38 before pulling up a little down the road from the North Street stadium for just after 1:30pm. The Venue It’s pissing it down. I’ve parked up on Brook Avenue at the bottom of North Street, a housing estate of ex-council style semi-detached houses, the rain pelting down on my windscreen as I give it five to slow down. Finally, out of the car it’s just a couple of minutes up the hill, as I walk towards the entrance of the Impact Arena, a place I’ve been plenty of times in recent years. Turnstiles not yet open, I’m through the main reception and into the ground, walking past the club shop, which is floor to ceiling in dusty old programmes, past the burger kiosk where folk are just setting out, and towards the press area of the narrow Main Stand which is a largely covered standing area, brick walled with a tiny bit of seating. I pop my head in the press box to say hello, before Bill pops out and says “do you want some cake”. “Celebratory cake?” I reply, after last week’s Cup victory. “Nope, we always have it” Bill replies. “Although you best get some as the photographer who makes it might not be doing it next season”. A sad sigh, he won’t be getting to as many games after today, so I tell Bill “I best make sure I bring some with me then when I come here next”. It's quaint and calming here as I stand up perched against a loose MDF partition whilst eating some superbly baked rich chocolate cake on a paper plate washed down with a paper cup of tea, paid for with my usual pound in the kitty, the rain clattering down on the roof as a Member of staff tells a photographer unsure of braving the elements that “the weather’s not as bad as it sounds”. The players out warming up on the pitch in front, slightly cutting up as their studs tread in the soft ground, the stands sparse of people, an open end to my left, an away end of hardcore and noisy Buxtonites mostly under the small roofed stand taking cover to my right, the other covered seating area across the pitch with only a sporadic few. The Game I’m joined by a fella who works for Derby County to my left, he’s got the Rams game on live v West Brom on his iPad, a fella on my right is a Derby season ticket holder who’s asking for updates, I daren’t tell them I’m a Forest fan. As we instead talk about the happenings in what’s in front of us. The first ten is back to front and back again with little quality to show, Buxton playing percentages on a pitch that’s not great, Alfreton playing percentages because they always do, it’s not pretty, it rarely is, it feels a little more old fashioned in action than the Derbyshire Senior Cup Final which had a bit more early safe ball retention on the flat surface of Chesterfield FC but I get the feeling like on that day, very little is happening today, then from nowhere, a corner won by Alfreton is played low to Jed Abbey, he shoots through a crowd which takes a deflection, and Alfreton are one up. There’s only sixteen gone, and two minutes later it’s two, Gerry McDonagh has proved an early handful for the young Buxton centre half duo of Faulkner and Mann. McDonagh has wrestled the ball, swung a right leg, and another one hit low, through a crowd, perhaps with a slight nick upon it’s journey, suddenly it’s 2-0 and McDonagh has his first Reds goal since re-signing for the club earlier in the year. “I’m pleased for Gerry in finally breaking his duck” says Liam the clubs tweeter, as I suspect with only a game to go this season, so the striker will be too. Alfreton are confident in the first half, keeping out any Buxton threat due largely to winning their defensive duals. Dwayne Wiley is a competitor at centre half who heads, kicks and crashes through his opponent as Max Hunt next to him is solid and reliable, Wiley constantly talking him through, Hunt delivers with doing what he’s told. At left back David Solademi is keeping the speedy Johnny Johnston quiet. At right back Luke Matheson, gritty in his work, diminutive in size, defends well against the technically talented Luke Brennan. The first half closes but Buxton aren’t at the races, Alfreton are, and by half time they are deserving of their comfortable two goal lead. The Score You feel Buxton will have a go in the second half, as they need a goal or two after hearing from various live score apps that they are slipping out of the playoff picture. And start the half well they do, Johnston racing down the right, crossing to the left, Brennan stabs at it, saved by Kenworthy-Sykes, just, the ball falling back to the Buxton attacker to prod home at the second attempt. Then five minutes later Buxton score again, a similar scramble in the goalmouth as Brennan’s shot is blocked, inside the area and bobbling around it falls to Coleman who smashes home, the visiting fans go mad behind the goal as the players celebrate like they’ve won the league. Buxton are brilliant, for ten minutes, then take their foot off the gas, they look like the only team capable of winning the match, but Alfreton back to square one, and with plenty of time remaining, are now themselves deciding that they should have a go, it’s a much better match than last Tuesday, but then, it couldn’t have been much worse. There’s more pressure coming from the home side and they win a free kick on 72 when Mann is adjudged to have fouled McDonagh outside the area. Jed Abbey lines it up, see’s space around the wall, and curls home a beauty to grab his second of the game. That levels him up on 13 for the season with Lewis Salmon and Jake Day, I ask Liam can they split the top scorers trophy into three as in front of me, the Buxton management look at a mobile phone clip of the goal, they’re not happy with their keeper and how he set up his wall. Late on there’s a rally from Buxton as Alfreton retreat to two banks that are well drilled and hard to break down, the Bucks do have a claim for a penalty waved away, one that I might have given myself, but you can’t argue the best team have won, and the team who had it all in their hands, now have it all to do. The Stars Two goal hero Jed Abbey was a constant threat down the right and took both his opportunist opportunities rather well. Defensively Alfreton as they do, defended like heroes heroically. In midfield the ever impressive George Cantrill did as he always does well, whilst up front, Gerry McDonagh gave his best performance in front of my own eyes. “I don't know why he keeps getting the nod over Jake Day” I say to Liam, who replies “I do”. Enough said, “you’ve seen more of him than me this season” I tell him. For Buxton, their centre half duo Faulkner and Mann, young but cool, calm, assured, were very easy on the eye. I don’t blame them for any of the three conceded, although the sloppy free kick Ethan Mann gave away was in the end the telling factor. The goalkeeper perhaps at fault from the final whipped in effort. Manchester City loanee True Blakely Grant not covering himself in much glory on the day. In midfield Oli Ewing shown subtle touches, sometimes, but not enough, Cian Coleman too, showing glimpses but not regularly enough, whilst Luke Brennan was the main threat out left, Johnny Johnston relatively quiet out right, although he does have some pace and is a direct nuisance when freed.   The Verdict Too little too late is Alfreton’s half decent end to the season. They are now six unbeaten in the league but at best can only finish in thirteenth. Long hampered by injuries during the middle part of the campaign, at least they have a cup to show for their 2024/25 efforts. Buxton might finish the campaign with nothing. The defeat costly in their aim to reach the playoffs. Now ninth in the table they have two teams above them, and are two points below where they need to be, as I left the stadium ahead of the home clubs player of the season presentations, I could hear the Alfreton fans singing towards their opponents “We’ve f*cked your season up”. The Teams Alfreton Town: George Kenworthy-Sykes, Max Hunt, Adam Lund, Dwayne Wiley (Adam Anson 86), George Cantrill, Jed Abbey, Nathan Newell, Gerry McDonagh (Akeel Francis 78), David Solademi, Owen German, Luke Matheson. Buxton: True Blakeley Grant, Dermi Lusala (Keziah Martin 83), Ethan Mann, Bobby Faulkner, Connor Kirby, Luke Brennan, Cian Coleman (Josh Williams 90), Johnny Johnston, Kieran Burton, Oli Ewing, Ryan Viggars (Josh Popoola 68). 3:00pm Kick Off. Monday 21st April 2025, North Street, Alfreton (att 698).

Alfreton Town 0-0 Buxton (Derbyshire Senior Cup Final) *4-3 pens I've just noticed the Derbyshire FA twitter account has blocked me, probably for something I said last year after they sold out of Senior Cup Final tickets at Derby County's 33,000 capacity Pride Park for a match between Buxton & Heanor that had little more than 1,000 in attendance on the night. No mistakes tonight, tickets available online right up until kick off in Chesterfield. At least they listened to my advice before cancelling any future comments I make. The Bucks have won this competition twice on the bounce, 12 times in total, more than any other club in the county. Alfreton though have won it ten times and are looking to bridge that gap joining Ilkeston with eleven wins as two of the three top teams from this neck of the Midlands go head to head for the first time in less than a week. They also play each other in the league on Bank Holiday Monday. It's a hayfever kind of day. Sniffs and sneezes the order of play as the weather takes a colder turn from a lush last week. I'm up through Nottingham and onto the M1 for late afternoon, getting into Chesterfield and pulling up on Sheffield Road where it's free to park after 6pm outside King Carpets. The Venue Modern and compact the once named Proact more recently branded Technique Stadium has changed its name for another sponsor. Now the SMH Group Stadium it opened in 2010 to replace Saltergate, holding just over 10,000 it's the home of Chesterfield FC and is a modern purpose built facility suitable for exactly this type of thing. No accreditation tonight (as the Derbyshire FA has blocked me). I'm in with the Alfreton fans in the corner of the West Stand near the North Stand corner flag, they're making a racket in behind as the Buxton fans do the same down the far end, all three stands closed, blue seats, bar this one which is half full, separated by a large sparse centre. I'm joined ahead of kick off by an old boy who also supports Eastwood Community, a club I know well. He's 66 and asks when I was born. "November 24th 1978" I say. "It was a Friday" he replies. "On the Saturday I watched Scunthorpe v Sheffield Wednesday at the old Showground in the snow, it was an FA Cup game and ended 1-1". I'm astounded by his knowledge. "Any more results that weekend" I ask. "I think Mansfield lost to Shrewsbury, Huddersfield were beat by Doncaster 2-1". (I've shamelessly just fact checked these and he was right). The Game There's been a few changes made by both teams who each have strong benches tonight, if level after 90 it goes straight to pens. Buxton have most of the possession in a first half which they dictate. No8 and captain Connor Kirby getting on the ball and making them play. Centre halves Mann and Faulkner leisurely knocking it between each other, Alfreton standing off, the Bucks danger largely coming from the left where Brennan cuts in with the ball and Keziah Martin overlaps from full back, but is rarely found. Chances are few and far between and it's far from thrilling, the happier of the two perhaps Alfreton at the break who's defensive line isn't breached, but their long ball game isn't working. They need to do more in attack. The Score After half time you see a resurgence in the Alfreton play. More aggressive and on the front foot they take the game to Buxton who probably don't expect to do as much defending as they do. But Paul Cooper's goal is hardly tested, Lewis Salmon does give them a scare when he bobbles one under a challenge which has to be cleared off the line, Adam Lund heads wide and Jake Day drives over, but anything clear cut is limited as both teams defend really well. Buxton's best effort is a long range drive low by Johnny Johnston which the keeper gets down to, but it's one of those games where you can predict after five minutes gone in the first half, that it'll end nil nil, and it did. So straight to penalties where somebody unfortunately has to play villain. The first two scored, I fear for Sam Osborne who used to play for Buxton, but he squeezed his spot kick under the keeper to put Alfreton 2-1 up. The next two are scored before Keziah Martin has his shot saved, Adam Lund though couldn't capitalise as Paul Cooper stopped his effort from going in, but two more goals had Alfreton 4-3 up with one to play, and this is where I turn to the old boy and say "he'll save this" and from Johnny Johnston he did. Star of the show George Sykes-Kenworthy the penalty saving king, a new cult hero who's on loan from York City. The Stars The goalkeeper may deservedly take the plaudits but kept relatively quiet this wasn't one for the purists, instead the defenders of the day came out on top, all did very well in limiting chances to the opposition. For Alfreton, that included Dwayne Wiley and Max Hunt who as usual, headed and kicked everything away, whilst left back David Solademi worked hard, he was playing six-a-side in London 24 hours earlier in the Baller League live on Sky Sports, so well done just making it through 90 minutes unscathed. Luke Matheson on loan from Bolton at right back, is another who did well, whilst in midfield, the engine of George Cantrill was ever-running around, socks rolled down, gritty and determined as ever. For Buxton, their centre half pairing of Ethan Mann and Bobby Faulkner is one that gels, the latter on loan from Doncaster Rovers, both tall, both accomplished on the ball, and both having a relatively easy night in doing their jobs successfully for the team. Ben Sault on occasion from midfield drove with the ball, as did Luke Brennan on the left, sometimes frustratingly too often, cutting in, but he does have ability, their best player perhaps their captain in Connor Kirby who strutted the ball around the centre of the park. The Verdict It was a contrast of styles, Buxton able to play their passing game without really penetrating a defensive structure who were happy to concede possession. On a nice big flat pitch it should really have been the Bucks who came out on top, but organisation won the day. On Monday they'll do it all again in the league. Buxton still have an outside chance of the playoffs so they might seem their visit to North Street is more important? But in a funny way, their style of trying to play football on the deck, may be tougher to do on a tighter sloped surface at the Impact Arena. The Teams Alfreton Town: George Sykes-Kenworthy, Luke Matheson, Nathan Newell, Dwayne Wiley, Max Hunt, Owen German (Liam Waldock 69), Adam Lund, George Cantrill, David Solademi, Lewis Salmon (Sam Osborne 84), Gerry McDonagh (Jake Day 73). Buxton: Paul Cooper, Dermi Lusala (OLi Ewing 62), Ethan Mann, Bobby Faulkner, Connor Kirby, Luke Brennan, Ben Sault, Cian Coleman (Daniel Ogwuru 85), Keziah Martin, Josh Popoola (Tommy Elliott 46), Ryan Viggars (Johnny Johnston 55). 7:45pm Kick Off. Tuesday 15th April 2025, SMH Group Stadium, Chesterfield (att 1,165).

Southampton 1-1 Lazio (Friendly) The UK is rioting, as the nation prepares for immigration protest and counter protest this cloudy summers evening, I'm off to Southampton to hopefully get away from all the trouble, as the Saints face the Sinners, Lazio have had their own troubles with the 'far right' in recent memory, these days their 'lefty' immigration policy includes players from South America, Africa, Eastern Europe and more.   Southampton, promoted back to the Premier League after a season's absence, after beating Leeds United in the playoff final two months ago, are a team known under Russell Martin for their positive style of football, my own memories of 'Saints' peak was with Danny Wallace, Alan Shearer and the GOAT that is Matt Le Tissier who was an absolutely wonderful footballer in his day, more recently the side have bolstered with the likes of Ben Brereton-Diaz who's a Stoke born Chilean international, Yukinari Sugawara, a Japanese full back who's spent the last five years at AZ in Holland, some football league defenders in Ronnie Edwards, Nathan Wood, Charlie Taylor, and a familiar face in club legend Adam Lallana who makes a long awaited return to St Marys after some years away at Liverpool and most recently Brighton.   Lazio were one of those names from nineties football Italia you just loved to love. Gazza, Mancini, Beppe Signori, they won the league under Sven Goran Eriksson at the turn of the century with a strike trio of Alen Boksik, Marcelo Salas and Simone Inzaghi, they have since faltered too often in Serie A, peaking in 2022/23 with a long distant second place finish behind Napoli, last season they finished seventh and now have in charge sixty year old managerial journeyman Marco Baroni who took over the reigns this summer.   I'm off early for this one as it's a three hour trip down south. Out the door for early afternoon I'm down the M1, crossing the A34 past Silverstone and Brackley, a quick stop off at Cherwell Valley on the M40 before re-joining the A34 through Oxford and Winchester where I hop onto the M3.   Southampton is a lovely city, I stayed here many years ago when I was a ceiling fixer, doing up a new M&S at the West Quay shopping centre, often frequenting a Yates Wine Lodge on the High Street. My most recent trip was to watch England play Kosovo in an entertaining game that ended 5-3 in 2019. Jadon Sancho scoring a couple of goals that day. The Venue   I'm early so park up north of the stadium at an industrial estate near Shamrock Quay. It's a lovely walk around the quiet marina where there's boats and fishing units on the front of the River Itchen, a Bistro bar looks inviting with its Peroni umbrellas and outdoor seating. No beers today if I'm driving home at midnight.   My walk down the Belvidere Road is no more than ten minutes straight, the stadium appearing opposite a concrete yard with its white modern cantilevered roof, it looks quaint and compact from the outside, not imposing, like it's been here all the while, the St Mary's Stadium remember a replacement for the old Dell on Archers Lane, when it was built across city in 2001.   Through the turnstiles with my phone app, I'm in the left corner of the Itchen Stand where there's plenty of time for a chicken Balti pie and cuppa, it's spacious under the concourse and far from busy an hour before kick off, after a quick bite I walk up to my seat level with the corner flag, row Z. Or MM as Southampton like to call it, the only seats above mine are those that wrap around from the clubs private executive boxes where one or two non participating players, and their families are sat.   The Game   Lazio are in yellow, they have around 50 fans in attendance, Southampton in Palermo pink, have filled the stand I'm in, and behind the goal to my right, but the rest of the stadium is empty, plenty of red seats on show tonight.   The home side enjoy much of the early play, their style is very possession based and starts from the back, Argentine midfielder Carlos 'Charly' Alcaraz is positive, progressive and runs forward with the ball, he plays a pass to new signing Brereton-Diaz who with his long locks takes a touch from the left flank, cuts inside and curls home a beauty with his right foot from outside the box.   Lazio haven't started but former Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi is certainly starting to have a niggle in midfield, the yellows of Rome seem to know the dark arts, they kick, flick, wrestle, hold and pull to stop any Saints attack, often fouling their opponents before arguing about it with the officials.   The referees whistle is seemingly on repeat, going off every minute the game can't flow much, but Southampton do try, even if their wooden legged goalkeeper Alex McCarthy tries his best to disrupt their flow.   Everything is short and sharp and is out from the back, a lot of Southampton's football involves their goalkeeper playing short passes to his centre halves and full backs, problem is, he's no good at it. I used to play Sunday football a few years back with a tall Scotch bloke we called 'Wooden leg John' he couldn't move his feet and often got into bother, I liken McCarthy to Scotch John, if Russell Martin wants to play this brand of passing football, I think he'll be needing to replace his goalkeeper soon.   Southampton have a couple of scares which start from McCarthy, too often playing themselves into trouble, before losing the ball on the edge of their area again, this time they give up possession and Taty Castellanos flicks up not once, but twice, before firing in a ridiculous overhead volley, a contender for Puskas and one of the best goals I've seen live. It was however all Southampton's doing.   The Score   That stunner levels things up at the break, there's been a couple of bookings and a few niggles but the game has been good, a contrast of styles with Southampton possession based and passing whilst Lazio are often prepared to upset the flow of the match and defend by stopping the opposition as they come forward in 'taking one for the team'.   The Italians start the second half well as a shot crashes down off the bar from their blonde winger Isaksen before Taty tries a delicate chip to the same effect, he should have scored, the better side have now got a foothold and are starting to find some luck down the flanks as Italian international Zaccagni starts to threaten, but a flair up on the hour changes the dynamics of this match again, it's been bubbling all evening, by now a quartet of yellows have been dished out, before yet another foul on half way has Alcaraz come to blows with Italian International defender Romagnoli, punches are thrown as the two teams come together, Alcaraz has lost his head, he's ran off the pitch and kicked a water bottle, a full out riot sparked in the centre with seemingly no control for a good few minutes. The referee eventually calling back Alcaraz to the cheers of the fans, before sending him and Romagnoli off for fighting.   Unusually this seems to deflate the previous hour of niggles and naughtiness, the last half hour played in more typical friendly and cautious manner, a flurry of subs, a lot of nothing, now ten a side there's a couple more yellows to add, but both managers are probably relieved as the whistle is blown a few seconds after ninety, that they'll have no more suspension concerns.   The Stars   Despite his red card, I took a real shine to Saints Argentine midfielder Alcaraz, a proper progressive midfielder he's technical, feisty, obviously talented and he runs with the ball often choosing the forward pass.   For Saints I was impressed with two of their summer signings in young centre backs Ronnie Edwards and Nathan Wood. I was told about Edwards last season by an old boy Peterborough fan who predicted big things, he's composed, makes defending look easy and often did the simple things well. Wood, more gutsy and a sort of player willing to put his body on the line. Other impressive efforts came from the busy but bushy haired midfielder Sekou Mara whilst Sam Amo-Ameyaw shown some speed down the right. Whilst Lazio were largely second best, they probably had the better moments and in Taty Castellanos look to have a striker of cult hero status. He has a knack of scoring goals and has done so wherever he's been. Wingers Zaccagni and Isaksen both added a direct dimension whilst their three man midfield of Guendouzi, Vecino and Cataldi is as combative as there is in football, defensively they have experience in Pellegrini, Casale, Romagnoli, Lazzari and they'll be hard to beat next season. One player I did like the look of who came off the bench was French forward Loum Tchaouna, shown some neat touches, a stocky striker at twenty-years-old he's one to watch for the future. The Verdict I doubt Southampton will play any team quite so aggressive in the Premier League this season and I suspect they'll take some points particularly at home due to the way they play and because they have a few surprising players of talent, they'll need to sort out their goalkeeping issue however, if they are to play out from the back, perhaps Gavin Bazunu will get the nod over Alex McCarthy at the season start? Lazio will be competitive there is no question, i'll be keen to catch their disciplinary count but they're a better side than just fouling opponents and taking yellow cards on the chin to stop opponents, they have some excellent forward players in front of a pretty solid and rigid back seven, probably only enough for a flirtation with Europa qualification, which would hopefully mean an improvement on last season's seventh place. The Teams Southampton: Alex McCarthy, James Bree, Ronnie Edwards (Jack Stephens 77), Nathan Wood, Ryan Manning (Tyler Dibbling 46), Charlie Taylor (Yukinari Sugawara 86), Shea Charles, Carlos Alcaraz, Sam Amo-Ameyaw (Will Smallbone 72), Sekou Mara (Joe Aribo 72), Ben Brereton-Diaz (Samuel Edozie 46). Lazio: Ivan Provedal (Christos Mandas 46), Luca Pellegrini (Elseid Hysaj 86), Matias Vecino, Matteo Guendouzi (Gaetano Castrovilli 86), Mattia Zaccagni (Pedro 77), Taty Castellanos, Alessio Romagnoli, Nicolo Casale (Patric 86), Gustav Isaksen (Loum Thcaouna 72), Manuel Lazzari (Adam Marusic 82), Danilo Cataldi (Mario Gila 64). 7:30pm Kick Off. Wednesday 7th August 2024, St Mary's Stadium, Southampton (att 12,000).

Boston United 1-0 Altrincham (National League) It's amazing to think Boston United have won more points (26) in their last thirteen games, than they did in their first 28 matches of this season where they recorded just twenty. After a 1-0 defeat at Halifax in February, Boston sat ten points adrift of safety, today they are outside of the relegation places with chance to bridge a six point gap on the drop zone. The ridiculous run under Graham Coughlan has not only given Boston United a real chance of survival, by winning two of their last four games, they can probably do it with some to spare. As for Alty, they have slipped of late with five successive losses in March, they went seven league games without a win and crashed out of the National League Cup at the semi final stage to Leeds U21's but go into todays match just a point outside the playoffs after beating Yeovil at the weekend. It'll probably be my last trip to the Jakemans this season as the wife has jobs for me over Easter, I'm out the door past midday on Saturday, a flask of tea filled and some chocolate chip cookies to go, I'm on the road in sunshine, it's been a fabulous week and I'm heading straight to a friends BBQ after the game, wearing jeans, t-shirt and nothing but a body warmer in case it gets nippy later, I'm down the A52 and through Grantham where I spot a lad doing a wheelie on his bike as he passes a Wetherspoons whilst I wait at the traffic lights. I've the Man City v Palace game on radio which ebbs and flows as I drive through flat Lincolnshire countryside sunlit, before pulling up in Wyberton with the half time score at the Etihad locked at 2-2. As I get out the car an Altrincham fan asks "am I ok to park here" as he plonks his car behind mine outside somebody's new build house. "Until they put signs up to say otherwise I think we'll be ok" I reply. The Venue It's all go in this part of Boston, a village with a population under 4,000 once listed in the 1086 Doomsday Book with 38 houses and a church, is one that these days links directly into the main town built up from the south edge along the A17 Spalding Road. Around the ground is a new housing estate with food and coffee chain outlets, it looks like they're also building some kind of petrol station on the Wallace Way, as I join some fans walking towards the newly built Jakemans Stadium before crossing the busy road. I'm in the ticket office to collect my accreditation before walking in through turnstile one of the Main Stand, stopping off for a quick pee and looking up at the TV inside the concourse to see City v Palace is now 4-2, I decide it's match over, and not worth watching the remainder, as I walk out from under the stand at pitch level, pure sunlight above the green perfect surface, then I head up the steps to my usual pew in front of Radio Lincolnshire. It's a cracking view of the three sided stadium, a nice section for the press, cosy with flip down tables and power points, a scout I know has brought his lad with him today, as he sits him down in front of our seats with a tray of chips covered in tomato sauce. The Game Altrincham are in Man City sky blue today, Boston in their bee stripes of yellow and black, the away side seem to have a lot of the early possession but are doing little with it. Boston in 5-4-1 formation get bodies behind the ball as Altrincham's Callum Dolan tries his luck from range, he shouldn't have bothered. A half with plenty of chances, Linney next runs down the Alty right to cross a teasing centre which crashes off the crossbar, Gregory in the Pilgrims goal reacting quickly to ensure the rebound isn't forced home, then at the other end Jai Rowe headed a looping dipper towards target from a corner, which caused all sorts of problems for young Caleb Ansen in goal, the teenage Norwich loanee lucky to see the ball cannon off the crossbar on to the post and then on to his own head and away from safety. It all seems to be going off as the styles contrast, shots at each end near miss but don't trouble, Boston set to break with Alty keeping possession, looking to pounce on any misplaced pass, which there are plenty, and on 26 lone striker Jacob Hazel is sent on his way, he holds up magnificently against two defenders before spinning and crossing to Frankie Maguire running forward from midfield, Maguire who's often endless running gets my weekly seal of approval, he shows a cool and calm head to race into the box, look up and slot home, but he was given far too much time by the Altrincham defenders who backed off and made it very easy for the former Chorley and Sheffield United youngster to get his shot off and score. The Score That goal gives Boston something to cling onto and they go in at half time worthy leaders, before a second half which had them well drilled and organised, in taking less risks, they allowed their opponents the ball, and in spells had plenty of it in the opposition half which took the pressure off. Neither goal being tested in the second 45, it felt routine for Boston, the in form team to continue their run, but late on the nerves jangled of those around, the home side deeper still in defence, but Altrincham failing at any time to penetrate a back five, well marshalled by a central three of Teale, Mills and Nicholson. Boston were brilliant, man for man deserving their win, and by the time freed from desire was being played on the tannoy, and their lap of honour concluded, the Pilgrims were five points from the relegation zone with just four left to play. As I walked out to pat the clubs PA announcer and statistician Christian on the back, he said 'one more win will do it'. One from four and safety should be guaranteed, it's now firmly in Boston's hands and it's looking very good for another season staying in the National League. The Stars Boston were brilliant and man for man there wasn't anybody lower than a seven out of ten in their eleven, but lone frontman Jacob Hazel ran his socks off, he looks slimmer and trimmer, in fact all the Boston players look fitter and healthier, Hazel running himself into the ground for 80 minutes, on a couple of occasions in the first half I jokingly likened him to 'R9' with his pace and running, which also questioned me to suggest he might need to take a urine sample after the game. Hazel was brilliant, but Frankie Maguire for me was better, he's a midfielder aged 21 that could potentially play in the football league. Full of running, full of work rate, whilst today adding that bit of match-winning end product too. Maguire's work rate and energy is matched in midfield by Dylan Hill, Boston have two of the fittest footballers in the division and that as much as most has given them this realistic chance now of survival. Also helping the cause, United's form has picked up since the experienced utility man Zak Mills has played centre half, but the signing of Connor Teale, who only played one game in two months for Altrincham, could potentially have been the signing that saved Boston's season, he's a young centre back who's all around game is consistently brilliant, and adding Brad Nicholson back from Scunthorpe has provided a well gelled back line which is now very hard to score against. As for Altrincham, not their day but plenty of players on show who had a lot of the ball, who on another day might have been able to make a break through. They have good players, experience for the level, Alex Newby, Regan Lilley, real threats in attack, who weren't fully at it, of all Matty Kosylo was most lively on the right, Tom Crawford and Elliot Osbourne sometimes classy in midfield, whilst Callum Dolan on loan from Fleetwood Town, wearing 77, looks to be a player with a bit of edge. He glides in that ten role and looks to get on the ball in pockets, against a stern defence though he struggled, but he's still finding his feet at the Robins in just his fourth game for the club. Defensively I quite liked Altrincham, I did joke they seem to play their best football between their back four, Phil Parkinson has them playing out from the back, not without risk, the experienced Lewis Baines at centre half played alongside young Charlie Olson, only 20 and on loan from Blackburn Rovers, he did well against a handful in Jacob Hazel. The Verdict Boston are very close to being safe now. Win on Good Friday against Wealdstone and it'll be a great Friday for them indeed. Whilst Alty must pick themselves up, now four points below the playoffs in eighth they are not out of it yet, but should they lose any more ground in their final four games, they might as well start booking their holidays for early May. The Teams Boston United: Cameron Gregory, Connor Teale, Zak Mills, Brad Nicholson, Jai Rowe, Jordan Richards, Greg Sloggett, Cameron Green, Dylan Hill (Olly Green 90), Frankie Maguire (Keaton Ward 78), Jacob Hazel (James Gale 80). Altrincham: Caleb Ansen, Lewis Banks, Charlie Olson (James Jones 68), Lewis Baines, Tylor Golden (Matt Penney 75), Tom Crawford, Elliot Osborne (George Wilson 75), Matty Kosylo (Lucas Weaver 82), Callum Dolan (Kahrel Reddin 65), Alex Newby, Regan Linney. 3:00pm Kick Off. Saturday 12th April 2025, Jakemans Stadium, Boston (att 2,320).