We've had an incredible last week in the Combined Counties Prem South.
At the start of the week Redhill were top in the sole promotion spot, three points ahead of Jersey Bulls, who had a game in hand and a better goal difference. They were also a point ahead of Whyteleafe, with the same amount of games played.
Redhill needed Jersey to drop a point in one of their last two games, so they donned their tracksuits and turned up at Abbey Rangers to support the home side. Jersey won, and celebrated in front of the Redhill team.
Until Friday afternoon, when it transpired that Jersey had been accused of fielding an ineligible player earlier in the season. A player who should have served an accumulated booking ban. They are to be docked three points as a result of this.
Thus, Redhill just needed a win to take the title.
Yesterday all three sides played against teams that didn't have anything to play for. Whyteleafe cruised to a win, Jersey took a second half lead and Redhill couldn't buy a goal. So for about an hour, Whyteleafe were top of the table, despite not believing they were even in with a chance of winning the title until, at the very earliest, Saturday morning. At 4.45pm this is what he table looked like:
Redhill were battering the Whyteleafe Guildford City goal and got a breakthrough on 85 minutes, only for the lino to put his flag up and break their hearts. They continued to lay siege but could not get past the home goalkeeper. Until the very last kick of the game. Redhill scored in the 94th minute, and won the league.
At least they think they have - Jersey have appealed the deduction so we have to wait and see who the champions are! So the official table looks like this, until the appeal is over.
On what basis are they appealing? The player should've either been banned or he shouldn't, there can't be much of a grey area there? Their own social media even admits they "made a mistake".
On a sidenote though getting 107 goals and 95 points and only finishing 3rd is wild.
Absolutely no idea! Just what the Redhill gaffer told me yesterday as it means they can't be given the trophy yet (might have changed today, not keeping up with it right now). I assume it's an appeal for an appeal's sake.
Eastbourne shouldn’t have dropped the two points against Worthing on Friday and should be top. They played against 10 men for an hour. Missed 3/4 big chances to grab the winner.
Eastbourne shouldn’t have dropped the two points against Worthing on Friday and should be top. They played against 10 men for an hour. Missed 3/4 big chances to grab the winner.
Wanderers have blown the lead in the last minutes on three occasions in the last month or so, and about 16 points in the last 10 minutes across the season. It's barmy how nobody seems capable of holding top spot for longer than a week, it's like musical chairs and when the music stops one team will be lucky enough to be at the top!
Going to be a wild last day of the season, although it's firmly in Truro's hands as they are at home to St Albans who are in the relegation zone.
However they're in a bizarre position in that they're top going into the last day, they could win and still end up 2nd.
St Albans are decent, really can't get my head around them being in such a mess down there. If it was at their place I would not put money on Truro to win the league. But if not Dorking, I hope it's them - if only because it'll be a hassle to face them in the play-offs, and to see what happens when they have to travel seven hours to pretty much every game next season!
Just realised you'll have Truro going to Gateshead, Morecambe , Hartlepool etc if they go up. Yeovil will be a local derby for them!
Southend, Oldham, Altrincham, Halifax, Fylde are all at least six hour coach rides. Most of their trips will be four to five hours (Woking, Maidenhead, Wealdstone).
They'll have to pay for two coach drivers for every away trip, otherwise they have to let the driver have a break and take an extra hour. And they'll have to stay in hotels for pretty much every game (if they do't they'll soon realise they need to), so it's going to be an extremely expensive season for a club that did not expect to be getting promoted this quickly. Their owners are smart, and I think have some cash, which might get them through.
Just realised you'll have Truro going to Gateshead, Morecambe , Hartlepool etc if they go up. Yeovil will be a local derby for them!
Southend, Oldham, Altrincham, Halifax, Fylde are all at least six hour coach rides. Most of their trips will be four to five hours (Woking, Maidenhead, Wealdstone).
They'll have to pay for two coach drivers for every away trip, otherwise they have to let the driver have a break and take an extra hour. And they'll have to stay in hotels for pretty much every game (if they do't they'll soon realise they need to), so it's going to be an extremely expensive season for a club that did not expect to be getting promoted this quickly. Their owners are smart, and I think have some cash, which might get them through.
Didn't realise quite how far south west they are until i just looked and saw they're 55 miles and over a 1 hour drive before they even reach Plymouth!!
Just realised you'll have Truro going to Gateshead, Morecambe , Hartlepool etc if they go up. Yeovil will be a local derby for them!
Southend, Oldham, Altrincham, Halifax, Fylde are all at least six hour coach rides. Most of their trips will be four to five hours (Woking, Maidenhead, Wealdstone).
They'll have to pay for two coach drivers for every away trip, otherwise they have to let the driver have a break and take an extra hour. And they'll have to stay in hotels for pretty much every game (if they do't they'll soon realise they need to), so it's going to be an extremely expensive season for a club that did not expect to be getting promoted this quickly. Their owners are smart, and I think have some cash, which might get them through.
Yeah their owners seem smart so I'm sure they factored it in (think they're Canadian owned if I remember rightly) wouldn't want to be an away side going down there for a midweek game!
Think Truro Will nick it. Why? St Albans need to win with a decent goal difference. They could ideally hope for Salisbury to lose at Welling. However, word will spread of the news that Salisbury are 5 up in the first half hour at PVR, thereby making their task impossible. Truro take advantage of a downhearted St Albans and go on to win comfortably.
As for Truro, when you do eventually get off the train, you then have a 3 mile journey to their ground. Taxis down there are for some reason, bloody trumpy.
Think Truro Will nick it. Why? St Albans need to win with a decent goal difference. They could ideally hope for Salisbury to lose at Welling. However, word will spread of the news that Salisbury are 5 up in the first half hour at PVR, thereby making their task impossible. Truro take advantage of a downhearted St Albans and go on to win comfortably.
Probably because they're top of the league and at home to a side in the relegation zone........
Think Truro Will nick it. Why? St Albans need to win with a decent goal difference. They could ideally hope for Salisbury to lose at Welling. However, word will spread of the news that Salisbury are 5 up in the first half hour at PVR, thereby making their task impossible. Truro take advantage of a downhearted St Albans and go on to win comfortably.
Probably because they're top of the league and at home to a side in the relegation zone........
Like Welling drawing against top of the league Worthing?
@ROTW and other Welling followers, what’s been the reaction to the announced investment ?
None really. The current manager is going to be director of football apparently. The players bill will be covered only by sponsorship. Stated that at end of 25-26 a 4g pitch will be laid. The pie in the sky flats plan is in the bin, but looking to rebuild the main road end and adjacent stand. This will take time though. University of Greenwich getting quite involved with the club. Club to get rights to Welling United name for academy and plan on this being implemented along with 4g pitch. Currently no academy as naming rights mysteriously owned by Flore (GB10 place at Avery Hill Rd) https://www.wellingunitedacademy.co.uk/\
Thing is mate, actions speak louder than words and at the moment, ain’t much fun.
Everyone I speak with don't hold out much optimism for the following season.
Comments
However they're in a bizarre position in that they're top going into the last day, they could win and still end up 2nd.
They'll have to pay for two coach drivers for every away trip, otherwise they have to let the driver have a break and take an extra hour. And they'll have to stay in hotels for pretty much every game (if they do't they'll soon realise they need to), so it's going to be an extremely expensive season for a club that did not expect to be getting promoted this quickly. Their owners are smart, and I think have some cash, which might get them through.
Yeah their owners seem smart so I'm sure they factored it in (think they're Canadian owned if I remember rightly) wouldn't want to be an away side going down there for a midweek game!
St Albans need to win with a decent goal difference.
They could ideally hope for Salisbury to lose at Welling.
However, word will spread of the news that Salisbury are 5 up in the first half hour at PVR, thereby making their task impossible.
Truro take advantage of a downhearted St Albans and go on to win comfortably.
As for Truro, when you do eventually get off the train, you then have a 3 mile journey to their ground.
Taxis down there are for some reason, bloody trumpy.
The current manager is going to be director of football apparently.
The players bill will be covered only by sponsorship.
Stated that at end of 25-26 a 4g pitch will be laid.
The pie in the sky flats plan is in the bin, but looking to rebuild the main road end and adjacent stand.
This will take time though.
University of Greenwich getting quite involved with the club.
Club to get rights to Welling United name for academy and plan on this being implemented along with 4g pitch.
Currently no academy as naming rights mysteriously owned by Flore (GB10 place at Avery Hill Rd)
https://www.wellingunitedacademy.co.uk/\
Thing is mate, actions speak louder than words and at the moment, ain’t much fun.
Everyone I speak with don't hold out much optimism for the following season.
We will see eh.