January Review

 January Review:

3/1/2026: Walton & Hersham 2-0 Gosport Borough (1127)

With the Swans miles clear at the top of the Southern League Premier South, we went down to see what all the fuss was about. The ground itself was very underwhelming, just one large stand situated down one side of the pitch offering any cover. It is a wonder they've been allowed into Step 3 with it, and they'll need some large improvements for next year. The game itself was nothing to write home about (although I will anyway), finishing 2-0 to the hosts thanks to a brace from Johl Powell. It wasn't a one sided affair, but Gosport wasted their chances, and couldn't quite handle Walton's quality coming forward.  

10/1/2026: Bradford Town 5-0 Newquay AFC (243)

After initially travelling down for Bath v Southend, which was called off, we visited Trowbridge Road in the Western League Premier. It was a completely dominant performance from the hosts, who went in 2-0 up via a Wakefield double. In the second half, the visitors were blown away after Wakefield completed his hattrick, before Maddison lashed home. Then, Wakefield made it five fantastically, taking the ball on his chest before smashing it beyond the keeper from 25 yards, making it four for himself with his last touch of the game, going off to rapturous applause. 

17/1/2026: Merthyr Town 2-0 Peterborough Sports (1339)

It was a trip to Wales next, in what was 3rd vs 21st in the National League North. Penydarren Park was the main attraction, and lived up to expectations, with some fabulous old terracing, including one large open terrace at one end. The game was lively, and could have been two apiece at half time, but both struggled for goals, with Merthyr having recently lost top scorer Ricardo Rees to Forest Green, and the visitors languishing near the bottom. In the second half, Merthyr got on top of the game, and the Turbines struggled, eventually giving in twenty minutes from time when Lewis Twamley found the top corner from the edge of the area. Six minutes later and hope of a comeback was lost as captain Jones was sent off for Phil Brown's men. And, just five minutes after that and Twamley sealed it, getting on the end of a flicked header before rounding the keeper twenty yards out and walking it into an empty net. 

24/1/2026: Bedfont Sports 1-0 Ascot United (186) 

My 500th match came just up the road from Heathrow, at a hidden gem in the Isthmian South Central Division. It was a mid-table battle, but controlled by Ascot, who could have been three up had they taken their chances, before being bailed out by their own goalkeeper, who kept out an almost certain goal shortly before half time. You felt that Ascot needed to have taken at least one of their chances, and so it proved, as Bedfont took the lead on the hour mark, the initial effort off the post, before being turned in by Jakes-McKay. Ascot struggled to create the opportunities they had in the first half, and there weren't too many more opportunities for them, as they slipped to deafeat away from home. 

27/1/2026: Metropolitan Police 2-2 Moneyfields (75)

Imber Court was the venue on the final Tuesday in January for a clash between two sides with contrasting seasons. Met Police sat just above the relegation zone, while Moneyfields were third and playing some nice stuff. The game started as you'd imagine, Moneyfields staying high and keeping posession. However, Met Police stayed firm and looked threatening on the counter, and so it proved when Sharpe finished off a free-flowing move. Moneyfields kept the pressure on, but were reluctant to shoot. Eventually, they grabbed an equaliser in first half stoppage time, Beach punching into his own net from a corner. The second half produced more of the same, but was only five minutes old when Tane Caubo put the hosts back in front. Still, Moneyfields poured forward, but the Met Police defence stood resolute. Until the 96th minute, when a rocket from Bridgman found the corner to rescue a point for the away side. 

31/1/2026: Prescot Cables 1-1 Workington AFC (717)

The Northern Premier League Premier Division was the competition, and Valerie Park the wonderful venue for this tie. Having got to the ground early, we found a very friendly set of people, and enjoyed catching up with our friends from Workington (we sponsor Workington player Kai Nugent). Workington started very brightly and Ogwuru popped up in the six yard box after five minutes to put the visitors ahead. Workington kept up their pressure, with Prescot's only real chance cleared off the line. The second half was more of the same, but Workington struggled to make the hosts pay, and there was always the sense that it would come back to bite them, and in the 88th minute, there it was, a close range effort turned in by Moonan for Cables, leaving Workington disappointed to be leaving with just one point.