Steve B the Groundhopper

2pm 29 May 2021 Yorkshire Amateur League, Championship Crofton Sports 0 Leeds Medics and Dentists reserves 2 (att 8) I had three options for an second match after the earlier game at Durkar . My destination depended on the time the final whistle was blown, and that was early enough to allow me to reach Crofton. This was another late season fixture with little at stake. Crofton are bottom of the league's third tier (although they sit above a side who failed to see out the season), but couldn't get a point against the medical students. Leeds Medics and Dentists reserves, based at Leeds University, are mid-table. They won comfortably, if unspectacularly, thanks to a goal in each, the second a penalty. Crofton Sports play at The Sidings, a name which is probably a clue to land's former use. There's a cricket ground in the middle, with football pitches on either side. This game was on the furthest pitch, ensuring the footballers were a safe distance from any well-struck sixe...

12 noon 29 May 2021 Wakefield and District League, Premier Division Durkar 0 Royston Ring o'Bells 2 (att 11) An end of season fixture in a district league wouldn't be my normal destination on a Saturday, but the attraction of Durkar was the kick off time. The Barnsley-based visitors wanted to avoid playing on Saturday afternoon in the hope they'd be watching Barnsley in the Championship play-off final. Their team didn't reach Wembley, but the early start to this match remained. This was only my third experience of the Wakefield League, and the last was four years ago. That game had a very end of season feel to it, but this was much better. Ring o'Bells can still finish as runners-up, and so had more to play for than Durkar, who were playing their final fixture knowing their league position wasn't going to change. The visitors scored a goal in each half, the first a penalty, to win the game and keep in touch with West End Terriers in the battle for second place....

6.30pm  27 May 2021 Lancashire Amateur League, Division 3B Horwich RMI FC 0 Ainsworth 8 (att 12) Horwich RMI used to be a major non-League club. In 1995 they moved to Leigh and became Leigh RMI, later morphing into Leigh Genesis before disappearing from senior football. In Horwich meanwhile the name was kept alive by a new club, Horwich RMI AFC. A few years later Horwich RMI Juniors was formed to provide football for youngsters, and a pathway to the adult team. At some point the senior club and the junior club fell out, and so the juniors went their own way as Horwich RMI FC. Eventually RMI FC had an open age side of its own and became, like RMI AFC, members of the Lancashire Amateur League. If you're not confused by all that then you've probably not been reading it properly. I've no idea whether RMI AFC, RMI FC, or even Leigh Genesis (now back and in the Manchester League) lay any claim to the history of the original club. I do understand that RMI FC will have a new name f...

6.30pm  26 May 2021 Yorkshire Amateur League, Division One Fairbank United 6 Lepton Highlanders 0 (att 10) Based on the league table this result, and certainly the size of the scoreline, was a major surprise. Fairbank are towards the bottom while Lepton are within sight of the top. To be fair to Lepton it's a tricky journey to get to the Bradford suburb of Allerton for an evening game. The match kicked off a few minutes late, and the visitors had limited time to warm up. But they never got going and were thoroughly outplayed by Fairbank. The home side looked good and played some neat football. On this performance their lowly league position is baffling. Three goals in each half decided the outcome. Having established a healthy lead Fairbank defended solidly and repeatedly hit Lepton on the break.  They might have added further goals. Fairbank are based at Dixons Allerton Academy. Their pitch is part of the school playing field, and quite a hike from the car park. There is a 3G...

7.15pm  25 May 2021 Central Midlands League, Division One North Bessacarr 1 Glapwell 1 (att 22) Fixtures may be getting thinner but the Central Midlands League's regionalised trio of second tier divisions are helping groundhoppers by completing their seasons. Apparently Sheffield FC's reserves have won the division one north title. It looks like Glapwell will finish as runners-up, but they had to come from behind for a hard-earned point at Bessacarr. A well-worked goal gave the home side a first half lead. Glapwell looked the better side but created few clear chances. They finally got level with about a quarter of the match remaining.   It wasn't the greatest of games, and it didn't feel much like late May on a damp and chilly evening at Cantley Park in Doncaster. I was last at Cantley Park in 2005, watching Doncaster Rovers' youth team at the club's training ground. Bessacarr's base is in the larger public park next door. It's a basic multi-pitch venue,...

6.45pm  24 May 2021 Hope Valley Amateur League, Premier Division Fairfield 5 Baslow 2 (att 26) It might be a football cliché  but this was very much a game of two halves. A first in which the sides were evenly matched, then a second when the home team ran away with it. Baslow were twice ahead in the first half, their opening goal gifted by Fairfield. But both times Fairfield were quick to hit back, and an entertaining half ended with the sides level at 2-2. Fairfield went ahead early in the second period, and after that there was no stopping them. Baslow wilted under pressure, and the home side could easily have scored more than their tally of five. Fairfield is an area of Buxton, and their regular venue is the Fairfield Centre. That was damaged by fire last summer, so the football club has had to find an alternative home. They've found one at Buxton Rugby Club, just outside the town in Harpur Hill. In a league where scenery usually trumps facilities the ground stands out, wit...

3pm  22 May 2021 Lincolnshire League Cup, North Group Nunsthorpe Tavern 1 Epworth Town Colts 0 (att 53) Tetney Rovers' Friday night win had won the group, and with it they reached the League Cup cup final. That left these two sides to play for runners-up, and a place in the final of the Supplementary Cup. Nunsthorpe Tavern had a points advantage and so needed just a draw to see off Epworth. A draw appeared likely until Nunsthorpe put the outcome beyond doubt with a late winner. They'd looked the better side and more likely to break the deadlock, but it was a tight game between well-matched sides. After watching a morning game on a 3G pitch next to where I'd previously seen a game on grass, I did the same in the afternoon. Nunsthorpe Tavern play on the artificial pitch next door to where Grimsby Borough play. I still think of the Bradley Football Development Centre as a new venue, but it's now 10 years (and pre-blog) since I saw Grimsby Borough there. I don't know i...

10.30am  22 May 2021 Sheffield and District Fair Play League Cup, Group H Beerhouse 2 Thurgoland Welfare 6 (att 6) This league cup group match was effectively a knock out tie as both sides had already beaten the other team in the section. The first half was tight, but the visitors ran away with it after the break. A late start and a delayed journey meant I arrived at Sheffield's Chaucer School just after the scheduled kick off. Fortunately the match was also late, and so I missed no more than a minute or so. I could have turned up even later without missing any crucial action. The game was slow to get going and there was little between the teams. Thurgoland eventually got the first half's only goal, but there was no sign of what was to follow. The away side seemed to step up several gears in the second half, while Beerhouse went into reverse. Thurgoland scored five, and could have had more, including a penalty that was saved. Beerhouse pulled a late goal back, by then the damag...