My Plan A game, Wells City v Buckland Athletic, was called off early doors, and during a trawl for any match in the area still “on”, I noticed Manor had tweeted positively about this fixture, so I thought I’d turn up early for the 14:00 kick off, with games at Shepton Mallet and Shaftesbury as back-ups in case I found it was off - although trying to get back to Shaftesbury might have been pushing it a bit, judging by the lengthy tailback of traffic on the A303 eastbound, trying to enter the single carriageway section at Yeovilton.
Charlton United play at the Memorial Playing Field in Charlton Adam, on the west side of the Somerset village adjacent to the Westbury – Taunton railway line. From the east, west or south, take the A372 Somerton / Bridgwater (rather than the A37) off the A303 Podimore roundabout, and then first right on a country road up to the Charltons. Keep going through the village gates, and just before the road veers slightly left under a low railway bridge, turn right into Collins Lane, which quickly feeds into Top Road, and the villages’ slate-blue roofed two-storey sports hall looms up on your left. If you're coming from the north, good luck to you navigating the maze of roads between the A37 and the village centre ....
The sports hall is basically just an indoor basketball court, with changing rooms for the soccer, and a youth club upstairs, although up there, it appeared there was little more than a half-sized snooker table on a balcony! There is a small, heavily rutted car-park that’ll take around 25 vehicles, and at the far side of the rec, a children’s play area and a slightly worse-for-wear hard tennis court.
There are two soccer pitches on the site; the one closest to the sports hall parallel to the road doesn’t look to be used, judging by the rusty goal-posts, and the one tucked up in the far corner of the rec, next to the railway tracks, is the one used by Charlton United. Neither roped nor railed, pitchside “furniture” is limited to two benches (one rather hidden in a thicket) and a strange, green, metal half-pagoda which might seat six people at a squeeze.
With some time to kill before the game, I explored Station Road, but there’s no discernible trace of the old railway station (opened in 1906 and closed 1962) apart from a Network Rail access site. In the other direction, towards Charlton Adam village, the church of SS Peter and Paul dates from the 1300’s and the oldest of the peal of five bells, a pre-Reformation bell, was originally cast around 1490. The middle bell bears the inscription:
“I am not now as wonce I was,
Sq Stranwidg was the cavs”
I wonder what the said Squire got up to, to damage the dinger to such an extent that his exploits were immortalised ….
And whilst we’re on the subject, there’s a small clanger in the lobby of the sports club, tethered to the wall and described as an “emergency bell”. The Ostrich resisted the temptation ….
Billed on Twitter as a “massive tie between two heavyweights”
, the game pitted 3rds vs 1st in the 11 team league, with just two points separating them. Both clubs are fairly recently established, with the visitors hailing from Yeovil, where they were, I gather, originally formed by a group of Screwfix (the nuts and bolts retailer) employees working at their Abbey Trading Estate store. Chatting to one of the players before the game, he turned out to also be their web-meister, and was highly amused to learn his tweet had increased the day’s attendance by one! The game started with a goal after 56 secs, M.9 putting the league leaders ahead with a free far-post header, and it could have been 0-3 by the third minute as M.10 skimmed one just wide and M.11 netted but was ruled offside. Charlton equalised on 14m with C.10 turning in a right-wing cross, and C.5, possibly the smallest guy on the pitch, headed home a free kick four minutes later. Manor went straight down the other end and M.10 whanged in a 20-yarder to make it 2-2. Exhilarating stuff, but after that the game got a bit scrappier. Still plenty of chances at both ends; goal-line clearances and crossbars rattled.On 52m, M.7, at the far post, turned in a corner that everyone else had missed, and that left Charlton chasing the game. Their shooting became increasingly wayward, and Manor, at the end of the day, comfortably saw out the match for a victory that helps consolidate their position as top of the league.
Mindful of the heavy traffic on the A303, a return via cross country B roads, and back in the house shortly after 4:30.
Yeovil & District League Division 1: Charlton United 2 Manor Athletic 3
Admission free, refreshments now’t (be warned that the village post office / stores shuts at 12:30 on a Saturday ……), attendance 19
It’s a worry. No alternative local supply has so far been sourced (although I might try Dike’s in Stalbridge, they might just carry it) and representations (or rather pleas) have been made to Waitrose’s Customer Service Desk. Watch this space ….. 
) Things may be starting to gather momentum, however, as local councils generally now have to address their new housing quotas, so the club may be on the move - but not, I suspect, any time soon, the way local councils work ….. 
), but somewhat cramped. Food is dispensed from a hatch by the bar by an undemonstrative Filipino couple, but they certainly provided superbly-fried chips from the look of them, although I didn’t indulge today. There is a small side room off, where a members’ buffet was being served. Outside, there are two pitches, the main one immediately behind and parallel to the clubhouse, the second pitch beyond that, and a few training floodlights sporadically scattered around. The pitches are said to drain well, thanks to the proximity of the River Stour which meanders close to the back of the ground. Hardstanding is provided along the back of the clubhouse for the main pitch, but Ossie chose to perch on a plastic chair in front of the windows in the upstairs bar, which provided a good panoramic view of the game, and where I was accompanied throughout the proceedings by a cheery bevy of away supporters who provided knowledgeable and entertaining company. And it was certainly warmer up there than standing outside on an increasingly raw day. 
Well done our Ally, for finding Ossie a new Haggis supplier! 
