Steve B the Groundhopper

11am 1 June  2025 Eccles Sunday League Parkwyddn 8 Wellington 3 (att 12) It's early days in the Eccles Sunday League's summer season, and both these sides began the day having won two and lost two of their opening four fixtures. A close game looked likely, and the action got off to a quick start when Parkwyddn took the lead with a goal timed by the referee at just 26 seconds. Wellington equalised though and at that stage there looked little between the sides. Parkwyddn went back in front about 10 minutes before half time, and within a minute they scored again for 3-1. Wellington pulled one back before the break but the momentum was against them. The home side opened the second period with another quick goal, although Wellington soon cut the deficit back to 4-3. As the second half went on Parkwyddn were well on top, but hampered by poor finishing. A goal looked certain though, and they finally got it with nine minutes left. Just a minute later they had a penalty. The spot kick w...

2.30pm 31 May  2025 North Wales Coast East League, Premier Division Cerrigydrudion 2 Penmaenmawr Phoenix 2 (att 125) There was limited choice for what will almost certainly be the final winter league game of my 2024/25 season. Cerrigydrudion was my nearest unvisited ground, and while it was a match with little at stake it wasn't without interest. Visitors Penmaenmawr had won the league in their previous fixture, one of three trophies they've bagged this season, and had an unbeaten record to protect in their final game. Cerrigydrudion formed a guard of honour as Penmaenmawr entered the pitch, and the generosity extended into the start of the match as hesitant defending allowed the visitors to score twice in the opening 15 minutes. The home side recovered from their poor start and it became an evenly-matched contest, but the closest Cerrigydrudion came to a first half goal was hitting the crossbar. They hit the bar again in the second half, before getting a goal back with about 2...

2.30pm 25 May  2025 Khalsa Football Federation, Walsall Tournament, Premier Division Final at Aston University FC Khalsa Leicester 5 Guru Nanak Gurdwara Leicester 3 (att 170) I've been to a few Khalsa ties in recent years but this was the first time I've seen one of the finals, which are on day two of the weekend tournament. The Walsall competition is, like its Birmingham counterpart, held at the Aston University Recreation Centre in Great Barr. More than 20 years ago I saw Aston's students play on what is now labelled 'pitch six', but this game was on 'pitch one'. Not surprisingly it's the pitch closest to the pavilion. The pavilion side has a pair of dugouts and was roped off, behind which a grass bank provides a good view. With various youth and veterans competitions, for hockey as well as football, it was a busy place. Despite competition from other attractions a decent crowd concentrated on a final that matched two Leicester sides. GNG (as Guru Nana...

2.30pm 24 May  2025 Montgomeryshire Amateur League Felindre 2 Trefonen 4 (att 45) As the only ground I had left to visit in the Montgomeryshire Amateur League I had been hoping to get to Felindre this season. I finally made it, albeit for a fixture with little at stake. Despite that, the visit of Trefonen provided a lively enc ounter. Felindre had an early lead thanks to a penalty, but once the visitors hit their stride they turned it around to lead 2-1 by half time. The second period followed a similar pattern. Felindre scoring first, this time to equalise, before two more Trefonen goals gave them a deserved win. Felindre’s picturesque Evergeen Field ground, just a sliced clearance away from the border with England, is a typical mid Wales venue. Players change in the village and walk to the pitch, which is in a field and has a pair of dugouts on the far side.

10.30am 24 May  2025 West Midlands Christian League Dudley Lions 1 Excel NIS 2 (att 30) After I saw them at home a few weeks ago I wrote that Excel NIS were favourites for the title thanks to their games in hand. Ahead of this, their penultimate fixture, by my reckoning they needed two more points to finish top. In the end they got three, but it took two late goals to come from behind against a Dudley Lions side who were chasing a win to finish third. The opening period was well contested but for the most part there was little more than half chances for either side. The deadlock was broken by a Dudley Lions goal in stoppage time. After the break the home side protected their lead while also threatening on the break. Excel kept pressing for an equaliser, but it looked like being a frustrating morning for them. The pressure on the Dudley Lions defence increased as the half went on. After a few near misses Excel finally equalised with 87 minutes played. They didn’t settle for a draw ...

6.45pm 22 May  2025 York League, Senior League Cup Final at New Earswick Sports and Social Club, York Malt Shovel (Selby) 1 Old Malton St Mary's 1, 4-5 on penalties (att 230) The teams in first and fourth in the York League's top division went head to head in the cup final, and Malt Shovel were denied a likely double thanks to a penalty shootout defeat. It was even game with little between the sides, and the first half was particularly cagey with few opportunities at either end. After the break the contest opened up, and we had goals. Malt Shovel scored first, about 15 minutes into the half. Old Malton equalised with about a quarter of the match left. It was a deserved leveller, and came soon after they were very unlucky when an effort hit the inside of the post and then bounced along the goaline without going in. With no extra time it was straight to penalties. Malt Shovel had one of their five saved, whereas Old Malton scored all theirs. Malt Shovel will probably have the con...

2pm 17 May  2025 West of Scotland League, Division One Kirkintilloch Rob Roy 3 Vale of Clyde 0 (att 302) Years after moving out of their former Adamslie Park ground Kirkintilloch Rob Roy finally returned home when they moved into their new ground in the town at the start of the season. Like all new venues, the Kirkintilloch Community Sports Complex lacks the character of its predecessor, but it's a good facility, and well above average for a new build with an artificial pitch. Spectators can access all four sides, and there's a large seated stand on the far side. A smaller stand on the near side, nearer the entrance, changing rooms and snack bar, looks to be reserved for officials and sponsors. With both sides safe from relegation and out of the running for promotion there was little play for other than mid table positions. Rob Roy looked keener to finish their season with a win. They did so, deservedly, thanks to three quality goals, two in the first half and one in the second...