It's a baking hot afternoon and the Wraymobile is making its way over to Stoke by Nayland Football Club located close to the Essex-Suffolk border for the eagerly awaited Colchester & East Essex League Premier Division fixture against Tollesbury FC. This is our final hop of the season and it's incredible to think just how quickly time has flown by since we took in our very first game nine months ago. In fact it all started just up the road from here, when we attended the New Coft in Haverhill for an Eastern Counties League game at the beginning of August.

On arrival we soon find out that the game also attracts several other well known hoppers including Brian, Terry and Ted. Many have decided to make a day of it having already been to Tiptree Jobserve FC where Colne Engaine defeated Brantham Athletic A in the Colchester & East Eassex League Cup Final in an early morning game that started at 10.30. A couple of helpful league officials are also on hand to give us a copy of the programme issued for the final and then kindly organise today's team line ups before kick-off. What great service!

Not for the first time this season we are making our debut in a new league. A quick computerised scroll through the excellent Football Mittoo website pages covering the competition gives us some background information before setting out. An early check phone call to Dave Peck, the enthusiastic Stoke club secretary, also helps to put a bit more meat on the bones and guide us to the ground. Cheers Dave!

Notably this is the last remaining fixture in the 2010-11 programme which has already seen visitors Tollesbury FC crowned as champions in the thirteen team Premier Division league. Significantly they have lost only one game during the campaign bagging an impressive total of 105 goals and conceding only 17 to give, if my maths is correct, a massive +88 goal difference. By contrast hosts Stoke have really struggled to find their best form throughout and currently sit fourth from the bottom. Although the result of today's game will not affect either club's respective positions, a comfortable away win looks certain and the attraction of a few goals adds some appeal.

The game, played on a bare, rock hard pitch, proved to be a most entertaining affair and went down well with the thoroughbred hoppers from racing HQ. Although the league leaders managed to come out on top they did not have it all their own way and had to work very hard at times to gain all three points. The match got off to an explosive start when the visitors were awarded a dubious penalty after referee Chris Waugh adjudged Ben Baldwin (5) to have handled inside the area but justice was preserved when keeper Drew Nixon pulled the ball wide with his spot kick. Moments later at the other end Kieran Dilloway (8) scored for the hosts with a simple tap in but his goal was disallowed (wrongly in my opinion) for offside! However within ten minutes the men from Maldon did take the lead when the resourceful Sam Rollo headed home from close range following Simon King's inswinging corner kick. Rollo (39) was in the right place to add a second just before the break when he stabbed the ball home through a group of players and past unsighted keeper Marc Rose capitalising on a poor clearance.

Stoke, dressed in navy shirts, pulled a goal back early in the second half when Roses' long kick, carried by the wind, bounced on the edge of the opposite area and allowed pursuing Chris Cowans (59) to take control of the ball, turn and place it perfectly in the top right hand corner of the goal beyond Nixon. Just when it looked as though the homesters would restore parity, Tollesbury added a third on the counter with Rose (73) unlucky to deflect the ball from a Jamie Bright cross into his own net. As before Stoke rallied and gave themselves a glimmer of hope when Jamie Cowan (brother of Chris) (90) cut inside from the left and struck the ball beautifully from 25 yards out curling it into the top right hand corner of the net to claim his side's second goal (without doubt the best of the game). Before the final whistle it was the champions who underlined their superiority by netting a fourth deep into stoppage time when sub John Burdett (90+3) was on hand to beat the offside trap and slide the ball under the advancing Nixon. The goal went down very well with the visiting fans who were quick to explain to us that the supersub was a sprightly 52 years old!! A review of the match stats revealed that neither of Tollesbury's leading marksmen, Jamie Bright and Jamie Baker, who have netted a breath-taking 40 and 44 goals respectively this season, appeared on the scoresheet today!! In the words of one Harry Hill: 'What are the chances of that happening, hey?'.

The tree-lined recreation ground found off School Road is close to the village centre. A short driveway leads to a small car park which is separated from the adjoining changing pavilion by smart a low wooden panelled fence. From first impressions the exterior of this pitched roofed building looks quite smart however on closer inspection the interior is decidly spartan offering players little in the way of creature comfort. If you need to use the loo, forget it! The outside toilet block looks and smells like something from the dark ages. It's definitely a no go zone!!

The one and only pitch marked out on the field (which runs parallel to the main road) appears to slope down in all directions from the centre circle where the land rises to form the crest of a hill. A skate park and adjacent concrete basketball practice area (both enclosed) are situated close to the half-way line on the entrance side. As you would expect at this level there are no pitchside facilities for both players and spectators.

A ground description would not be complete without making reference to the stunning church of St Mary which towers majestically over the playing field. Locals will tell you that this beautiful 15th century building and famous landmark can be seen for miles around and is best appreciated from distance. It is also said to have inspired the renown English artist Sir John Constable who spent many hours here painting the flatland landscape often described as 'Constable Country'. Without doubt football travellers will not fail to be impressed by the facade of this truly magnificent building.

So what did we make of our hop today? Considering this was our first taste of football in this league we were definitely well impressed by the overall commitment shown by the players in helping to make this a decent spectacle. Based on the evidence of today's game we would not hesitate to attend more games in the future. A link to the Football Mittoo website is shown below. Although the grounds are basic and clubs tend not to provide refreshments or produce matchday programmes, don't let it put you off taking in a game. As we have found on many of our visits to clubs in the pyramid basement, travellers are made to feel very welcome, which to us, is far more important.    

Before signing off for another season I hope that all readers of this column enjoy a restful summer break over the next few weeks. No doubt like us you will soon will be getting itchy feet and looking forward it all starting once again come early August. In the meantime I leave you with a few stats to summarise my Ramblings for 2010-11:

Games attended - 55; Home wins - 27; Away wins - 21; Draws - 6; Total goals - 255; Av GPG - 4.64

Highest Score - 14 (Buxton 1 Attleborough 13); 0-0 - 1 (Bacton 87 v Parkside); Different Lgues - 22              

FGIF Match Stats

Scorers: (H) Chris Cowan (57); Jamie Cowan (90) and (A) S Rollo (8; 39); M Rose (75, og); J Burdett (90+3)

Attendance: 29; Admission and Programme: None; Match rating: 4/5; Ground rating: 3/5.

Links

http://www.football.mitoo.co.uk/News.cfm?LeagueCode=CEEFL2010