The opening day of the West Riding County FA Challenge Cup competition, and I am at a typically picturesque Ribble Valley village setting in Grindleton.
County FA affiliations usually follow traditional county boundaries, with the River Ribble the dividing line between Red and White Rose counties in this area. Thus Grindleton, well inside the current day administrative boundaries of Lancashire, plays in Yorkshire based football competitions, though on the far side of the valley the ground is overlooked by one of Lancashire's most famous landmarks, Pendle Hill.
There are glorious views to be had from either side of the pitch.
The hosts play their football in the Premier Division of the Craven and District League. Fund raising is currently under way in the hope of replacing the old changing rooms to the right of the goal at the village end of the ground.
Todays visitors are Leeds based Old Centralians, who have progressed in recent years from the Yorkshire Old Boys League to the West Yorkshire League, and are holding their own in Division One, the middle tier, of that league.
John Knowles is close to giving Grindleton an early lead when his shot hits the bar, but on paper the visitors should be favourites, and they do control most of the first half, adapting to a pitch that slopes up towards both touch lines, and securing a 19th minute lead with Robbie Campbell firing home from Aaron Rothery's pass.
Grindleton make a good start to the second half, but are unable to find the equaliser, and Old Centralians weather the storm to make it 2-0 after 66 minutes, Aaron Rothery again the provider this time for Chris Ward to find the target for a goal that rounds off the scoring.
