Bamford entered and exited the weekend unbeaten

Five fixtures were played in the Hope Valley Football League this weekend, with a total of twenty-six goals scored, averaging 5.2 goals per game

We start this weekends report at The Leadmill Football Ground in Hathersage, where Youlgrave visited in search of their first point/points of the season. Hathersage started slowly with two losses in their opening two fixtures but have recently picked up the pace following on from an impressive win against Buxworth Firsts.

This impressive run of form would continue, as Hathersage won the game and those all-important three points with a 4-1 victory, leaving Youlgrave to wait for another week at least at another attempt of getting their first points of the season.

Our next fixture takes us to Matlock, as Darley Dale Lions were looking to make amends against Buxworth Reserves after their disastrous result against Hayfield Reserves last weekend. A tense first half was played, but the deadlock was broken on the stroke of half time for the Lions, with Dylan Webster scoring his second penalty of the season.

The second half arrived and Webster’s goal had clearly installed some confidence into the home side, as Jamie Smith won a penalty just three minutes after the restart which was converted well into the right corner. James Taylor scored his first goal of the season to make it 3-0, before Tyler Brookfield and Keegan Reeve-Yates both scored goal of the season contenders to make it 5-0. Brookfield’s goal was a 30-yard driven free kick, with Reeve-Yates’ solo run and top corner finish matching the quality already displayed.

Chinley have enjoyed a good start to their season thus far but would have to overcome a confident and rejuvenated Blazing Rag if they wanted to claim three points on home soil this weekend. A close game was played out, but ultimately Chinley would come out on top thanks to Louis Ashton’s brace and Will Cookes goal that provided the new boys with their fourth win of the season and another big three points with the game finishing 3-2 to the home side.

Calver welcomed the 19th Hole this weekend with both teams having only won one game so far this season. Each side went into the fixture on the back off losses and would have wanted to bounce back well. Jack Fletcher put the 19th Hole ahead, but Ayr Barker got back to scoring ways to level the game off before half time. Richard Barber put calver into the lead just five minutes after the restart, and Jack Madin banished any doubt that the home side would claim victory as his goal ensured a 3-1 victory would be confirmed, alongside three vital points.

Buxworth Firsts have struggled so far this season, something that has surprised a fair few people who have followed the league for a while now. Buxworth are usually up amongst the top contenders and would have to beat the current top contender to push their way up the table this weekend as Bamford visited Western Lane.

Bamford entered and exited the game unbeaten, as they put on a dominant display to take all three points following their 5-2 victory over Buggy. Bamford now have four wins in five games, with Darley Dale Lions remaining the only team to have taken points off the league leaders after their opening day draw.

Next week we see the Derbyshire County Cup return for two Hope Valley sides, as Bamford face off against Dove Holes FC, formerly of this league but now playing in the Staffordshire Football League. Buxworth Firsts are also in cup action as they travel to the current consecutive champions of the cup, Wirksworth Ivanhoe of the Central Midlands Alliance.