The Power of Ten

 

Ten games, spread across the Bank Holiday weekend. The South Wales Alliance is one of several regional Welsh leagues, with the Premier Division being one of those in the fourth tier of the national pyramid. In this area there is a promotion pathway comprising divisions two and one within the Alliance. These ten games have already been covered, tweeted, photographed and analysed in depth by many other hoppers so my post is more of an “I was there” personal record, with the only distinguishing feature being the mildly amusing and more or less useless #keepertopcolourstats.

This was a very good weekend experience. The well-honed organisation of Groundhop UK was matched by the efforts of the clubs who put on a variety of food and drink experiences. Some of the grounds are in picturesque settings and the area itself is rich in social, cultural and industrial history. This was the 20th Welsh Hop, and my first. Another small step towards retirement has been taken this summer, releasing some time for me to sign up this year.

Ground 746 (26 August)  : Ton Park, Ironbridge Road

Tongwynlais 1 Cogan Coronation 3 : South Wales Alliance Division 2

Keeper Tops: Green v Yellow

Cogan opened the scoring with a header from a set piece and were two up at half time. Tongwynlais came more into the game and pulled one back but the two-goal cushion was restored with a neat finish on the break.

 

 

 

 

 

Ground 747 (27 August) : Poplar Park

Fairwater 2 Penygraig United 3 : South Wales Alliance Division 2

Keeper Tops: Yellow v Green

One of the best contests of the weekend. The visitors went two up with a calm, composed rounding of the keeper and a well-placed penalty. Fairwater got one back before the interval but Penycraig got their third with a well-taken goal. However, a volley kept Fairwater in the game and they hit the bar and sent their keeper up to attack in the closing stages. The result was in doubt up to the final whistle, which is great for the passing neutrals.

Ground 748 (27 August) : University Fields, Llanrumney

Cardiff Cosmopolitan 0 St Albans 0 : South Wales Alliance Division 2

Keeper Tops: A clean sheet each for White (predominant) v Purple

The home side contrived to miss a two-on-one thanks to the perseverance of the St Albans keeper. This set the tone for a largely disappointing encounter. Cosmopolitan should have won but they were wasteful. The most notable feature of this match was the Bulgarian-style filo pastry creations on sale at the gate. White keeper tops are rarely seen and this clean sheet takes the colour off the bottom of the most undervalued league table in the game.

 

 

 

Ground 749 (27 August) : The Willows

Bridgend Street 1 Cardiff Corinthians 1 :  South Wales Alliance Premier Division

Keeper Tops: Green v Grey

The main threats in a goalless first half came from set pieces. Corinthians took the lead with a textbook thumping header and it needed a very, very late penalty equaliser to get a share of the points. The pitch is in an interesting setting adjacent to a secondary school site and some heavy industry.

 

 

 

 

Ground 750 (28 August) : ICI Rifle Ground

Merthyr Saints 1 Aber Valley 5 : South Wales Alliance Premier Division

Keeper Tops: Blue v Pink (a training bib over a green top)

A result never in doubt at another very interesting location. Maybe an element of fortune with the first goal, bundled in from close range after a header had bounced just in front on the keeper, but the visitors added a second and third before half-time with fluid passing moves. In between they had a header disallowed and Saints pulled one back from the penalty spot. A delicious through-ball set up the fourth, and scorer turned provider for the fifth. Best decision of the day was mine - getting my Mister Softee ice cream cone in early before the van broke down. Pink swaps places with Radioactive Bile in the lower reaches of the colour table.

 

 

  

 

 

Ground 751 (28 August) : Aberaman Park

Aberdare Town 6 AFC Penrhiwceiber 0 : South Wales Alliance Division 1

Keeper Tops: A clean sheet for Green v Grey

Four first-half goals killed the game. A penalty followed by a close-range turn and shot, and then the pick of the goals as a break down the right wing saw the riding of an attempted tackle and a fierce shot into the roof of the net from a narrow angle. The fourth was a neat cushioned volley, and the fifth and sixth were volleys too. The visitors also missed a late penalty. The thumping win and clean sheet takes Green above blue and closes the gap on Grey.

 

Ground 752 (28 August) : Wern Park

Nelson Cavaliers 0 Cwmbach Royal Stars 3 : South Wales Alliance Division 2

Keeper Tops: Grey (borderline decision) v a clean sheet for Orange (a sub keeper wore the same colour)

Two early goals made life deservedly comfortable for Stars. They added another after the interval and were unable to test a substitute keeper who entered the fray late on. Fortunately, he was wearing the same colour as his injured team-mate so no spreadsheet shenanigans result, and Orange goes up one place.

 

Ground 753 (29 August) : Tudor Park

Maesteg Park 2 Vale United 2 : South Wales Alliance Division 1

Keeper Tops: Stalemate for Green v Yellow.

Even without the bara brith and lamb cawl among the refreshments on sale this would be a contender for game of the weekend. Maesteg’s early lead was a gift from the visiting keeper’s misplaced pass. Vale at last found that final pass they had been lacking, and equalised, but parity was short-lived as a looping header from a corner gave the lead back to the home side at the interval. Vale kept plugging away. They had a penalty saved but eventually crafted a second equaliser with a nice move down the right culminating in a neat headed goal. Green holds on to third place in the world of keeper tops, and Yellow slips to last place by a very narrow margin.

 

 

 

 

 

Ground 754 (29 August) : Cardiff International Sports Stadium, Leckwith

Canton Rangers 3 AFC Butetown 2 : South Wales Alliance Division 1

Keeper Tops: Grey v Pink

Butetown were two up, the second from the penalty spot, but Canton had one back before the break. The home side completed the comeback with two second-half goals. Another keenly-contested game with the result in doubt right to the end. Pink and Radioactive Bile revert to their previous positions.

Ground 755 (29 August) : Ocean Park

Clwb Cymric 4 Grange Albion 0 : South Wales Alliance Division 1

Keeper Tops: Radioactive Bile takes a clean sheet v Orange.

The hosts broke the defensive line but were restricted to a one-goal lead at the interval. Three second-half goals, the last one rather gifted by a defensive mix-up, gives the score a one-sided look. The visitors had hit the bar with a free-kick and kept on trying but they had less of a cutting edge in attack. Pink and Radioactive Bile swap places for the third time in the weekend. Only 2 of the 10 pre-match predictions based on #keepertopcolourstats was correct and the success rate stands at 45% after 111 predictions and 256 games. Please gamble responsibly. Insert "coach stood immobile at the edge of the pitch" joke here.

 

Where does this leave us in the mad world of #keepertopcolourstats, you ask? Here’s the full table.

	P	W	D	L	GC	CS	Pts	PPG
Red	12.5	6.5	1.0	5.0	14.0	4.5	29.0	2.320
Grey	69.5	31.0	18.0	20.5	113.5	21.0	102.5	1.475
Green	139.1	67.8	18.0	53.3	233.0	33.0	153.4	1.103
Blue	60.1	24.0	11.0	25.1	103.0	17.0	65.0	1.082
White	3.9	1.0	1.0	1.9	5.0	1.0	4.0	1.026
Purple	29.0	10.0	6.0	13.0	55.0	9.0	26.0	0.897
Maroon	5.0	2.0	1.0	2.0	9.0	1.0	3.0	0.600
Orange	76.7	28.2	14.0	34.5	128.5	14.0	40.1	0.523
Fire Cracker	4.0	1.0	1.0	2.0	7.0	1.0	2.0	0.500
Radioactive Bile	29.0	12.0	1.0	16.0	56.0	6.0	11.0	0.379
Pink	25.0	10.0	5.0	10.0	49.0	3.0	1.0	0.040
Black	10.2	4.5	3.0	2.7	23.0	0.5	-4.0	-0.392
Yellow	48.0	13.0	10.0	25.0	108.0	8.0	-19.0	-0.396

 

What’s next for me? No idea, but follow @GrahamYapp on Twitter. Hopefully an FA Cup game at a Step 4 ground in the coming weekend. Thanks for your interest and good humour.