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Wednesday 24 April 2013

Top of the table clash

 West Midlands(Regional) League.Premier Division 23/4/13

                         Wolverhampton Casuals v Shawbury Utd

Meet and greet !
The one in the tee-shirt's had enough already !

The visitors started well but Casuals soon took control of midfield.It was against the run of play when Shawbury took the lead on 20 minutes through their tricky forward Millington.It didn't take Casuals long to level things up 10 minutes later.







Is this what's called close-marking(or is it something unmentionable?)
The remainder of the half was fairly even although it was evident the visitors lacked a cutting edge where it mattered.









Half-time; Wolves Casuals 1  Shawbury Utd 1
The second half was a belter with Casuals taking full control of midfield and pounding the visitors' goal,bringing the best out of the goalie.Something had to give and soon enough the home side took the lead following some determined runs down the right.




While Casuals were all high energy, Shawbury were visibly tiring and limited to the occasional attack.Both sides had a goal disallowed but it was all Casuals now and they ran the game down using the corners to waste time.

 

A couple of minutes from time the visitors' number 4 was sent off for a second yellow card ,one of a number issued,but it wasn't a dirty game.Good game for the neutral.This result leap-frogs Casuals over their visitors.

Entry; £1.50
Programme; £1
Coffee; £1
Crowd; About 40
Referee; So-so









Saturday 20 April 2013

Another good game

        West Midlands Regional League. Division 1. 20/4/13

                                    AFC Smethwick v Penncroft

Smethwick were looking to further their aims as League winners by disposing of lowly Penncroft.It was obvious from the off that things were not going to plan.Penncroft looked the more assured side and Smethwick struggled to impose themselves.

Penncroft number 9 was causing havoc in the home penalty area with his close control and dribbling skills and it was no surprise when the visitors took the lead after one of his runs.He was ably assisted in midfield by number 6.The home side looked in dissaray and Penncroft took full advantage to increase their lead before half-time as a result of a defender trying to chest the ball back to his keeper only to see it end up in the back of the net.



Half-time;AFC Smethwick 0 Penncroft 2

I suspect the home team had an uncomfortable half-time 'team-talk'(football speak for a kick up the arse) from their manager as they started the second half in much more determined fashion and after two or three misses they pulled a goal back.



Penncroft withstood the home pressure and slowly regrouped to compete more in midfield and from there they moved the ball wide.




Time for a drink !


The home team were getting chances but not taking advantage of them.The visitors' number 9 again had the home defence in all sorts of trouble,dribbling through three players to score a brilliant third.Smethwick had more chances but continued to spurn them.



Penncroft ran out worthy winners whilst damaging Smethwicks' title ambitions and if this team can be kept together,I can see them challenging next season.An excellent game for the spectator with both teams trying to play the right way.

Result; AFC Smethwick 1 Penncroft 3

Entrance; Free
Programme; N/a
Coffee; 80p
Crowd; about 15(and a dog)
Referee; Ok




Monday 15 April 2013

Congrats to us.

Pete and me are over the moon 'cos we've hit 1000+ views early doors.As I said,like,we'd be as sick as a parrot if we hadn't but we'll take each view as it comes.It's a funny old game(especially when it's a game of two halves) after all, but we'll always give 150% after we've set out our stall.At the end of the day we have got a game plan but we wont park the bus.There's no corridor of uncertainty with us and we'll never run down the clock.Like they say,'it's never over 'till the fat lady sings',is it ?

Sunday 14 April 2013

Looking back

                                                     


WMRL Div 1 Table April 2007

Looking at the two old programmes given me by John from Wolverhampton Utd,I didn't recognise some of the teams that were in the league at that time.So I did some digging.

Darlaston Town,runaway winners of Division 1 in 2007 are currently 2nd bottom of the Premier League.
AFC Wulfrunians have certainly moved onwards and upwards and are currently vying for the Premier Division title.
Cresswell Wanderers  operate a number of junior teams from Cannock,Staffordshire.
Stafford Town now play in the Athium Midland Football Combination.
Bilston Town are heading for the title and promotion from this division.
Blackheath Town are in 17th position in this league.
Riverway now play in division two of this league.
Bridgnorth Town Reserves still play in this division.
Hinton dropped down to the Herefordshire Football League Premier Division in 2007.
Malvern Town Reserves occupy 16th position in division two of this league.
Bilbrook are now concentrating on junior football.
Ludlow Town Reserves now play in the Shropshire County Premier League.
Tenbury Utd occupy 15th position in division two of this league.
Sporting Khalsa now play in the Premier division and are in the top half of the table.
Parkfield Leisure no longer exist and I am struggling to find any meaningful links(if anyone can help I would be grateful).



Saturday 13 April 2013


                         West Midland(Regional)League. Division 1. 13/4/13

                               Wolverhampton Utd v Bilston Town(2007)




Bilston Orange Army Cheerleader-in -Chief


 Bilston(2007) bid to extend their lead at the top of the table against bottom team Wolverhampton Utd.A wet,windy,horrible,cold day made decent football impossible and after 15 minutes a double figure hammering looked on the cards as Bilston(in their changed strip of yellow and green) tore into a two-goal lead  and  their hosts found them difficult to contain. Utd gradually worked themselves into the game but their forwards had obviously left their shooting boots in the changing rooms.

                       Half-Time; Wolverhampton Utd 0 Bilston Town(2007) 2




The second half proceeded in much the same vein as the first with Utd showing a tad more invention and missing one or two decent chances while restricting Bilston.




Not the worst game I've seen this season but quite a surprising result given the league positions of those involved.Mention must be given to the Gateman who,when asked for a programme explained they had none but I was welcome to a couple of old ones,which I thought a nice touch.

Entrance; £1(concession)
Programme; see above
Coffee; 60p
Crowd; about 40
Referee; Good




Thursday 11 April 2013

                  MFA Polymac Packaging League Cup 12/13.Semi-Final 2nd leg 10/4/13

                                 Tipton Town(2) v Loughborough University(3)


A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF ANY MATCH !


Definitely a game of two halves.In a nutshell,Tipton were crap in the first half,bloody brilliant second half.
The home side were slow out of the traps and lucky to be on level terms after 15 minutes as the visitors tore into them.To compound an already difficult situation,Tiptons' number 5 decided to bring down an opposing forward and was rightly given a red card.Surely common sense dictates let the player go on,he may score,he may not.Either way you still have 11 players on the field.The inevitable happened,the visitors taking the lead after 25 minutes and added a second just before half-time.Tipton in total disarray.



A slight altercation nipped in the bud.

Half-time; Tipton 0 Loughborough Uni 2

Tiptons' manager certainly did his job during the break as the home side came out 'all guns blazing'.They battered the visitors;hit the woodwork twice;saw the opposing goalie make at least four incredible saves and finally scored 10 minutes from time.
Must mention the home captain Tom Tonks. He led by example,making some barnstorming runs.Taking the match as a whole,Tipton didn't deserve to lose.Good game.

Tipton Town 1 Loughborough University 2
Aggregate score;Tipton Town 3 Loughborough University 5


Entrance; £3
Programme; Sold out
Coffee; 80p
Crowd; 106
Referee; No comment

Sunday 7 April 2013







Normally, at Proper Football games, I quite like the officials. They are learning their trade and, yes they make mistakes as we all do, they are generally honest, do their best and hopefully will learn from those mistakes.

On Saturday though the Ref didn't stand a chance. From the outset, he was barracked by Players, management and some sections of the crowd. As a consequence the game was in danger of getting out of his control.

In the Pro game, Referees are awarded the status of little dictators. They bear no criticism, due to the FA Respect initiative and are answerable to no one.  Some, I believe, actually think that the game is only being played for their benefit and face the cameras at every opportunity seeking their ninety minutes of fame and glory.

Grass roots is different. The money, the crowds, the cameras are just not there.
We, at Proper Football level, should know better and give the match officials a decent chance .

Saturday 6 April 2013

                       Evo-Stik Northern Premier League-Premier Division

                                    Rushall Olympic v Ashton United

This will be,probably,my shortest report yet.I'll start at the beginning.My intention was for me and Pete to go to watch Continental Star v Highgate United(WMRL).Star play at Rushalls' ground but were not playing until this evening so when we arrived and were told R O were playing,we thought 'ok,we're here and we'll watch the game'.Now I have seen R O play before and have to say I don't like their style(a la Stoke,if you get my drift),but was prepared to give them the benefit of the doubt as it was probably 2 years ago I last saw them. Nothing has changed.It was bloody dire;the worst match either of us has seen all season.Olympics' strategy is straight out of Mick McCarthys' handbook...'put a shift in lads,get stuck into 'em', but is garnished Pulis style,ie,hit the bloody ball as hard and as high as you can.We were waiting for the ball to come down covered in ice and smash into smithereens on the ground.Ashton played more or less the same style but they did at least have the one bright spot of the afternoon in their number 11 Chris Amadi who looked out of place amongst these hoofers.It's quite odd really as we are mostly used to Midland Alliance and West Midlands(Regional)League football which you would expect to be inferior to NPL but is actually a much higher standard(on this showing anyway)
So that's it.Couldn't wait for the game to end and I'll not be going back there any time soon.Rubbish,bloody rubbish. Here are some pictures.





Admission;£4(concession)
Programme;£2
Coffee;£1(v.good,not the cheapo crap)
Weather;getting better
Ref;did his best but.....