Surely this is what hopping's all about? On another lovely warm sunny evening, the Wraymobile is making the relatively short journey over to beautiful Bury (for the second time in eight days) for one of the most crucial fixtures in the little-known St Edmundsbury Football League this season. I can't wait to get there. Tonight local rivals Bartons take on Priors in a Premier Division match, the result of which will decide the league title. Wow! It doesn't get much better.

Before setting out a quick glance at the current table (published on the excellent Full-Time website) reveals all the vital statistics that any enthusiastic hopper needs to know: with one game left to play Priors are in top spot(on 49pts); St Edmunds 1965 are second (on 47pts) and Bartons are in third (on 45pts). The maths is quite simple, a win for Priors would crown them as champions; a draw would also be enough as they do have a superior goal difference. However a defeat would be devastating and allow title chasing St Edmunds 1965 the chance to leap frog them should they beat fifth placed Barrow in a game also being played this evening. Having not lost a game all season and on the evidence of a terrific fighting performance a week ago (against Barrow) at the Gainsborough Road recreation ground I was tempted to put my money (well, some loose change perhaps) on an away win for Priors, finshing as champions. As the pundits might say, it was in their hands to win and lose. So would the pressure of the occasion (not the match) get to the players? It was definitely a game to savour.

Bartons Football Club play their home games at the Oakes Road playing fields, a stone's throw from the A14 carriageway. In fact we had by-passed the ground (opposite a new ASDA store) on a countless number of hopping occasions whilst heading east towards Ipswich (and beyond) for our footy fix in recent seasons. The venue is reached from the A14 by taking the first exit slip road signed for BSE (West) and turning left at the lights next to the Minden Rose pub (Greene King). After passing a newly opened ASDA superstore and turning left under the A14 flyover bridge, continue along Beetons Way before coming to Oakes Road which is on your left. This takes you on a circuitous route through the large sprawling Howard Estate, a built up residential area well renown (not for the right reasons apparently) in these parts!! The playing fields found on the crown of a bend are bordered by rows of local housing which create a most surreal backdrop to the action. The proximity of the A14 which passes behind and beyond the left hand goal can also be quite a distraction with the constant flow of heavy vehicles, many heading for the port of Felixstowe. 

There is only one football pitch marked out on the rather large council-owned playing field here. A number of tall trees which also border part of the site help to add a splash of colour especially at this time of year. A large bulky metal container (painted in olive green) which is situated in the far left hand corner provides some basic changing accomodation for players and officials alike. As you would probably expect there are no other facilities at pitchside.            

Not for the first time in recent days our chosen game was played on a bone hard pitch randomly covered in patches of straw-coloured grass. In fact the surface was so unforgiving that the club 'groundsman' couldn't physically push two of the corner flags into place. Indeed before the start many players had chosen instead to wear multi-studded astro boots for added comfort and protection against sore feet . By kick-off a sizeable crowd had gathered pitchside which further added to the already charged atmosphere. There was just enough time to hastily fill out my FGIF Match Stats card with the necessary team line ups courtesy of the Priors coach who kindly let me borrow the carbon copies from his kit bag. I was reliably informed by one of the visiting supporters that the club was missing several key players tonight all of whom were turning out for their Sunday side in a cup final over at Ram Meadow. Was this to be an omen? Only time would tell.

In a frantic first half Priors looked more dangerous with efforts from Matthew O'Leary (12); Scott Palfrey (24) and Matthew Jones (35) all coming close to opening the scoring. However it was Bartons who struck first when Craig Pinches' direct free kick was headed home by Joe Symons (37) to take the lead. Within minutes and on the stroke of half-time Priors thought they had equalised when Ethan Puryear's close range tap in was ruled offside by match referee Bill Tinkler.

Bartons doubled their lead just after the hour mark when the skilful Cordell Eugene Jackson (what a great name) beat the offside trap to run virtually the length of the opposition half before netting, sliding the ball under the advancing Steven Ainsworth (63). It was almost a case of deja-vu when Jackson (74) was allowed another free run on goal to bag his second of the game. Incredibly the entire Priors rearguard farcically allowed Callum Brown's though pass to beat them, thinking incorrectly that the striker was still in an offside position. Unfortunately their appeals were dismissed by referee Tinkler, the goal stood and in the heated exchanges that followed several visiting players were cautioned for dissent. It was definitely a case of pushing the self destruct button as no fewer than seven names were added to the official's note book.

The chances of lifting the title really did look to be quickly evaporating for Priors when Chris Gray's (78) penalty hit the woodwork minutes later. Despite a late rally which saw Lee Gaught (89) grab a consolation goal, it was too little too late. It has to be said though that Bartons were the better team and thoroughly deserved their victory tonight. Whilst walking back to the car one of the travelling supporters had just received a text on his a mobile phone saying that St Edmunds had beaten Barrow 3-2. It was devastating news. Gutted, he also revealed to us that St Edmunds had left it very late, snatching two crucial goals before final whistle, enough to win the game and nick the title from Priors. I could only imagine the scenes over at the Rougham Hall. What a roller coaster for everyone involved!  

For the neutral this had been a really exciting hop. In fact my interest in this little publicised competition over the last couple of weeks had been well timed to say the least. I had seen a couple of thoroughly entertaining games and was really impressed by the standard of football on offer. Based on this evidence I would not hesitate to take in further games not only in this competition but also in the Suffolk Primary Cup where many of SEL clubs play in the earlier rounds. If you don't mind basic pitches and facilities are are not overly concerned about the availability of refreshments or programmes than this may be a league that would appeal to you. Go on, give it a try! The joys of hopping in local recs continues...have fun wherever you go.               

FGIF Match Stats

Scorers: (H) J Symons (37); C E Jackson (63; 74) and (A) L Gaught (89)

Attendance: 62; Admission and Programme: None; Match rating: 4/5; Ground rating: 2/5.

Links

http://full-time.thefa.com/Index.do?league=5981576