Blistering Start Wins It - Spelthorne Sports vs. Eversley

A plane flies over Spelthorne Sports Club.

I had wanted to get back home for the Four Nations Final (I needn't had bothered!) and so I needed a very local game or an early kick off. I'd already visited CB Hounslow United and so I opted for Spelthorne Sport's home game with Eversley. Both teams needed a win to keep in touch with the promotion places and so it promised to be a good game. Spelthorne are enjoying their first season at this level following their Surrey Elite winning season. Eversley had gone through a major restructure in the summer and they too were enjoying a decent start to their season.

Kick off, with the only cover in the background.

Any hope of a close game are blown away by a thunderous start for the home side.The first goal is a free header following a good passing move on the right hand side. The Eversley centre backs then fail to deal with a long ball forward and the striker calmly lobs the ball over the keeper. Things get even worse for the visitors when the Spelthorne full back is allowed to come forward unchallenged and he smashes the ball home from the edge of the box. Eversley think they get a goal back, but the lifeline is snatched away by the linesman's flag. The home team further extend the lead when the keeper spills a shot from distance and the rebound is slotted home. To their credit, Eversley score possibly the best goal the half. The ball is back heeled from close range right on the half time whistle. 

One of several Spelthorne first half attacks.

Spurred on by their goal at the end of the first half, Eversley look to push forward and the game begins to open up. Both teams find themselves in decent positions but fail to create anything. Eversley in particular are guilty of lacking the final ball. The game becomes increasingly scrappy and on several occasions the referee nearly loses control, but to his credit he keeps a lid on things. With around ten minutes to go the visitors get a second following another neat finish. However, any realistic chance of the away team getting anything out of the game is extinguished immediately afterwards. Following a bit of messing around with regards the getting the ball back, the Eversley player kicks the ball into the keepers face and is thus sent off. Spelthorne easily see out the rest of the game and claim the victory.

The opposite side of the ground to the stand.

Before the game, I walked the opposite direction to the ground a short distance to The Grey Horse which was defiantly a good choice. It is an old school pub which had a couple of ales and Sky and is defiantly worth a visit for a pre match pint. The ground is a twenty minute walk from Sunbury station. Trains to Sunbury depart every half hour from Waterloo and take around three quarters of an hour. The clubhouse is next to the car park, away from the pitch (just like at South Park). It looks like it has been redecorated in recent times and is very spacious. It has Sky Sports and a wide selection of drinks.

Eversley push on in the second half. The changing rooms and tea window are on the left.