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.

 

  

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.

Flyers Staying Grounded

 

Hopperational Details
Date & Venue	Saturday 23 December 2023 at Lye Sports Ground
Result	Lye Town 2 Hinckley LR 3
Competition	Northern Premier League Division 1 Midland (Step 4)
Hopstats	Ground 768 on the lifetime list. I am here non-randomly because I was in the area today for family reasons. This is a much-delayed start to the 2023-24 season for me. Since the last post, I’ve had Covid (followed by a period of recovery), I’ve spent several Saturdays on the touchline so that my grandson could play in his U9 games in Bedfordshire, and there’s been a family bereavement. This blogpost is dedicated to my late father Raymond Yapp (1934-2023) who joined me on several groundhop trips over the years and passed away last month at the age of 89.
Context
3rd plays 6th. Lye are flying (appropriately enough, see programme cover) in their first-ever Step 4 season although they lost last time out. Hinckley LR (which stands for Leicester Road) are in their second season in this division. The reverse fixture took place back in August and finished 2-2. Lye’s squad today is boosted with two new signings.
In One Sentence
A clinical second half performance from Hinckley, with a late Lye goal making the result look closer than it would appear.
So What?
It’s very tight at the top of this division. Lye drop to 6th on goal difference with Hinckley LR leaping over them into 5th.
Match Report
The first two decent goal chances fell to Lye. Joe Palmer shot just over and then a decoy run by Adam Meacham at a free-kick left some far post space that led to a scramble and a chance. Hinckley played the ball out from the defence as is the modern custom, and the playing surface was good enough to allow that. However, they were not so effective with the final pass and the better half-chances continued to fall to the home side. It was no surprise when Lye took the lead just after the half-hour, but it took a good through ball and composure from Matt Funge to give the keeper no chance. The two sides traded chances thereafter but the score remained one-nil at the interval. Hinckley were much more effective in the second half and soon grasped control of the game. The equaliser came on 52 minutes. Andre Williams had a far post tap-in after a good surging move down the left flank and good work by Aaron Nuttall. They took the lead just five minutes later when Williams poked home his second from close range after some pinball following a corner. The points were then pretty much in the bag in the 68th minute as more left-wing trickery and a low driven cross from Nuttall rebounded off the keeper on to the chest of Liam Read and into the net. Hinckley proceeded to see out the rest of the game reasonably comfortably. Lye never gave up, and there was the odd chance at each end. Lye’s second goal was scored by Palmer in stoppage time but there was no time to get another to get a share of the points. So, my first game for seven months. Not bad at all. Interesting ground, five goals, keenly contested.
Ground Pix
This is an unusual three-sided ground shared with the cricket club to some extent. There is work-in-progress and some old-style seating and covered terracing. I enjoyed hearing the Black Country accents drifting past me – it doesn’t take much to reawaken mine, which has been largely dormant after four decades in East England.   This is the regional flag for the Black Country
Match Pix
Lye in the blue-and-white. Only had my compact camera with me today so some match pix are fuzzier than usual.
Goalkeeper Top Colour Stats Update
Usually accompanied by a pre-match prediction on Twitter just before kickoff. Working towards being able to compute a respectable test of statistical significance, it looks like a Kruskal-Wallis one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test will be appropriate. The full keeper top performance table from my last 283 matches is here, on this separate page, and I’ll organise the test when we reach 300 pieces of evidence. Today Green beats a two-tone top which on balance I have classified as Orange. Black was the other half. To be honest, from the front it was very close to the other team’s kit colour. Pre-match Prediction based on Keeper Top Colour: Prediction: Away Win Was the prediction correct? Yes % of correct predictions so far 48% (66 from 138)
What Next?
Undecided – maybe a Boxing Day trip? As my last Step 3 ground, Plymouth Parkway has been my number one priority for some time now, but that is a long journey for me that will need absolute certainty over the weather. More likely is another Step 4 (I have 25 left), or a cheeky Step 5 double if kickoff times permit.