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.

 

  

Money Not Folding at Waterside Park

Hopperational Details
Date & Venue	Saturday 10 November at Waterside Park
Result	Thatcham Town 0 Moneyfields 2
Competition	Southern League Division One South (Step 4).
Hopstats	Ground 664 on the lifetime list and I am here randomishly because the home club were the first from my shortlist of 12 to tweet into my timeline this morning.
Context
15th plays 4th.  Thatcham Town are holders of the FA Vase and in their first season back at this level.  Moneyfields came up from the Wessex League at the end of 2017-18.
In one sentence
A dour midfield battle with few clear chances until the deadlock was broken with a spectacular goal from distance.
So what?
Thatcham stay 15th, Moneyfields up to 3rd.
Match Report
I made very few notes during a dour first half that started in a downpour and was punctuated with frequent stoppages and sharp showers.  Moneyfields looked marginally on top at first but there were no clear chances.  The best moment of skill was a defensive block by the visitors’ centre back (Sam Pearce I think) to deny a shot on goal.  Thatcham’s James Tennant was injured leading to several minutes of stoppage time at the end of the first half. The deadlock was broken with an excellent goal, scored from a good way out by Steve Hutchings to give Moneyfields the lead.  We then witnessed two fouls – one scissor tackle by a Moneyfields defender, but not given, followed by a possibly retaliatory one by Thatcham, given and with a yellow card too.  When Thatcham hit the bar from distance with the keeper well beaten, you sensed it was not their day. Thatcham took the game to Moneyfields, and heads did not drop, but the visitors defended very well.  Moneyfields almost added a second from a set-piece routine before the second goal was also scored by Hutchings.  His shot was partially stopped by the home keeper but rolled slowly over the line.  The home support cheerfully sang about winning again one sunny day, and to be fair, they were more supportive than many supporters that you see.
Pix
I watched from the main stand today because of the intermittent heavy showers.  Thatcham in blue.  Nice Autumnal look about the ground today and a chance to add to my collection of non-league tree pictures.
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 now based on my last 165 games seen. Today, Orange loses to Green, and the latter has another Clean Sheet.  No change in league positions. Pre-match Prediction based on Keeper Top Colour: Prediction: Away Win Was the prediction correct? Yes % of correct predictions so far 70% (14 from 20) 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. 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 40.1 18.0 7.0 15.1 56.0 14.0 75.0 1.870 Grey 48.5 23.0 10.0 15.5 79.5 14.0 69.5 1.433 Green 86.0 43.0 11.0 32.0 145.0 22.0 105.0 1.221 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 19.0 8.0 3.0 8.0 41.0 5.0 11.0 0.579 Orange 39.5 12.0 8.0 19.5 75.5 6.0 -1.5 -0.038 Radioactive Bile 21.0 9.0 0.0 12.0 45.0 3.0 -3.0 -0.143 Yellow 33.0 9.0 7.0 17.0 70.0 5.0 -11.0 -0.333 Pink 17.0 5.0 5.0 7.0 35.0 1.0 -10.0 -0.588 Black 6.0 2.0 3.0 1.0 15.0 0.0 -6.0 -1.000 White 1.9 0.0 0.0 1.9 4.0 0.0 -4.0 -2.105
What Next?
Follow @GrahamYapp on Twitter!  38 Step 4 grounds to go to my next landmark.