HAVERHILL ROVERS (Hamlet Croft)

It was off to Suffolk today for a case of "visit whilst you can" as the days are ticking down on Haverhill Rovers' 97 year old ground, in fact there are just 39 days to go, so said the programme, until it disappears underneath (probably) a housing development. With only 4 games left to play at the it was a get of get there ASAP and thanks to the kind offer of a lift, I did just that.

Hamlet Croft it situated close to the the town centre and is a typical step five ground. It has one main covered stand, but this is situated at the top of a bank, overlooking the pitch with standing alongside. The rest of the ground, at pitch level, is two sides hard standing whilst behind the goal is just grass.

Haverhill are down amongst the deadbeats, but are in no danger of relegation whilst opponents Needham desperately need the victory to maintain their charge towards the title, any slip ups could hand the initiative to CRC, who at the start of play are four points behind with a game in hand.

The first half was a pretty even affair, and although you could sense Needham were the better side they didn't really show this. Paul Abbot gave the the home side the lead after 8 minutes when he raced through to slot past 'keeper Danny Gay. Needham, who had ex-Citeh & Swindon player Kevin Horlock in their line up, levelled on the half hour mark when Daniel Thrower tapped home after Danny Phillips initial shot was saved.

Needham started the second half stronger and took the lead on 53 minutes when Craig Parker headed home. The away team started to dominate and it was now a case of by how many goals they would win by. However the game turned on its head in the 70th minute when Danny Gay felled Marc Abbot in the box, conceded a penalty and, as last man, was sent off. Stuart Wardley netted the resultant spot kick past sub keeper (!) Richard Butler to level the game.

Haverhill were now back in the match and, as Needham went gung-ho desperate for the three points, they had three good chances on the break to wrap the game up, the best being what looked a certain goal for the unmarked Martin Wescott but he never looked confident and his tame shot was easily stopped by Butler.

Haverhill were made up with the point but for Needham it puts a bit more pressure on them in the title race especially as CRC won 4-2 and are now just two points behind with a game in hand.

Glad I took time to visit Hamlet Croft and I shall look forward to returning in the future to watch a game at the new modern arena type ground...honestly!

Haverhill's Stuart Wardley scores from the penalty spot.

Saturday 10th April 2010
Eastern Counties Premier League

Haverhill Rovers 2-2 Needham Market

Attendance: 147

BIDEFORD (Bideford Sports Ground)

After the madness that is an organised groundhop (and I mean that in a nice way) it was a semblance of normality today with just the one game! As I was down in the South West, it would've been incredibly rude not to stop off in North Devon en-route home for an eagerly anticipated "derby" game.

The Sports Ground played host to a top of the table clash as league leaders Bideford clashed with third placed Ilfracombe in what was easily the Western League's game of the day. Adding more spice to the fixture was the fact that the Ifracombe had eight ex Bideford players on their books.

It turned out to be a very tasty derby, especially the first half. The football was not the greatest but you could not take your eye of the game as it was incident packed to say the least. Former Robins player Shaun Lewis gave Ilfracombe the lead after 5 minutes, when he went clear through to slot home.

There was controversy in the in 35th minute when Bluebirds defender Karl Baggaley was alleged to have stamped on Matt Hockley, off the ball in the penalty area. It appeared that the only person in the ground who saw this offence was the linesman (I certainly didn't see it!) and after informing the referee, Baggaley was red carded and a penalty awarded. Ashley Yeoman duly dispatched the spot kick to level the game.

Three minutes before the interval Bideford were awarded a free kick 25 yards from goal. Darren Hawking stepped up and sent the ball like a rocket into the top corner. An absolutely stunning goal. In stoppage time Ilfracombe only went and scored another contender for 'goal of the season' when a loose ball fell to Darren Parish who turned and fired it into the top corner from 20 yards to level it up at the interval.

The second half was no so entertaining and the game fizzled out. Bideford appeared to run out of ideas as 10 men Ilfracombe seemed to be content to settle for the draw by mounting a superb rearguard action. The Bluebirds did think they had won it late on, but Mike Heddon's effort was ruled offside.

Overall both teams could feel happy with a point apiece. A decent game to bring an end to my own footballing extravaganza in the South West. Roll on 2011!!!

      

   

Monday 5th April 2010

Western Premier League

Bideford 2-2 Illfracombe Town

Attendance: 334

SOUTH WEST PENINSULA HOP 2010 (part two)

Perranporth, Godolphin Atlantic & Foxhole Stars             I, like quite a few other groundhoppers, once again spent the Easter weekend down in the South West and taking in games in the quite splendid South West Peninsula League. This year the games concentrated on teams based in Cornwall. With digs booked in Newquay, it was off down the M5/A38 for a feast of football....

11am, Saturday 3rd April 2010
South West Peninsula League
Division One West
Perranporth 1-1 Dobswells
Attendance: 354

Weather wise, today was awful as heavy rain battered the South West. The first port of call today, Perranporth, not unsurprisingly had no cover and most of us in the crowd got pretty wet.

Some parts of the outer ground resembled the Somme as they were caked in puddles and mud. I was one of the few lucky ones who managed to find some vantage point with a bit as cover, which was in the doorway of the adjacent rugby club.

The game ended in a draw, Dobswells taking the lead through Dan Tapper on 49 minutes before Justin Harrington levelled for the homesters.

Just to compound the 'hoppers misery the club failed to produce an adequate amount of programmes and they were sold out long before kick off. I managed to get a black and white photocopy to plug the gap.

 

 3pm, Saturday 3rd April 2010
South West Peninsula League
Division One West
Godolphin Atlantic 5-3 Newquay
Attendance: 527

This was not my original choice of game as I was heading to Treyew Road to watch Truro City, but the referee called that particular game off at 1pm. This meant I headed to the next game on the hop, the big Newquay "derby"  at Godolphin Way. I personally think that if this game hadn't been a "hop" game, then it probably would have gone the same way as Truro as, to put it politely, the pitch was very heavy!

This though would've robbed over 500 people of an absolute corker of a game. The homesters edged out their rivals in an eight goal thriller. Mark Rose put Godolphin 2-0 up (24m & 27m) before Luke Wheldon made it 2-1 after 31minutes. Kyle Brown restored the homesters two goal lead, making it 3-1 after 39 minutes.

Scott Palmer brought Newquay back into the game after the break, making it 3-2 after 50 minutes before Godolphin raced into a 5-2 lead through Ollie Pinnell (59m) and Phil Lowery (63m) before the scoring was completed in stoppage time when Wheldon bagged his second for Newquay to make it 5-3.

So happy I attended this game, maybe the hopping gods decided to smile on me!



6pm, Saturday 3rd April 2010
South West Peninsula League
Division One West
Foxhole Stars 2-1 St Austell
Attendance: 436

The final game of the hop lead us to Goverseth Park, the home of Foxhole and another derby, versus local rivals St Austell.

This game was eventful for St Austell goalkeeper Gary Penhaligon as he scored at both ends of the fields! A deft lob from Richard Griffin was palmed into his own net by Penhaligon after 24 minutes before Griffin scored after 36 minutes.

Penhaligon had is moment of glory after 68 minutes when a long clearance bounced over opposite number Ryan Holland to half the deficit. Unfortunately for the visitors they couldn't force an equaliser.

Typical really that this ground had cover but by 6pm the rain had stopped! The club pulled out the stops to make the hoppers welcome and had a hog roast on the go, which I'm happy to report was delicious.

And that concluded the South West 'hop' for another year. Another great time was had by all, well done to the organisers. Can't wait for 2011!