North Bucks & District League

Intermediate Division

Thursday 30th August 2018

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.31

Buckingham United 6 Brackley Sports 0,  attendance 22

22’ 1-0

60’ 2-0

62’ 3-0

72’ 4-0

85’ 5-0

88’ 6-0

@ Lace Hill Sports & Community Centre

Catchpin Street

Buckingham

MK18 7RR

No Admission or Programme.

These two had very contrasting fortunes last season. Buckingham United finished second in Division 1 and were promoted, whilst Brackley Sports finished bottom of the Premier Division, winning just one of their twenty two matches.

Buckingham won their opening match this season, but Brackley had lost their opening two games, conceding six goals in both. This was very even at 1-0, with the second goal always going to be the important one. When it went to Buckingham, it was game over and they should have finished with quite a few more than the six goals they did manage.

Thames Valley Premier League

Premier Division

Wednesday 29th August 2018

Kick Off 18.00 Actual 17.59

Richings Park 0 Marlow United 4,  attendance 18

8’ 0-1 (pen)

27’ 0-2

38’ 0-3

78’ 0-4 (pen)

@ Richings Park Sports Club

34A Wellesley Avenue

Richings Park

SL0 9BN

No Admission or Programme.

Richings Park won Division 1 last season, but have found it hard going in the higher division. They came into this having lost their opening three matches, failing to score a goal, whilst Marlow United had opened up with a 4-1 home win.

An early penalty for the visitors, followed by a very dominant first half, saw them lead 0-3 at the break. Their only goal from numerous chances in the second half was a late penalty. They then had a man sent off in stoppage time, for a second yellow card, but his first booking should really have been a straight red for his follow through on the home ‘keeper when it was only 0-1.

For the second successive Wednesday in this league, both teams were at the ground nice and early and warming up at 17.20. It is amazing how many teams round these parts manage to kick off late, even when they have floodlights and don’t start until 19.45 !

Below photo : Marlow United wrap it up with a late penalty.

Cambridgeshire County League

Premier Division

Tuesday 28th August 2018

Kick Off 18.15 Actual 18.18

Cherry Hinton 1 West Wratting 2,  attendance 78

41’ 1-0

70’ 1-1

90’+3, 1-2

@ Cherry Hinton Recreation Ground

High Street

Cherry Hinton

CB1 9HZ

No Admission (collection box came round) or Programme.

I had originally planned to go somewhere nearer home tonight, but a phone call to Southcott Village R.A. of the North Bucks & District League, around 5 minutes before I was due to leave, paid dividends as the match had been reversed to Wing Village, where I had already visited. A quick alternative was required and a look at twitter confirmed that Cherry Hinton was on, so it was off to Cambridgeshire instead. Due to a closure of the M25, near to the M11, my SatNav took me via Heathrow, rather than Dartford, which although slightly further, it meant getting there pretty much trouble free.

On arrival, the first problem is finding somewhere to park as there is no car park at the ground and plenty of double yellow lines in the imeadiate vicinity. The playing surface here is superb, although it is a little unusual to see the pitch markings done in light blue rather than white.

As for the match, West Wratting are the reigning champions, having won the league by a massive 14 points over second placed Great Shelford, losing just two matches in the process. This season they had already lost two out of their three matches coming into tonight’s game, whilst Cherry Hinton have had a good start and are fourth in the league table.

Cherries were good value for their 1-0 lead at the interval, with Wratting looking very ordinary. The second half was a complete turnaround. Once the visitors equalised, there was only going to be one winner, although it took a stoppage time goal to seal the points, when their 48 goal top scorer of last season shot through the ‘keepers legs with the last kick of the match, with the Referee imeadiatly blowing the full time whistle. If only all matches were as good as this.

South Wales Alliance League

Division 1

Monday 27th August 2018

Kick Off 17.00 Actual 17.04

A.F.C. Whitchurch 1 Cardiff Corinthians 3,  attendance 312

50’ 0-1

66’ 1-1 (pen)

75’ 1-2 (pen)

82’ 1-3 (pen)

@ Whitchurch Hospital

Park Road

Whitchurch

Cardiff

CF14 7XB

No Admission

Programme available, but I won’t buy one at any event organised by Groundhop UK.

So, the final match of the organised ‘Hop weekend and the biggest attendance, although the home club couldn’t be bothered to charge any admission, which means they missed out on a huge amount of money. The only people who will have paid are those that bought an advance ticket through the organisers !

Another pretty average match, although it was quite unusual to see three penalties scored in one game.

With the M4 and M25 being trouble free, it meant after dropping off my passengers in Slough, I was in the house for 9.30pm. There’s one thing for sure……I won’t be watching a match in Wales tomorrow night !

South Wales Alliance League

Premier Division

Monday 27th August 2018

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 14.02

Caerphilly Athletic 7 Cwm Welfare 0,  attendance 252

30’ 1-0

44’ 2-0

49’ 3-0

50’ 4-0

56’ 5-0

73’ 6-0

76’ 7-0

@ Morgan Jones Park

Nantgarw Road

Caerphilly

CF83 3FD

£3 Admission

Programme available, but I won’t buy one at any event organised by Groundhop UK.

There is not a lot to say about this one. Cwm were absolutely rubbish and having been a pretty even contest for the first half hour, the game rapidly went downhill as the visitors just gave up trying.

At least the ground is in a nice setting and only 5 minutes walk from Caerphilly Castle, but with this being a tourist area, it meant that those arriving by car were struggling for parking, especially once the roads by the entrance to the park were full up.

Taff Ely & Rhymney Valley League

Premier Division

Monday 27th August 2018

Kick Off 11.00 Actual 11.01

Rhydyfelin 2 Ynysybwl 4,  attendance 229

4’ 1-0 (pen)

40’ 1-1

45’ 1-2

51’ 1-3

56’ 1-4

72’ 2-4

@ The Dog Track Ground

Fairfield Lane

Hawthorn

Pontypridd

CF37 5LN

£3 Admission

Programme available, but I won’t buy one at any event organised by Groundhop UK.

So, for the fourth day running, it was a trip across The Bridge into Wales. In fact it was the fifth time in eight days over here, but at least the driving had been shared.

This was my debut in this league, much like the majority I expect, although unless this league is included on a future ‘Hop, then those incapable of doing anything for themselves will probably never return, but we certainly will, especially if this match is anything to judge by.

This was easily the best ground (there used to be a dog track here in the past, hence the name) I had visited over the Bank Holiday weekend. It was also the best organised club, especially on the refreshment side of things and they also have a great clubhouse, displaying loads of football memorabilia in the way of shirts, scarves, pennants and old match tickets.

As for the match, simply no contest. This was superb. Ynysybwl had a player red carded less than five minutes in for handball, with the penalty duly dispatched, before having a second player dismissed for the same offence on 37 minutes, but this is where the game was turned on it’s head. The penalty was missed, hitting the post, before the 9 men took control. By halftime they had turned it round to lead 1-2, then unbelievably they added another couple of real quality goals in the first eleven minutes of the second half to take control. It was now a case of could they hang on ? Hang on they did and although Rhdyfelin pulled one goal back, the 9 men hung on for what looked an impossible win just seconds before the home team stepped up to take their second penalty !

South Wales Alliance League

Division 2

Sunday 26th August 2018

Kick Off 11.00 Actual 10.54

Vale United 7 STM Sports Old Boys 1,  attendance 165

13’ 1-0

33’ 2-0

35’ 3-0

47’ 3-1 (pen)

74’ 4-1

82’ 5-1

85’ 6-1

90’ 7-1

@ Corntown Road

Corntown

CF35 5BA

£3 Admission

Programme available, but I won’t buy one on any event organised by Groundhop UK.

Originally, I hadn’t planned to visit this ground today. In fact, I hadn’t intended to go to Wales at all today as I had visited two of the three matches on offer at today’s Hop and I didn’t think it was worth an overnight stop for one match. Porthcawl Town had been done during their Welsh League day’s, whilst Llangeinor had already been on a Groundhop back in 2003, It is rather odd that grounds are being re-visited, especially when Groundhop UK have apparently ‘finished’ with the South Wales Alliance League now, when Cardiff  Cosmopolitan, St. Albans and today’s visitors STM Sports Old Boys have not hosted a match and Llanrumney United are also now on a different pitch, albeit within the same complex as their old one.

Anyway, just before 8pm last night I was offered a lift to the match. The poor weather forecast meant the planned cricket trip for the driver was cancelled and the football at Vale United would be the destination for him instead.

The weather was indeed awful. It rained for the entire match, which meant quite a few didn’t bother watching at pitch side. Then again, the football is of little interest to a fair number of hoppers, so not being able to see the whole pitch would not concern them one bit !

Vale were by far the better team. I don’t think league newcomers STM could have had too many complaints if they had lost by double figures, such was the dominance of the hosts. Despite the rain, the pitch stood up well, although the two six yard areas were starting to show quite a few puddles.

Gwent County League

Division 1

Saturday 25th August 2018

Kick Off 16.15 Actual 16.00

Villa Dino Christchurch 1 Newport Civil Service 3,  attendance 201

8’ 0-1

10’ 0-2

60’ 1-2

79’ 1-3

@ Whiteheads Sports & Social Club

Park View

Bassaleg

NP10 8LA

£3 Admission

Programme available, but I won’t buy one on any event organised by Groundhop UK.

This game will sadly be remembered more by some for the fact that it kicked off earlier than advertised, rather than for it being a really good match. The match kicked off 15 minutes earlier than advertised for some reason, meaning quite a number of ‘hoppers missed the first two goals of the match (some might say it was their own fault for nipping to the pub in between matches). Quite why the organisers didn’t bother to tell anyone about the earlier start is a mystery, although they have form for this, as those of us at Ponlottyn a few years ago will well know.

Anyway, Civil Service were in command early on and ran out deserved winners.

At least the early kick off meant I was home before 8.15pm, even with dropping off a couple of passengers near Heathrow Airport.

Gwent County League

Division 2

Saturday 25th August 2018

Kick Off 13.30 Actual 13.31

Rogerstone 1 Newport Corinthians 2,  attendance 161

30’ 0-1 (pen)

81’ 0-2

90’ + 1, 1-2

@ The Welfare Ground

School Terrace

Rogerstone

NP10 9EQ

£3 Admission

Programme available, but I won’t by one at any event organised by Groundhop UK.

It was less than ten minutes drive south from Risca to the second match of the day.

Rogerstone are newly promoted this season. They will wonder how they failed to win this one, having missed a ridiculous amount of chances when it was still 0-1, as much due to poor finishing as a real in form Corinthians ‘keeper. The second goal for the visitors came completely against the run of play, before Rogerstone finally netted in stoppage time.

Gwent County League

Division 1

Saturday 25th August 2018

Kick Off 11.00 Actual 10.59

A.C. Pontymister 3 Blaenavon Blues 2,  attendance 236

27’ 0-1

53’ 1-1

72’ 2-1

76’ 2-2

86’ 3-2 (pen)

@ The Longbridge

Bridge Street

Risca

NP11 6DE

£3 Admission

Programme available, but I won’t buy one at any event organised by Groundhop UK.

Having been home last night, as the driver for the Canton Liberal match was going to Arsenal versus West Ham United today, it meant another trip across The Bridge this morning to take in the first three matches of the ‘Hop, which would all be in the Gwent County League. Thankfully, it was only the fourth match of today’s scheduled games that we had both visited (the ground hosted Newport Y.M.C.A. when they were in the Welsh League) so we could get home nice and early.

Usually, the Gwent County League is good value for entertainment, but the first half here was far from it. The second half was much better and more like we are used to.