I Can't Believe it's not a Flora Win

... which means "Thank You!"

Hopperational details
Date & Venue	Saturday 29 October 2016 at i) A Le Coq Arena and ii) Sportland Arena
Results	FC Flora Tallinn 3 JK Sillamäe Kalev 3 Trummi SK Kohila 0 Raasiku FC Joker II 2
Competitions	Premium Liiga (Estonian top tier) IV Liiga Playoff (Estonian 6th tier)
Hopping	Grounds 596 & 597 are adjacent so the KO times of 4pm and 6pm can be done..
Pre-match preparation
I spent the morning walking and taking photos in Tallinn’s old town, and I have to say I want to go back one day and give the city some more time.  Then I purchased a day travelcard for the trams and buses.  I’d decided to leave the car parked at the hotel. Infonet’s win last night means that the first game is a must-win for Flora, otherwise their chances of the title would disappear.  Two other sides are in the same position elsewhere today.  Their visitors are secure in mid-table.   Flora play on grass at the national stadium. The second game is the playoff between the winners of the two (east/west) regions of the IV Liiga.  Sportland is an adjacent artificial pitch, part of the same complex.
These matches in one sentence each
Flora did not turn possession into goals and their title challenge is over after a six-goal stalemate. FC Joker scored a good goal to break their stalemate and added a second for good measure as Trummi were forced to press forward.
So what?
The easy part is that FC Joker II will move up to III Liiga while Trummi, as they say, go again next season.  The hard part is explaining what will happen in the top tier.  The top four teams play each other next week and both the title and the Europa League places will be decided.  Infonet are away at Nömme Kalju.  If Infonet win, they win the league.  If Nömme Kalju win, then they win the league unless FC Levadia have also beaten Flora.  Wins for both would see the title decided between them on whatever tie-breaker the league uses.  FC Levadia can win the league outright if they win and the Infonet/ Nömme Kalju game is a draw.  Flora cannot win the title, but a victory over Levadia would give them a Europa League place and push Levadia into fourth.  A draw would still be enough for Infonet if the other game is a draw or a Flora win.  There’ll be a test later.
The drama unfolds
I was mildly surprised at the colour clash between the five (!) orange officials and the Flora goalkeeper.  A crowd of around 150 occupied parts of one end and one wing of the ground, with all the noise coming from behind the goal.  Flora generally took the initiative and had most of the possession, but it was clear early on that the visitors were prepared for a battle.  Flora midflelder Mihkel Ainsalu gave the officials a decision to make after half an hour when he powered into the box and claimed a trip.  Nothing doing, said the ref.  Flora remained patient but they could not break the deadlock.  0-0 at half-time Flora started the second half at pace and it needed two goal-line clearances to keep them out.  They look the lead with an excellent goal, a curling right-footer from Maksim Gussev.  1-0 after 64 mins I have to own up to a moment of distraction with the news of Manchester City going two up at West Brom (two hours time difference, remember) so I missed the build up to Evgeny Kabaev’s equaliser.  He wears 99 on his shirt, that is for sure.  1-1 after 68 mins Flora restored their lead almost immediately.  Keeper Eduard Orehov could only palm a right-wing cross on to the head of Markus Jürgenson.  2-1 after 69 mins The game’s hinge point came shortly afterwards when Flora’s Rauno Sappinen curled a left footed shot on to the base of the post, but it seemed to matter not when substitute Sakari Tukiainen received the ball on the left of the area, cut inside and poked home as the keeper advanced.  3-1 after 80 mins Flora’s season then fell to bits in ten minutes.  Firstly, Kabaev broke free on the left and gave a tap-in across the box for Aleksandrs Solovjovs.  3-2 after 83 mins Then Kabaev himself got the equaliser as the game entered stoppage time, and there was no time for further drama.  Final score 3-3 A short walk across the car park took me to the next game, which started almost immediately in front of about a dozen hardy spectators.  Several players were wearing woolly hats themselves, as the temperature was dropping sharply.  Sportland is the first ground on my list to have clearly visible train lines at both ends!  Anyhow, the first half was played in a good spirit with plenty of worthy effort but no real chances.  Trummi’s Brazilian, Bruno, had the best chance but a defender got back just in time.  0-0 at half-time I was getting colder and colder so the prospect of extra-time and the dreaded penalties was beginning to play on my mind.  Fortunately a neat Joker move down the left presented number 13 with the chance for a deft finish with the outside of his right foot.  They added a second five minutes later, also fashioned down the left, and the ball was rolled in to the corner.  Final score 0-2
Ground Pix
First sight of the main stadium with Sportland in the foreground Sportland taken from the concourse of the main stadium Children's football-related artwork is strung along the concourse The crowd grew by a few more just after kickoff ...
Match Pix
Flora in green... ... and Trummi SK are in yellow. Other than that, I only took one short scene-setter video-clip in the respective first halves.
Learn Estonian Through Football
Väravavahid – goalkeepers Kaitsjad – defenders Poolkaitsjad – midfielders Ründajad – strikers Peatreener – head coach Abitreener – assistant coach Kaks-null – two-nil Laupäev - Saturday
Goalkeeper Top Colour Stats
In the first game, orange and black keepers let in three each. In the second, a blue keeper keeps a clean sheet and a red one lets in a couple. The full table will be reprinted later this month.
What Next?
Watch @GrahamYapp on Twitter for details!  The provisional plan is to head for a fourth-tier playoff to the east of Tallinn.  This is instead of a second-tier game with nothing riding on it.

There's Only One Teeming Tallinn

Marginal collateral programme damage - not bad under the circumstances, trust me!

Hopperational details
Date & Venue	Friday 28 October 2016 at Lasnamäe Stadium
Result	FC Infonet Tallinn 3 Paide Linnameeskond 1
Competition	Premium Liiga (Estonian top tier)
Hopping	Ground 595 and my first in Estonia.
Pre-match preparation
Originally this game was scheduled for tomorrow.  The unexpected switch with a fixture in Tartu has cost me a few euros in hotel fees but that will have to go down to experience.  Infonet are league leaders with two games to go, leading three other teams by two points.  A win tonight and they could seal the title on other results tomorrow, but that seems unlikely and the race will almost certainly go down to the wire next week.  The visitors have nothing to play for either way so all results are possible especially if nervousness sets in.  I arrived in Tallinn this morning and type this from a nearby hotel room two hours before kickoff.  It has been raining incessantly all day and I abandoned other touristic activity.  Groundhopping isn’t always glamour and bright lights.  To be fair, you are more likely to get bright lights than glamour.
This match in one sentence
Vital result for Infonet from a game played in awkward weather conditions with the result in doubt except for the last five minutes.
So what?
Infonet extend their lead and keep the title destiny in their own hands.  It is up to three other sides tomorrow to keep the race alive until the final week of the season.
The drama unfolds
A crowd of round about 200 watched Infonet make the early running.  However, their first goal had a hint of fortune – they scored on the break after Paide’s first decent attack of the game had given them a corner.  Sergei Mošnikov rounded the keeper to the right and rolled the ball into an empty net.  1-0 after 16 min The weather conditions were pretty vile.  A swirling wind was interspersed with periods of driving rain.   Infonet’s keeper Mihhail Lavrentjev soon had to make a double save as Paide tried to strike back immediately.  They eventually levelled after another corner.  Lavrentjev couldn’t fully clear and the ball fell to Joosep Juha who smashed it home.  1-1 after 32 min Infonet started to show signs of nerves even though they restored their territorial advantage quickly enough.  In stoppage time Paide broke the offside line and Juri Jevdokimov was through.  He shot into the side netting under pressure and that, there, was the game’s “what if?” moment.  1-1 at half-time The weather continued to be awful and the game was interesting more because of its importance and its balance rather than its technical merit.  It was like many of the games I saw in the Faroes, played at a high tempo on an artificial surface.  Only one person was brave enough to watch from  the balconies, and he didn’t last the pace.  Vladimir Voskoboinikov had a great chance to settle the nerves after 53 minutes but the Paide keeper Kert Kütt saved with his legs.  Just after the hour, Infonet made a substitution just before a corner.  It was an inspired move as number 9 Jevgeni Harin scored with his first touch.  2-1 after 61 mins The game became tetchy. There were several handbag moments with yellow cards to match.  Paide looked just as dangerous.  Then, influential Infonet playmaker Sergey Tumasyan, who had never shied away from the ball all evening, met a clearance with a first-time shot that nestled in the net, off the bar.  A great goal to settle the result of the game.  It seems to have been his first appearance in over a month.  3-1 after 85 mins and at full-time
Ground Pix
Infonet have a mascot.  Hello, Beastie.
Match Pix
Best camera was left safely in the warm, dry hotel room but here is a very short clip to give you an idea of first-half conditions.  The blogpost title is a reference to a famous non-event involving Scotland, by the way.
Learn Estonian Through Football
Liiga tabel – league table Punkti – points Väravakütid – scorers Otseülekanded – live broadcast Penktadienis – Friday Kolm-üks – three-one
Goalkeeper Top Colour Stats
Both keepers wore orange this evening. Full table will be reprinted later this month.
What Next?
Watch @GrahamYapp on Twitter for details!  The provisional plan is to head initially for the game at second-placed Flora.

Gresley Pass Deeping Test

Hopperational details
Date & Venue	NON-LEAGUE DAY Saturday 3 September 2016 at The Haydon Whitham Stadium, Outgang Road
Result	Deeping Rangers 2 Gresley 6
Competition	FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round.
Hopping	Ground 594 and I am here randomly because of a computer-simulated spin of an American roulette wheel which gave number 16.  See previous post for fuzzy-but-genuine proof.
Pre-match preparation
This is Step 5 v Step 4.  Deeping’s league form sees them in mid-table in the United Counties Premier Division. In the cup, they won 4-1 away at Ely City then beat Wroxham 2-1 at home.  Wroxham are Step 4 within the Isthmian leagues but have made a terrible start to the season.  Gresley will be a tougher proposition – they are undefeated and just outside early playoff positions in the Northern Premier League Division One South. They entered the cup in the last round and had a comfortable win over Loughborough University.
This match in one sentence
Gresley never looked like losing but Deeping never gave up.
So what?
Gresley are in the proverbial hat for the next round and Deeping concentrate on the (United Counties) league.
The drama unfolds
Gresley started brightly and Deeping never really had a chance to settle.  The opening goal had a slight deflection but it wasn’t a big surprise.  Reece Morris takes the credit for a low shot that tucked just inside the post.  0-1 after 7 mins The first Deeping chance came midway through the half but Scott Coupland headed straight at the keeper.  Maybe that was the hinge point of the game because Gresley’s Courtney Meade (below) had the freedom of Market Deeping as he headed a second goal almost immediately.  0-2 after 23 mins Again, Deeping heads stayed up but they were fighting a losing battle and Meade rounded the keeper for a third, his second, on the break.  Deeping held on to half-time with no further damage done.  0-3 after 27 mins and at half-time Deeping started the second half well but any thoughts of a comeback were snuffed out by Meade’s hat-trick.  He had time to create space for an easy finish to a Gresley break.  The availability of wide man Morris as an outball, Vardy-style, was a feature of the Gresley setup and as time went on he frequently drew two defenders for his forays into the penalty area.  0-4 after 55 mins The match meandered towards the inevitable result before a late goal flurry kept the crowd interested.  A own goal put Gresley five up.  Then Gresley's Jordan Wakeling earned a yellow card for a tackle deemed dangerous by the referee.  He got the ball but the studs were clearly showing.  David Burton-Jones scored (pic below) from the direct freekick for a consolation goal.  He is one of the candidates for the own goal, by the way.  I’m not sure. Wakeling then got a second yellow, and thus a red, for handball.  Burton-Jones scored (pic below) from the penalty spot.  2-5 after 88 minutes Pearson Mwanyongo scored the final goal of the day in stoppage time after a break down the right flank.  Job Done.  Final score 2-6 I heard an unusual referee’s whistle as I was walking towards the exit.  There was some argument going on with Gresley staff and an open bottle-throwing display of frustration from one of them.  I have no idea what it was about.  The ref and the assistants waited a few more moments before leaving the pitch.
Ground Pix
Match Pix
Something You Don’t Get in the Premier League
Change from £4 for a hot pasty, soup and Mars Bar.  At current exchange rates this sum would get you part-ownership of a West Ham hot dog.
Goalkeeper Top Colour Stats
No clean sheets but a win for Yellow over Green.  Full table again at the end of the month.  Red leads.
What Next?
Watch @GrahamYapp on Twitter for details!

Turning Things Around in Decision-Making

This should be self-explanatory!

Hillians on the Ascent

Hopperational details
Date & Venue	Monday 29 August 2016 at the Green Elephants Stadium, Leylands Park
Result	Burgess Hill Town 4 Folkestone Invicta 2
Competition	Isthmian Premier League (Step 3)
Hopping	Ground 593 and I am here due to the practicalities of Bank Holiday travel.  The nearest station is Wivensfield, there is no engineering work, no leaves on the line, and day returns are cheap today.  No changes are required because I live near the Bedford-Brighton line.  All of this is better than spending the day crawling around the M25.  It’s my second attempt to visit this ground – the first time was at the end of last season and had to be quickly converted into a trip to Haywards Heath.
Pre-match preparation
15th vs 9th in the early league table, with both teams losing on Saturday and neither being big scorers so far.  Invicta were promoted from Step 4 as divisional champions last seasonThe train travel and the Sussex location also meant the chance to catch up with @CyninSussex and a few local ales.  Cyndee very kindly supplied a replacement Mars Bar after this traumatic vending machine experience at Harpenden Station (yes, I know, I should know better) which left one of the country’s most valuable pieces of confectionery dangling in mid-air.  I had never seen a £1 Mars Bar before and this beats the previous best of 95p at Watford Gap (Northbound).
This match in one sentence
A thoroughly entertaining game with a comedy last-minute own-goal which was the flattering fourth for the home side.
So what?
It’s now 9th and 13th respectively but both teams start their FA Cup trails with home ties in the first qualifying round next week for Non-League Day.
The drama unfolds
Folkestone took the lead with a soft goal from a free-kick at a narrow angle.  It was difficult to see what happened from the other end but the club Twitter suggests that the shot, credited to Ronnie Dolan, crept in at the near post.  0-1 after 9 mins However, the Hillians struck back almost immediately.  First, Lee Harding hit the bar before a move down the left ended up with a tap-in for Tyrell Richardson-Brown.  1-1 after 12 mins Richardson-Brown would go on to have two good chances in quick succession and one before the break.  His pace and presence meant that he was a handful for the Folkestone defence who had to be thankful that his chance completion rate was on the low side today.  Both sides had one more good chance before the interval and Burgess Hill would have felt slightly happier.  1-1 at half-time It took 16 minutes before Burgess Hill took the lead with a curling left-footed direct freekick from Leon Redwood.  2-1 after 61 mins Redwood's shot is going in, trust me Folkestone found their equaliser with a slick break.  A powerful run through midfield from Scott Heard played in Ashley Miller down the left and the chance was taken at the far post by Ian Draycott.  2-2 after 75 mins With nine minutes left, a slick Burgess Hill moved down the left created a shooting chance for substitute Dan Thompson.  His complete mishit was heading well wide but became a pass for Dan Pearse who scored.  3-2 after 81 mins Burgess Hill deserved the win, and the scoreline was made a little glossier in stoppage time when Invicta’s Nat Blanks flicked the ball back to his keeper, who was caught flat-footed and despite a scrambled effort, could not prevent the own goal.  That was a tad harsh.  Final score 4-2
Ground Pix
This is a neat and tidy ground with a decent clubhouse, more than adequate seating and some excellent screening with mature trees.
Match Pix
Burgess Hill Town are in green.
Five Years of Modus Hopper Random
http://modushopperrandom.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/rhyming%20triple It was this corresponding weekend in 2012 that I managed one of my favourite groundhopping feats with a “rhyming triple” of Truly Selsey, Madly Crawley (Down), Deeply Henley made even sweeter by the late enforced change of plan caused by an amendment to Horley’s fixtures!
Goalkeeper Top Colour Stats
Grey takes the win over the rarely-seen Black but also concedes two.  Black drops one place in the table – this is now up to 90 games. 3pts for a win, 1pt for a draw, -1pt for a goal conceded (GC) and +5pts for a clean sheet (CS).  Colours ranked by Pts per Game (PPG). P W D L GC CS Pts PPG Red 7.0 4.0 0.0 3.0 6.0 3.0 21.0 3.00 Green 45.0 25.0 5.0 15.0 69.0 13.0 76.0 1.69 Maroon 4.0 2.0 1.0 1.0 6.0 1.0 6.0 1.50 Blue 24.1 9.0 5.0 10.1 40.0 8.0 32.0 1.33 Orange 14.5 4.0 3.0 7.5 18.5 4.0 16.5 1.14 Grey 34.5 15.0 7.0 12.5 58.5 8.0 33.5 0.97 Purple 9.0 4.0 2.0 3.0 20.0 2.0 4.0 0.44 Yellow 17.0 4.0 5.0 8.0 31.0 4.0 6.0 0.35 Pink 11.0 2.0 4.0 5.0 25.0 1.0 -10.0 -0.91 Black 4.0 1.0 3.0 0.0 11.0 0.0 -5.0 -1.25 Radioactive Bile 9.0 2.0 0.0 7.0 23.0 0.0 -17.0 -1.89 White 0.9 0.0 0.0 0.9 3.0 0.0 -3.0 -3.33
What Next?
Watch @GrahamYapp on Twitter for details!  It is Non-League Day next weekend but I am not yet sure how much freedom I will have to make a long journey.  There are 38 FA Cup ties at unvisited grounds and I hope to make a random selection somehow. If I am constrained to be in Herts then the games at Slough and Sun Sports are quite close, and if I am in the Midlands then there are games at Highgate United or Ashby Ivanhoe.  The decision may well be as late as Friday evening.  Hope all my teacher (and pupil) readers have a successful start to their new terms.