Steve B the Groundhopper

6.45pm  27 April 2022 Harrogate and District League, Division One Kirkstall Crusaders 5 Pannal Sports 3 (att 27) Kirkstall went into this game needing a point to win the league, and it was clear they'd get it well before half time. In reality merely avoiding heavy defeats in their final two fixtures would be enough for the title, but three first half goals without reply meant the outcome of the match, and the division, was never in doubt. Pannal Sports put up a decent fight, especially in the second period. They pulled a goal back early in the half but then quickly let in a fourth. The visitors then scored again, conceded again, but had the satisfaction of getting the game's final goal. Kirkstall Crusaders are based in the Headingley area of Leeds, making them something of a geographical outlier in the Harrogate and District League. There's a single pitch at the Queenswood Education Centre, and although it lacks any spectator facilities it's decent place to watch a game...

6.30pm  25 April 2022 Yorkshire Amateur League, Championship Division Idle 5 Hanging Heaton 1 (att 13) An end of season fixture in Bradford in which the only matters at stake were mid-table placings in the Yorkshire Amateur League's third tier. Idle looked much keener to climb a place or two. They scored early, and exploited a fragile Hanging Heaton defence by adding three more before the break. The visitors put up stiffer resistance in the second half, restricting Idle to just one more goal, before getting some reward for their efforts by scoring one of their own just before the end. Idle are based at Hanson School. A 3G pitch was busy with young players being put through their paces, while this game was played on an adjacent grass pitch. Not for the first time recently the football pitch markings were very feint, while much more visible were track and field markings overlaid on the pitch. Other than the pitch and goals there's no football furniture, although a pair of benches...

3pm  23 April 2022 Sheffield County Senior League, Division Two Thurcroft 1 Silkstone United 3 (att 24) Thurcroft play in Todwick, barely two miles from Kiveton Park making their 3pm kick off within easy reach of the afternoon's earlier game. This was the final game of the season for both teams, and one with nothing at stake as Silkstone had already won the league while Thurcroft had only the slight risk of dropping one mid-table place. A narrow and bumpy pitch, with grass that hadn't seen a mower for a while, made good football difficult. Not surprisingly Silkstone looked stronger from the start, and they seized on defensive errors for a 2-0 half time lead. It took them a while before they added a third, and they should have scored more, but the home side's supporters had something to cheer when Thurcroft pulled one back late on.

1pm  23 April 2022 Sheffield County Senior League, Division One Kiveton Park 5 New Bohemians 0 (att 27) I last saw Kiveton Park play a home game in 1994. They've moved since then, and for the last few years have been developing a new home on the playing fields of a local school. They've done a good job. Although the pitch at Wales High School is just roped off it feels more like a proper ground than many venues at an equivalent level. There's a pair of dugouts on the far side, and portable buildings provide changing rooms, toilets and a cosy clubhouse complete with TVs, a bar and a servery for snacks and hot drinks. The chief attraction of this game for me was the early kick off time, a necessity as Kiveton Park's reserves were at home later in the afternoon. There was little of note during a goalless first half, but that quickly changed after the break. Kiveton Park went ahead in the opening seconds of the half, then scored again immediately after. It didn't take t...

10.30am  23 April 2022 Sheffield and District Fair Play League, Division One Beighton Phoenix 0 Sheffield Wanderers 6 (att 11) I've quite enjoyed my dips into Sheffield's Saturday morning league, and this was no exception despite a one-sided scoreline. The outcome was no surprise. Beighton were concluding a league season in which they avoided defeat just twice in their 22 fixtures, while Wanderers were second in the table. The away side went ahead in the opening few minutes, but Beighton provided stiff first half resistance and it was 30 minutes before the lead was doubled. The second period was easier for Sheffield Wanderers, who added four more including an unfortunate own goal. Beighton Phoenix play on one of a pair of grass pitches at Handsworth Grange College in Sheffield. Very feint pitch markings were a challenge for players and for the referee, not helped by more visible markings that suggested the playing field had recently hosted a school sports day.

6.30pm  20 April 2022 West Yorkshire League, Division One Brighouse Sports 0 Ilkley Town reserves 1 (att 26) With little at stake other than jockeying for mid-table positions this was a surprisingly lively game, and one that Brighouse Sports will be frustrated to have lost. They went behind after just six minutes, and spent the rest of match trying to get on level terms. In the second half in particular it looked like it was just a matter of time, but the time never came. That's not to say Ilkley simply defended their early lead. There were chances at both ends, but as the home side increased their attacking pressure the visitors had enough guile to keep them at bay. Brighouse Sports seem to have evolved from what was Brighouse Old Boys . They're based at Brighouse Sports Club, which has impressive facilities for cricket and bowls, alongside a railed off pitch that's used for both football and rugby.

6.15pm  19 April 2022 Warrington and District League, Jubilee Cup, Semi-Final Sidac Sports and Social 2 Croft 1 aet (att 44) The Jubilee Cup is for teams in the top division of the Warrington League, although as far as I can tell not all of them entered, giving bottom side Croft a bye into the semi-final. They came close to an unlikely cup final appearance, taking Sidac to extra time before eventually succumbing in an entertaining game. Sidac started well, and the pattern for the game was set early. The home side had most of the ball and did most of the attacking, while Croft looked dangerous on the counter. Croft's first half lead was very much against the run of play. It was no surprise when Sidac equalised before half time, but it was a surprise that they couldn't manage a winner inside 90 minutes. With light fading extra time was sensibly reduced to a pair of seven-and-a-half minute halves. It was time enough for Sidac, who finally got their winner early in the second perio...

3pm  18 April 2022 Southern Counties East League, Division One Larkfield and New Hythe 1 Greenways 0 (att 177) This is Larkfield and New Hythe's first season at step six of England's football pyramid, and they kept on course for immediate progress to the next level up with this win. It was hard fought, and they needed a second half penalty to see off Greenways after what was, in truth, a rather dour encounter. They'd hit the frame of the goal earlier in the match, but other than that chances were few. Larkfield and New Hythe have made rapid progress in recent years. Their ground is fairly basic for the level they're at now, but is more than adequate and has plenty of scope for further improvements. It's enclosed and floodlit, with one small seated stand and a small covered area. The ground's focal point is the clubhouse, near the entrance, outside which there's a patio area.