6.25pm 21 April 2026
Huddersfield and District League, Division Three
Dalton Athletic 3 Honley reserves 5 (att 22)
This time of year, when lower league teams play early evening midweek matches to catch up on their fixtures, is known as the 'silly season' among groundhoppers. It's an opportunity to watch even more random games than normal.
The fourth tier of the Huddersfield and District League wouldn't ordinarily be on my radar for a match on a Saturday afternoon, but on a Tuesday evening in April it's a different matter.
I only realised I needed to visit Dalton Athletic when I was looking for potential games to go to. They had been playing home games at the DRAM Centre, but have now moved a short distance to the Netherhall Learning Campus.
It's as basic as a football ground can get. A large school playing field with several pitches. The goalposts were square, rusty and askew. The grass had been cut, but the cuttings littered the pitch, and the white lines were barely visible.
It was a lively if scrappy game. In the first half the home side led twice, but both times Honley equalised. After the break Honley went ahead, but the scores were levelled again when Dalton netted.
The home side had little to play for while Honley needed a win to retain hope of a top two finish and promotion. They regained the lead and, having had an earlier spot kick saved, added a fifth goal with another penalty a minute or so from the end.
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