Steve B the Groundhopper

7.15pm 29 May 2024 Craven and District League, Premier Division Cowling 8 Skipton Town 2 (att 32) Cowling's regular home pitch hosted a festival over the bank holiday weekend, so the club hired a 3G pitch at nearby South Craven School to stage their final fixture of the season. They and visitors Skipton Town were playing for third place, with the away side having a one point advantage ahead of kick off. With that in mind I expected a closer game. Skipton took the lead after just two minutes, but were 4-1 down by half time in a match that had an end-of-season feel. Cowling extended their lead to 6-1 before Skipton scored their second goal, a strike from the halfway line that evaded the home keeper. But it was just a brief respite for the away side, as Cowling added two more goals before the end. South Craven School has hosted Craven and District League football previously, but hasn't been used by any club regularly this season. The 3G pitch is a typical set up, floodlit and encl

7pm 28 May 2024 Derbyshire Summer League Bramshall 3 Red Lion 6 (att 18) There's been a couple of important changes since I last watched football in this league. It's adopted a new name, having previously been known either as 'the summer league' or the Ashbourne and District League, and matches now last 90 minutes rather than 80. New grounds to visit only crop up occasionally, but this year a newcomer has appeared in the eight team division. Bramshall is a village near Uttoxeter, just over the border into Staffordshire. I understand that another change to the league has been a relaxation of the rules around player eligibility. Previously it was only open to those who don't play organised winter football. It's that change that perhaps tempted Bramshall to join, as the club runs a Sunday league team during the regular season. They have their own ground, a pitch in a field with an ageing wooden pavilion in the corner. It was a lively game. Red Lion started well and

6pm 25 May 2024 Doncaster and District FA, John Preen Memorial Cup Final at Castle Park, Doncaster South Elmsall United Services 3 Swinton Athletic 1 (att 200) It wasn't just cup final day at Wembley and Hampden Park, but also at Doncaster's Castle Park. The impressive home ground of Doncaster Knights RUFC was staging football for the first time, with three cup finals on Saturday, plus two more scheduled for the following day. The first two matches had been Doncaster League cup finals, but I arrived for the day's final game, the Doncaster and District FA's John Preen Memorial Cup Final. Both finalists play 'step seven' football in the top division of the Sheffield and Hallamshire County Senior League, and produced an enjoyable, and very competitive, final. South Elmsall were the better side from the off, and Swinton's goal led something of a charmed life early in the game. It was against the run of play when Swinton scored first, midway through the half. The

2pm 25 May 2024 East Riding County League, Premiership Division Brandesburton 7 North Cave 0 (att 55) Brandesburton went into their final fixture knowing that, however unlikely, a win, coupled with defeat for rivals Scarborough Athletic reserves and a goal difference swing of well into double figures, would make them champions. With Scarborough kicking off earlier, and ahead by half time, the more realistic aim was three points to secure second place and promotion to the Humber Premier League. That was pretty much sorted in just 10 minutes, the time it took Brandesburton to establish a 3-0 lead. It was surprising that it then took until just before half time before they scored a fourth. North Cave had nothing to play for but there was no lack of effort on their part, they were just second best. After the break the game continued in the same way, with the home side attacking and creating chances. Eventually, in the final 10 minutes or so, they added three goals in quick succession to co

2pm 18 May 2024 Border Amateur League, Beveridge Cup Final at Volunteer Park, Hawick Leithen Rovers 3 Highfields United 4 aet (att 130) At this late stage of a football season there's always a risk of meaningless matches not taking place, so seeking out a fixture with something at stake is a always good idea. A cup final fits that bill perfectly and, when the venue is a rugby stadium that's only occasionally used for the round ball game, it becomes even more attractive. This season's Beveridge Cup was for teams in the second tier of the Border Amateur League. Berwick-based Highfields went into the final as favourites, having won promotion as divisional runners-up. They lifted the trophy, but it was far from easy and they needed extra time to see off Leithen Rovers, who will finish fourth in the 13-team league. Highfields scored the only goal of a tight first half, a brilliant free kick from distance that was arrowed into the top corner of the net. Not long later they had an

6.30pm 16 May 2024 Craven and District League, Division Two Sutton 4 Addingham 1 (att 33) Sutton's title hopes rest with leaders Crosshills failing to win their final fixture, but they kept themselves in contention by gaining three points against Addingham. The visitors were second best but they put up a decent fight. That will hearten Sutton, as Addingham are Crosshills' opponents in that vital final fixture. An early penalty put Sutton on the road to victory, and they had a healthy 3-0 lead by the half time whistle. They extended their advantage to 4-0 after the break, before Addingham were rewarded for their efforts with the game's final goal. Sutton's win does ensure they can finish no lower than second, which I assume means they'll promoted into the Craven and District League's second tier. Their home ground is a pitch at the now-closed Malsis School in Glusburn. It's a good set up, the main pitch is roped off along one side, with dugouts and advertisin

6.50pm 14 May 2024 Manchester Saturday Morning League Ashton-on-Mersey 1 Didsbury 4 (att 10) It may be Manchester's Saturday morning league but multiple postponements mean midweek evening kick offs are necessary to complete this season. Didsbury could yet finish as runners-up, and got another three points towards that goal with a relatively straightforward victory at Ashton-on-Mersey. For the most part it had the feel of a low-key end-of-season fixture, until some clumsy challenges late on caused tempers to rise. By then though the outcome was already settled. Didsbury, who also have teams who play Saturday afternoons in the Lancashire and Cheshire Amateur League, looked much the better side in the first half. With better finishing they would led by more than 2-0 at the break. Ashton pulled a goal back early in the second half, and the game became a more even contest. But any doubts about the result were ended by two late Didsbury goals. The Ashton-on-Mersey Sports Club, in Sale, i