This is why I can't wait for Lithuania v Kazakhstan to kick off at 5pm (and Middlesbrough v Shrewsbury Town at 5.30pm). Then I'll have to wait until later this evening before my #groundhopping journey for tomorrow is randomishly decided. (Hello, new followers. Please stay ;) https://twitter.com/GrahamYapp/status/1301863411874254855

THERE'S BEEN A GOAL IN VILNIUS! IF NOTHING ELSE HAPPENS I'M GOING #groundhopping TO ALFOLD TOMORROW!
OK, OK, I promise not to be like this all evening. I'll stay calm until about half-time in the evening matches. Honest. Because other stuff will indeed happen. Stay tuned.

I see news of CV19-related Step 5 postponements trickling through. Hope my randomish evening's entertainment doesn't end with an anticlimax. No point in any goals at Middlesbrough between the 19th and 36th minutes now ;)

Half-time in Vilnius but a Shrewsbury goal at Middlesbrough has brought Chipping Sodbury Town into play alongside Alford, but it's still very early doors. Only thing definitely decided so far is that I will not be at Whitton United tomorrow. This is as exciting as my life gets!

Middlesbrough's 21st-minute equaliser is largely pointless for me because the linked game at Godmanchester Rovers has already been called off under the Covid-19 protocols.

Still going at Middlesbrough but it's a late 2nd goal for Kazakhstan that puts AFC Uckfield Town into the lead at this moment. Several other sides definitely out of the running now, but there are nine fixtures to come later on this evening. Here's the gen: https://modushopperrandom.blogspot.com/2020/09/ive-got-fifty-five-problems-but-pitch.html

Right, 2/11 matches done. The two goals in the fourth fifth (!) at Middlesbrough lead on the tie-break and they are linked to tomorrow's match at Shaftesbury Town. The nine teams linked to the other slots for those matches are now definitely eliminated.

To displace Shaftesbury would need three goals in any of the 18-minute slots tonight, or two goals in the final fifth of any game (aka fifth fifth filth). Two goals in the fourth fifth would need another tiebreak decision. Clear?

Not a single goal anywhere in the first eighteen minutes of any of the eight evening fixtures. That's eight more grounds eliminated from my list for tomorrow, Shaftesbury remain in the "lead".

One goal scored so far in the second fifth of four out of ten fixtures. Would need two more somewhere in the next few minutes to displace Shaftesbury as my destination.

A second goal has been scored by Waterford of the Irish Premier League. If in the next three minutes they get a third, or St Patrick's pull one back, I could be going to Swaffham Town instead tomorrow! Otherwise, it remains a possible trip to Shaftesbury.

Nothing happened in Ireland so now Swaffham are eliminated from the list. The next big challenge to Shaftesbury will be in the latter stages of the second halves around Europe, where a flurry of late goals anywhere could push them out. Big hello to any mystified readers.

Half-time in most of the evening games and here's the state of randomish play. There will be twists and turns soon. No U-turns though. What do you think I am, a government or something?

Third fifth of all games now over with no signficant changes, so down to eighteen teams with a chance of displacing Shaftesbury as my Saturday #groundhopping road trip. Anywhere with two goals in quick succession could at least trigger the tie-break. Hinges on the 65th minute.

All Change! Stefano Sensi has scored in the 67th minute for Italy to cancel out Edin Dzeko's 57th minute opener for Bosnia-Herzegovina and that pair of goals is now sending me to Lordswood! Shaftesbury now eliminated on the tie-breaker...

Just nine teams left with a chance to displace Lordswood as the games enter the final eighteen minute time slots - Thornaby, Highgate, Brislington, Ashington, Portland, Stoneham, Rothwell Corinthians, Boston Town and Cribbs. Be still my beating #groundhopping heart.

Final whistles all over Europe ... stand by. I think I'll be headed to Lordswood...

No!! Late, drama as a goal each for Slovakia (88') and Czech Republic (86') send me for the real #UCL and a trip to Rothwell Corinthians!

Here's the final analysis. No time slot with more than two goals in it, and using the first tie-breaker the latest of them was in Slovakia (yellow cell) with no need for the next stage. Thanks for humouring me this evening! Rothwell Corinthians v Northampton ON Chenecks it is.

Blogpost now updated with the result and I'm off for a lie down in a darkened room. Stand by for the next instalment of #keepertopcolourstats from Northamptonshire tomorrow afternoon. https://modushopperrandom.blogspot.com/2020/09/ive-got-fifty-five-problems-but-pitch.html