Steve B the Groundhopper

2.30pm 29 October 2022 Pembrokeshire League, Division One Goodwick United 4 Carew 2 (att 60) Only my second ever game in the Pembrokeshire League, and an enjoyable experience despite some grim weather, especially at kick off. Thankfully the rain soon stopped, but it was a windy afternoon that made good football something of a challenge. Goodwick are top of the table, and could challenge Hakin United's position as the league's leading side. They scored early against Carew, but the visitors put in a battling performance and were unfortunate to still be 1-0 behind at half time. Goodwick's got a second goal 20 minutes into the second period, and that ended the visitors' resistance. A third goal followed just a couple of minutes later, and a fourth soon after that. Carew's consolation was two goals in the last two minutes. Both were controversial, one as the ball appeared to have gone out of play and other for offside, but the outcome of the match was never in doubt. Goo...

7.30pm 28 October 2022 Cymru South Swansea University 0 Barry Town United 3 (att 120) Swansea University have made rapid progress since rejoining the Welsh football pyramid a few years ago. They even came close to claiming a place in the top division, but this season looks like a fight to remain at tier two. They remain bottom of Cymru South after this defeat, which wasn’t unexpected as they were up against table-topping Barry Town United, who are themselves looking to recapture past glories (or at least those of predecessor club Barry Town). Barry were comfortable winners. Two early goals put them in command, and a saved penalty was just one of several spurned opportunities to extend their lead before half time. The students got top marks for effort, and restricted Barry’s chances in the second period. The visitors eventually got a third goal, and a hat trick for striker Kayne McLaggon, when he made amends for his earlier miss by dispatching a second spot kick. Swansea University’s sp...

3.30pm 26 October 2022 BUCS, Northern Conference Cup, First Round University of York 2 University of Bradford 0 (att 18) A few days off work gave me the opportunity for a dip into Wednesday afternoon university football. The standard can be variable, ranging from the professional approach of sports-focused institutions to more of a social event for lesser teams. York and Bradford fall somewhere between the two, at first eleven level at least, and there was enough good football on show to make this an enjoyable afternoon. The home side play a level higher than their visitors, and two early goals looked to have set them up for a comfortable passage into the second round of the regional cup. But they failed to make the most of their start, and Bradford fought their way back into the game. The second half was dominated by the away side, but they struggled to turn possession into clear chances and York's lead remained intact. York's first team play on a 3G pitch at York Sport Villag...

7.45pm 25 October 2022 Spartan South Midlands League, Premier Division Stotfold 3 London Colney 1 (att 177) It was 34 years almost to the day since I visited Stotfold at their former Roker Park ground. They moved into New Roker Park in 2020, and it's an upgrade that should help the club progress. At present it's similar to most new-build venues at this level. There's a clubhouse, a good-sized seated stand and, opposite the stand, a small covered standing area. But there's also considerable space to add more spectator accommodation if the need arises. They might have that need sooner rather than later. The crowd for this game was about three times to number present when I went to the old ground, and Stotfold are in a promotion chase for place at 'step four' of non-league football. They did their chances no harm at all with a routine and comfortable win against London Colney. Two first half goals put them in control, and their lead could easily have been more by t...

7pm 23 October 2022 Supertaça Madeira at CSD Câmara de Lobos Pontassolense 0 Caniçal 0, 4-5 on penalties (att 500) Below the top four levels the game in Portugal is run by district football associations. I thought my chances of a local game were slim as the domestic Madeira league didn't begin until after our stay, but then this fixture appeared. The 'super cup' pitted last season's Madeira league champions, Pontassolense, against the island's cup winners  Caniçal. The venue was a neutral one, the home of CSD C âmara de Lobos, just outside Funchal. Surprisingly admission was free, and when the gates were eventally opened, about 20 minutes before kick off, a large crowd poured in. Most of the supporters seemed to be from  Caniçal. They certainly made the most noise and spectacle, with drums, flags and a loudhailer to accompany their singing. They kept up their vocal encouragement throughout the game, even though their side was very much second best over 90 minutes. P...

3.30pm 23 October 2022 Liga Portugal Marítimo 1 Arouca 1 (att 9,072) We were in a holiday apartment in Funchal just yards from Marítimo's stadium, so it would have been frustrating had they not been at home during our stay in Madeira. A Sunday afternoon visit of Arouca was perfect, with tickets plentiful and inexpensive, and the fixture unlikely to be moved to a less convenient slot for live TV. The stadium has been rebuilt in recent years, and is now a neat all-covered and all-seated bowl with a capacity of around 11,000. The official crowd for this game, which looked on the high side, was easily the highest for a home game so far this season. It was a lively and entertaining, especially in the first half when both goals were scored. Marítimo went ahead early, and looked fairly comfortable until a defensive slip presented Arouca with an equaliser just before half time. Both sides had chances in the second half but neither could take them, and as the final whistle got nearer Arouca...

6pm 19 October 2022 Portugal, Liga 2 Nacional 1 Vilafranquense 1 (att 623) There are two ‘big’ teams in Madeira, and as luck would have it both had home fixtures during our stay on the island. Nacional, currently in Portugal’s second tier league, are based at the Estádio da Madeira, high on a mountain top above Funchal. I’d read that reaching it, even in a hire care, could be challenging. I eschewed the direct road, and its very steep ascent, and instead took the longer and winding route. Ten euros were enough for a ticket, and a couple more secured a space in the below ground car park. Despite the bargain prices the crowd was small, probably not helped by Nacional’s poor start to the season. Most spectators were housed in a modern main stand that runs the length of the pitch, while a few dozen had seats in a mostly uncovered stand on the opposite side. Both ends are open, which does allow for nice views. It was all rather low key. For the first two-thirds of the game it seemed those w...