Steve B the Groundhopper

6.30p m 24 May 2023 East Riding County League, Premier Division Goole United 3 South Cave United reserves 2 (att 60) It's with some relief that this will probably have been my final post-work rush hour trek along the busy M62 for this season. Thankfully an awful journey was at least rewarded with a decent game. Goole United needed a result to retain a slight hope of finishing as champions. They got a win, and will now look on as second-placed Hessle Rangers Juniors attempt to get the three points, from two games, they need to climb back to the top. South Cave, third in the table, were no pushovers. There was little between the teams in the first half and a single Goole United goal separated them at half time. The home side doubled their lead just a minute into the second period, but within a few minutes South Cave pulled a goal back, and then equalised. From then on Goole United looked the more likely scorers of the next goal and, when they got it, it was decisive. Two years ago I ...

3p m 20 May 2023 Herts Senior County League, Division Two Little Heath 3 Broxbourne Badgers 3 (att 19) The lower divisions of the Herts Senior County League aren't usually on my groundhopping radar, but I needed to be in Ware for family reasons and so once I confirmed this fixture it made logistical sense. Late season matches at this level are too often subject to call offs and venue changes, especially when clubs share home grounds with cricket clubs. No such problems for Little Heath though, and despite there being not much at stake this was a good game. Twice the home side went ahead, once in each half, but Broxbourne equalised on both occasions. The visitors then took the lead themselves, and looked like winning until a late Little Heath goal. A draw was a fair outcome of a game between two evenly-matched sides, who are both set to finish in upper mid-table places. Little Heath are based at Welham Green Recreation Ground, just outside Hatfield. It's a pleasant venue that...

10.30a m 20 May 2023 Coventry and District Christian League, Division Two Elim Pentecostal 5 Coventry Saints 1 (att 30) My first experience of Coventry's Saturday morning league was part of a three-way last day of the season title decider. Leaders Elim went into this game ahead of second placed Coventry Saints on goal difference, with third placed Athletico Mosaic trailing the pair only because of an inferior goal difference. So the winners of the morning's game at Caludon Castle Sports Centre were likely be champions, barring an unlikely feat of goalscoring by Athletico who, more realistically, were hoping for a draw. Elim were ahead early but Coventry Saints hit back to equalise. Any hopes they or Athletico had of finishing top were slim by half time, as Elim had a 3-1 lead at the break. A fourth goal followed soon after the restart, and it was 5-1 after 55 minutes. Coventry Saints were unable to perform a miracle, and neither could Athletico Mosaic who were held to a draw, e...

6.45 pm 16 May 2023 Harrogate and District League, Premier Division Harlow Hill 3 Bramhope 0 (att 22) Harlow Hill had already won the league, and rounded off their fixtures with a comfortable win against the side they'll play in a cup final next weekend. The game had an end of season feel about it for the first half hour or so, but after a few tough challenges it became more feisty. Bramhope went down to 10 men after a player picked up a second booking before half time. Despite their numerical advantage it took Harlow Hill until the hour mark to take the lead. Their task then got easier when a visiting player was sin-binned for swearing at the referee following his award of a corner. The home side doubled their lead from the resulting set piece, and got their third goal while Bramhope were still down to nine players. Both teams are reported to be joining the West Yorkshire League for next season. Assuming Harlow Hill will continue to play at Oatlands Park, they'll probably need...

6.30 pm 15 May 2023 Wakefield and District League, Premier Division Dewsbury Moor 2 Beechwood Working Mens Club 4 (att 55) Beechwood needed to win this to keep alive their slim hopes of overtaking league leaders Fryston. They did, but Dewsbury Moor made them work hard for their three points. The visitors got off to the perfect start, taking the lead in the opening minute. They had chances to extend their lead, but failed to convert them and the hosts equalised. Dewsbury Moor weren't level for long. It was 2-1 to Beechwood by half time, and they extended their lead after the break. The home side did pull it back to 3-2, before conceding a fourth before the end. Despite being newly-formed last year, Dewsbury Moor's debut season has been in the Wakefield League's top division. They're based at Dewsbury Moor Sports Club, and play on one of the pitches of the longer-established Dewsbury Moor Amateur Rugby League Club. The pitch is tightly enclosed, the perimeter is mostly ra...

2.45 pm 13 May 2023 Kent County League, Premier Division Borden Village 0 Minster 0 (att 250) On a day when I had to travel to the south east anyway, and this fixture stood out as the pick of those available that would be a new ground to visit. In both clubs' final game, leaders Borden Village held a one point advantage over second placed Minster, setting up a winner takes all finale. In the end there was no winner over a nervy 90 minutes, but the draw meant Borden's narrow lead stayed intact, making them Kent County League champions. While the game lacked the drama goals might have injected, the scoreline meant the outcome remained in the balance right up to final whistle. Borden had created the majority of what few chances there had been, but Minster gave it a real go in the final 15 minutes or so. It was then that they came closest to breaking the deadlock, when a shot came back off the post and the rebound was put over. Borden is a village just outside Sittingbourne. The fo...

6.15 pm 11 May 2023 Huddersfield and District League, Division Two Holme Valley Academicals 2 Diggle 3 (att 9) It's a little over two years since I last saw Holme Valley Academicals at the Sands Recreation Ground in Holmfirth. That evening they used the pitch closest to the sports centre car park, while temporary groundsharers Holmbridge played on the other, better, pitch. Holmbridge have since returned home, so Holme Valley are now able to use bigger and flatter of the two pitches. They're far enough apart to warrant a return trip for a new 'tick', especially on a Thursday night with fixtures thin on the ground. It may have been a late season game with little at stake but Holme Valley and Diggle provided an entertaining 90 minutes. The first half was goalless but the home side broke the deadlock soon after the break. Diggle equalised with a quarter of the game to go, but neither team were happy to settle for a point. Holme Valley regained their lead, the visitors leve...