Sedge Have the Cutting Edge

 

Hopperational Details
Date & Venue	Saturday 30 October 2021 at The Clayborn Ground, Cleckheaton
Result	Liversedge 4 Scarborough Athletic 0
Competition	FA Trophy 3rd Qualifying Round
Hopstats	Ground 733 on the lifetime list, and I am here because of a pragmatic travel decision today. Only five grounds on my priority list were hosting a game. Two were in areas with a Met Office yellow warning, and this was the nearest of the other three, and the only one I could reach once I had waited to see whether there would be a pitch inspection.
Context
Liversedge are topping their division at Step 4 in one of the Northern Premier League’s lower divisions, whereas Scarborough Athletic are in Step 3 in the Northern Premier League itself. They occupy a mid-table position. Liversedge needed a 10-9 penalty shootout win to see off Clitheroe in the last round, and Scarborough enter the competition at this point. They are managed by Jonathan Greening, whom I saw play many times with distinction for West Brom back in the day.
In One Sentence
Scarborough missed their chances, and though Liversedge missed some too in the first half, in the end they inflicted a heavy defeat on the visitors.
So What?
You know the drill. Knockout football. Liversedge in the draw for the next round, Scarborough concentrating on the league.
Pre-match Entertainment
Nothing to report this week. Given the weather forecasts, I waited until the last minute before travelling. I would have liked to have visited the nearby Jo Cox memorial wood had there been time.
Match Report
There were several hopperatic types with cameras around the ground before kickoff, and I was pleased to cross paths with George of the @ManchopperBlog for the first time. For the passing neutral, this was a good game. Entertaining, end-to-end stuff, and it may be surprising that the visitors were not really out of it until the third goal went in. Having said that, it ended up being a bit too easy for Liversedge, and the visiting fans were making some loudly uncomplimentary views evident towards the end. The young children of Cleckheaton may have learned some new words in the process, shall we say. The teams changed ends after the coin toss. This might have been a stroke of genius on someone’s part because later on the low sun proved tricky for Scarborough’s keeper and defenders. Liversedge had the lead after 11 minutes. A free-kick was only partially cleared and Jack Stockdill’s shot sneaked in off the post. It really ought to have been two shortly afterwards but veteran keeper Michael Ingham was alert and came out to smother a heavy first touch by Nicky Walker. Scarborough clawed their way back into the game. Neat interchanges down the flanks looked good but caused no real defensive damage for the most part. Liversedge were defensively pragmatic and brave where necessary. The visitors had the ball in the net after space was found down the left by Colville but there was an offside flag. Then Liversedge keeper Jon Stewart needed to make a double save from Michael Coulson and Ryan Watson in rapid succession. When Nicky Walker hit the post after 36 minutes you started to wonder whether Liversedge would eventually be left to rue what might have been, especially as they missed two more chances before the break. Admittedly the final one for Paul Walker was from a very tight angle. The start to the second half was clearly going to be an important phase of the game. Coulson was booked for simulation in the penalty area and the Scarborough players were incensed. They surrounded the referee and there was a good deal of accusatory finger-pointing. I was probably the nearest spectator to the incident. Regular readers will know that’s unusual this season. For what it’s worth, I think the referee was right that it was not a penalty. The defender had not committed to any challenge and was stationary with both feet planted on the floor when Coulson ran into him. It was a simple collision rather than a deliberate foul and that is absolutely clear. I can’t really say whether the collision was then followed by a dive.   Liversedge’s second goal, with 54 minutes on the clock, therefore added to the tension. There was an element of fortune for Paul Walker as a clearance rebounded off him to give Ingham no chance. The game continued to be open, and Scarborough were still looking to score, and Stewart had to make another double block to protect the lead. Liversedge were also getting chances on the break and it seemed likely that there were more goals to come. When it did, it opened up the anti-management shouts from the visiting supporters. Scarborough were sliced open on a break down the right and then across to the centre where Ben Atkinson had all the time and space in the world to control and shoot to make it 3-0. The shouts intensified with about ten minutes left when Nicky Walker smashed in a tremendous shot from distance which did that wonderfully satisfying thing of hitting the post before going across the empty goal to the opposite corner. There was some more pushing and shoving in the closing moments leading to a yellow card for each side before the final whistle. You can’t really argue with a 4-0 scoreline but it felt like it should have been a 6-3. Mr Greening has a job on his hands. I suspect that his Liversedge counterpart Jonathan Rimmington will be somewhat chuffed that his side did such a demolition job on their higher-ranked opponents.
Match Pix
Liversedge in the blue-and-white.
Ground Pix
The ground is reached down a narrow lane (Quaker Lane) between houses that initially feels like your SatNav has landed you in trouble. The parking was well-organised by friendly stewards. The stadium has excellent views into the distance and a nice range of heights for watching the match, both covered and uncovered. It’s got a bit of character and quirkiness about it, and is all the better for it. A pre-match rainbow was a visual bonus.
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 statistical significance test by the end of the season. The full keeper top performance table from my last 234 matches is here, on this separate page.   Today, Grey met Blue in a top-of-the-table clash and scored a win and a clean sheet. The overall colour league table positions remain unchanged. Pre-match Prediction based on Keeper Top Colour: Prediction: Home Win Was the prediction correct? Yes % of correct predictions so far 49% (44 from 89) Based on conventional 3pts for a win, 1pt for a draw, but also -1pt for a goal conceded (GC) and +5pts for a clean sheet (CS).  Colours ranked on a points per game (PPG) basis. The odd decimal places were caused either by undeniable half-and-half tops or lower league sub keepers in a different colour.  The Fire Cracker colour was confirmed with the help of the social media team at Dulux UK.  All of this arises from a comment attributed to Petr Cech (and supported by anonymous scientists of some description) that orange is the best colour for a goalkeeper because it changes the behaviour of other players around the box. It is supposedly because of an innate primeval human reaction to the colour and the colour “spreads” more in the vision of a striker at the key moment of decision. Genius or garbage? The evidence is gathering here, and is leaning towards the latter.
What Next?
Follow @GrahamYapp on Twitter! Provisional plan is to re-complete “everywhere in the top seven tiers” by going to Wimborne Town’s new ground next Saturday, but all will be dependent on weather (and CV19, of course). That will leave me fifteen Step 4 grounds to complete the eighth tier, one of which is Guernsey and will need a bit of planning.

Carbon Cop It

Hopperational Details
Date & Venue	Saturday 19 September 2020 at the Skuna Stadium
Result	Atherton Collieries 0 Scarborough Athletic 2
Competition	Northern Premier League (Step 3)
Hopstats	Ground 712 on the lifetime list. I am here non-randomly because this is one of two unvisited Step 3 grounds for me, and the only one hosting a game today. Whether I could complete the tier at Radcliffe next weekend is now in doubt.
Context
First league game of the season for both teams. Debutants on both sides. On balance I went ahead with this trip. From Tuesday, as far as I can understand from the murky world of Covid-19 rules and regulations, this trip would have been allowed but not advised. No wonder we are all so confused.
In One Sentence
Very competent away win as Scarborough took two chances and absorbed everything that the home side could offer as an attacking threat.
So What?
Much too early to say, especially as the radio chat all day was about the prospect of further CV19 lockdowns.
Pre-match Entertainment
I took the scenic route across from Yorkshire to Lancashire as a leisurely drive in the morning sunshine. The rural north of England never fails to make me feel better as I pass through, and this allows me to forgive the locals for putting gravy on your chips if you give them the chance.
Match Report
Scarborough were on the front foot from the first whistle and scored in the second minute, having already threatened once before that. Good work by Michael Coulson eventually led to the scoring opportunity for Nathan Cartman. Colls were forced into backs-to-the-wall defence on another couple of occasions as the visitors settled quicker and imposed themselves on the game. It was half an hour before a home chance of note. The breeze was swirling enough to affect the game. Defenders had to play safe with first-touch clearances and the ball went sailing over the boundary wall at regular intervals. Both teams were forced to play percentages football with balls over the top for strikers to chase down the channels, but defences generally held firm. Colls had the ball in the net but it was correctly ruled offside, and they generally improved as the half went on. Half-time: Atherton Collieries 0 Scarborough Athletic 1 The next goal would be important, it almost goes without saying. It came to Cartman again, a tremendous route one clearance from keeper Ryan Whitely, its trajectory maybe affected by the breeze, put Cartman through behind the defensive line and he kept his composure to roll the ball into the net. The home side made Whitely pull off a few saves, but Scarborough had done the hard work now and looked fairly comfortable. They held on for an impressive win. Not the prettiest game I’ve ever seen, but effective in the conditions and at this early stage of the season.
Match Pix
Ground Pix
This is a great ground with lots of character. If you want to park at the ground, arrive early and be prepared to wait a few minutes at the end. Access is literally around the walkways on two sides. Hopefully the pictures capture the sense of a neat-and-tidy ground with a classic non-league slope.
Opinion
I’ve been commenting this season on the impact of CV19 on the groundhopping experience. Atherton Collieries have clearly taken things seriously as a club and were set up well for the day. Track and trace details were collected efficiently on arrival and the ground was well prepared with signage, floor markings and one-way systems as required. Clear reminders were given over the PA. I felt safe enough in the open air and never felt compromised by proximity. As far as I could see, spectators paid attention to the signs and the one-way systems, and to social distancing from people outside their own family or friendship group, for example in queuing for refreshments or at the entry turnstile. However, there seemed to be little or no attention paid to the floor markings out on the terraces. As I have seen elsewhere, everyone has decided their own bubbles. The limit on the crowd size meant that I could find a clear space for myself, no problem at all, and as I’ve said it was respected by other spectators. Now, here comes the “but…” As I’ve now seen several times, social distancing is not in general being taken as seriously as the government is asking. That comment is carefully phrased to be independent of whether I or you, the reader, agree with their request. My own feeling as a scientist is that the transmission rates are more significant indoors than they would be around the edge of a pitch in a crowd of this size, but even so spectators could have spaced themselves out more but chose not to do so. It has to be said that most of the other clear social distancing that I observed was with those of my age group or older. Younger groups are respecting the wishes of others but not, by and large, that bothered themselves. The advice is (or are they rules? Who knows these days!) not realistically enforceable by volunteer stewards especially when alcohol has been sold. To be clear, I have every sympathy with the club officials who had done their best to create a safe environment. I rather fear that the general population is not showing quite enough common sense, otherwise the numbers would not be moving as much as they are. Anyone from government looking at crowd behaviour at my six matches this season wouldn’t be letting five-figure crowds back into the upper tiers of the professional game anytime soon.
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 statistical significance test by the end of the season. The full keeper top performance table from my last 213 matches is here, on this separate page.  Today, Orange faced Blue. Blue takes the win and a clean sheet, Orange drops below Maroon in the table. The correct prediction took the percentage back to 50%. Pre-match Prediction based on Keeper Top Colour: Prediction: Away Was the prediction correct? Yes % of correct predictions so far 50% (34 from 68) Based on conventional 3pts for a win, 1pt for a draw, but also -1pt for a goal conceded (GC) and +5pts for a clean sheet (CS).  Colours ranked on a points per game (PPG) basis. The odd decimal places were caused either by undeniable half-and-half tops or lower league sub keepers in a different colour.  The Fire Cracker colour was confirmed with the help of the social media team at Dulux UK.  All of this arises from a comment attributed to Petr Cech (and supported by anonymous scientists of some description) that orange is the best colour for a goalkeeper because it changes the behaviour of other players around the box. It is supposedly because of an innate primeval human reaction to the colour and the colour “spreads” more in the vision of a striker at the key moment of decision. Genius or garbage? The evidence is gathering here, increasingly leaning towards the latter.
What Next?
Follow @GrahamYapp on Twitter! If a trip to Radcliffe is ruled out next weekend, then I have my eye on an FA Trophy game at Melksham Town.

Scarborough Win is Fair Enough

Hopperational Details
Date & Venue	Saturday 15 September 2018 at the Flamingo Land Stadium
Result	Scarborough Athletic 3 Basford United 1
Competition	Northern Premier League (Step 3)
Hopstats	Ground 655 on the lifetime list leaving me with two more for the milestone of “everywhere from Premier League to Step 3 in England”, or “The 248”.
Context
A meeting between two upwardly mobile clubs.  Scarborough are back in the town after a period of groundsharing elsewhere, at this new facility.  Basford have a string of recent promotions and it was not that long ago when they were in the Central Midlands League.  8th plays 5th and the visitors are the top scorers in the division.
In one sentence
A solid and deserved win which was only in doubt for a minute or so after the Basford goal.
So what?
Scarborough leap to 6th place, Basford drop to 8th.
Match Report
For the first twenty minutes, the home side dominated territory and possession but really clear chances were hard to come by.  Scarborough’s own defence coped well with the occasional Basford breakout.  The opening goal came after 26 minutes and was deserved on the balance of play.  Basford keeper Kieran Preston’s punched clearance from a corner fell to Bailey Gooda who had time to control and score, possibly with a deflection en route.  The lead was protected easily enough until the interval. The second goal came only five minutes after the restart.  Credit to Nathan Valentine who beat his man on the right flank and curled a great cross on to the head of Michael Coulson, who placed a header neatly back across goal into the corner.  Wayne Brooksby dragged another shot wide as Scarborough threatened to run riot. Basford steadied themselves and got a goal back with just under a quarter-hour left.  A cross from the right was poked in from close range by Nathan Watson and suddenly the result seemed in doubt for the first time.  This state lasted all of two minutes as a trip led to a penalty, and Coulson duly scored his second of the day. Preston saved further goalbound efforts and Scarborough managed the endgame to secure the win, including a bit of coaching ball boys in the dark arts from home keeper Tommy Taylor.  There are times when the keepers are quite happy to get the ball back slowly.
Pix
Scarborough in red.  This is a neat and well-equipped new facility with an artificial pitch.
Obligatory Seaside Pic
Goalkeeper Top Colour Stats
New this season – a pre-match prediction based only on keeper top colours as a preliminary test of the data.  Proper statistical significance test to follow in due course.  Table based on the last 156 games that I’ve watched.  Today, Blue beats Green but no clean sheet for either. Pre-match Prediction based on Keeper Top Colour: Prediction: Home win Was the prediction correct? Yes % of correct predictions so far 73% (8 from 11) Based on conventional 3pts for a win, 1pt for a draw, but also -1pt for a goal conceded (GC) and +5pts for a clean sheet (CS).  Colours ranked on a points per game (PPG) basis. For new readers the odd .5 was caused by a shocking half-and-half shirt and the .1 was due to a substitute goalkeeper in a different colour.  The Fire Cracker colour was confirmed with the help of the social media team at Dulux UK.  All of this arises from a comment attributed to Petr Cech that orange is the best colour for a goalkeeper because it changes the behaviour of other players around the box.  It may not be statistically significant as yet, but football coverage ignores this point as a matter of routine. P W D L GC CS Pts PPG Red 10.0 5.0 1.0 4.0 11.0 3.0 20.0 2.000 Blue 39.1 17.0 7.0 15.1 55.0 14.0 73.0 1.867 Grey 47.5 22.0 10.0 15.5 79.5 13.0 61.5 1.295 Green 82.0 41.0 10.0 31.0 138.0 21.0 100.0 1.220 Fire Cracker 3.0 1.0 0.0 2.0 6.0 1.0 2.0 0.667 Maroon 5.0 2.0 1.0 2.0 9.0 1.0 3.0 0.600 Purple 17.0 7.0 3.0 7.0 38.0 4.0 6.0 0.353 Radioactive Bile 19.0 9.0 0.0 10.0 37.0 3.0 5.0 0.263 Orange 35.5 11.0 7.0 17.5 63.5 6.0 6.5 0.183 Yellow 31.0 8.0 7.0 16.0 65.0 5.0 -9.0 -0.290 Pink 16.0 5.0 5.0 6.0 31.0 1.0 -6.0 -0.375 Black 5.0 1.0 3.0 1.0 14.0 0.0 -8.0 -1.600 White 1.9 0.0 0.0 1.9 4.0 0.0 -4.0 -2.105
What Next?
Follow @GrahamYapp on Twitter!  The plan is to complete “The 248” with visits to Alvechurch and Bamber Bridge over the next two Saturdays.