TT No.35: Barry Neighbour - Sat. 23rd September 2006; The Dorset Hop 2006; feat. Bournemouth Sports CM; Hamworthy Recreation and Holt United FC (all Dorset Premier League)
A belated look back on last week's Dorset Groundhop. I did not attend Friday's trip to Swanage which ended 2-0 but took in the three Dorset Premier League games on the Saturday:
SATURDAY 23rd SEPTEMBER 2006; BOURNEMOUTH SPORTS CM 0 Cranbourne 1; 3*; 24 Page Programme £1
The CM was added to the name after a recent link up with Corfe Mullen FC. The club play in the corner of the Sports Ground complex on a fully railed-off pitch. When Cranbourne scored from 30 yards within 10 minutes we thought we were in for a goal feast however this did not transpire as a lively first-half saw chances for both sides not taken. The second half died a bit and there were no further goals.
Onto the next game, HAMWORTHY RECREATION 0 Blandford United 0; 1*; 28 Page Programme £1.
If going to Hamworthy Recreation be warned it is a long way from Hamworthy! Taking its name from Hamworthy Club where it plays, it is actually in Merley which is closer to Wimborne. The clubhouse is very impressive with a balcolny from which many 'Hoppers watched the game. It has a railed off pitch but suffers due to the adjoining cricket pitch which would hamper further development of the ground. This was a poor game that started and ended goalless with little to write home about in between! On balance of play I felt that a 2* rating would be a bit too generous. One 'Hopper questioned my decision and snapped saying that 1* was (expletive) generous!!
And finally, HOLT UNITED 6 Dorchester United 0; 3*; 44 Page programme £1 (a very good effort).
Believe it or not the first-half was not a great improvement than the previous drab game at Hamworthy until Holt, last seasons Champions, took a deserved lead just before the interval. No one could predict what transpired in the secondhalf as Dorchester United collapsed and Holt ran in 5 goals without reply to record a 6-0 win. Holt's ground is enclosed and the club have just built new dugouts; work is going on at the opposite side of the ground which could see new spectator facilities.
All in all another great day out and I am looking forward to next year which provisionally will see a return to Bournemouth Sports who will be playing under lights on the rugby pitch (on Friday) and planned visits to Cranbourne, Dorchester United and Portland United on the Saturday.
contributed on 30/09/06