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Saturday 28 December 2013

Tividale march on.

                                                 Midland Football Alliance

                           AFC Wulfrunians v Tividale


Following their Boxing Day defeat by Tipton,Tividale put on a five star show at Castlecroft. From the kick-off they controlled the game for long periods,restricting Wulfs to the occasional breakaway. When Wulfs did gain possession,their forwards were heavily outnumbered by the visitors' defence so the the attacks just kept on coming. For all Tividales' possession, the first real clean shot on goal came from Wulfs' Andy Thompson,cutting in from the left and forcing a good save from the keeper, at the expense of a corner. Around about the half-hour mark Wulfs looked to be turning the tide and honours were even for the remaining 15 or so minutes. That said, Tividale ought to have had something to show for all their possession.

Half-time ; AFC Wulfrunians 0 Tividale 0

Wulfs carried on where they left off and took the game to the visitors and were looking good. Their two half-time substitutes were having an impact. Thompson was put through but was foiled by some brave goalkeeping. A couple of minutes later Tividale took the lead through Waite and within three minutes had increased their lead. The icing on their cake came five minutes later with a third goal and the match was over as a contest. Credit to Wulfs who never gave up but this Tividale side has competed in the Alliance for three years now and are looking like they should win it this time and move up(ground conditions allowing). Wulfs look to be following the same path and I can see them doing really well next season, they have a good solid mix of players.

(click on a pic to bring it to full screen size)









 






Some of those expressions speak volumes!



An excellent advert for non-league football. A fellow spectator said he liked watching this level as ' they try to play it on the ground'.Couldn't agree more.

Result ; AFC Wulfrunians 0 Tividale 3

Entrance ; £3(concession)
Programme ; £1
Drink ; £1
Crowd ; 118
Referee ; ?

Thursday 26 December 2013

Stourbridge on song

                Calor League Southern Premier Division
                                Stourbridge v Redditch Utd

Following two recent 7-0 home wins,Stourbridge must have been anticipating another goal-rush against a Redditch side who have lost 4 of their last 6 games.To be fair to the visitors,at the outset they looked far from a side in the lower reaches of the league,their two front pacy wide men causing plenty of problems in the home defence. That said,Stourbridge dealt with everything thrown at them and were giving the visitors plenty to think about with  Luke Benbow the biggest thorn in the visitors' side and it was he who opened the scoring after a sweet passing move through the Utd defence.Redditch continued to attack but their approach play was let down too many times by lack of a cutting edge up front, but following a barnstorming run through the home defence the goalkeeper could only parry a shot which was despatched by the nippy Sterling-James. Stourbridge continued to press and were rewarded with a second just before half-time from Bennett.

Half-time ; Stourbridge 2 Redditch Utd 1

Gary Hackett changed  his game-plan fairly early in the second half with the introduction of Canavan who was soon followed by Fitzpatrick and Stourbridge seemed to step up a couple of gears with these two each getting a goal.Stourbridge were now controlling the game and could have added at least three more but had to settle for one from Rowe.

A good, competitive game for a large Boxing-Day crowd to savour.Stourbridge are rarely dull to watch while Redditch need a target man to compliment their nice approach play.













Result ; Stourbridge 5 Redditch 1

Programme ; n/a

Drink ;  £1 - 1.20

Crowd ; 637

Referee ; Good




Sunday 22 December 2013

Lye down Shawbury



                            West Midlands Regional League
                               Lye Town v Shawbury Utd

This game was the pick of the fixtures in this division – top v second. I've watched both sides previously and both can play nice football although strangely,Lye began by hoofing the ball at every opportunity to no-one in particular whereas the visitors were trying to knock it about and it was they who struck first after 5 minutes with as simple a goal as you'll see. A nice cross from the right to an unmarked player to nod home. Shawbury looked very comfortable on the ball and were soon after a second goal while the hosts were steadying themselves after the shock of going behind. Still,they did calm down,began to pass the ball and got their just deserts with an identically simple goal of their own,the ball being crossed from the left,again to an unmarked player to head home.

The game then took a dramatic change with a Shawbury player sent off for what I can only imagine the referee construed as dangerous play. The home keeper came to collect the ball as the visiting player advanced. They collided, the keeper was injured( and replaced), the opposing player being red-carded.

Half-time ; Lye Town 1 Shawbury Utd 1

Lye began the second half in control,putting their numerical advantage  to good use but unable to pierce a resolute Shawbury defence.Some tasty tackles were going in even though a player had been injured in the first half and one of these led to the visitors being awarded a penalty which was spectacularly saved by the replacement keeper.This seemed to gee-up Lye and they were soon in the lead.The crowd were certainly playing their part,winding up the visitors at every opportunity and it wasn't long before the hosts increased their lead.Shawbury are nothing if not game and refused to 'chuck in the towel' and continued to take the game to their hosts, being unlucky on a couple of occasions. That said,Lye had a chance to put the game to bed but were foiled by the visiting keeper.

All in all a decent game which would have been much better with 11 v 11 but 'rules are there to be obeyed'.This result puts Lye in a commanding position but after celebrating enthusiastically at the finish,they would do well to remember what happened last season! These are two very good sides and I would expect to see both still at the top at seasons-end.




That lino's  either got a bit of dirt in his eye or he's
                                     wearing the wifes' knickers.





Shawbury missed penalty.



Careful with that ball, I'll be needing these over Christmas(hopefully)


Merry Christmas to all. 

Result ; Lye Town 3 Shawbury Utd 1

Entrance ; £3(concession)
Programme ; n/a
Drink ; £1
Crowd ; 100(est)
Ref ; ?

Saturday 14 December 2013

Glassboys shattered.

                                     Calor League Southern
                                 Stourbridge v Arlesey Town

The Glassboys returned to league action following their recent FA Cup elimination at Stevenage and their Birmingham Senior Cup win over Wolves. Their opponents featured ex-league player Barry Hayles who proved the old adage still rings true about the skill being the last thing to go. From the off, Hayles proved extremely adept at holding up the ball. He was more than ably assisted by his younger co-striker N'Guessan whose movement off the ball was impressive. Stourbridge seemed to be having somewhat of an 'off-day' with passes going astray and many players not coping too well with a sticky pitch while Arlesey adapted well to the conditions, being quicker to the ball and looking very well organised in defence and midfield. As the half wore on so the visitors increased in confidence and it was no surprise when N'Guessan rounded the home keeper to put them in front, this following a couple of near misses. This seemed to spur the home side and they could and maybe should have been level by half-time. Credit to the visiting keeper.

Half-time Stourbridge 0 Arlesey Town 1

Whatever Gary Hackett said during the interval had an immediate effect on the hosts as they tore into the visitors from the off,closing them down and disrupting their impressive passing game. Plenty of goal-mouth scrambles resulted in nothing for Stourbridge and with Arlesey gradually weathering the storm,they went in search of the killer goal which duly came late on via Hatch.

As already stated Hayles and N'Guessan stood out for the visitors but,take nothing away from Arlesey, this was without doubt an outstanding team performance. Luke Benbow starred for Stourbridge with his limitless energy and running but the hosts were beaten by the better team on the day.













Result;Stourtbridge 0 Arlesey Town 2

Entrance ; £5(concession)
Programme ; £2
Drink ; £1 - £1.20
Crowd ; 328
Referee ; Good