Stalemate - Horley Town vs. Raynes Park Vale

First half action from the New Defence.

For the first time in a couple of weeks there are no problems with the weather and I have free choice of games. I opt to head to Horley for their Combined Counties League game with Raynes Park Vale. I've seen RPV twice already this season and was yet to see them lose. The ground's name is a tribute to those soldiers who lost their lives in the Second World War. The club's old ground being established shortly after the end of the war.

The impressive club house and changing room building at the New Defence. 

Both teams are in mid table and have no danger of going down but also do not have a realistic chance of challenging for the title. Even so both teams attack from the off and are both keen to win the game. Horley have most of the ball while RPV try to catch their hosts on the break. The main talking point of the first half happens when the Horley striker believes he was tripped when clean through. The referee instructs him to get to his feet which was probably the right decision. Both teams forge some half chances but at half time neither goal keeper has been tested.

First half action with the only other cover in the ground. 

The second half is very end to end but as with the first half neither goal keeper has a significant save to make. The home side do manage to get in to some decent positions but lack the final killer pass. The first major save by either goal keeper is made around seventy minutes when the Vale striker cuts inside but the keeper does well to keep out his effort. This is the last major chance of the match and both sides have to settle for a point.

Horley on the attack in the second half.

The ground is a twenty five minute walk from the station. I think you can cut five minutes off that if you cut through the estates but I chose to stick to the main road. There is a Weatherspoons five minutes from the station but the clubhouse is one of the best I've seen in the CCL. It has a good selection of drinks and has Sky Sports. As with Erith Town you can watch the game from the clubhouse if you don't fancy standing in the cold! Trains depart from London Bridge and Victoria and the trains from Victoria are around ten minutes quicker. Then take around half an hour and there is one train per hour.

The view of the pitch from the clubhouse.