HULL UNITED (Craven Park)

NORTHERN COUNTIES EAST LEAGUE DIVISION ONE, HULL UNITED 1-2 PENISTONE CHURCH, ATTENDANCE: 498

After making the trip along the M62 last time out to visit Hall Road Rangers, it was take two as I made the same journey but this time to watch city rivals Hull United

Like Rangers, Hull United are playing at a rugby ground after leaving Dene Park after a dispute with the owners. Hull United are playing their home games at the magnificent New Craven Park, the home of rugby league side Hull Kingston Rovers.

The football club has been in existence for a decade having been formed in 2005 as St Andrews Police Club. The club were founder members of Division One of the Humber Premier League and in 2008 they won Division One and promotion to the Premier Division. 

In 2009 they changed their name to St Andrews and once again in 2014, this time to Hull United. The club also adopted a new nickname, The Citizens, changed their colours to black and white and relocated to Dene Park, the former home of Hall Road Rangers, leaving their original base at East Mount Recreation Centre behind.

The 'East' Stand terrace

In January 2015 the club appointed ex Sheffield United player (and professional boxer) Curtis Woodhouse as manager, with ex Hull City player Ian Ashbee as his assistant. The pair led the club to runners up spot in the Humber Premier Division and they gained promotion to Division One of the Northern Counties East League.

In September 2015 club founder and former chairman Jamie Waltham announced he would no longer be working with the club and, as owner of the ground, he and the club were unable to agree on a lease to play at Dene Park and the team were locked out, forcing the postponement of a game. 

The Main 'West' Stand

As a result, the club needed to find a new home and an agreement was reached to play at home of Hull Kingston Rovers, how long this agreement lasts remains to be seen, hence the reason for my trip here today.

New Craven Park, currently known as the KC Lightstream Stadium for sponsorship purposes, has been home to Hull KR since it's inauguration in 1989. The ground is undergoing redevelopment, with the Colin Hutton North Stand, opened in 2013, bringing the capacity of the ground up to just over 12,000. The south stand is next in line to be upgraded. Despite the relative age of the ground, it does have the feel of a classic old stadium, especially the Main stand, which was the only part of the ground open today..

The Colin Hutton 'North' Stand, opened in 2013

There was a decent crowd, of just under 500, in attendance today, largely due to tickets given away to school children, but on a bitterly cold afternoon, the game did nothing to warm the cockles.

The conditions were not conducive to producing a classic match as heavy rain and strong winds moved in as the game kicked off.

It was Penistone who adapted best and they took the lead inside 10 minutes when a corner was whipped into the penalty area and Hull failed to clear their lines, after a little ping pong the ball was put into the net by Steve Kenworthy.

Penistone had further chances to extend their lead, including a glorious opportunity from the penalty spot, but Danny Barlow's effort was saved by Hull's Phil Dobson (pictured left). 

In conceding the penalty defender James Piercy was shown a straight red card, leaving Hull to play the remainder of the game with 10 men.

Early in the second half Penistone saw an effort crash back off the upright as they searched for a second goal but late on Hull came up with an unlikely equaliser. On 71 minutes, a free kick was swung into the box and Jordan Harrison headed home.

Their joy though was short lived as with 10 minutes remaining a Penistone corner was headed home by substitute Jack Moore to give Church the 3 points and, on the balance of play, deservedly so.

HALL ROAD RANGERS (Haworth Park)

EAST RIDING SENIOR CUP 2nd ROUND, HALL ROAD RANGERS 4-2 SOUTH CAVE UNITED, ATTENDANCE: 67

With the foul weather battering the country, I made the decision to head East today where the incoming rain was not due to hit until late afternoon. The fact that the game between Hall Road Rangers and South Cave United was a 2pm kick off also helped matters enormously. A tweet saying the pitch was perfect-ish and no inspection was planned also reassured this groundhopper!

Northern Counties East Division One (step 6) side Hall Road Rangers were taking on Humber Premier League (step 7) South Cave in the East Riding Senior Cup. Rangers are now playing at a new ground and this was their first senior cup tie at their new home. They left their previous home of 55 years, Dene Park, at the end of last season and relocated to rugby ground Haworth Park, a mile or so down the road.

The had been some disputes in recent years including the club being locked out of Dene Park in a row over a Christmas Party. Another club, Hull United, made Dene Park their home but ironically they too have now been locked out in a dispute with the owners.

Haworth Park has a capacity of 1,200 including a 250 seat covered stand. The ground has been brought up to league standards in the past few months with the installation of new dugouts and floodlights. The playing fields were once part of the grounds of Haworth Hall, which you can see behind one of goals. However there could be possible trouble on the horizon as the council have announced proposals to build 160 houses on the site.

Despite the closeness of the scoreline, Hall Road Rangers always had a little too much for their visitors from South Cave and their passage through to the next round was never really in doubt.

On a very heavy pitch, the opening period was virtually one way traffic as Rangers attacked the South cave goal but it wasn't until the 33rd minute that Ben Kinsley finally broke the deadlock.

As the second half kicked off, the predicted heavy rain finally arrived but the game carried on like the first half with more Rangers pressure. Andy Harrison doubled the their lead on 51 minutes and that seemed to suggest game over. However an own goal from Charlie Brownlie (59) gave South Cave a glimmer hope but that was quickly extinguished when Callum Harrison scored on 61 minutes with a great shot into the top corner.

Darren Rookes then scored to make it 4-1 (63) before Josh Brownlie (68) netted for the visitors to reduce the arrears further. However it was Hall Road Rangers that progressed through to the quarter finals.