Saturday 2nd March 2024

The Petersfield School, Petersfield GU32 3LU

Liphook United v. Infinity FC

Part of the joy of The Groundhop is discovering new places, and sometimes this includes teams you are yet to encounter.

After a week of biblical downpours, it's yet another search for the plastic and a check on Futbology App has revealed a table top clash at Step 7 , the uhlsport Hampshire Premier League.

Infinity top the HPL table with 51 points from 24 matches, whilst Liphook United are second on 40 points having a massive eight games in hand.

Infinity has been a team name chosen by candidates on The Apprentice, so hopefully the manager doesn't get fired at the end of the season , and no shade against any one associated with the home team, but every time I hear the name Liphook, in my head I get the Bad Manners song, hence the painful pun in the blog title.

With the Liphook regular home pitch unplayable a switch to the 4G of Petersfield School means I could enjoy a pre-match Spoons and Costa plus a wander around this picturesque market town.

A very healthy turnout of fans from both sides saw a first half which I felt was dominated by the visitors. However, it was Liphook who got two goals in fairly quick succession. The second, a spectacular overhead kick worthy of gracing any level of football (link below has both Liphook goals taken from the club Twitter/X).

https://x.com/LiphookUnitedFC/status/1764028958591316206?t=rc3hHREbFa-aB0aWyKyWTg&s=09

The second half saw Infinity press and earn themselves a goal to half the deficit. Despite a lot of possession The Fins (yep, I made that nickname up) were unable to force an equaliser as stout defence from The Lips (again all my own work) earnt the win.

Not too much excitement about the arena today, basically a cage containing a 4G pitch with fans standing along one side. Although a nice touch was a couple of step up areas where you could stand and get a raisedd viewpoint. Credit and thanks to Liphook for getting a game on when so many matches had been called off.

Good luck to both teams for the rest of the season, I shall be keeping an eye on that title race.

[Final Score: LUFC 2 IFC 1]