Goals galore in the Hope Valley Amateur Football League

We begin our weekly report with a ‘top vs bottom’ fixture which saw Youlgrave welcome the unbeaten Hayfield First team to Alport Lane. Hayfield arrived off the back of a 5-1 victory over fellow title contenders Bamford, whilst Youlgrave were still hunting for their first point of the season. Hayfield ran riot throughout the 90 minutes, with a crushing 12-0 win to keep them top of the table, whilst having played two games less than second placed Blazing Rag.

Joe Armstrong scored a hattrick, with Josh Barlow, Sam Howbrook and Calum Ramsay each getting a brace, as Elliot Brownsword’s goal as well as Harry and Joseph Wyatt’s efforts adding insult to injury on the day. This result makes it the highest scoring game of the season so far, and Hayfield are showing no signs of slowing down as they look favourites to lift the title come May 2027.

Tideswell hosted Darley Dale Lions in their fixture this weekend and went into the fixture following a narrow loss in the county cup to Staveley Miners Welfare Reserves. Darley knew they would need to be switched on if they wanted a result, heading into the fixture after consecutive losses with zero goals scored in each game. A quick start saw Darley take the lead as Noah Glover put the away side ahead after just three minutes, but the free-scoring Jack Bradbury levelled the game up 13 minutes later. Jack Rose got Darley a lead just before half time, but Tideswell came out swinging in the second half as Harry Brookes levelled the game for a second time in the 48th minute. Ten minutes later Brookes got his second and gave Tideswell the lead for the first time in the match, before Cameron Dalton sealed the three points for Tideswell with his 76th minute goal. The match finished 4-2 as Tideswell showcased yet again why they should be considered a threat to all this season.

The 19th Hole have found some momentum recently and will have been thrilled with their Derbyshire Cup victory over Shirebrook Town Reserves this weekend. Bamford arrived in Buxton still licking their wounds from their previous loss against Hayfield. A closely fought contest saw the 19th Hole continue their good run of form thanks to a Pete Richardson brace, and solo efforts from Craig Robinson and Ethan Waplington, each ensuring that the 19th Hole took all three points in their 4-3 victory. Bamford will no doubt come out swinging in their next fixture and remain an incredibly dangerous side who will be up the top end of the table come the end of the season.

Hayfield Reserves have been flying since their convincing win over Darley Dale Lions in mid-September and will have wanted to continue their fine winning form this weekend as they face off against Buxworth Reserves. Hayfield would complete a double winning weekend for the club as a whole and seemingly tried to emulate what their first team had done with their 10-0 victory. Callum McCormick grabbed a hattrick, with Jack Howell also getting himself a brace. Ashley Barrett, James Ramsay, Ciaran Reynolds, and Jack Cook also scored a goal each with the tenth goal appearing to be an own goal. Hayfield Reserves are now climbing the table well and could genuinely begin challenging their first team for top spot if this continues!

Hathersage have had a good start to the season and would have known that their fixture against Dove Holes this weekend would be a tricky one if they wanted to add another win to their record. A close game was anticipated, and a close game was played out. Hathersage held strong on home soil, with Ryan Bradd’s goal for Dove Holes proving to be not enough to give the away side something to head home with as Hathersage won the match 2-1 to claim their 4th victory of the season.

New boys Chinley have also enjoyed a good start to their campaign, winning four and losing just one from their first five fixtures. Calver were their next opponent as they travelled down to Polly Froggatt Lane. Calver have had a mixed start to their campaign with three wins and losses alike, but this weekend would see them get their first draw as they shared the points with Chinley following on from their fixture finishing 2-2. Louis Ashton and Will Cooke grabbed Chinley’s goals, with Harry Madin and Joe Wragg securing the point for Calver. Chinley sit in third place now and continue to breathe down the necks of Blazing Rag and Hayfield in second and first respectively.

Our final fixture sees us head to Western Lane where a so far below par Buxworth Firsts welcomed the rejuvenated Blazing Rag. Rag arrived off the back of a brilliant win away to Darley Lions but would realise rather quickly that Buxworth Firsts can hurt anyone on their day no matter their form. Buggy were going to start firing at some point, and it looks like it was this weekend with their convincing 5-2 win over Blazing Rag. Andrew Ramwell and Matthew Sherlock each scored a brace as Chris Williamson also got himself onto the scoresheet. This result gives Buxworth their second win of the season and some momentum to build off going forward.