3pm 20 January 2024
Wessex League, Premier Division
AFC Stoneham 7 Blackfield and Langley 0 (att 128)
This wasn't my intended afternoon destination but once I had the unsurprising news that my planned game, on a grass pitch in west London, was postponed I sought the sanctuary of another artificial surface.
An overdue visit to the Stoneham Lane Football Complex in Eastleigh, home of AFC Stoneham, also allowed me to recomplete the Wessex League for the first time in a number of years.
There's a trio of 3G pitches at the complex, and the other two were busy with what looked to be a junior tournament. The 'stadium pitch' has spectator access around all four sides and a low seated stand.
AFC Stoneham went into this game top of the league, and had no problems staying there after the easiest of afternoons.
The first time a Blackfield player touched the ball was when they restarted play after going a goal down in opening seconds. Stoneham dominated possession and had doubled their lead by half time.
In the second half the home side continued to dominate but also speeded up their play. Blackfield had no answer and goals flowed at regular intervals. An own goal in stoppage time completed the rout.
It's not that the visitors were especially poor but more that AFC Stoneham were very good. They looked in a different league to Blackfield, and by next season they probably will be.
Comments
Post a Comment