Steve B the Groundhopper

4.15pm 13 January  2024 Cheltenham League, Premier Division Generation Next 1 Winchcombe Town 3 (att 17) My third and final game of a busy day's groundhopping was at the Oxstalls Sports Park in Gloucester, about 20 minutes drive from Tewkesbury. It's an impressive venue, with various facilities including a 3G football pitch that's a home ground for Generation Next. Their home fixtures are regularly scheduled for 4.15pm. These were two well matched teams who provided an entertaining game. Winchcombe Town, second in the league and presumably eyeing promotion back to the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League, had the edge thanks mainly to better finishing. Two first half goals set them up for the win, although their lead always looked like it might be vulnerable if Generation Next could pull one back. Eventually a third Winchcombe goal put them out of sight, although a late home goal kept things interesting up to the final whistle. Overall it was a good advert for Cheltenham ...

12 midday 13 January  2024 Cheltenham League, Division One Cheltenham United 2 Bishops Cleeve B 2 (att 6) My first experience of the Cheltenham League. I'd been tempted by this lunchtime kick off, along with a late afternoon fixture and the chance to squeeze another game in between the two.  There was a delayed start, presumably caused by the lack of a referee. The teams sensibly agreed that each would provide someone to officiate, with the home side in charge of the first half and Bishops Cleeve the second. Ultimately that decision proved decisive. Based on the league table I'd expected promotion-chasing Cheltenham United to win comfortably. They started well and it was no surprise when they took a deserved lead. But they failed to build on advantage, allowing the visitors to grow into the game, They equalised before half time and then shocked the hosts by going in front in the second half. They defended well before the home side's pressure finally paid off with an equalis...