Witton Wisdom of the North

Hopperational Details
Date & Venue	Saturday 26 September 2020 at the Neuven Stadium
Result	Radcliffe 1 Witton Albion 4
Competition	Northern Premier League (Step 3)
Hopstats	Ground 713 on the lifetime list, and if anyone asks I was here for an eye test. Radcliffe and Witton sounds a bit like a northern independent optician chain. This completes Step 3 for me, but there are some new grounds higher up the pyramid.
Context
Third competitive game of the season for both clubs. Witton have lost both (one league, one FA Cup). Radcliffe lost their opening league game but had a remarkable 5-3 comeback FA Cup win over Workington in midweek.
In One Sentence
Ruthless and streetwise display from Witton, as a first-half hat-trick from Scott Bakkor secured the points.
So What?
Too early to say. I don’t believe in having league tables this soon!
Match Report
The grey-haired player warming up for Witton looked familiar and a quick search reminded me that Steve McNulty (ex Luton and Tranmere among others) had signed. Witton were two up before he’d had too much to do. Scott Bakkor’s first goal was an unstoppable shot from long range in the fifth minute and it was the second chance for the visitors who had started very impressively. He got his second with a low shot into the corner after only nine minutes and Radcliffe were stunned. They reacted well and created a chance, drawing a double save by Chris Renshaw in the Witton goal. The second shot was from an offside position though he wouldn’t have known that. In fact, Renshaw was quite busy and Radcliffe had already shown this week that a two-goal deficit is not insurmountable. It was interesting to watch McNulty at work, organising others and reading the game so as to be in the right place at the right time. Just after the half-hour he mistimed a header that went straight up in the air, but he did enough to challenge for the second ball and the subsequent clearance went down the centre to Bakkor who was through one-on-one. He rounded the keeper Cameron Belford to the right and completed a notable first-half treble. Renshaw was called upon again to save, this time with his feet after a mazy direct run by Jean Louis Akpa-Akpro. I made a note that this first half had not been as one-sided as the score suggests, but Witton had been clinical. Half-time: Radcliffe 0 Witton Albion 3 The second half was less explosive until the last few minutes. There was no need for Witton to take any risks, and Radcliffe still failed to find a cutting edge. They went close from a Matty Crothers freekick which clipped the top right of the crossbar but also had to clear a Witton effort off their line. Radcliffe finally got on the scoresheet with ten minutes left, as Crothers scored from another direct free kick. Any hope of another comeback was extinguished by a defensive slip. Belford did well with an initial save from sub Steven Tames but the rebound fell to Will Jones who had an empty net in front of him. Belford had more work to do before the end, with two more decent saves in stoppage time. Good, entertaining game for the passing neutral.
Match Pix
Radcliffe in blue.
Ground Pix
Many groundhoppers like old-school character and personality for their ticks and this place has plenty. I’m a big fan of standard front doors appearing in random places, and people watching over the walls from their adjacent gardens. This club felt welcoming and friendly from the moment of arrival.
The Covid Commentary
Today was less of a risk for me personally than a normal day in my school workplace, where I spend two hours at a time in the company of teenagers, albeit very sensible ones and in a well-ventilated room. I can again give a club credit for doing its best. There was signage, there were announcements, there were one-way systems, there were seat markings, there were advanced online tickets linked to track and trace details. However, yet again there was a significant degree of non-compliance among the largely male crowd in attendance. A PA request to socially distance more adjacent to the bar area got a partial response, and this is the first time I’ve seen a club making an extra effort to enforce the expectations. I felt absolutely fine at a personal level. I had my own space and everyone was courteous. As with all matches I have attended this season, people are in effect making their own friend-and-family bubbles. Any government official looking on today would never suggest going beyond 500 or so for any football match. The photos I took today are representative of what is really happening all over the country. On the drive home, I heard Chris Sutton on BBC 606 asking why more spectators can’t be allowed to watch football under socially distanced conditions. The answer, Chris, is that sadly there is no evidence whatsoever that football fans would respect the expectations, even when the club does everything to make it easily possible to comply. Anything more than this kind of number would come into even more close contact on their journeys to the ground and in the pre-match pubs and fast-food places. I can imagine that the lower league season could go on like this almost indefinitely, and without getting too much into the science (but track down my Facebook page if you want to see more commentary) I just cannot see bigger numbers being allowed back into the professional leagues this season. I hope I’m wrong, but if what I am seeing at lower league football is typical, and taking this alongside the emerging picture from schools and universities, then we should be headed for a no-alternative two-week circuit-breaker lockdown in October so that politically less acceptable decisions can be avoided around Christmas.
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 214 matches is here, on this separate page. Today, Purple loses to Radioactive Bile and drops one place in the table, but neither gets a clean sheet bonus. The prediction success rate dips below 50% once again. Pre-match Prediction based on Keeper Top Colour: Prediction: Home Win Was the prediction correct? No % of correct predictions so far 49% (34 from 69) 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! My priorities will be Brentford, Gloucester City, York City and Boston United but these may not be possible anytime soon. I have fourteen Step 4 grounds left to complete, not including Guernsey who are taking a year out of competition, and there is a chance of ticking one of them next weekend in the FA Cup. Which one may depend on clarification about spectators from the FA, for those who are hosting a Step 2 side, and of course on ticket availability.

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.

Battering Rams

 

Hopperational Details
Date & Venue	Saturday 12 September 2020 at Southwood Stadium
Result	Ramsgate 0 Chipstead 3
Competition	FA Cup Preliminary Round
Hopstats	Happy Birthday to the blog itself! Modus Hopper Random took its first tentative steps on Friday 10 September 2010, announcing its own birth just before heading out to Witney United v Kidlington. The match report followed two days later after I got to grips with the Blogger interface, and I’m pleased that the tradition of punning in the post title has been maintained ever since, along with some tongue-in-cheekiness. This is ground 711 on the lifetime list and I am here non-randomly because the club made tickets available online in plenty of time.
Context
Not much that can be said as it is the first competitive game of the season for both these Step 4 Isthmian League sides. Ramsgate are in the South-East and Chipstead are in the South-Central divisions respectively. The league seasons start next week, all being well.
In One Sentence
Competence from Chipstead and below par from Ramsgate, and in the end a comfortable win.
So What?
Ramsgate concentrate on the league, Chipstead are in the hat for the next round, and any other clichés applicable in this situation.
Pre-match Entertainment
On arrival in the town, a few miles around the harbour and along the promenade, taking in the uniquely English seaside vibe. Very pleasant, it has to be said. Trivia: Smack Boys were mostly from the workhouse and were the apprentices on the fishing vessels, known as smacks. At the ground, my first bacon baguette in six months followed by a bit of hanging around a cage at a safe distance from the youngsters watching Jack Downer aka Street Panna (he’s an influencer just like me (cough) except with 185x more followers and better hair) demonstrating his nutmeggery tekkers. I also observed sterling work by the club’s mascot. Now there was a man not at ease with his costume on a very warm day, but he stuck to his task – and his trousers – well. Street Panna (Jack Downer) makes some more links
Match Report
The first half was soporific and forgettable in the warm sunshine. One Chipstead shot was beaten away, and some of the supporters started discussing politics instead. I heard the raised voices before I realised the context. It didn’t go well, and I have more to say on this below. On the pitch, at last there was some football action of note with virtually the last kick of the half. Tom Collins was fouled and hit the bar with the resulting freekick. The rebound ended up with a chance taken by Spencer Cripps to open the scoring. Half-time: Ramsgate 0 Chipstead 1 Chipstead killed the game off more or less with two more goals before the hour mark. A bouncing ball caused defensive problems for Ramsgate. Again Collins was involved in challenging for the initial cross, and the ball popped up for Jack Beadle to loop a gentle header over the keeper and over the line. Within two minutes, the best goal of the day, and annoyingly for Ramsgate scored on the break after they had at last threatened something themselves. Sam Bell, who was frequently the outlet for Chipstead attacking moves on the right flank, broke clear into a good central position and buried the shot.  That was more or less game over, but still with time for Oliver Pain to save a Ramsgate penalty by diving to his right. The home side will have to have better days when the league season starts up.
Pix
This is a fantastic venue with an old-school feel. Ramsgate in red.
Opinion
Congratulations to Ramsgate FC for taking the chance to spruce up the ground before the start of the season. The stewarding and signage was very good, and very sensible and clear one-way systems were in operation for the refreshments. I arrived early and the ground was already alive with two children’s matches and street-soccer activity in the two cages at one end of the ground. It felt very warm and vibrant. Ticketing arrangements had been very good too, and I generally felt safe and uncompromised in relation to hygiene and social distancing. The manager gave an interview over the PA before kickoff and made a point of welcoming the supporters and especially the large number of youngsters in attendance. At a couple of points during the match, the club was let down somewhat by the unchallenged behaviour of some of its supporters. Two grown men got into a very loud political argument lasting several minutes and their language, unparliamentary shall we say, was embarrassing. They have the right to hold their opinions of course but the rest of us, including the large number of youngsters in the vicinity, should not have to put up with that. The debate technique consisted of shouting and swearing loudly until the other participant gave up and walked off. I also watched a bunch of youngsters deliberately discard and crush their drinks cans, leaving them on the floor for someone else to clear up with a bin no more than ten paces away. In days gone by I might have said something in both cases, as I would in my workplace of course, but in 2020 and at the age of 62 I feel less inclined to put myself into those situations in public. It just takes a bit of the shine off the day. Mr Shouty was very concerned about protecting English culture from the invaders. If this is representative of it he can keep it, and the club and its excellent army of volunteers deserves better. As at all of the matches I’ve attended this season, spectators were largely considerate of spacing to other people but are clearly paying scant attention to social distancing in their chosen friend-and-family groups. Certainly among the dozens of youngsters watching the cage action, there was no evidence of social distancing or of relevant parental expectation. As for me, I felt safe enough and would go again because it was possible for me to err on the side of caution and find open spaces without being forced into difficult situations.
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 212 matches is here, on this separate page. Today, Blue loses to Purple, and the clean sheet sends Purple several places up the league table. The overall prediction success rate falls below 50% for the first time in 67 games. Pre-match Prediction based on Keeper Top Colour: Prediction: Home Win Was the prediction correct? No % of correct predictions so far 49% (33 from 67) 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 in the direction of the latter.
What Next?
Follow @GrahamYapp on Twitter! If possible I will tick off one of my two remaining Step 3 grounds at Atherton Collieries next weekend.