Where has summer gone?

 Saturday 29 August 2020 

 Reigate Priory 1 AFC Ewell 2 at 11am  - Netherne Amateur Sports Club, PSF

Saw this opportunity of a double and decided to make an early start to go south of the Thames - Reigate may be playing at Step 9 -however they are one of the oldest clubs in the world and were one of the 14 teams to enter the initial FA Cup. A good as reason as any to give them a visit.

The 1st team are playing at Netherne till October (because of cricket their usual home ground) but after that the clubs junior teams will continue to play here. It is basic! But pitch fully railed, and small piece of cover and brick dugouts. Pitch is in good condition but rest of ground looks like a ground that has up to recently been very overgrown.

Football wise, Ewell were much the better team, scoring on 37 and 49 minutes, Reigate did get one back on the 81st minute but they never looked like getting back on terms. After we left at 1pm to head to Kent, there were further two Reigate games on the same pitch

Snodland Town 3 New Romney 1 at 3pm - Potyns Sports Ground, PSF

Easy drive over to Kent and arrived with a hour to spare, Snodland is a basic ground, but clean, neat and looked like a new stand which has new changing rooms and possible club room at back of stand - stand was open but new changing rooms and club rooms not open till next week.. Good news was that the tea hut was open ( most locals were just buying Foster's!) So we got a tea and then sat back in the car till kick off as it felt more like November than August.

Football wise, easy to tell Snodland were from a higher level league, however New Romney had their moments - the home side did go in front from the penalty spot on 12 minutes but looked like a dive to most in the ground, but they added further goals in the 16 and 66 minute, New Romney kept trying but it was not till Snodland lost control of the game through numerous substitutions, did Romney get a goal back, however it was probably the best of the game. Just as we thought we would get a close finish, a New Romney player was sin-binned, so the game  was left to fizzle out.