Steve B the Groundhopper

1.30pm  30 November 2014 Welsh Cup, Third Round Undy Athletic 2 Carmarthen Town 4 (att 331) The Welsh Cup may not have the high profile of its equivalents in England or Scotland, but a home draw against Welsh Premier League Carmarthen Town meant this was a big day for Undy Athletic. The village club, based not far from the Severn  Bridge in Monmouthsire, were well organised off the pitch to cope with the much larger than usual crowd. They had plenty of food and drink available and, most crucially of all, plenty of programmes for a game that also attracted a lot of groundhoppers. They were well-organised on the pitch as well, and gave Carmarthen a real battle before the Premier League side eventually eased through to round four. Undy started the tie well, taking an early lead. Some sides would have been deflated by Caramrthen's equaliser, about 10 minutes before half time, but Undy simply carried on taking the game to their visitors, and were rewarded by going back i...

2pm  29 November 2014 Westmorland League, Division One Keswick 5 Carvetii United 0 (att 44) A pre-match glance at the league table would have suggested this was going to be a comfortable win for Keswick, and when they hit the Carvetii crossbar twice in the opening five minutes it was clear that a surprise result was unlikely. It didn't take the home side long to score, and by the end of a first half dominated by Keswick they had a commanding 4-0 lead. The second period was better for the visitors, as Keswick were restricted to just one more goal. The final tally could, and should, have been more than five, and a red card meant Carvetii finished a man down. The Westmorland League is home to many scenic venues, and Keswick's newish Fitz Park home is up there with the best. The ground itself is fairly basic though, just an unroped pitch next to a sympathetically-designed pavilion. Next door, separated by a fence, is the "public" part of  Fitz Park, where Kes...

2pm  22 November 2014 Humber Premier League, Premier Division Reckitts 3 Chalk Lane 0 (att 41) On a wet day the best way of guaranteeing a game being on is to head to a team that uses an all-weather pitch, or, as I did today, somewhere with plenty of 3G and 4G pitches just in case a back up is needed. Reckitts play on grass at the Hull University sports ground in Inglemire Lane, but there are so many clubs in Hull using artificial pitches that getting a game was never likely to be a problem. As it was the Reckitts pitch, although very wet, was playable, for a clash between two of the sides challenging at the top of the table. It was also a local derby, with Chalk Lane based just a few yards away on the university's 3G pitch. The game lived up to its billing, with some good football played by two very committed sides on a proper old-fashioned muddy pitch. It was fun to watch. Reckitts scored the first half's only goal, and added two more after the break. The 3-0 sco...

7.30pm  21 November 2014 South of Scotland League Mid Annandale 2 Crichton 3 (att 65) Following a brief exile in Annan, Mid Annandale have just returned to their home town of Lockerbie, and to a newly-built all weather pitch built next to their old ground. The players still use the old changing rooms, and walk past the grass pitch at King Edward Park to get to the enclosed and floodlit artificial pitch, known as New King Edward Park and built on the site of a former school. Mid Annandale are struggling in the league, but still attracted a decent number of spectators, in wet and windy weather, to this game against Dumfries-based Crichton. Apparently the club are planning more Friday night games in a bid to attract more spectators. Given the testing conditions this was an entertaining game. Crichton were deserving winners, but had to come from behind. Mid Annandale took an early lead, which they held until just seconds before half time. After the break Crichton were more...

2pm  15 November 2014 Sheffield County Senior League, Premier Division Oughtibridge War Memorial Sports Club 6 Swinton Athletic 0 (att 43) I wanted to stay fairly local today, so a trip to the outskirts of Sheffield suited me perfectly, especially as it's an area that's just out of reach for early and end of season midweek games after work. I thought high-flying Swinton would win this game with ease, and they struck the frame of the Oughtibridge goal in the opening moments. But the home side scored first, after around 10 minutes, and soon after doubled their lead. Swinton thought they'd pulled a goal back just before half time, but a linesman's flag ruled it out for offside. Three minutes into the second half a foul in the penalty area handed Swinton an ideal platform from which to launch a comeback, but the spot kick was sent high over the bar. Soon after that the home side scored a third, and a red card for Swinton ended any hopes they had. Oughtibridge s...

2pm  8 November 2014 SJFA East of Scotland Cup, Second Round Crossgates Primrose 0 Hill of Beath Hawthorn 4 (att 103) These very local rivals were drawn together in second round of the East of Scotland Cup, but there was never much doubt that Super League Hill of Beath would triumph over South Division strugglers Crossgates. Any hopes of a cup upset evaporated within the first five minutes, as that's how long it took for the visitors to go in front thanks to a penalty. But rather than pushing on and adding more goals it was a rather stuttering performance from Hill of Beath. They dominated play, but couldn't add to their lead, and Crossgates had their own moments going forward. It was ill-discipline which ultimately cost Crossgates. They lost two players to red cards, either side of half time, and it was then only a matter of time before Hill of Beath added more goals. They scored three more, in quick succession around halfway through the second half. Crossgates Pr...

10am  8 November 2014 Strathclyde Saturday Morning Amateur League, Premier Division Dennistoun Vale 1 Whitefield Rovers 3 (att 25) I was planning a day in South Wales today, but the weather forecast ruled that out, so instead I headed north with plenty of options including a number of games on all-weather artificial pitches. Dennistoun Vale play on a 3G pitch at Whitehill School in Dennistoun, close to the centre of Glasgow, not that the weather was a problem on a bright, but chilly, Glaswegian morning. Dennistoun Vale and Whitefield appeared locked in what is likely to be a battle for runners-up spot in the league, having both dropped their only points by being beaten by table-topping Tynecastle. The home side impressed most during the first half, but when they deservedly they went, about midway through the half, they only managed to hold the lead for about two minutes before Whitefield levelled. Whitefield enjoyed a better second half, although there was little to ch...