Spalding in a goal spree,

       ⚽Northern Premier League(Midlands Div)⚽

            Sporting Khalsa 1  Spalding United 7

This report is in no way intended to disparage or embarrass the players, officials or members of Sporting Khalsa FC.

The clock showed 1minute 30 secs when the visiting number 9 rattled one in from just inside the area⚽ and United were already looking dangerous, closing down any attempt by the hosts. On 17 minutes United added a second via Winters⚽ and you were already fearing the worst for Khalsa who were being outrun and outfought. The visitors were awarded a contentious(in my opinion)penalty on 36 minutes, duly despatched⚽. Khalsa were guilty of multiple misplaced passes but that was probably down to United not giving them a second on the ball.

On 51 minutes Khalsa pulled on back when their number 11 cut in from the right, beat the defender, took his time and beat the keeper ⚽; was this a glimmer hope ? Sadly for them, it was not as just 8 minutes later they added a fourth via that man O'Sullivan⚽ again and just 5 minutes later Clifton⚽ tapped in a fifth with Khalsa still working but now looking bereft of ideas against such superior opposition. United looked like they still had plenty of goals in them and on 77 minutes they hit a sixth through Graham⚽ who stuck his leg out to divert a shot into the net. The final goal of the game on 88 minutes was indeed a thing of beauty as the Barker⚽ waltzed his way through 3 or 4 defenders and smacked a fine shot into the top left-hand corner.

Khalsa were beaten by a fine side who showed why they are top of the league.

     

Entrance ; £5 concession

Drink ; £1.50

Referee ; 7/10

Attendance ; 250 est

Entertainment ; 8/10

Atherstone Town leave it late.

            ⚽ Midland Football League Premier Div⚽

AFC Wulfrunians 0  Atherstone Town 1

The visitors started at 100 miles an hour with a plan of closing down the hosts at every opportunity ; this led to the game being played in the middle part of the pitch with goal attempts at a premium. Once the lung-bursting efforts from Town were over, the game settled to a more evenly contested game with both sides having spells of possession but devoid of real goal threats.

The second period progressed in the same vein but Atherstone certainly looked the more threatening whereas Wulfrunians lacked a cutting edge up front. The game was settled on 83 minutes following a corner for the visitors, the ball finding its way through a crowded goalmouth from a shot by the visitors No 7⚽.

Atherstone probably deserved their win as they certainly had more goal threat than Wulfs who had their fair share of pressure but nothing at the end of it.

Entrance ; £4 concession

Drink ; £1.50

Referee ; 9/10

Att ; 200 est

Entertainment ; 9/10

Punjab and Bilbrook put on a stunning display !

           ⚽West Midlands Regional League Div 2⚽

Punjab United 5  Bilbrook FC 5

                                                                                                   Played at Wednesfield FC, Amos Lane

   This was the ultimate 'game of two halves'. Missed the first goal⚽ but the second was a calamity for the PU keeper who, casually passed the ball not to his own player but the opposition forward who said thank you very much and tapped it home⚽. Following this disastrous start, United had planty of possession and shots galore but simply could not put the ball into the net and wouldn't you know it, on 22 minutes Bilbrook passed their way downfield, skipped past the last defender and despatched goal number 3⚽. 5 minutes later United pulled one back following some good wing play, a decent cross and a  headed goal⚽ only to be followed minutes later by a fourth for the visitors. Things were not going Uniteds way as they were playing some decent stuff.

Minutes after the restart Bilbrook were awarded a penalty which was duly despatched⚽ but then something remarkable happened ; things started going Uniteds way and 10 minutes later, following some good wing play, they gained a second⚽ and a third arrived 9 minutes later⚽ ! Within minutes the arrears were further reduced⚽ and to cap it all they added a fifth⚽ well before the whistle and to be honest, were very unlucky to not win it.

A fantastic game.  

Drink ; £1.40

Referee ; 9/10

Crowd ; Not very many !

Entertainment ; 10/10

Dudley Town beaten by Shifnal

            ⚽  Midland Football League Premier Div⚽

Dudley Town 1  Shifnal Town 3

                                                                                Played at Guardian Warehousing Arena

Two goals⚽⚽ before the break left 'out of sorts' Dudley with a mountain to climb as Shifnal bossed the first session. 

An extended half-time break was required due to the referee being injured.

A good talking to at the break had the required effect as the hosts  tore into the visitors and their pressure paid off on 55 minutes to reduce the arrears⚽.  Roles were now  reversed as it was Dudley in the ascendency and they were unlucky on a couple of occasions when striking the post and bar but just when it looked like they must score, the visitors broke at speed and put the game out of reach on 80 minutes⚽.

Fair play to Dudley, they gave it a right go after the break but Shifnal probably deserved the points for their first half display.

Entrance ; £5 concession

Drink ; £1.50

Referee(s) ; 9/10 for both !

Attendance ; 173

Entertainment ; 9/10