What no football – how about non-league this weekend?

I was kindly asked by a fan to put together some information on the non-league games that AFCB supporters might be able to go and see this weekend as their are no league fixtures. While I have been keeping my eye on AFCB's progress, I've slipped behind seeing what else is going on, so let's do a bit of catch up.

AFCB had a pre-season match against Salisbury of the Conference which did not go that well for us. They have started the season with a bit of a mixed bag suffering a home defeat to Tamworth and away losses at Luton and Alfreton, but they have been picking up points against Aldershot, Welling and Halifax. They now sit 15th in the league and on Saturday they have a home game against Lincoln City who are currently 4th in the Conference. So I think this will be a big test for Salisbury and quite an interesting game to go and see. Ou can visit the Salisbury Website to get more details.

Aldershot are at home against Macclesfield. The shots have had a hard start to the new campaign having been relegated, suffered administration and had a 10 point deduction. They sit bottom of the Skrill Conference Premier but have caught up to have –3 points and a plus one goal difference. Aldershot have registered good wins against Dartford and Woking at home already and have drawn with Grimsby away, while only losing narrowly 0:1 to table toppers Cambridge. I expect them to get the three points against Macclesfield who only sit six points above them in the table.

Woking may be a bit far north for some to want to travel bas they have an away Conference match against 13th placed Alfreton. Woking are another side that had a victory over the Cherries this summer – I can see a pattern emerging. While Woking have not done as well as Salisbury in their first six games they did beat Chester away and have had a draw with Lincoln City at home. Again you can find out more about the match day at Woking's website.

The Conference South also has a fixture list including Eastleigh v Bromley. Fanborough were due to play Dover at home, but I think this game is postponed as the club has league membership problems. Unfortunately, Lee Bradbury's Havant and Waterlooville are away at Bishop's Stortford and Dorchester Town are away at Concord Rangers, from whom AFCB signed Lyle Taylor a few seasons ago. Basingstoke are away at Whitehawk, near Brighton which could be a good day out.

I expect many AFCB fans will be looking at who the Dolphins are playing in the Calor league. Well Poole Town are also away at Hitchin Town in Hertfordshire, while Bashley are away at Corby Town. Closer in this league include AFC Totton at home against St Albans. Weymouth FC are away at Hinckley Utd.

Dropping down to the Sydenhams Football League (Wessex) Premier you'll find that Christchurch FC are away to Lymington Town and Verwood Town are at home to  Bemerton Heath Harlequins. Romsey Town are at home to AFC Portchester and Winchester City will be at home to Whitchurch Utd. New Milton Town also play at home to Andover Town. There are no fixtures for Bournemouth Poppies or Brockenhurst.
Wimborne Town play in the Southern league and will be at home to Cinderford Town. Get more details at the Magpie's website just £5 for adults at Cuthbury.

I expect there are some other games out there this weekend that I have missed off locally, so if you want a shout out for a club email me at bellp2013@gmail.com with a few lines and I'll gladly post it on Rival Lines to help boost your gate.

Bashley 0 v 3 AFCB

It was Paul Gazard's testimonial tonight against AFCB and we put out a youthful, but strong team to play the Evo-stick Southern league team. Josh Carmichael had a run out for the Cherries tonight and he is one that must be looking to push on to greater things this coming season. It was surprising to see Zubar, Cornick and Cargil back in the starting 11 having only played last night. They are clocking up the minutes on the pitch to get their fitness levels up.

First half XI

Collins, Sebastio, Gabriel, Zubar, Cargill, Wakefield, Losasso, Carmichael, Bassele, Chiedozie, Cornick.
Goals: Carmichael (5min), Bassele (37min), Chiedozie (64min).

Here is a round up of the tweeted action

Wouldn't you know it, after just 5 minutes Josh Carmichael shows his class by curling a shot into the into the top corner of the goal. The Cherries go 0:1 up! Losasso was next to get a mention having a shot from 30 yards out that went just wide after 13 minutes. Chiedozie then went even closer three minutes later crashing a header off Losasso's "inch perfect" cross against the post!

Cornick began to get on the ball and on 24 minutes he picked out Chiedozie, in the box, who had his shot saved by Nic Jones, the Bashley keeper. On the half hour Mark Losasso had a one-on-one with Jones, but the Bashley keeper again came out on top and made the save. Four minutes later Chiedozie was In a similar position but it was the same outcome and the score stayed at 0:1

Bassele did much better on 37 minutes managing to round Jones to put the Cherries 0:2 up. There were no more additions to the score before half time.

Second half AFCB XI - no changes?

It seemed to take an age to hear anything on news of the second half apart from the fact that the game was under way. But sure enough they were still playing even if we did not know who was on the pitch. I had to assume there were no changes at half time, because AFCB did not inform us of anything different. 

Twitter conversation itself was more interested in who was queueing up for Real Madrid tickets, which go on general sale at the Goldsands stadium tomorrow - haven't you got yours yet?

Then, out of the blue, AFCB told everyone that the Cherries had gone 0:3 up! 64 minutes had gone by and Bassele's cross had been missed by Bashley's keeper, Casey, and Chiedozie had slotted the ball home. 

The news lines went quiet again, but a whole number of changes were made with Kaye, Helyar, McCarthy, Jones, Kirkwood, Harris, Walsh, Musoke and Roberts all entering the fray. At this stage we learnt that there was a crowd of 436 to see the match.

But before you knew it, the tweets dried up and the final whistle went with the final score at Bashley 0:3 AFCB.