Piggot bags a brace for Bilston.

West Midlands Regional League Premier Division

Bilston Town 3 Cradley Town 0

 Prior to setting off for this game I watched the unadulterated pile of crap that was  MK Dons v Ipswich (and was reminded of the reason I stopped buying a Wolves season ticket all them years ago,when M McC was in charge).They should have gone to Specsavers...or,failing that,headed on down to Queen Street to watch this game.Me being an old duffer paid £3 to get in,it's a steal ! I keep saying it in lots of my blogs but I'll repeat 'you will not beat this level of football for sheer enjoyment and value for money'. High-flyers Cradley were brought down to earth with a bump by a Town side who,on the day, simply refused to be beaten.Make no mistake,Cradley are a very good side and are up there on merit but found MOTM Bilston forward Tom Piggot a real handful.He bagged himself a pair but should have had at least a hat-trick.A strong wind did little to help but of the two sides,Bilston seemed to handle the conditions much better than the visitors.

Entrance ; £3 concession
Programme ; £1
Drink ; £1
Crowd ; 75-80 est
Referee ; Good
 

Casuals smash and grab.

West Midlands Regional League. Premier Division

Wolverhampton Casuals 2 Malvern Town 1

" It's a funny old game " to quote Greavsey and this certainly was.I can just imagine the conversation on the way back to Worcestershire and tonight in the pub; ' How the *********(insert your preferred expletive)hell did we lose? ' The first half was fairly evenly balanced  with Casuals possibly just shading it without really threatening to score;a statement which could also be applied to Town.Both sides battled gamely against the wind which made ball control nigh on impossible and misplaced passes a certainty although not diminishing the entertainment on offer.

The second half was a different game altogether with the visitors enjoying long periods of domination with Casuals being limited to occasional breakaways.That is until the 86th minute when Town grabbed what looked like a deserved winner from their No 6 with a beautifully curved cross/shot from the left,going in off the RH corner of post and bar.The away fans jumped for joy as they saw a well earned 3 points seemingly 'in the bag'.Alas,their jubilation was to be short-lived when less than 2 minutes later Casuals were level and horror of horrors,within another minute  the hosts bagged a second to lay all of Towns' second-half domination to no avail.

Domination,possession,control,call it what you will.It all counts for nothing if you dont match it with goals. So although Town can count themselves unlucky,credit must also be given Casuals for their determined defending during the second-half onslaught.Indeed,as Casuals' second went in,one away fan was heard to mutter 'bloody 'ell,we've played 'em off the park.' Yes,but they scored more goals.

All in all,a cracking afternoons entertainment.

Entrance ; £3 concession
Programme ; £1
Drink ; £1.10
Crowd ; 35-40 est
Referee ; Good

Wednesfield fight back

West Midlands Regional League Division 1

Wednesfield 3 Shifnal 1

This was a terrific game for the neutral observer.The weather was bloody horrible...cold,wet and generally Novembery but watching this game you could forget the elements.The home side had a disastrous start when they were reduced to 10 men after only 10 minutes play.It didn't seem to bother them as they took the game to the visitors but as is so often the case,good approach work was undone by poor finishing,a trait which also applied to the visitors.While Shifnal look to have some experience,Wednesfield look to be quite a young side with some very nippy kids.Just as the first half was finishing the visitors took the lead with what can only be described as an opportunist goal.A high cross was punched clear by the keeper only to be volleyed back into an empty net.Credit to the scorer(No 4 ?) for his quick thinking.

So,45 gone,1-0 down with 10 men....it didn't look good,but this Wednesfield team is obviously made of strong stuff and back they came,with a vengeance.All three of their goals came from perserverance and the neutral would have to admit they deserved their win.Shifnal played well enough but Wednesfield had the secret ingredient....doggedness;they just don't know when they are beaten and me and my mate were impressed with them.

Entrance ; Nobody on the gate
Programme ; Ditto
Drink ; £1
Crowd ; 35-40 est
Ref ; Good

AFC Wulfrunians v Long Eaton United.Part 2

My previous report was ok except for one glaring fact.Long Eaton United didn't equalize with a penalty;they in fact took the lead with a penalty in the 4th minute and it was Wulfrunians who equalized on 18 minutes.I'm putting it down to old age !

Brady too hot for United

Midland Football League

AFC Wulfrunians 4  Long Eaton United 1

It looks like the days of watching games comfortably are long gone.Hats,scarves and gloves are the order of the day for the next few months,not to mention cold feet ! Today was cold and wet.....very cold and very wet,which is the only weather in which to watch proper football, according to my mate.
Wulfrunians were trying to follow up an encouraging midweek result against Shepshed against a dangerous looking outfit in United.The visitors were at it from the off looking much better than their mid-table position would suggest but were caught on their heels when Brady was put through to put the hosts ahead.United were level on 18 minutes via a penalty.As the half wore on,Wulfrunians gained the upper hand and by the 36th minute that man Brady had his hat-trick.Little changed after the break other than the visitors seeing a little more of the ball but time and again promising midfield play was let down by poor finishing and they paid the price for their wastefulness when Brady bagged his and Wulfrunians' fourth after a scintillating burst of play from the hosts.United continued as before,promising build-up play being let down with poor finishing.
In the end this was a deserved victory for Wulfrunians but United ran them very close,Brady being the difference.

APOLOGIES FOR THE POOR QUALITY OF THE PHOTOS...WRONG CAMERA SETTING !!

United level from the spot.

Brady bags his third.

Entrance ; £3 concession
Programme ; £1
Drink ; £1
Crowd ; 60 est
Referee ; Ok