Salford City - Industry, Integrity and Different Gravy

Hopperational details
Date & Venue	Saturday 2 April 2016 at Moor Lane
Result	Salford City 5 Grantham Town 0
Competition	Northern Premier League (Step 3)
Hopping	Ground 583, my first match of 2016 (work reasons) and chosen for convenience from my hoppriority list of ten unvisited Step 3 grounds because I am in the area for other reasons.
Pre-match preparation
I have been paying just enough attention in recent months to notice that Salford are having a good season, and had a decent FA Cup run with TV exposure too.  They are now in a good position to make the playoffs.  One of the co-owners, a certain Gary Neville, may be at a loose end this weekend after leaving Valencia.  This game might not be as easy as the league table suggests as 3rd play 14th.  Salford have won five and drawn one of their last seven league games, and have not conceded a goal in four.  Grantham are unbeaten in their last eight, and have five odd-goal wins and three draws.  I am expecting a competitive, close encounter rather than a one-sided goalfest.
This match in one sentence
A one-sided goalfest.
So what?
The title remains a mathematical possibility but that will probably go to either Blyth or Darlington, depending on the latter’s games in hand.  Salford’s playoff place is in their own hands now with four games to go as they sit 3rd. Grantham look to be safe in mid-table, remaining 14th today,
The drama unfolds
14 mins: a cross from the right-wing was only partly cleared and the ball fell nicely for James Poole who finished beautifully from the 18-yard line.  1-0 27 mins: the hosts doubled their lead with an even better goal from Danny Webber, who curled a right-footer beyond the reach of the Grantham keeper Jake Turner.  2-0 37 mins: the first real chance of note for Grantham Town but Jay Lynch made the block save at his near post – a goal there might just have changed the game.  2-0 at half-time 51 mins: a good tip-over-the-bar save from Turner as Salford continued to threaten. 67 mins: Turner makes two saves in quick succession but eventually pressure led to a brave headed goal by Jordan Hulme.  3-0 79 mins: Grantham were not coping with Salford’s one-touch play in an around the box and another teasing right-wing cross was headed home by Hulme.  4-0 87 mins:  Salford were in no mood for scoring scruffy goals and sub Evan Gumbs fires a grasscutter from distance into the corner.  5-0 This was a very impressive performance from Salford.  Hulme was denied his hat-trick first by Turner then by the post in stoppage time.  Grantham’s day was worsened by a late injury to Lee Shaw which looked like it ended in a visit to hospital.  Final score 5-0
Ground Pix
Forget everything that we thought we knew about Northern Powerhouse economics.  With a price structure like this we should all be selling the Bolivian zinc and investing in the Northern Gravy futures market.
Match Pix
Something You Don’t Get in the Premier League
I can only assume that this is traditional solid Northern careers advice for any youngsters tempted by a move to that London town:
Goalkeeper Top Colour Stats
Blue beats purple and has a clean sheet too.  Updated points table at some unspecified point in the future!
What Next?
Watch @GrahamYapp on Twitter for details!  I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed my first game of 2016.  One day I will restore some work-life balance and pick up the random groundhopping trail again.

Wakeup for Great Wakering as Urchins Go for their Nap

Hopperational details
Date & Venue	Monday 28 December 2015 at Burroughs Park
Result	Great Wakering Rovers 0 AFC Hornchurch 5
Competition	Isthmian League Division One North (Step 4)
Hopping	Ground 582, and here at my nearest unvisited Step 4 ground after the collapse of a Sussex-Kent double header due to the weather.
Pre-match preparation
Minimal because of the late change of plan, but a glance at the table suggested that the visitors would start as favourites.  The thing I liked most about this venue was that Google Maps started by suggesting "Great Wall of China" when I was a few characters into the search.
This match in one sentence
A dominant Hornchurch performance and a win that was as comfortable as the scoreline suggests.
So what?
Great Wakering stay in lower-mid table and Hornchurch reinforce their promotion credentials, firmly in the playoff places at least and still in the hunt for the top spot.
The drama unfolds
Hornchurch took the lead from their first real attack.  Alex Bentley curled home a right-footer from the edge of the area after a rebound fell nicely into his path.  0-1 after 7 mins 0-1 The second goal was very well-taken, a first time shot from 18yds by David Knight, albeit in plenty of space as my photo confirms.  I wrote down the word “ominous” in my notes.  0-2 after 16 mins ... and 0-2 with a superb first-time shot from Knight Knight produced a baby’s pacifier from somewhere about his person for the celebration.  Maybe he should have kept it in – his direct personal abuse of the assistant ref a few minutes later went unpunished.  I can’t believe it was unheard.  The game continued with Hornchurch in the ascendancy until half-time when I crossed paths with @essexfootie in the tea bar queue.  If you are not following this man on Twitter, then you should be.  0-2 at half-time Great Wakering started the second half brightly but Hornchurch also responded immediately and George Purcell smacked the crossbar.  Their next chance came before too long, though, as more good work from Knight on the left created a shooting opportunity.  Home keeper Adam Seal did well to narrow the angle.  He had no chance with the third as Purcell picked up the ball from a miscued clearance.  He had plenty to do but he held off the defenders and shot low into the left corner.  0-3  after 56 mins Great Wakering hit the bar from a distance with 15 minutes to go, and then the rebound was somehow scrambled away from the six-yard box.  Purcell made no mistake, however, with his second of the day, a direct run from midfield and rounding of the keeper.  0-4 after 80 mins The final goal was pinged off the far post by Bentley after some intricate passing around the Great Wakering penalty area.  A very solid performance from the visitors.  0-5 after 85 mins and at full-time I went off to South Mimms Services for soup and one of the most inedible bread rolls in the history of European cuisine, followed by a Lemsip chaser.  Hashtag living the dream.
Ground Pix
Neat, tidy and cared-for.  Plus a mascot called Rover. Rover just wants to join in really ...
Match Pix
Great Wakering Rovers are in the green-and-white.
Something Important in the Local News
Entertainer Sir Bruce Forsyth has mentioned pleasant memories of childhood day trips to Southend in his new book.  This has led to a full-page celebratory article in the current Southend Echo, with an appreciative quote from a councillor with responsibility for tourism.  There is a beach ball in the accompanying photograph, but sadly nothing on Brucie’s opinions about the Isthmian League.
Goalkeeper Top Colour Stats
Grey thrashes blue and has a clean sheet too.  Full table to follow in the new year.
What Next?
Watch @GrahamYapp on Twitter for details!  Taking one day at a time due to manful, which as many hoppers know is very serious.

A Trip to Regent's Treat for Christmas Hopping

Hopperational details
Date & Venue	Sunday 27 December 2015 at North Road
Result	Brightlingsea Regent 1 Heybridge Swifts 0
Competition	Isthmian League Division One North (Step 4)
Hopping	Ground 581, and I am here simply because it is my nearest Step 4 unvisited ground today.
Pre-match preparation
11th plays 20th in the league table.  Most of the prep time was taken up with checking travel and weather information!  I picked up a copy of the local paper on arrival, but was distracted by other local matters.  See below.
This match in one sentence
Brightlingsea held on after an uncertain start to take the three points, helped massively by Heybridge’s late penalty miss.
So what?
Brightlingsea climb to 9th, one of several teams in a chasing pack a few points off the playoff places as things stand.  Heybridge stay 20th but will almost certainly drop to 21st because of games in hand held by teams below.  They are still uncomfortably close to the relegation places, but to be fair this is an improvement of late and they only have two defeats in seven.  They were bottom of the table until fairly recently.
The drama unfolds
To be honest I was feeling pretty rubbish by kickoff time so my details are sketchier than usual.  However I must mention a minute of warm applause for a stalwart amongst the club volunteers, tea lady Rita Loates, who passed away this week at the age of 75.  These things matter in the non-league world. The early exchanges on the pitch probably just about favoured Heybridge, but a high ball dropping vertically into the visitors’ penalty area caused defensive panic and a late tackle.  Jake Turner placed a good penalty low into the bottom left corner to give Regent the lead.  1-0 after 28 mins After that, the home side grew in confidence and the match was pretty even.  Plenty of effort and commitment from both sides, and no further goals before the break.  1-0 at half-time The second half was more of the same.  I made a note that I was predicting one more goal, but not committing myself to either 1-1 or 2-0.  Either side looked as likely as the other.  Then the opportunity to share a point was presented to Heybridge by a trip leading to a penalty, with only ten minutes left.  Unfortunately, the spotkick went wide to the right – I was at the other end and cannot confirm the taker.  Things went from bad to worse almost immediately for Heybridge as Liam Thomas picked up his second yellow card, and Regent were able to hold on for the win.  These looked like two well-matched sides to be honest and in particular Swifts look to have decent team spirit and morale as we enter 2016.  Final score 1-0
Ground Pix
Personally, I love the jaunty font, but it's not one for the traditionalists.
Match Pix
Brightlingsea in the red-and-black ...
From the Current Issue of the Clacton Gazette - Honest
“Wannabe Jedi Master Obi-Mark Kenobi has appeared in court for trying to use The Force to clean up the streets of Clacton …” “Kenobi, 44, who changed his name by deed poll … admitted chasing people with a shovel when he appeared (in court) …” “Standing outside the court in his Jedi outfit, he said: “Obi-Wan Kenobi was a great person – a Jedi.  I watch the older films all the time and have been to see the new one at the IMAX in Ipswich.  I changed my name for a new start.  I want to stop the damage being done in Clacton …” “Kenobi (chose the new name) because “it sounds better than Mark Solo or Mark Skywalker” and he can relate to the journey of Obi-Wan, originally played by Alec Guinness.”
Goalkeeper Top Colour Stats
Yellow beat blue and kept a clean sheet too.  Full table early in the new year.
What Next?
Watch @GrahamYapp on Twitter for details!  A second dose of manful has taken hold during the day and a sneaky double Bank Holiday hop must be in doubt.  I’m on the Lemsip as I write.  Other delivery methods for paracetamol and caffeine are available.

Trams Derailed by Rams Raiders

Hopperational details
Date & Venue	Saturday 26 December 2015 at the Croydon Sports Arena
Result	Croydon 1 Croydon Athletic 2
Competition	Southern Counties East Premier Division (Step 5)
Hopping	Ground 580 and the first trip for me (due to work reasons) since September.
Pre-match preparation
None whatsoever.  I was on my way to Corinthian Casuals for a 1.00pm kickoff when the M25 western section scuppered my plans (not for the first time).  Plan B was this 3.00pm kickoff.  I arrived with about 20 minutes to spare to find friendly staff, apologetic about the lack of clubhouse and teabar today.  I took the news well, bought a golden goal ticket, made my usual joke about the certainty of nil-nil, and pulled out the no-score ticket.  Finding out that this fixture is The Trams v The Rams cheered me up slightly.  I watched the game from the main stand.
This match in one sentence
A late consolation goal for Croydon after the visitors went down to ten men, but the result never really seemed in any doubt.
So what?
Athletic up to 13th and Croydon down to 18th.
The drama unfolds
Louis Blake poked the ball home to give Athletic the early lead.  C11 had bought a free-kick from the ref on the edge of the area and the delivery caused chaos in the home defence.  0-1 after 3 minutes They should have scored a second after half-an-hour (Blake shooting over from close range) and another before the interval (Raheem Sterling-Parker caught between crossing and shooting).  0-1 at half-time Croydon played better in the second half but with no real end product.  The visitors’ second goal came from a far-post corner which was not cleared.  The ball came back into the middle to be bundled home from close range by Sterling-Parker.  0-2 after 66 minutes With nine minutes to go, Callum Maclean got a second yellow, and so a red, taking Athletic down to ten men.  Croydon pulled back a late consolation goal through Karl Douglin, and then had the tiniest sniff of an equaliser, but the stronger team held on for the win. 1-2 after 89 minutes, and final score also 1-2
Ground Pix
Croydon play in a ground with an athletics track.  Croydon Athletic don’t.  The area is a building site at the moment and there is nothing picturesque about it whatsoever.  However, all pales into insignificance as I have had to create a new spreadsheet category (alongside planes, trains, ships, buses) for TRAMS! The Trams (blue) and A Tram (green) Unbelievable.
Match Pix
Five Years of Modus Hopper Random
A quick check of the annals showed that my December hopping was messed up by the M25 five years ago too! http://modushopperrandom.blogspot.co.uk/2010/12/sinking-feeling-in-cinque-port-hythe.html
Goalkeeper Top Colour Stats
Orange beats grey and the two colours swop places in the table.  Full table appears in the blog from time to time.
What Next?
Watch @GrahamYapp on Twitter for details!  Thanks to everyone reading this after my long break from hopping this season.  Work demands have often left me too exhausted or with too little time to take on the driving and travelling at weekends during term-time, and this may well continue for some time yet.  I am going to try to complete my remaining Step 3 grounds before the end of the season, but that may be about all I can do.  Bear with me!