Bourne Supremacy

 

Hopperational Details
Date & Venue	Saturday 3 May 2025 at the JJMac Stadium, Abbey Lawn
Result	Bourne Town 1 Boston Town 1 (90 mins, no ET) Bourne Town win 8-7 on penalties
Competition	United Counties Premier League North Playoff Final (Step 5)
Hopstats	Ground 800 on the lifetime list! Here because it’s an important match for both teams, and a new ground for me.
Context
Bourne Town had missed out on automatic promotion by one point, finishing behind Lincoln United. They disposed of AFC Mansfield with a 4-0 home win in the midweek semi-final. Boston Town had finished fourth but saw off third-place finishers Eastwood CFC with a 2-1 away win. Bourne won both league fixtures against Boston with a 1-0 scoreline but these matches were back in September and December 2024.
Match Report
With a big crowd expected, I made sure to get to the ground early, and arrived to hear “I Predict a Riot” playing over the PA. I thought maybe this was because the printed programmes hadn’t yet arrived, and an obvious gaggle of groundhoppers were gathered near the gate displaying various degrees of anxiety. With coffee, ice cream and programme sorted in due course, I chose my viewpoint on the far side from the main stand, and even put my woolly hat on as the temperature dropped. Bourne made a flying start. Two corners in quick succession led to a header hitting the bar, and a ball flying through the six-yard box with no-one able to get a touch. Breathless stuff. The rest of the first half settled into a more even pattern. The gusty breeze caused a bit of an issue for both teams, forcing a safety-first mindset for the defences on occasion. Boston had their first clear chance after 24 minutes, but this was followed by the need for a flying one-handed save by their keeper at the other end. However, the visitors took the lead just before the break, with a tap-in for Jordan Nuttell manufactured with a move down the right flank. History repeated itself at the start of the second half with another Bourne chance, the ball once again flying across the face of goal with no-one quite close enough. The occasion was now getting understandably tense, but the equaliser was deserved. Brad Marshall was the scorer, probably one of the scruffier goals scored after two successive corners and a pinging around in the box. Neither team was able to break the deadlock in the twenty remaining minutes and so we went to penalties after 90 minutes. Bourne had the advantage of shooting first. The first six spot-kicks were scored, a mix of fierce shots and cool placements. The seventh was saved to give Bourne the advantage, but so was the eighth. Bourne went into the lead at 4-3, in effect setting up a sudden-death scenario. After 4-4 we were into the sequence of players who might have hoped to avoid taking a penalty. So, 5-4. Then the next penalty so nearly saved, but into the roof off the keeper’s hand. 5-5. Advantage Bourne again at 6-5, but the next one from Boston almost broke the net. 6-6, 7-6 and 7-7 followed. Then 8-7 with a cool defender’s penalty, placed low. It had to happen sometime, but the eighteenth spotkick was saved. Agony for the Boston sub who had stepped up, and fair play to his senior colleague who immediately went to console him. All the arguments for and against shootouts flashed by there and then. Massive joy and a pitch invasion for the hosts. Irritating and pointless smoke canisters were deployed. I left them to celebrate and spent a few minutes watching the club cricket on the adjacent ground before heading home to the spreadsheet and blog. Congratulations to Bourne Town, and commiserations to Boston Town.
So What?
Back-to-back promotions for Bourne Town who will go up to Step 4 next season.
Ground Pix
Match Pix
Bourne Town in claret.
Goalkeeper Top Colour Stats Update
The background to this, and the latest keeper top colour league table, is here on this dedicated page. Today a draw after 90 minutes between Green (the fluorescent variant) and Pink but an ultimate victory for Green. This has been the first sequence of five unsuccessful predictions since predictions started 183 games ago. The table is based on my last 328 games. Pre-match Prediction based on Keeper Top Colour: Prediction: Home Win Was the prediction correct? No (after 90 minutes) % of correct predictions so far 49% (88 from 183)
What Next?
Last-minute decisions, as is my most common practice these days. Maybe a few trips to Wembley if tickets for playoffs become generally available. Already lined up for Women's FA Cup Final and England v Portugal in the Women's Nations League at the end of the month.

Mousehole Challenge Wilts in Wilts

Even though I arrived at the turnstiles at 2.15pm, the person in front of me purchased the final programme, so no programme pic here.

Hopperational Details
Date & Venue	Saturday 26 April 2025 at Oakfield Stadium
Result	Melksham Town 2 Mousehole 2
Competition	Southern League Division One South (Step 4)
Hopstats	Ground 799 on the lifetime list. I’ve chosen this game because it is the only one at an unvisited Step 4 ground today where the result seriously matters to one of the sides.
Context
Melksham are safe in upper mid-table and whatever happens will finish 8th. Mousehole need a win, and possibly a big one. They start the day in the final playoff position, but are level on points with Exmouth, who are away at Larkhall. There is a favourable goal difference of +2 in Mousehole’s favour. Larkhall have only just escaped relegation themselves so Exmouth will be expected to win. A draw will do for Mousehole only if Exmouth draw too (or lose). If Exmouth win, Mousehole must win too with only a one goal difference at most in the margin of victory. I suppose they could both lose, but that is very unlikely.
Match Report
Melksham quickly showed that they were not going to roll over. They fashioned the first real chance with a driven ball across the six-yard box from their right, and an inrushing attacker was only inches away from converting. It was end to end, but no great surprise when Melksham did take the lead. A cross flicked the head of a defender and left Jake Andrews in space for a far-post tap-in. The referee checked with his assistant before confirming the goal, silencing the visitors’ considerable protests claiming offside. The assistant would go on to get plenty of abuse from the visiting fans as the game went on. The game continued to be competitive and entertaining. At half-time, the internet coughed up the fact that Exmouth were already two up at Larkhall so even two goals for Mousehole might not be enough. The second half started in the same vein, and Mousehole got their equaliser after 56 minutes. A low shot from Josh Bernard nestled in the corner to restore some hope. However, within a few minutes Exmouth had doubled their lead at Larkhall and it looked like the Mousehole playoff chances would need a hatful of late goals. There were indeed two late goals, but the first went to Melksham with four minutes to go, scored by substitute Louis Millard. The best goal of the day went to Mousehole’s Jack Symons with a cracking volley in the fifth minute of stoppage time. Well done to both sides for their part in a very decent end-of-season game, and commiserations in particular to the Cornish visitors. In the final analysis, a run of only one win in the last five games was not quite enough.
So What?
Both teams will start next season in the same division – it is unlikely that either will be subject to any geographical switching. The divisional playoff semi-finals are in midweek.
Pix
Melksham in yellow and black.
Goalkeeper Top Colour Stats Update
The background to this, and the latest keeper top colour league table, is here on this dedicated page. Today Orange and the relatively rare Red draw, but Red remain at the top of an unchanged ranking of the colours. Pre-match Prediction based on Keeper Top Colour: Prediction: Away Win Was the prediction correct? No % of correct predictions so far 49% (88 from 181)
What Next?
Ground 800! Other than that, no idea as things stand. There is a possibility of a playoff final somewhere next weekend, but all would depend on the semi-final outcomes in midweek.

A Tale of Two Heaths for Easter Monday

  

Hopperational Details
Date & Venues	Monday 21 April 2025 (Easter Monday) a)    Hassocks Hotel Beacon Ground b)    BodyMould Mattresses Community Stadium
Results	Hassocks 3 Haywards Heath Town 0 Broadbridge Heath 4 Littlehampton Town 0
Competitions	a)    Southern Combination Premier (Step 5) b)    Isthmian Division One South-East (Step 4)
Hopstats	Numbers 797 & 798 respectively on my lifetime list and I’m here for a chance to tick off a Step 4 priority whilst kickoff times and proximity allow a Bank Holiday double hop.
Context
Penultimate league games of the season for all four teams today. Hassocks have already secured the divisional title and will grace Step 4 with their picturesque ground next season. Haywards Heath slipped to fourth earlier in the weekend but are still in the playoff positions. Both Broadbridge Heath and Littlehampton Town are safe in mid- and lower-mid table respectively so there is not much riding on the fixture except local bragging rights.
Match Reports
Haywards Heath lined up for the traditional guard of honour for the champions-elect. They held on for just over half an hour before going behind in a moment of controversy. I was at the other end so need to be somewhat vague, but it looked as if Dan Turner’s header from a ridiculous distance went in on the bounce, but with the visiting keeper Mitch Bromage flattened and in need of subsequent treatment. Turner himself had taken the long throw that caused the initial chaos. Long and looping far post corners, alongside the long-throw weapon, meant that the aerial routes were well-used in home attacks. It had been a very physical first half, with Hassocks generally on top before Heath’s first real chance on the break as we entered stoppage time. The visitors could and should have equalised just after the hour. It took an outstanding double block by keeper James Shaw then defender Joe Bull to keep the lead. Then an attempt to play out from the back went wrong and Hassocks doubled their lead. Josh Mundy was set up beautifully for a spectacular first-time strike. Substitute Rauri Farrell got the third in similar circumstances, and another sub Charlie Pitcher was denied twice in quick succession as the Haywards Heath challenge subsided. I had to skip the trophy presentation formalities to head north to Broadbridge Heath. I often lurk with visiting supporters when I am a neutral, but the tuneless megaphone-assisted “singing” from the Littlehampton end meant that my loyalties switched sharpishly. Both sides threatened. Littlehampton were more direct, but Broadbridge reached the byline more than once down the flanks without creating a finish. The floodgates opened on 27 minutes with a Mark Goldson penalty. Littlehampton responded with a good spell of pressure but then Goldson got a second with a clever turn and shot. An intelligent pass led to a third, for Mason Doughty, before the interval and that was pretty much all doubt removed about the result. The fourth goal was a peach. Matt Hay’s right-wing cross at the end of a run (maybe more stepovers than strictly necessary, but enough to bamboozle the defence) was converted with a textbook diving header by Louis Evans. The last half-hour was largely uneventful, but that was a very effective demolition job by the home side. A nice Bank Holiday double hop, despite the joylessness of the M25 western section on the way home.
So What?
Farewell to Step 5 for Hassocks. Haywards Heath will still need to get something from their final game in order to secure that playoff space. They could finish anywhere from 3rd to 7th. Littlehampton Town will finish 18th no matter what happens next weekend, and Broadbridge will finish between 11th and 14th.
Pix
Hassocks (in red) v Haywards Heath   Broadbridge Heath (blue) v Littlehampton Town
Goalkeeper Top Colour Stats Update
The background to this, and the latest keeper top colour league table, is here on this dedicated page. Today, a bad day for predictions as Pink and Purple beat Orange and Green respectively, and with clean sheets too. Pre-match Prediction based on Keeper Top Colour: Predictions: a)    Away Win b)    Away Win Was the prediction correct? a)    No b)    No % of correct predictions so far 49% (88 from 180)
What Next?
Who knows? School exam season approaching (always a busy time at work) so I have to take one day at a time. I’d like to get at least 799 and 800 done this season.

 

Hungry Hungerford Deliver Parkway Flooring

No printed programme, and at the time of writing I haven’t managed to locate the way to download the e-programme. Here's the club crest on the toilet block instead.

Hopperational Details
Date & Venue	Saturday 15 March 2025 at Bolitho Park
Result	Plymouth Parkway 0 Hungerford Town 2
Competition	Southern League Premier Division South (Step 3)
Hopstats	796 on the lifetime list and I’ve been wanting to visit this ground for some time. It temporarily re-completes my coverage of all grounds in the English pyramid unless I count Everton as already open. As far as I know Hashtag United (at Aveley) are the only club currently groundsharing so this is “The 251” which is the 92 plus 72 National League (3 x 24) plus the 87 (88 minus 1) grounds in the four step 3 divisions of 22.
Context
Lower mid-table plays upper mid-table. I suppose Parkway will need a few more points to avoid a relegation fight, and Hungerford might still sneak into play-off places.
Match Report
I like Bolitho Park – it’s neat and tidy with covered seating or standing on three sides, and decent enough facilities and services for this level. I think it is the club’s second season at this level. On the pitch, the home side made a rather shaky start to this game and gave Hungerford confidence. It wasn’t much of a surprise when Rafa Ramos put the visitors in front midway through the first half. He had plenty of time to control a pass from the right flank and complete a composed finish. With just the one goal deficit at the interval, words must have been said at half-time, and Parkway started the second half brightly. However, they fluffed one good chance by not spotting a final pass and meanwhile Hungerford showed their threat with a header that looped on to the bar. To be brutally honest it was all rather flat, with not much for the home crowd to cheer. Their side never really threatened more than the odd half-chance, and then Ramos got his second with 81 minutes on the clock to seal the away win. There was time for Hungerford’s Louis McGrory to get a second yellow and thus a red card in stoppage time as they tried pragmatically to hold the ball at the corner flag. He got to the showers about ninety seconds earlier than his teammates, but the suspension will frustrate the management I should think.
So What?
The clubs end the day in 15th and 7th place respectively in the division. Parkway are seven points clear of the relegation places and Hungerford are six points short of a playoff place.
Pre-match Entertainment
I had stayed overnight on Friday, so had time for a walk around a couple of Plymouth dockyard areas. This is a city steeped in British colonial and maritime history. It’s the first time I’ve ever visited the city centre and I think I will be back at some point to engage more with those historical and cultural features. It made a very good impression for a short break in the future. First appearance of the buoy-meets-gull joke this season
Ground & Match Pix
Plymouth Parkway in Yellow.
Goalkeeper Top Colour Stats Update
The background to this, and the latest keeper top colour league table, is here on this dedicated page. Today, Green beats a different shade of itself and keeps one clean sheet. Pre-match Prediction based on Keeper Top Colour: Prediction: Draw Was the prediction correct? No % of correct predictions so far 49% (87 from 176)
What Next?
Nothing much else in March because of some other commitments, except for Cambridge United v Northampton Town on 29th, but I hope to get a few more grounds ticked before the end of the season. I suspect Everton will be my priority somehow at the start of 2025-26. I have 34 left at Step 4 but I dare say that promotion and relegation will change that. I’d like to get that list done by the end of next season if at all possible. It’s not realistic for me to try to get any further down the pyramid than that!