A bright spring day saw me coming up with my wife to London and while she was busy, I went over to see the Surrey Premier County League Challenge Cup Semi-Final between Battersea Ironsides and Worcester Park FC.

Battersea Ironsides Sports Ground, on Burntwood Lane, in Wandsworth, South London used to be a place where I had played cricket in the 1990s. In recent years FC Battersea and Battersea Ironsides merged into one club to form FC Battersea Ironsides. The sports ground has a decent grass pitch with dugouts and a clubhouse and bar on site. For any visitors to the ground in future there is a lovely cafe and park opposite the ground (Toast) which is well worth a visit, if you have time to fill.

This season has been positive for both teams with Battersea Ironsides sitting in third, a place above and so. Points ahead of Worcester Park, although today’s visitors still have three games in hand as they both battle towards the play offs, with league leaders Wimbledon Casuals looking to be clear at the moment. The semi final of the cup would give both sides a realistic chance of winning silverware this season, with Wimbledon Casuals FC and Dial Square FC competing in the parallel fixture.

FC Battersea Ironside’s manager, Babz Shaghouei, has seen his team go unbeaten at Burntwood Lane, for over a year now. Goals in the 2025-26 season have come from Tom Blampied (14 goals) and Luke Agalawatta (4 goals).

Worcester Park FC are managed by Gary Taylor. Goals for Worcester Park this season, have come from Harrison Deacon (10 goals), Jordan Bridge (6 goals) and Joe Cheeseman (5 goals).

The game opened with both sides going on the attack. The first twenty minutes were evenly fought but on 24 minutes, an error in the FC Battersea Ironsides’ defence allowed the influential Sam Webb to tap in on the overlap for Worcester Park FC, to give them a crucial early lead in this semi-final.

The remainder of the half saw the sunlight fade and a chill wind and rain replace the earlier warmth. Neither side could break through to score and the wind hampered passing. At the break it was Worcester Park FC who went in 0-1 ahead.

On 65 minutes the tie was levelled, when Rory Watkinson scored from 25 yards, with a fiercely dipping free kick which fooled Dan McKerracher in the Worcester Park goal. The shock of losing the lead did immediately seem to galvanise the visitors who came forward with a renewed energy.

With 80 minutes gone Worcester Park’s supersub, Mason Reynolds, volleyed home beating my filming as I missed the shot, (although I caught the finish!) to make it 1-2 and to set up a tense final ten minutes, as Battersea Ironsides threw the kitchen sink at the opposition, in an effort to claw themselves level.

At fulltime it was Worcester Park FC who took the spoils to head into a well deserved final. FC Battersea Ironsides played their part in this exciting cup tie and can walk away knowing they threw everything at the opposition today.