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.

CRIBBS FC (The Lawns)

WESTERN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, CRIBBS 3-2 WELLS CITY,
ATTENDANCE: 76

It was an international weekend so I was heading south to watch Wales v Austria in Cardiff but, after scanning the fixture lists, I decided to take a slight diversion and take in a Western League game.

Cribbs were taking on Wells City at their immaculate home, The Lawns, which has been their base since 1978. Bristol Rovers also use the facilities for their training base.

Cribbs were actually founded in 1958, in London, as the works team for Sun Life Assurance. When Sun Life relocated to Bristol in 1976 the club joined the Bristol and Avon League but when The Lawns was opened they immediately joined the Avon Premier Combination League.

The club were promoted to the Gloucester League, as champions, in 2000. In 2012 the club won the Gloucester League, and cup for good measure, and were promoted to the Western League. In 2015 the club finished 3rd in Division One and were promoted to the Premier Division where they remain to this day.

In the meantime AXA had merged with Sun Life and the club changed their name to reflect this. In 2002 the Sun Life was dropped and the club was simply known as AXA FC. Following another company merger in 2011 the club became known as Cribbs Friends Life FC but in 2013 the company closed and the club renamed itself Cribbs Football Club.

This was the second time these two teams had met this season with Wells winning 2-1 in the FA Cup on the opening weekend of the season. This afternoon the conditions were perfect for football, with the sun shining and the pitch looking like a bowling green.

It was an very open first half but it was Cribbs who created the better of the many chances. However, after taking the lead after 13 minutes through Jacob Hodgson, they found themselves behind after goals from Darren Maynard (22) and Harry Davidson (37). It was all square at half time thanks to an equaliser from Charlie Aldom (41).

As is the case in games like this, the respective mangers made sure things were tightened up during the break so the second half was not as open. The game was decided eight minutes from the end when Cribbs were awarded a penalty and it was Hodgson who duly converted to seal the victory.

A superb day of football was completed in Cardiff as Wales beat Austria 1-0 to keep alive hopes of World Cup qualification.

ALMONDSBURY UWE (The Field)

WESTERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE, ALMONDSBURY UWE 0-1 KEYNSHAM TOWN, ATTENDANCE: 46

It was international weekend so I was heading south to watch Wales v Serbia in Cardiff but, with the game kicking off at 7.45pm, it would have been churlish not to look for somewhere beforehand.

Just over the Bristol Channel, near junction 16 of the M5 motorway, Almondsbury UWE were hosting Keynsham Town in the Western League, which fitted the bill perfectly.

The club were founded in 1969 as Patchway North End, but later changed their name to Patchway Old Boys. The club relocated from Patchway to Almondsbury in 1989 and changed their name to Almondsbury.  After winning the Bristol Suburban League in 1991 they were promoted to the Gloucestershire County League. 

Almondsbury were champions of the Gloucestershire League in 2004 and thus promoted to Western League. A link up with the University of the West of England was announced in 2009, and the club once again changed its name, this time to Almondsbury UWE.

Almondsbury have struggled so far this season and are currently propping up the table whilst visitors Keynsham sit atop of the table.

The game was hardly a classic with chances few and far between. The game was settled by a Pat Davison strike just before half time, which meant all three points for Keynsham. The home side probably did enough to warrant a draw but they could not find a way past the Keynsham defence.

A minutes silence for Remembrance Day

GILLINGHAM TOWN (Hardings Lane)

FA CUP PRELIMINARY ROUND, GILLINGHAM TOWN 2-0 AFC TOTTON, ATTENDANCE: 144

The next step on the road to Wembley once again took me south as I headed to "the oldest club in Dorset" as Western League Gillingham Town hosted Southern League AFC Totton.

The football club were founded in 1879 and the trip gave me a chance to visit the current set up at their Hardings Lane home. In the very near future the club are due to move off this site to a pitch further down the lane. The timescale is still a bit up in the air but the pitch has been laid and the hard standing is in place, but funds still need be secured to complete the project, so it is unlikely they will moving this season.

The chap I spoke to about the project was keen to point out the it's not a ground move as such but an expansion of the clubs' facilities. The current pitch is the only pitch in the town and once the move happens it will still get used by other teams. 

I liked the set up at Hardings Lane, there is small seated stand on the half way line (which proved a godsend when there was a torrential downpour in the second half) and a pre-fab stand near the top corner of the pitch. The busy social club also served up an Exmoor ale, which was an added bonus, and a sly half of 'Fox' went down a treat.

After scoffing a delicious pasty it was time for the main event as step 5 Gillingham went into battle with step 4 Totton and it was the lower ranked homesters who got off to a fantastic start.

In the second minute a long ball found it's way to Aiden Chainey who lobbed the advancing Steve Mowthorpe to give the home side the lead. The game settled down and both teams played some good football, despite the strong blustery wind blowing across the pitch. Chances were few and far between but Gillingham deserved their interval lead.

I was fully expecting Totton to come out all guns blazing after a half time talking to, but it was Gillingham who attacked from the off and they were rewarded with a second goal after 57 minutes, when Will Agbo fired home.

The Gills had chances to extend their lead, and could have been left to rue those missed opportunities as Totton finally applied some pressure in the closing stages, but Gillingham held on and will now meet Cirencester Town in the 1st Qualifying Round

The AFC Totton dreams are dashed in the downpour.

BEMERTON HEATH HARLEQUINS (Western Way)

FA CUP EXTRA PRELIMINARY ROUND, BEMERTON HEATH HARLEQUINS 1-0 KEYNSHAM TOWN, ATTENDANCE: 56 (h/c)

Today 368 teams set out on the road to Wembley as the FA Cup got under way with the Extra Preliminary Round. 

With plenty of tasty looking ties to choose from, I headed to Salisbury for the Wessex v Western League tie between Bemerton Heath Harlequins and Keynsham.

The Club was formed in 1989 as an amalgamation of Bemerton Athletic, Moon FC and Bemerton Boys, with the aim of achieving Wessex League football. Having successfully achieved this target the club have been mainstays of the top division, including two successive runners up spots in 2011 and 2012.

The club play their home games at Western Way in Bermerton, which is a couple of miles west of Salisbury city centre. The ground is fully enclosed by trees and there is a seated stand and a small terrace. I never bothered going in the clubhouse today as there was a kids party taking place. I did sample the snack bar though and I have to say the hot dogs were excellent!

The game was a tight affair with little to choose between the teams. The match was settled just before half time when a superb free kick from Jake Rawkins found the top corner of the Keynsham net (pictured below).

The visitors from Bristol pushed forward in the second half, which made them vulnerable on the break, but they could not find an equaliser, nor Bemerton a second goal, and the tie ended 1-0.

Bemerton will now travel to play Amesbury Town in the next round.