Steve B the Groundhopper

2.30pm  27 May 2017 SJFA East Region, North Division Thornton Hibs 6 Brechin Victoria 0 (att 60) As expected an easy win for Thornton Hibs, who were rounding off a successful season which has seen them win promotion back to the East Region Premier Division, a year after they were relegated. They took a while to get going. The visitors provided stubborn resistance in the first half and it was only 1-0 by the break. In the second half Thornton stepped up a gear or two, while Brechin seemed to finish their season 45 minutes early, at least defensively. Although they were helped by lacklustre defending, Thornton played some good football and scored some quality goals. Thornton is a Fife village sandwiched between Kirkcaldy and Glenrothes. Hibs are based  at Memorial Park, a pleasant tree-lined public park which requires some effort by the club to take a gate. There's a small covered area, including a snack bar, in front of the changing rooms, and a larger section of c...

11am  27 May 2017 Glasgow and District Saturday Morning League, League Cup Final at Benburb FC Blairdardie United 6 Blantyre 0 (att 65) This seemed rather low key for a cup final. Just before kick off there was only a handful of people inside the ground, but the numbers swelled as the game got underway, and my rough head count was a bigger crowd than the last time I watched this final. Three years ago, when I saw Invac win the trophy, it was staged at Colville Park . This time the venue was Govan-based junior club Benburb's new home, New Tinto Park, built immediately adjacent to 'old' Tinto Park, that's now covered by housing. The old ground was one of the most atmospheric in non League football, dominated by a huge covered terrace. The new ground suffers from inevitable comparisons to its predecessor, but does at least have plenty of seats, something the old ground lacked, even if they're open to the elements. Luckily for the cup final crowd the threate...

6.50pm  24 May 2017 Catforth and District Summer League, Division Two Wesham 5 Treales 5 (att 12) Ticking off each year's new venues in the Catforth Summer League has become something of a ritual since I first watched football in this competition over 20 years ago. Back in the 1990s it was an unofficial league, which the county FA presumably turned a blind eye to, and featured village teams based broadly between Preston and Lancaster. These days it's officially sanctioned, and has become a way for local sides to keep fit over the summer months. A downside of the change has been the proliferation of unenticing school and park pitches in Preston, many of them 3G, but at least Wesham Recreation Ground is more like the sort of summer league ground that I enjoyed visiting in the past. It's in the shadow of AFC Fylde's new stadium, seemingly bound for the Football League. AFC Fylde were once Kirkham and Wesham FC, and the Wesham half of the club played their pre-me...

1.30pm  20 May 2017 Liverpool County Premier League, Premier Division Waterloo Grammar School Old Boys 2 Lower Breck 11 (att 10) Another goal glut, making it two in a row, and 29 goals, since Tuesday evening's nil nil draw at County Hall in Leicester. This game had an end-of-season feel about it, although it was nowhere near the farcical second half I watched in the Wakefield League on Wednesday. Lower Breck, runners up in the league, were in command from the off, scoring twice in the first two minutes. It took a little longer for the third goal to come, but by half time they had a 5-1 advantage. More goals followed in the second half, and the visitors even had the luxury of missing a late penalty. They did score an earlier spot kick, and too much complaining about the decision earned a Waterloo player a sending off. A crazy way to pick up a red card, and most likely a fine, as his side were already well beaten by that stage, and in any case had nothing to play for. Wa...

6.30pm  17 May 2017 Wakefield and District League, Division Two Fox and Hounds (Batley) 6 West End Terriers 10 (att 8) I guess it's fitting that I should get a rugby league scoreline when watching football in the league heartland of Dewsbury. It wasn't my first choice game, that was a premier division fixture in the same league, but when I discovered champions Real Moor weren't using their usual home pitch I turned my attention to a game in the league's third tier. To be fair I had been warned it might not be the usual type of game, even for this level. When I spoke to Fox and Hounds to check the game I was told they were surprised at the scheduling, as many of their players had only returned from a teammate's stag weekend in the early hours of the morning. They'd already earned promotion, and so would be treating the game as something of a lighthearted celebration of the season. I was tempted not to bother, but it's difficult to shake off the a...

6.30pm  16 May 2017 Leicestershire Senior League, Championship Division County Hall 0 Hathern 0 (att 80) After the weekend's Coventry Alliance title decider I headed back to the East Midlands, this time to see two Leicestershire Senior League teams complete their seasons in a game that was vital to both. The resulting goalless draw gave Hathern the point they needed to overtake FC Khalsa and win the title on goal difference, and dashed County Hall's hopes of finishing in a promotion position, which would have required them to win by two goals. Despite the lack of goals - my first nil nil draw of the season - it was a good game to watch. Hathern were positive in the first half and had the better of the chances to break the deadlock. But as the match went on, and with a point enough for them, they defended more and had to withstand pressure from the hosts. County Hall's efforts to get in front became increasingly frantic as the second half wore on, and several time...

2.15pm  13 May 2017 Coventry Alliance, Premier Division AEI Rugby 1 Christ the King 1 (att 285) I don't know if it's down to luck, or the skill of the Coventry Alliance fixtures secretary, but this was the second time in three seasons that I've been able to enjoy a winner-takes-all title decider in the final game of the season. Last time a draw between Folly Lane and Whitnash meant neither won the league, and the title went instead to AEI Rugby. This time, once again, a draw was enough for AEI, who kicked off with a one point advantage over Christ the King. With so much at stake, and a large crowd gathered to watch, it was a slightly disappointing game. AEI had the better of a goalless first half, but Christ the King began the second period in a more determined mood. They couldn't create a clear chance though, and when the home side scored a well-worked goal with around 20 minutes remaining it seemed they'd done enough. The visitors hit back within a cou...