Damage In The Box!: SOUTH SUFFOLK HOP

Another early start! Another long day!
Today I headed to Suffolk for a cheeky treble, which meant a 6am start. The things you do in the name of this wonderful (mental?) hobby of ours!

12pm NOTTCUTTS PARK
EASTERN COUNTIES LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
WOODBRIDGE TOWN 2-2 STOWMARKET TOWN
ATTENDANCE: 134

The Eastern Counties Suffolk Hop finally got underway at Nottcutts Park, the home of Woodbridge Town. It was due to start 17 hours earlier but the Friday evening game at Felixstowe was called off just before kick due to fog, much to the amusement of some and the disappointment of many.

We arrived in Woodbridge with plenty of time to pay a visit to The GBG listed Cherry Tree for some pre-match lubrication, where we met up with a few like-minded hoppers.

This was an entertaining game with Stowmarket somehow finding themselves 2-0 down after dominating the early proceedings. Aaron Greenwood (15) and a superb free kick from Alex Greggor (17) gave Woodbridge the advantage before Stowmarket eventually clawed their way back to take a point.

Goals from Ben License (37) and Sean Rea (64) levelled things up, which was the least they deserved. The Woodbridge goalkeeper Luke Kingham-Jones was by far and away the man of the match , making some stunning saves to keep his team in the game.

3pm 'BLOOMFIELDS'
ISTHMIAN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE NORTH
NEEDHAM MARKET 3-0 CRAY WANDERERS
ATTENDANCE: 279

The hop now headed onto Ipswich Wanderers for the next game but, having visited Humber Doucy Lane previously, I diverted to Needham Market for their Isthmian League clash with Cray Wanderers.

As with the previous game, there was time to have a few pre-match slurps in the GBG listed Rampant Horse, which was a few minutes from Needham Markets's ground, Bloomfields. The ground was named in honour of club stalwart Derrick Bloomfield.

Needham have had a storming start to the season winning nine out of ten games and today they were too strong for Cray Wanderers, who were relegated to this league back in April. I think this season may also be a long and hard one for Cray.

Captained by former Colchester United stalwart Kem Izzet, Needham scored three without reply thanks to a hat-trick from Sam Newson (14, 39 and 90). They do look worth a punt for promotion.

6pm BRANTHAM LEISURE CENTRE
EASTERN COUNTIES LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
BRANTHAM ATHLETIC 2-2 FC CLACTON
ATTENDANCE: 150

The final game of the day saw us head to the Brantham Leisure Centre where Brantham Athletic were taking on FC Clacton.

The ground is shared with the local cricket team but is a tidy ground for this level. At this point I must also highlight the food on sale in the clubhouse which was fantastic. The baked potato looked great but being a creature of habit I opted for a breakfast bap, well it had gone 5.30pm!

After a bright start by the home side, Clacton scored against the run of play and from that point on never looked like relinquishing the points as they raced into a three goal lead and missed numerous other chances.

A 'royal' goal from Billy Wales (9) gave Clacton the lead before a brace from Aaron Condon (60 & 71) made the three points safe.

Brantham's consolation goal was probably the best of the day as a long range effort came back off the crossbar and went in off the diving Aaron Reid's head (76).

The game was very 'tasty' to say the least with some, err, robust challenges being made by both sides. The referee just about managed to keep a lid on it.

An enjoyable end to a great day's hopping. Roll on next March when we all head to Swaffham, Thetford, Mildenhall and Newmarket.