Show of Substance from The Moles

The programme is recycled from 28 February when the original fixture was postponed.  Intriguingly, there are two "blacked-out" sections where manual changes have been made to something that must have been considered in hindsight to be unwise, offensive or libellous.

Hopperational details
Date & Venue	Wednesday 8 April 2015 at 412 Walton Road
Result	Molesey 5 Epsom & Ewell 0
Competition	Combined Counties Premier (Step 5)
Hopping	Ground 561, chosen for geographical reasons.
Pre-match preparation
Molesey are second in the league but have games in hand over leaders Camberley Town, so technically they have the title in their own hands despit having lost the last two league games.  Epsom & Ewell have top-half-of-the-table respectability.
This match in one sentence
A dominant performance from the title-chasing home side.
So what?
The gap to Camberley is five points but two matches in hand, and the leaders come here to Moseley on Saturday 18 April.  That could well turn out to be a title decider.
The drama unfolds
Molesey’s intentions were clear from the start.  After only two minutes, Joe Pratley-Jones sent a great ball into the channel for Matt Baxter whose shot was only just wide.  My first clip to set the scene is after ten minutes and contains a fair bit of defending by the visitors!  Molesey are in white and black. Epsom & Ewell weathered the early storm and might even have taken the lead after unselfish play from Kyle Hough (or Ryll Hughes as he appeared on the teamsheet!) set up a shooting chance, scuffed by Matt Farrell.  It took a penalty to break the deadlock.  Reis Stanislaus is a big lad but someone pushed him over and Baxter scored from the spot.  1-0 after 21 mins Baxter is about to open the scoring Molesey were well on top now and there were several instances of brave goalkeeping by Michael Eacott.  They had clearly been working on corner-kick routines too.  The second goal duly came along.  James McShane broke free and rounded the keeper before being tripped.  The referee had the presence of mind to wave play on as Stanislaus arrived at speed to bury the shot.  At least the keeper got to stay on the pitch that way!  2-0 after 36 mins McShane got on the scoresheet himself just before the interval.  3-0 after 44 mins and at HT. Any thoughts that the home side might take a breather were banished soon after the restart and Baxter lofted the ball over the keeper for a neat goal.  4-0 after 48 mins I made my second clip coincide with the passage overhead of the International Space Station.  It’s the white dot visible after 20 seconds, though my camera pan makes it look faster than it really appears.  Maybe you had to be there. Molesey soon had their fifth goal, Dre Grobler finishing well in a one-on-one.  5-0 after 59 mins Molesey hit the post after an unintentional flick by Tom Windsor, and they did try for number six.  Their attacking unit played well and linked effectively, with McShane prominent.  Epsom & Ewell for their part kept their heads up but they could not even get a consolation goal.  Final score 5-0
Ground Pix
More balcony space than at Orient!
Match Pix
Something You Don’t Get in the Premier League
I can't take the credit for the term "Scooby Tree" but this one has eyes.  With a bit of editing, below, this one would scare off any camper van full of stereotypes and their dog(s).
Goalkeeper Top Colour Stats
This was green against green (albeit differing shades) so nothing much to report.  Will update the table later in the month.
What Next?
Follow @GrahamYapp on Twitter for details!  Probably next up Cambridge United v Accrington Stanley on Saturday.

Alton Town Moved by Epsom Assaults

Hopperational details
Date & Venue	Saturday 3 August 2013 at the Alton (Bass) Sports Ground
Result	Alton Town 0 Epsom & Ewell 1 (Panayi 51)
Competition	Combined Counties Premier League (Step 5)
Hopping	I am here for ground #513 on my lifetime list because I let four county cricket teams make the decision for me.  See http://modushopperrandom.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/a-spin-off-for-groundhoppers.html for details.  I am in Hampshire because Michael Carberry scored 94 against Glamorgan.  It’s random(ish) and it kept twelve people entertained during Friday.
Pre-match preparation
Alton Town have been geographically shifted from the Wessex League and this is their first-ever game in the Combined Counties League today.  Recently, there has been a scare for them as their landlords (the Molson-Coors brewery) gave them notice to quit their ground, but - perhaps helped by a significant local response to a petition – today’s match programme explains that there are now developing plans for a new ground and 3G pitch nearby.
This match in one sentence
The visitors dominated proceedings by and large but almost paid for their wastefulness up front.
So what?
That is the first game of the new league season for both teams, so much too early for any sensible predictions.
The drama unfolds
Quite how we got to half-time with a 0-0 scoreline I am not sure – Epsom & Ewell bossed the game from the opening minutes and created over a dozen half-chances as opposed to one solitary but decent chance for the hosts.  Alton defenders Rikki Long and Luke Axton-Hall both made goal-saving clearances from the 6-yard line, and Jamie Phillips was quietly relieved that his header went over his own crossbar as the visitors pressed again.  They hit the post for the first time with a direct freekick on 34 minutes before I took this scene-setting clip.  Alton are in white.  0-0 at half-time Epsom & Ewell started the second half where they had left off and soon pinged the woodwork again.  However, Anthony Panayi soon scored what proved to be the only goal to cue a delightfully over-the-top mass writhing orgy of a goal celebration.  I can’t tell you much more about the goal as I was involved in a complex relationship with a bottle of tomato ketchup at that precise moment in time.  0-1 after 51 minutes Substitutions were made and Epsom’s goalkeeper Kieran Campbell earned his match fee with two blocks in quick succession as Alton began to play with more threat.  The teams exchanged chances in an end-to-end finale that saw the home goalpost hit once more after a full-length save by Cathel McLean.  In the end, a fair result on the balance of play.  Final score 0-1
Ground Pix
Sadly, no action at the Alton Social Bowls Club today ...
Match Pix
Something random – Meet Michael
When, at a non-league ground, you meet a man with a bell carrying Sylvester and Tweety-Pie, you simply have to ask for a photo with a view to www publication.  Michael, I salute you, and I gather this is not the first time you have been mentioned in despatches.  He is an Alton Town supporter of fifty years’ standing.
Huddle Stats
New this season on MHR – let’s find out whether the pre-match huddle makes a difference. Alton Town huddled, Epsom & Ewell didn’t.  Alton Town lost. Huddling is a BAD thing on this occasion. 2013-14 So Far: Non-Huddlers - P1 W1 D0 L0 GF 1 GA 0 Pts 3 PPG 3.00 Huddlers - P1 W0 D0 L1 GF 0 GA 1 Pts 0 PPG 0.00
Goalkeeper Top Colour Stats
Also new for this season. I vaguely remember Petr Cech having a theory that orange was the best colour for goalkeeping tops.  Let’s find out whether there is any substance to it.  I will arbitrarily give 5pts for a clean sheet and -1 (minus 1) for each goal conceded. Alton’s keeper had a yellow top and conceded one goal. E&E’s keeper had a grey top and kept a clean sheet. 2013-14 So Far: Grey Tops P1 GC 0 CS 1 Pts 5 PPG 5.00 Yellow Tops P1 GC1 CS 0 Pts -1 PPG -1.00
Hopping for Moorfields Update
Just waiting for a few sponsors to return from their summer holiday but I hope very soon to be sending a big cheque to Moorfields Eye Charity which, when some Gift Aid is applied, will be worth over £800 to them.  It’s not too late to make a small contribution – remember the original idea of this is that LOTS of people would give small amounts – and this recent post tells you how to go about it.  Thanks in advance, and thanks too to all the sponsors who have already paid up. http://modushopperrandom.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/hopping-for-moorfields-call-for-payment.html
What Next?
Follow @GrahamYapp on Twitter for announcements!

I hope you’ll enjoy the 2013-14 format for the MHR blog.  I have tried to freshen it up without losing its essential tongue-in-cheekiness, and to reflect the fact that I am now out of semi-retirement and back in the classroom full-time.  In particular, the video clips were receiving very few hits so I have scaled back on these apart from an essential scene-setter.  You may also have to put up with a rant on educational issues from time to time.  Thanks as ever for your support and interest.  This season I will catch up on a few new venues (e.g. Barnet) and complete my lists down to all of step 3 at least, as well as paying plenty of attention again to the early rounds of the FA Cup and the FA Vase.