Monday 8 January 2024

Five-One to the Albions

  



Hopperational Details

Dates & Venues

Saturday 6 January 2024 at The Vestacare Stadium

Sunday 7 January 2024 at The Hawthorns

Results

Avro FC 0 Witton Albion 1

West Bromwich Albion 4 Aldershot Town 1

Competition

Sat: Northern Premier League D1 West (Step 4)

Sun: FA Cup Round 3

Hopstats

Saturday finds me at ground 773 on the lifetime list, and here because Avro made an early Game On declaration giving me enough time to make the journey north. Mind you, I needn’t have worried – this is a 3G surface. Sunday is a rite-of-passage game for the Yapps. I take over the Grandad role (which means a pocket full of half-time sweets) and join my son and grandson for the latter’s first-ever game. Three generations staying true to the family roots.

Context

Avro are performing very well in their first Step 4 season but maybe of late have struggled to convert draws to wins. Witton Albion are mid-table. West Bromwich Albion are in the Championship play-off positions but are likely to field a side of squad players for the FA Cup game against National League Aldershot. Aldershot have seen off Lewes, Swindon Town and Stockport County in earlier rounds. The Swindon game was a remarkable 7-4 scoreline, with the Shots having been 7-0 up.

In One Sentence Each

Witton Albion edged a very close encounter with a first-half goal, but were pushed to the end.

West Bromwich Albion had a comfortable win built on two early goals, Aldershot’s consolation coming at the very end of stoppage time.

So What?

Avro drop to 5th but remain in the play-off places. Witton are three points behind, in 9th. WBA will await the fourth-round draw and Aldershot will concentrate on the FA Trophy in the first instance with a trip to Bishop’s Stortford next weekend.

Match Report : Avro v Witton

The only goal of the game came after 14 minutes. It was a really good finish by Harry Brazel. The ball sat up nicely for a first time low shot into the left corner. These two evenly-matched and well-organised sides then largely cancelled each other out. Witton’s keeper Ollie Martin made one block with his foot and his opposite number James Coates prevented a second Witton goal with a spectacular flying save as the first half ended.

The second half started with chances at either end, but gradually Avro’s urgency started to dominate. Witton looked very solid in defence until 69 minutes had passed when Martin made the first of two exceptional saves in quick succession. This was a diving stop with a strong left arm. Avro continued to get the ball into the area and there were a couple of games of pinball which could easily have produced the equaliser. With eight minutes to go the floodlights went out and I wondered whether I would end up having to make this long journey again. My personal groundhopping rules have not yet been tested with an abandonment! Fortunately, illumination was soon restored, the Avro pressure was renewed and the Witton defences did enough. This was a very hard-earned three points for the visitors.

Ground Pix

The Vestacare Stadium has a good deal of character about it, with various types of locations for watching the game. Watch the potholes in the car park if you are coming for an evening game in the dark, though!

 






Match Pix

 Avro in the black and blue stripes.











Match Report : WBA v Aldershot

This game has been well-covered in the mainstream media so I will merely add that the main interest was in the promising performances of a number of young debutants and squad players. The result wasn’t really in doubt once the Baggies were three up after half an hour. Tom Fellows on the right flank had been doing most of the damage, albeit in lots of space that he was allowed by the defence. The first goal was a peach of a finish from Nathaniel Chalobah. The second was a gift for Jovan Malcolm, and the third was a powerful instinctive finish from an inadvertent loose ball by Daryl Dike. This was Dike’s return from serious injury and he did not reappear for the second half. The visiting fans, not unreasonably it has to be said, gleefully gave us a rendition of, “Is this a Library?”.

Fellows had to wait until the 88th minute before getting his name on the scoresheet and there was still time for a consolation for Aldershot’s Ollie Bray which took a bit of gloss off the result. Much of the game was played at training ground pace, and Albion conceded a fair bit of possession in the second half, playing on the break. Caleb Taylor looked comfortable on the right side of the back three in his second appearance, and there were five WBA debutants all told. The only one who won’t want to see the highlights again is Layton Love, who skied a good chance when through on the break. Job done, though, and we were at pains to point out to my grandson that … It. Is. Not. Always. Like. This. At. The. Albion.

Ground Pix

 

Tony Brown, Albion legend of 60s & 70s


Boiler Man, current Albion legend. Or laughing stock.

Fair play to Aldershot who filled the Smethwick End with 5700 fans




Match Pix

Aldershot in red.


Goalkeeper Top Colour Stats Update

Usually accompanied by a pre-match prediction on Threads just before kickoff. Working towards being able to compute a respectable test of statistical significance, it looks like an Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test will be appropriate. The full keeper top performance table from my last 289 matches is here, on this separate page, and I’ll organise the test when we reach 300 pieces of evidence.

This weekend Pink lost to Yellow on Saturday and Grey beat Green on Sunday.

Pre-match Prediction based on Keeper Top Colour:

Predictions:

Home Win & Home Win

Was the prediction correct?

No (Sat) & Yes (Sun)

% of correct predictions so far

48% (69 from 144)


What Next?

Unsure because we are in the weather-dependent segment of the season. I have to be in the Midlands again next weekend and will look to pick off another one of my 21 target Step 4 grounds if I can. My next chance to tick off Plymouth Parkway to complete Step 3 is not until the following week.

Friday 5 January 2024

Biggleswade Don't Deliver the Goods

 


Hopperational Details

Date & Venue

1 January 2024 at JSJ Stadium, New Roker Park

Result

Stotfold 6 Biggleswade 0

Competition

Southern League Division 1 Central (Step 4)

Hopstats

Ground 772 on the lifetime list and I am here because Stotfold were able to confirm “Game On” before any of the other teams on today’s shortlist.

Context

A mid-table fixture with the visitors a little higher. A local derby (the teams are about six miles apart) for the bank holiday Monday. They haven’t yet played each other this season. Biggleswade not to be confused with either Biggleswade Town (also in this division) or Biggleswade United, playing at Step 5 in the Spartan South Midlands Premier. If there is a smaller town with three senior men’s teams, I’d be surprised.

In One Sentence

Game over after 15 minutes when the score was already 4-0.

So What?

13th and 11th at the end of the day but Biggleswade have played two games fewer.

Match Report

The first goal after five minutes was from Stotfold’s second good chance. The bad week for goalkeepers in Purple continued even after Tyler Josephs had made one good block. The second came almost immediately from a narrow angle, and the third was a surgical strike down the right leading to a crossfield pass with the scorer in square decametres of space (take that, Jacob Rees-Mogg). When the fourth went in from a superbly struck direct free-kick on the quarter-hour mark, I wondered why I was still standing as far away from the action as I could have been.

The fifth was scored after 35 minutes, the ref playing advantage to good effect. So, half-time, and then the rains came. The playing and watching conditions after the interval were unpleasant and Stotfold charitably added just the one more. Biggleswade had been pretty toothless without looking dispirited, Stotfold had been clinical, Josephs had been very busy.

For the record the goalscorers were:

James Peters, Henry Snee, Callum Kane, Matt Ball, Robbie Buchanan and Snee again.

Ground Pix

 

Visit the Non-League Bins Facebook Group





Match Pix

Sorry about the quality. Stotfold in yellow-and-black.

 


Goalkeeper Top Colour Stats Update

Usually accompanied by a pre-match prediction on Threads just before kickoff. Working towards being able to compute a respectable test of statistical significance, it looks like an Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test will be appropriate. The full keeper top performance table from my last 287 matches is here, on this separate page, and I’ll organise the test when we reach 300 pieces of evidence.

Today a big win and a clean sheet for Grey over Purple.

Pre-match Prediction based on Keeper Top Colour:

Prediction:

Home Win

Was the prediction correct?

Yes

% of correct predictions so far

(48%) 68 from 142

 

What Next?

Weather conditions will decide whether I can get to a Saturday game, but whatever happens I am heading for WBA v Aldershot on Sunday. My first visit to The Hawthorns for several seasons now, and my grandson’s first match. The West Brom genes have come good.

 

Saturday 30 December 2023

The Draw of the Other Baggies


Hopperational Details

Date & Venue

Saturday 30th December 2023 at The Operatix Stadium

Result

Badshot Lea 2 Thatcham Town 2

Competition

Isthmian League Division 1 South-Central

Hopstats

Ground 771 on the lifetime list and I am here pragmatically rather than randomly. I had a choice of seven Step 4 grounds but three were impractical given the weather forecast. Of the other four, Badshot Lea gave a very clear and early indication that the match was on, thanks to a team of club volunteers who had worked to remove surface water in time for a referee inspection.

Context

The two teams are around mid-table in their division. Badshot won the September game at Thatcham by a solitary goal. Thatcham drew their last fixture, while Badshot had a postponement. I’m West Brom born-and-bred but it was not until today that I found out that another team shares the nickname of “The Baggies”.

In One Sentence

An entertaining contrast in styles, rather ruined by atrocious weather conditions after the hour.

So What?

The teams end the day in 10th and 12th places respectively.

Match Report

This was hugely enjoyable for the first hour, but then you had to feel for the teams as the weather turned very unpleasant with incessant wind-driven rain. Thatcham took an early lead. I was just making a note about how measured and attractive was Badshot Lea’s approach play when they gave the ball away on the halfway line. David Nyarko pounced and was able to convert the one-on-one chance.

The equaliser came very quickly though. From a corner, I heard the shout of “Keeper!” shortly before the sound of the ball hitting the back of the net. George Hedley had beaten him to the ball. I claim half an assist as the person who retrieved the ball before the corner was taken.

Badshot Lea returned to their passing play, working one-twos and triangles around the flanks, but it was again from a breakdown that Thatcham restored their lead. Nyarko chased a long ball and scored from a tight angle. It needed two good blocks in quick succession to prevent an equaliser, and Cameron Rohart-Brown fired narrowly over the bar.

The only other incident of note was a minor scuffle which led to a couple of cautions after the referee had consulted both assistants. This was at the far end from me so I can’t say much else but the chat was that the Thatcham player had raised his hands but there had also been an element of retaliation. Only they will know,

The second half started with another timely Thatcham block, and their keeper was almost embarrassed by a high bounce. We saw an interesting freekick routine where the chance of a direct shot was spurned in favouir of a pass to the flank – it came to nothing. However, Badshot Lea got their second equaliser just after the hour, a composed finish by Baback Dehgani after another spell of pressure.

 

Deghani celebrates his goal

The conditions began to worsen and rather undermined the home side’s attempt to regain superiority. Both teams made the best of the conditions and there were a few more half-chances. Overall, an enjoyable outing for the passing neutral despite a tedious journey around the M25 each way.


Ground Pix

Pay attention to the advice given on the website about access and parking. The postcode alone takes you to a narrow lane with no entry to the ground.

 



 

Match Pix

Badshot Lea in the claret and blue. Conditions were not conducive to good photographs today.

 







 

Goalkeeper Top Colour Stats Update

Usually accompanied by a pre-match prediction on Threads just before kickoff. Working towards being able to compute a respectable test of statistical significance, it looks like an Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test will be appropriate. The full keeper top performance table from my last 286 matches is here, on this separate page, and I’ll organise the test when we reach 300 pieces of evidence.

Today, a draw between Pink and Green.

Pre-match Prediction based on Keeper Top Colour:

Prediction:

Away Win

Was the prediction correct?

No

% of correct predictions so far

48% (67 from 141)

 

What Next?

It will be weather-dependent, but I hope to get in another ground from my Step 4 list on New Year’s Day, en route to the Midlands. Then the following weekend I will be at the FA Cup 3rd Round tie between West Brom and Aldershot – which will be my grandson’s first visit to the Hawthorns, and my first in the grandad role that was occupied in the 90s by my late father. No, you do not need to inform the NSPCC.

 

  

Tuesday 26 December 2023

Sloping Off Down South for a Boxing Day Double

 

No programme from the first game. This is the cover of the e-programme from Horndean.
 

Hopperational Details

Date & Venue

Boxing Day, 26 December 2023

a)    The Rotherfield

b)    The Stanley Drake Stadium, Five Heads Park

Results

a)    Midhurst & Easebourne 2 Pagham 0

b)   Horndean 2 Littlehampton Town 1

Competition

a)    Southern Combination Premier (Step 5)

b)    Isthmian League Div 1 SE (Step 4)

Hopstats

Grounds 769 & 770 on the lifetime list, and I’m here non-randomly because the geographical closeness and helpful kickoff times made for an easy double hop.

Context

The first game is essentially a mid-table fixture. The second is from the lower half of the table. Horndean were promoted to Step 4 from the Wessex League last season and Littlehampton are in their second season at this level.

In One Sentence Each

A very late second goal for Midhurst & Easebourne was hard to take for Pagham who almost made the hosts pay for wasting second-half chances.

Horndean did their damage in the first half and in the end were rather hanging on grimly after going down to ten men.

So What?

Midhurst & Easebourne up two places to 7th, Pagham down one to 13th. Horndean up a place to 14th, Littlehampton Town remain 17th.

Match Report : Midhurst & Easebourne v Pagham

It was an even, goalless first half with contrasting styles. The home side tried to play out patiently from defence, depending on their centre backs to pick a pass. Occasionally this would misfire and give the visitors a chance to break. Both keepers were occasionally called into action, but in truth there wasn’t a lot of incisive action to report.

Midhurst and Easebourne took the lead after 53 mins with a nicely placed header from a right-wing cross, and soon after it took a good flying save from the Pagham keeper to prevent a second. In the closing stages, the home side missed several good one-on-one chances as Pagham were forced to commit to attack, and the second goal didn’t arrive until the fifth minute of added time.


Ground Pix

Picturesque location, a pronounced slope. Be aware that the turning into the car park is almost impossible to negotiate if approaching on the main road from the south.

 


 

Match Pix

Home side in blue.











 

Match Report : Horndean v Littlehampton Town

Both Horndean’s goals came in the first half, after a short delay due to floodlight issues. Thankfully, the smoke emerging from the base of the pylon turned out not to be a serious problem.

Smoke drifting in from the left ...

The first goal probably has to go down as a keeper error, and the second was a header from a set piece. The picture below is the moment just before contact.

The visitors had looked pretty toothless in the first half but immediately showed more intent in the second and deservedly pulled a goal back. This was now an end-to-end game, largely fought in the midfield, but Littlehampton created two great chances to equalise, a header and a shot going just wide.

The final quarter of the game was affected by a second yellow card for Horndean’s number 9. He had been booked for kicking the ball away at a free kick just a few minutes earlier. Then a heavy touch by the Littlehampton keeper took the ball outside the area, and not under his control. The referee saw 9’s challenge as serious foul play. As the nearest person in the ground to the incident, I have to say that I didn’t. The keeper was back up and running after minimal treatment.

The closing stages were dominated by backs-to-the-wall defence by Horndean, and breaking into the corners to run the clock down whenever possible. It wasn’t pretty, indeed it was occasionally ugly. At one point the referee came over to the far side, opposite to the benches, and appeared to either remonstrate or show a card to someone. I can’t be sure of the details. Horndean hung on for the win and the three points.

 

Ground Pix

Another ground with a noticeable slope! Plenty of character with its hotch-potch of buildings and a concrete wall at one end to make speedy wingers think twice before hitting top speed.

 





 

Match Pix

Home side in red. Fading light at this point means fewer usable pix.

 




Goalkeeper Top Colour Stats Update



Usually accompanied by a pre-match prediction on Threads just before kickoff. Working towards being able to compute a respectable test of statistical significance, it looks like an Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test will be appropriate. The full keeper top performance table from my last 285 matches is here, on this separate page, and I’ll organise the test when we reach 300 pieces of evidence.

Today we have a pair of defeats for Purple caused by M&E’s Green (as expected) and Horndean’s Yellow (not as expected), with a clean sheet for Green too.



Pre-match Predictions based on Keeper Top Colour:

Predictions:

a)    Home Win & b) Away Win

Were the predictions correct?

a)    Yes & b) No

% of correct predictions so far

48% (67 from 140)

 

What Next?

No definite plans, but hopefully another Step 4 ground ticked off somewhere in the country next Saturday. I have 24 left to do at that level, plus Plymouth Parkway at Step 3. I can now be found as grahamyapp on Threads, having abandoned the toxicity of Twitter since the misguided management of Elon Musk essentially ruined the platform.