LEBEQ UNITED (Oaklands Park)

WESTERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE, LEBEQ UNITED 2-2 ODD DOWN (BATH), ATTENDANCE: 25 (OFFICIAL)

Tonight I headed down the M5 for some Friday night football under the floodlights. The unusually monikered Lebeq United (named after Lebeqs Tavern in Bristol) are competing in the Western League after gaining promotion in 2019 but, because of the Covid pandemic and subsequent voiding of all leagues, have never actually completed a full season thus far.

The club was founded in 2008 when it was decided that Lebeq, who were an established Sunday league club, needed the move into Saturday football. The club joined the Bristol and Suburban League where their rise was rapid.

Four promotions in the space of six years took them to the top division before they joined the Gloucester County League in 2016. They won that league in 2019 (even with a six point deduction) and were promoted to step 6 of the pyramid system. An amazing achievement in just over a decade.

The club play their home games at Oaklands Park, which is the headquarters of the Gloucestershire FA in Almondsbury. Roman Glass St George of the Hellenic League also play their homes games here as well, so by default I completed the Premier Division of that league tonight. Bonus!

This game had everything. Great goals, terrible misses, red cards. It was the final few minutes of the game that were most interesting to say the least!

The visitors from Bath were leading 2-1 up with a couple of minutes to go then it all kicked off on touchline. I haven't a clue what sparked it off but it took about 5 minutes to calm things down (I thought I was in line for an abandonment it took that long). After producing 3 red cards for Lebeq's Zack Young and Chris Dacosta and Odd Down's Ashley Robinson, the referee restarted the game and with seconds remaining the 9 man Lebeq levelled thanks to a cool finish from Sacha Young.

Omar Simpson (14) and Raphael Waugh (61) had put Odd Down two up before Jennison Williams (72) halved the deficit with a stunning free kick. Then the fireworks came! On balance of overall play a draw seemed a fair result.

LARKHALL ATHLETIC (Plain Ham)

WESTERN PREMIER LEAGUE, LARKHALL ATHLETIC 3-2 ODD DOWN (BATH), ATTENDANCE: 100

The Easter 'groundhopping' madness began with a Western League double, though this was not the double I had planned at the start of the week, or indeed the start of the day! The initial double was Newton Abbot Spurs at 11am followed by Cheddar at 3pm. Late on Thursday evening, after checking Cheddar's twitter feed, I then realised the game was now a 1pm kick off, despite the Western League website still showing 3pm.

With the distances involved, I had to try and get at least a double in to make it more cost effective, so I decided on Larkhall Athletic followed by Hallen.

Larkhall is a ground i've been meaning to visit for a good few seasons as they always have great runs in the FA Vase. Their ground, Plain Ham, is pretty basic but I was really taken with it. The ground is built into a hill and the pitch levelled out, so the only cover at the ground is raised above pitch level, so you get a great view of the game.

During the war the pitch was turned over and used as allotments and although the pitch was returned to sporting use, there are still allotments alomgside the ground, behind the trees.

Solsbury Hill, the one and the very same hill that inspired the Peter Gabriel song of the same name, can also been seen from the ground.

The game was a classic blood and thunder derby with The Larks winning by the odd goal in five. 

Solsbury Hill in the background



Joe Vyner gave the homesters with a great finish as he beat the onrushing 'keeper to roll the ball home from about 20 yards. After Odd Down had levelled through Dean Griffiths, Vyner smacked home his second from inside the area to restore The Larks' lead. Kieran Baggs finished off a superb interchange of passes to run through and give Larkhall a commanding 3-1 interval lead.



Joe Vyner turns away in celebration after his 2nd goal hits the back of the net



In the second half Odd Down kept plugging away and with 15 minutes remaining they reduced the deficit to 3-2 when Kris Simpson headed home. As time ticked on it did seem increasingly likely the visitors would level but Larkhall held firm to complete the double over their Bath rivals.