Leighton Fall at the Newmarket Hurdle

 

Hopperational Details
Date & Venue	Saturday 26 September 2026 at The NYO Stadium
Result	Newmarket Town 2 Leighton Town 1
Competition	FA Trophy 3rd Qualifying Round
Hopstats	Ground number 822 on my lifetime list. I am here non-randomly as it is my closest unvisited Step 4 ground and I’d needed to do some get-ahead lesson planning for the day job before leaving Chateau Yapp!
Context
Newmarket Town (The Jockeys) play at Step 4 in the Isthmian League Division One North. They arrive at this fixture following earlier wins at Haringey Borough (on penalties) and 5-2 at home to Gorleston in the previous two rounds. Leighton Town are now in Step 3 Southern Premier Central following their promotion at the end of last season. They enter the FA Trophy at this stage.
Match Report
The Jockeys turned the game around in the second half and rode their luck in the final few minutes for a memorable win. Leighton had already had one nervy moment early on when their keeper Carlos Simeon slipped on the artificial surface, but they took the lead in the 11th minute. Tyler Winters scored with a close range header after a free kick. Although the home side improved after that, the next clear chance also fell to the visitors. Kyal Williams executed a sharp turn and shot just wide. Both teams fluffed chances and half chances before the interval. If two half chances equal one chance in the xG calculations, then the teams were comparable. I wrote in my notes that the game was not over but it would be if Newmarket don’t become more clinical in their finishing. The home side did indeed make a flying start to the second half. The first time the ball hit the back of the net, scored from a rebound off Simeon, the assistant’s flag signalled offside. However, within a minute the ball was crossed in, headed on to the bar, and the rebound poked in by Elliott Reeves to bring the scores level. I found out later that this was his debut for the club. Just before the hour, a neat one-two created a good chance for Leighton, but Newmarket countered and a good pass from Ben Nolan released Reeves who coolly produced a sidefoot finish for his second. The Leighton keeper Simeon fell awkwardly after an aerial challenge and there was a lengthy stoppage before to general spectator bemusement he rejected both stretcher and crutches and opted to carry on. He showed discomfort from booted clearances thereafter but got no sympathy from the home supporters. With a nominal 83 minutes on the clock but lots of time to be added, Newmarket lived dangerously by presenting substitute Sydney Ibie with a shooting chance. They somewhat curiously left themselves very exposed particularly down their left flank, but Leighton did not exploit the space. The closing minutes included lots of action in the home penalty area as Leighton sent crosses in with increasing desperation. Home keeper James Young needed to make a good save, the clock showing 94 minutes now. It went on to complete its cycle and stop at 0.00, but Young made two more good catches under pressure. Ibie and home sub Emmanuel Osei-Owusu needed to be separated from pushing and shoving each other as a diversion, but Newmarket held on for the win.
So What?
Cliché time : Newmarket are in the hat for the next round and Leighton are not etc etc as per usual.
Pix
Newmarket in yellow and blue. The only advice that I would give to other hoppers is that some areas of the club car park are currently very pitted, with temporary repairs in place. Be careful when parking and leaving, especially if dark. Comfortable main stand, friendly volunteers, good 3G surface for “game on” hops in the winter months. Best pre-match music of the season, was almost sorry when it was time for kickoff. I watched from the back of the main stand.
Goalkeeper Top Colour Stats Update
The background to this, and the latest keeper top colour league table, is here on this dedicated page. Today, Green beat Orange as expected. Pre-match Prediction based on Keeper Top Colour: Prediction: Home Win Was the prediction correct? Yes % of correct predictions so far 48% (112 from 231)
What Next?
Big game in the WSL (Sunday 27th) – Chelsea Women v Arsenal Women.

Tidings of Runcorn and Joie

 

e-Programme front cover from Runcorn

 

Hopperational Details
Dates & Venues	Saturday 27 September 2025 at the Apec Taxis Stadium, Stockham Lane and Sunday 28 September 2025 at the Joie Stadium, Manchester
Results	Runcorn Linnets 1 Ashton United 1 & Manchester City Women 4 London City Lionesses 1
Competitions	FA Cup 3rd Round Qualifying and Women’s Super League respectively
Hopstats	Grounds 809 & 810 on the lifetime list and I am here for the logistic chance of a north-west weekend double after a last-minute window of opportunity opened up for me to travel.
Contexts
Linnets, of Step 4, have beaten Clitheroe (H, 1-0), Whitchurch Alport (A, 3-0), West Didsbury & Chorlton (A, 2-0) and Pickering Town (A, 2-0) in earlier rounds to set up this tie against Step 3 opponents. United entered two rounds later and have seen off Hallam (A, 2-2 & H, 2-0) and Scarborough Athletic (H, 2-0). In the Sunday game, Manchester City Women will be hoping to mount a title challenge again whereas Lionesses are newly-promoted (but well-financed).
Match Reports
The Runcorn game started brightly – no cagey openings here. Both teams and the referee sought to set the tone and Linnets’ Matty Rain received an early yellow card. Fortunately, no later card for him although there were several more during the afternoon. Ashton looked more threatening and were unlucky not to take an 11th minute lead when a deflection bounced up nicely for the home keeper. Linnets’ Scott Bakkor joined Rain in the ref’s notebook for dissent and I began to wonder whether a red card would change this game – but as it happened, no. It all continued as a good contest with the Step 3 visitors on top but creating no more clear chances. Runcorn started to show their own ambition and needed to snuff out an Ashton break when they had left themselves exposed. Then with 43 minutes gone, a magnificent save by Ashton’s Jordan Eastham kept out Peter Wylie’s header. This was a one-handed flyer of a save, quite magnificent. However, Runcorn did score in the final minute of the first half through Ryan Brooke – the proverbial team-talk changer and the pyramid underdogs ahead at the break. Linnets had Declan McLoughlin to thank for a goalline clearance early in the second half. The swirling and gusty breeze was strengthening somewhat and Ashton’s first corner had caused defensive chaos. Jason Gilchrist then went close for Ashton before Runcorn hit the bar at the other end, that chance being created after good work down the right flank by Joe Ferguson right in front of me. The home side had grown in stature during the afternoon. Subs began to be deployed and Ashton added height with Tom Denton, although the breeze meant that picking him out was going to be tricky. As we entered the final minutes even Eastham joined the attack and might have been caught out from distance on one occasion. In a crazy and frantic few minutes there was a brilliant block by Adam Rooney. It was 90+4 on my watch before Gilchrist punctured the Runcorn defence with the Ashton equaliser. I love a footballing cliché, me, and both teams will feel they should have won this. A really good contest for the passing neutral. Scroll down for pix. My Sunday WSL game will have been well-covered elsewhere for anyone interested so I will be brief. The Joie is an impressive facility as part of the Etihad complex. This was a routine win for Manchester City in the end, whose first half moments of class set up goals for Vivienne Miedema and Laura Blindkilde Brown. Nikita Parris pulled one back for London as City didn’t always look comfortable at the back. It has to be said that there would be more atmosphere, however, on Mars compared with other top WSL games that I have watched recently at Chelsea (both venues), Arsenal (Emirates), Manchester United (Leigh) and West Ham. It was cathedral-like at times as Bunny Shaw added two second-half penalties for the home side. With Arsenal faltering with a couple of early-season draws, City remain best-placed to challenge Chelsea for the title. Two more early-career graduates regret not choosing maths, physics or chemistry
So What?
Runcorn and Ashton replay on Tuesday. Manchester City women are currently third and London City are ninth (of twelve) in the WSL.
Pre-and Post-match Entertainment
Too much time in the car, sadly. Only just made it in time for Linnets and on Sunday the Yappmobile in-car GPS more or less gave up trying to advise me on lane discipline in Manchester, leaving me to fend for myself at some interesting interchanges with vehicles coming at me from all sides like wasps to a jamjar. Then it was almost five hours back home with the Ryder Cup singles on the radio.
Pix
Linnets in yellow (of course).
Goalkeeper Top Colour Stats Update
The background to this, and the latest keeper top colour league table, is here on this dedicated page. On Saturday, Orange and Blue shared the spoils. On Sunday, Pink beat Yellow. However, no clean sheets for anyone. Pre-match Predictions based on Keeper Top Colour: Predictions: Away Win (Sat) and Home Win (Sun) Was the prediction correct? No & Yes % of correct predictions so far 48% (94 from 197)
What Next?
Forward planning and commitment impossible at the moment, so watch out for a last-minute decision for Saturday. The #keepertopcolourstats prediction goes out in the toxic wasteland of Twitter/X (@ModusHRandom) just before kickoff and no-one reads it except Elon Musk, I think. My hopping priorities when the chances arise are Everton (Premier League), Worcester City (Step 3), Liverpool Women’s WSL home in St Helens and 30 Step 4 grounds.

 

Wimborne to be Wild after Late Farnham Equaliser

 

 

Hopperational Details
Date & Venue	Saturday 23rd August 2025 at The Memorial Ground
Result	Farnham Town 1 Wimborne Town 1
Competition	Southern League Premier Division South (Step 3)
Hopstats	Ground #803 on the lifetime list. I’m in the area this bank holiday weekend and this ground was on my priorities list.
Context
Farnham are new in Step 3 this season and have started well with two wins and a draw. Wimborne have one win, one draw and one defeat.
Match Report
It looked early on that we could expect goals today. A heavy touch from the Farnham keeper Zaki Qualah almost led to a chance for Wimborne to score from distance, and then the Wimborne keeper Cam Plain made one of the best saves I've seen for ages with a one-handed save. Farnham's Ben Purcell also needed to make a superb defensive intervention, so it was a bit of a surprise that we waited as long as 27 minutes for the opening goal. Wimborne took the lead as Max Bustamante poked in a rebound after his side had caused chaos with two corners in quick succession. Farnham missed their first chance to equalise with Bobby-Joe Taylor's skied penalty miss just before the interval after Jack Dean had been tripped. A decent game so far with plenty of goalmouth action, and I managed to suppress my need to straighten some wonky team pictures in the clubhouse during the break. The teams traded chances again in the second half. Plain saved well with his feet and then his team hit the post. Farnham, having made five changes, were still very much in the game. It took a goal-line clearance by Drew Ecott-Young on 77 minutes to protect the visiting lead. The hosts had two more chances in the closing minutes and Wimborne defenders were frequently getting their bodies in the way. The Farnham joy had to wait until several minutes of added time had passed. Brandon Mason, who had often been involved in foraging down the spaces on the left flank, was brought down on the byline. This time Great Evans did the honours from the spot and kept the Farnham unbeaten run going with the last meaningful kick of the game. Definitely a good hopping day out in the sunshine for this passing neutral.
So What?
The teams will complete their weekend double-headers on Monday as follows: Farnham travel to Dorchester and Wimborne host Weymouth.
Pre-match Entertainment
A stroll around the very attractive streets and alleyways of Farnham town centre, with lots of historical and architectural interest, then walking to the ground via the churchyard and along the edge of Bishop’s Meadow. If you are making a day of it, be prepared for car parking to cost as much as your match ticket!
Pix
Farnham in claret and blue.
Goalkeeper Top Colour Stats Update
The background to this, and the latest keeper top colour league table, is here on this dedicated page. Today Yellow played Green. Pre-match Prediction based on Keeper Top Colour: Prediction: Away Win Was the prediction correct? No % of correct predictions so far 48% (90 from 188)
What Next?
This tick leaves me with Everton (Premier League) and Worcester City (Southern League Premier Central) to restore my coverage of “everywhere in England down to Step 3”. In the meantime, as I am in Portsmouth for the weekend, I plan to make the short journey to AFC Portchester on Monday.

 

Quorn Mete Out a Bard-Bashing

 

Note to loyal readers : I am back on Twitter/X as @ModusHRandom this season, just for the blog. No politics, education, science or general life events this time. I remain of the view that Elon Musk is a deluded, self-interested and manipulative individual and that Twitter under his stewardship has become a toxic mess. However, so many lower-league clubs are still using it for their communications I will need it later in the season to check on pitch inspections and so on. Roughly one third of the 1500 followers on my original account were football-related, and if you care to follow again then you are more than welcome. The spirit of the blog remains unchanged for the new season.

Hopperational Details
Date & Venue	Saturday 16 August 2025 at the Stotto Stadium
Result	Quorn 5 Stratford Town 2
Competition	Southern League Premier League Central (Step 3)
Hopstats	First game of the season, 801 on the lifetime list and I am here for the chance to edge closer towards completing all current Step 3 grounds again.
Context
Quorn are new to Step 3 and have started the season well with a win and a draw. Stratford have lost both league games so far and have yet to score.
Match Report
I wasn’t close to the penalty decision that meant that my golden goal ticket went in the bin even earlier than usual. Zak Goodson got to a through ball first and poked it past the Stratford keeper, Jake Weaver, but away from the goal (I thought). However, it was clear that Weaver brought the striker down with significant contact, and Goodson converted the penalty himself. The Quorn lead was doubled in the 15th minute. The goal seemed to be a surprise. Initially credited in the stadium to Rodrigo Goncalves, it now seems to have been recorded as an own goal. This time Stratford hit straight back and it was a good finish by Ty Deacon. He latched on to a neat through ball, turned the onrushing defender, and buried it inside the post. The scores were level after 25 minutes. Left fullback Finlay Brennan arrived in the six-yard box at the right time to score into the top left corner as the ball came across. There were remonstrations within the Quorn side as the defence showed their frustration with their colleagues that they had lost the ball in a dangerous central area. It mattered not much in the end. Goodson got his second goal with a left-foot finish just after the half-hour mark and then it took some restorative heroics from home keeper Tom Allsopp to protect the lead. A colleague’s sliced clearance dropped from high into the area and his initial punch was ineffective, but he bravely rushed out to block the resulting shot. So, the score was 3-2 at the end of a very entertaining and open first half. During the interval I kept my Duolingo streak going and put my 50:50 ticket in the bin.  There were fewer chances in the second half, although it was still a very entertaining game, until Quorn added two more in the closing stages, both through substitute Cain Noble. His first was a good finish at the end of a well-worked break and the second was more of an opportunistic poach after some penalty-area pinball. Overall I felt that 5-2 was slightly harsh on Stratford, but Quorn definitely impressed with their one-touch approach play. An excellent start to the groundhopping season for this passing neutral. When you arrive as a hopper, a question that often comes to mind is whether the home club has enough people who care about it. From turnstiles to snack bar to clubhouse, it looks like a Yes for Quorn and they look very well set up to be competitive at Step 3.
So What?
I usually refuse on principle to comment on league tables so early in the season but the current one makes much better viewing for Quorn fans than Stratford fans.
Pix
Quorn in red.
Goalkeeper Top Colour Stats Update
The background to this, and the latest keeper top colour league table, is here on this dedicated page. Today two very different shades of green (home and away shown below) concede seven goals between them, but not enough mutual damage to displace Green from third place in the table, now based on my last 331 games.    Pre-match Prediction based on Keeper Top Colour: Prediction: Draw Was the prediction correct? No % of correct predictions so far 48% (89 from 186)
What Next?
Advance planning is tricky for me these days so expect last-minute decisions. Promotions have increased my number of unvisited Step 4 grounds to 37, and at Step 3 I now have Worcester City (again) and Farnham Town to visit to restore full coverage of that tier. At higher levels of course, there is Everton’s new stadium too, at some future date which is unlikely to be soon due to ticket availability. Thanks, as ever, for stumbling across this blog.