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.