Steve B the Groundhopper

7pm  29 June 2015 Catforth and District Summer League, Division One Plungington 8 Brockholes Arms 0 (att 16) My final game of the 2014/15 season, and it was a stroll for table-topping Plunginton who were far too strong for visitors Brockholes. That the home side didn't score more was down to a combination of wayward shooting and good display by the Brockholes goalkeeper. A flurry of goals near the end gave the scoreline a look that at least reflected the play, but the home side had only managed two in a dominant first half, one a penalty just before the break. In a league that has a high turnover of competing teams Plungington are relative stalwarts. They change ground regularly though, last summer I saw them at home on a 3G school pitch, but now they're at the University of Central Lancashire's Preston Sports Arena. The Arena is sprawling facility with several football pitches. Plungington are using the "Desso Grass Master" pitch, with is floodlit an...

2pm  28 June 2015 Highland Welfare Cup, Second Round Longside Thistle 3 FC Fochabers 1 (att 25) abandoned after 65 minutes Not untypically for Scotland in summer, this game kicked off on a hot afternoon under blue skies and bright sunshine, but was abandoned 20 minutes into the second half after the heavens opened and a torrential downpour left the pitch waterlogged. Despite the conditions the premature end to the game surprised me. The pitch, though saturated, was the same for both sides, I wasn't aware of any complaints from players, even from Fochabers as they trailed, and the rain was easing. The football we did see was entertaining. FC Fochabers are top of the Moray Welfare League, and might have been expected to triumph against opposition mid table in North East Scotland League's lower division. But the home side were unstoppable in the first half, scoring three and having a penalty saved. Perhaps Fochabers struggled to get used to the tiny pitch, as Thistle us...

3pm  27 June 2015 Ross-shire Welfare FA, Seaboard Cup, First Round Invergordon Social Club 4 Contin 3 (att 36) After a two-week hiatus I approached the end of my 2014/15 season with a groundhopping trip to the north of Scotland, where competitive amateur football continues throughout the summer. Eight teams compete in the Ross-shire Welfare FA's league and cup competitions, a convenient number for the cups, so this first round tie was a quarter final. To be honest I was lucky, as it was the only one of the four scheduled games to take place, two were postponed and one forfeited. It turned out to be cracking cup tie, as the lead changed hands several times before the home side just edged it thanks to a late winner. The outcome was harsh on Contin, who looked the better side and deserved to win. Invergordon Social Club are based on a pitch at the towns Recreation Grounds. A modern building houses changing rooms, and directly in front it is a pitch that's railed off on ...

7.30pm  8 June 2015 SJFA West Region, Central League, Division One Wishaw Juniors 1 Dunipace Juniors 5 (att 60) Only pride was at stake as Wishaw and Dunipace completed the Central League schedule, as neither clubs' league position could change regardless of the outcome. But football is always competitive in the Scottish Juniors, and there was no lack of effort in this game. Wishaw had done their hard work last week, when they'd gained the points they needed to avoid relegation. It was just as well, as after a good start, and an early goal, they were comprehensively beaten. Having gone behind after four minutes, Dunipace were level by the 10th minute. The visitors scored twice more before half time, and spurned several chances to open up a bigger lead. Wishaw had more of the possession in the second half, although their efforts to get back into the game were laboured, perhaps the effects of a long season were catching up with them. Dunipace looked to hit their hosts ...

2pm  6 June 2015 SJFA West Region, League Cup Quarter-Final Vale of Clyde 4 Cumbernauld United 3 (att 150) It may be several days into June but the Central League Cup is only at the quarter-final stage, although with semi-finals in midweek I'd expect the final to be next weekend. Vale of Clyde, based in Tollcross in the east end of Glasgow, claimed their place in the last four after a thrilling, and occasionally comical, game. Cumbernauld, who play a division higher than the hosts, started the game well, and it took some great goalkeeping to keep them out. Eventually though a well-taken goal gave them a deserved lead. It didn't last long, Vale's equaliser was a speculative long-range effort that sailed over the keeper's head and into the goal. It got worse for Cumbernauld when a throw in decision went against them, and quick-thinking Vale of Clyde took it quickly, broke forward and scored. The first half action was far from over though, and amid good footba...

7pm  4 June 2015 Catforth and District Summer League, Division Two Hambleton Spartans 8 Fulwood Park Rangers 0 (att 33) More summer league football as I slowly tick off the handful of new venues in this year's local "off-season" competitions. Hambleton Spartans have made a storming start to the Catforth League's lower division, and had no problems seeing off Fulwood Park Rangers, scoring four goals in each half. I was told that many of the Hambleton players turn out for a nearby West Lancashire team during the winter, and the speed and quality of much of their football suggested that could be the case. Fulwood Park Rangers are a Sunday side during the winter. Hambleton are using a pitch on the tree-lined village recreation ground, and on a warm and sunny evening it was a good place to watch a game, with a good-sized crowd for this level of football, including a handful of fellow groundhoppers who provided good company. Link to map of Hamb...

7.15pm  3 June 2015 Caledonian League, Presidents Cup Final at Dalziel Park East Kilbride YM 1 Hamilton Former Pupils 0 (att 157) It may be June but there's still plenty of football being played in Scotland, with this final rounding off the season for amateur clubs in the Caledonian League. The Presidents Cup is for teams in the second tier of the league, divisions 1A and 1B, and its final was a local derby played at the impressive facilities at Dalziel Park, near Motherwell, home to Caledonian League side Dalziel HSFP. Being a cup final it was predictably tight, settled by a single goal for East Kilbride YM in the 43rd minute. They deserved to lift the trophy, having been the better side throughout, but both sides played some good football on an excellent artificial surface. Hamilton FP had begun the game well, but were on the back foot once YM got into their stride. The Hamilton keeper was much busier than his YM counterpart, and pulled off several top saves which at l...