Steve B the Groundhopper

2pm  29 April 2017 Peterborough and District League, Premier Division Pinchbeck United 6 Leverington Sports 0 (att 36) It's the stage of the season when the choice of games gets thinner, and ideally I look for matches with something at stake. This fixture tempted me as it ticked a couple of boxes. Pinchbeck are battling for the league title, but running out of games to overturn the four point gap between them and leaders Peterborough Sports reserves. Not only that, but it's also likely to be the final season for first team football in Pinchbeck, with the side planning to move a few miles to Spalding United's ground, allowing them to step up to the United Counties League. I can see why the move would be necessary. The Knight Street ground is pleasant, especially on a sunny spring afternoon, but it's a long way short of the facilities needed for promotion. There's a nice clubhouse behind the goal, which incorporates a tea bar and the changing rooms. but t...

6.15pm  27 April 2017 Huddersfield and District League, Division One Skelmanthorpe 0 Kirkheaton Rovers 1 (att 13) This was a rather low key end-of-season game with little at stake other than pride, and for a while I thought I'd be watching my first goalless game of the season, until Kirkheaton's 70th minute winner. The visitors did well to claim the points, having had a player red carded five minutes before half time for kicking out at an opponent. Skelmanthorpe couldn't make their numerical advantage count, although on balance they probably deserved a point from the game. I don't often see Huddersfield and District League football, but when I do it's usually enjoyable, and this was no different. Skelmanthorpe's Cross Lane ground is probably one of the better venues in the league. The changing rooms are next to a playing field with two football pitches. There's no spectator facilities as such, unless you count the car park, but a steep grass ban...

6.15pm  26 April 2017 Halifax and District League, Premier Division Shelf United 0 Ryburn United 6 (att 10) When I Tweeted Shelf United to check this game I received a reply, tongue in cheek I think, that if I brought my kit I might get to play. I spared them that, but while they weren't shot of players they were short of a referee. After a short delay the fixture eventually got underway with one of the Shelf coaching staff taking the whistle. He had a decent game, unlike his players who were well beaten and could easily have conceded more. Shelf United needed a win to lift them out of the bottom two (and what I assume to be likely relegation places), but unfortunately for them they faced a Ryburn side needing points to finish as runners-up. Despite the one-sided outcome it was an enjoyable game to watch. Ryburn scored twice in quick succession about midway through the first half to take control, though they had a penalty well saved just before the break. The visitors ...

6.15pm  24 April 2017 Wigan and District Amateur League, Division One Higher Ince 6 AFC Tyldesley 3 (att 25) This wasn't my first choice game tonight, in fact it was plan C, but it turned out to be great entertainment that was almost good enough to take my mind off the bitterly cold wind blowing across Leyland Park in Hindley. The win takes Higher Ince top of the table and into pole position to win it. They had to do it the hard way though, staging a thrilling second half fightback to recover from a 3-1 deficit. The visitors were 2-1 ahead after a first half when they had the conditions in their favour, but it looked as if they'd have too much for Higher Ince when they added a third early in the second period. But Higher Ince showed the sort of battling qualities needed to win leagues, even at this level. Their first goal back was a controversial penalty - it looked a dive to me - but not long later another penalty, no doubts this time, made it 3-3. From then on th...

2pm  22 April 2017 York League, Premier Division Copmanthorpe 3 Malton and Norton 0 (att 33) It's very close at the bottom of the York League Premier Division, but Copmanthorpe gave themselves a great chance of avoiding relegation with a well-deserved win against a Malton and Norton side with very little to play for. The hosts were on top from the start, nearly going ahead in the opening seconds, but they had to wait 20 minutes before opening the scoring. They had other chances, and it looked as if they might pay for not taking them when they gave a penalty just before half time, but it was well saved. Two second half goals made the points safe for Copmanthorpe, and Malton and Norton played their part in what was a very good game to watch. Copmanthorpe is a pleasant commuter village on the very outskirts of York. The football club play the local sports ground which also provides a home for Copmanthorpe's cricketers, bowlers and tennis players. It's a nice venue...

6.15pm  19 April 2017 Craven and District League, Division One AFC Colne 4 Bradley 3 (att 6) A match like this is just the sort of thing I like about end of season early kick offs in midweek. For once a trouble free journey, followed by a highly entertaining game at a ground I probably wouldn't go to on a Saturday. The Holt House Playing Fields, high on a hill above Colne, is a basic venue, but the views over the town below are quite impressive. There was a good deal to see on the pitch as well, as AFC Colne and Bradley managed seven goals in what was little more than a dead rubber. The home side's win, in their final game of the season, actually propelled them several places up the league, although they're likely to drop a place or two as other clubs complete their fixtures. They scored early, led 2-1 and half time, then extended their lead to 4-1 before Bradley, who couldn't change league position regardless of the outcome, threatened a comeback. Many gro...

3pm  17 April 2017 West Midlands Regional League, Division One Old Wulfrunians 3 Worcester Raiders 0 (att 20) Having already been to Devon and Norfolk over the Easter weekend I settled on a simpler trip for Bank Holiday Monday, although the M6 did its worst to frustrate me as I headed south to Wolverhampton. Old Wulfrunians have a sports ground in Castlecroft Road, a leafy part of Wolverhampton and just yards from the stadium used by AFC Wulfrunians, who were Old Wulfs' first team before they split (amicably I'm sure) to step up into senior football a few years ago. The Memorial Ground is a nice venue to watch a game. The main pitch is railed off on both sides, and there's a small amount of cover at the top of a grass bank along one side, which I guess may once have been the dugouts. The dugouts are now on the opposite side, and with plenty of car parking and a nice clubhouse, serving hot drinks as well as alcohol, I liked the set up. It was an enjoyable game t...

2.30pm  15 April 2017 Anglian Combination, Premier Division Waveney 1 Norwich CEYMS 3 (att 20) Waveney have had the cliched meteoric rise through the Anglian Combination's many division since joining the league, winning six promotions in just eight years. Now they've reached the Premier Division they've probably got as high as they can go, unless the relocate or build a football ground from close to scratch. Their Saturn Close ground, in Lowestoft, just about ticks the boxes for this level of football, but it's a long way from being suitable for anything higher. The pitch is roped off along one side, where there's a pair of dugouts. The opposite touchline was probably roped off for home games earlier in the season, but for this game the line of plastic posts weren't connected. It's perfectly good enough for the Anglian Combination though, and a snack bar behind the goal, selling programmes as well as food and drink, was a welcome facility. On th...