Hoppers welcome the East Riding of Yorkshire side Pocklington to Lightfoot Green this Saturday for the first ever meeting between the two sides at Senior Level. With the visitors fresh from their first victory of the season just last weekend the home side can expect their opponents to have had a boost of confidence.
Words by Mike Forshaw, Photo by Mike Craig
Pocklington have risen through the Yorkshire leagues in recent years culminating in Champions of North East 1 at the end of last season. After taking on board a number of heavy defeats in the first few games of the season, our visitors have consolidated in recent weeks. A narrow home loss at the hands of Rossendale was followed by that first important victory last Saturday against Ilkley on home soil at Percy Road.
Preston Grasshoppers faithful band of supporters who braved the elements at Marl Pits last Saturday were rewarded by witnessing their ‘favourites’ best performance of the season to date in the most atrocious weather conditions imaginable. Trust the high wind and heavy rain to turn up just before kick off time, and at a ground offering no cover apart from the lucky few who managed to squeeze themselves onto ‘The Wagon’. The playing surface actually appeared to be the best surface to stand!
The weather and spectating facilities over in East Lancashire were the worst that could be recalled since visiting Bracknell during our National 1 era, but at least the Berkshire Club provided a ‘Media Centre’ for our travelling reporter to view the game and take notes and I bet the water from the showers was more than just a dribble and at least tepid!
As for the game, the visitors managed to turn round a one point deficit at half time to almost completely shut out their opponents in the second period and once again secure a bonus point victory. With Lymm only managing to draw at Kendal, Preston Grasshoppers proudly sit at the head of the Northern Premier league table for the first time this season.
With two away games next up after this weekend, the 1869 Club will be looking for travellers, firstly to Ilkley on the 4th of November before another trip over the Pennines to Harrogate the following week. The coach to Ilkley will depart at 10:30 and to Harrogate the following week an earlier time of 10:00 with lunch being taken en route as per usual. Pick-ups along the A59 can be made if requested.
Here’s the team:
