WOLVERHAMPTON CASUALS 4 - 1 ELLESMERE RANGERS

           FA VASE, 2ND QUALIFYING ROUND, 25/09/2021

      Brinsford Stadium, Brinsford Lane, Coven Heath, Wolverhampton, 

                                             WV10 7PR 

Today I am going to a ground that has been on my radar for a long time now, namely the Brinsford Stadium ground of the Wolverhampton Casuals club. They are playing against Ellesmere Rangers from Shropshire in the 2nd Qual Round of the FA Vase.

I have read good reports about this venue from other bloggers in the past and it's an added bonus that it's a cup tie too.

I get to Wolverhampton OK by train and have time to re-acquaint myself with the town centre after a number of years and also the Art Gallery. Unfortunately it's undergoing refurbishment but it's good to wander round for 15 minutes before I leave and get an all-day breakfast in a cafe round the corner.

Then I catch the No.3 bus from near the Wolverhampton University building and twenty minutes later I am getting off just before the M 54 junction and the Stafford Road. The guy who gets off in front of me is looking at his phone (for directions ?) and I strongly suspect he's going to the match too.

It turns out his name is Earl and he's definitely going to the game. He's from Darlaston and has just started to going to see teams in his area. 

We get to the entrance of the ground about 10 minutes later, I pay my entrance fee and £1 for a professional looking programme and I'm told that there's a chance there might be some club badges for sale at the bar.

Unfortunately when I get there I'm told that the last one was sold 2 weeks ago. So that's an excuse for another visit sometime. The club definitely has a nice looking, well cared for grass pitch, which lies parallel to Brinsford Lane. There is a stand on the far side of the pitch, which looks as if it can seat about 100 people and on the side is a tea bar and alongside this is the club house / changing room building.

I am a bit disappointed that I won't be able to get to the far end of the ground as a barrier has been placed there. It would have been the best place probably for taking photos.

The 2 teams take to the field in their usual first team colours, with the 'The Cassies' in green and white and 'The Meremen' in an all yellow strip.

It's the home team who dominate proceedings when the game gets underway and it's no surprise that it's the tall Casuals No. 9, Anthony Smith, who gets the first goal after nicking the ball off a defender and scoring from close range in the 15th minute.   

9 minutes later and it's Smith who turns provider, after he goes to the right of the goal and passes to the No.4 to shoot home. 

The Cassies are firing on all cylinders now and in the 27th minute, it's practically game over when their No. 8 scores with a beautifully curled effort from the left.

To be honest, the Rangers goalkeeper, looks as if he is a last minute replacement and may not have played for some time and has looked a bit shaky.

Casuals superiority is confirmed when a quick break from the half way line sees that man Smith again scoring his second goal after 33 minutes.

Ellesmere to their credit do get back in to the game before half-time and in the space of 5 minutes, fashion 3 chances, the closest being when they hit the bar from a free kick.

So it's the end of the first period with a scoreline not many people were expecting. Ellesmere play in the North West Counties, Div One South and are in a respectable 7th place. Wolves Casuals on the other hand are struggling in the League and are fifth from bottom, with 2 wins from 7 games.

One of the club officials told me before the game that their manager from last season had left the club and taken many of the players with him, so they will probably take time to adjust.

At the interval I chat to a guy who turns out has come down from Shrewsbury to spy on Ellesmere, as his team, Haughmond, have drawn them in the Shropshire Senior Cup. I definitely want to see Haughmond's ground in the not too distant future.

When the game resumes, Ellesmere are definitely more in the game now and after going close when their No.8 shoots just wide with the keeper beaten, the same player shoots home on the hour.

I'm pleasantly surprised later on when the Ellesmere No.14 comes on as a substitute and it turns out to be a former Worcester City striker called Marco Addagio. I reckon he must be at least in his mid thirties by now and it looks as if he's been eating a few pies in the last few years. It's great to see him still in action though.

Anthony Smith is put through in the 76th minute and slides the ball past the oncoming keeper only to see his effort glide the wrong side of the post. He's replaced soon after and near the end the Ellesmere keeper makes a good save when he manages to push the ball on to the bar and out from close range.

So Ellesmere have put up a better showing in the second half although the Casuals have won quite comfortably. Wolverhampton Casuals are in the hat for the First Round proper and I'm sure will be looking to get a home draw.

I have enjoyed my visit today and thoroughly recommend anyone to visit this ground. It has a 'homely' feel to it and the pitch is a credit to the ground staff.

Match attendance:           70

Entrance fee:                  £6

Match programme:          £1

Entertainment value: 7.5/10  

     

STUDLEY 2 - 0 PAGET RANGERS

         F.A. VASE, 1ST QUALIFYING ROUND, 11-09-2021

       The Beehive, Abbeyfields Drive, Studley, Warwickshire, B80 7BF

Today heralds the start of the FA Vase, my favourite cup competition and I have decided to venture to a new ground, 'The Beehive' ground of Studley FC, who now play in the 1st Division of the Hellenic Football League, after moving over from the Midland Football League. Their opponents are the Birmingham team of Paget Rangers, a club well known in local circles and who have been in existence since 1938.

I have thought of coming here before but had considerations on the difficulties of getting here by public transport. It wasn't getting here but going back that I was worried about but when I checked on the West Midlands transport site, I found out that there were plenty of buses going back to Redditch, from where I would be catching the train back to Birmingham. No problems then! 

So I catch the No.57 Diamond Bus from Redditch town centre, after having a snack in the nearby Kingfisher shopping centre and 15 minutes later I am getting off the bus at Washford Mill. After rushing across the busy road I walk over to Abbeyfields Drive where the club is situated.

The ground is right at the northern end of this large village. This club has come a long way since their humble Sunday League bow in 1971 and have won the Worcestershire Senior Urn 5 times and have got to the last 16 in the FA Vase in 2004. 

They have a nice spacious club house with a bar and 2 big screens for the televised football, where I watch the replay of the 3 Crystal Palace goals against Spurs in this morning's Premiership game.

Also I notice that there are promotional materials for the Solihull Moors team and I later find out that Solihull have bought the place and use the facilities for training purposes.

I'm glad it's a nice sunny day as I realise that there is no cover by the pitch and indeed no seating. The main (artificial) pitch is accessed by walking between the other 2 (grass) pitches.

I pay the entrance fee at the table sat before the main pitch and there is a programme too. I'm told by someone from the club that they are looking to have a stand erected within 4 weeks time.  

I saw Studley play for the 1st time in July and it was a pre-season friendly at Racing Club Warwick. Although they lost 1-2, they should have got at least a draw that day. On that basis I think they could win today's encounter.

The 2 teams are in their usual colours, Studley in sky blue shirts and dark blue shorts,white socks. Paget in their, amber and black striped shirts, black shorts, amber socks.

For the first 15 minutes of play, it's very like the game I saw at Bedworth last week, with the home side dominating the play and looking dangerous whenever they attack.

  Again like last week, the home team score after 5 minutes and they do it through a spot kick, awarded when one of their players is brought down on the right side of the penalty box. This is dispatched by their No.11, who has been making threatening runs down the left.

A few minutes later and the same player heads over the bar following a long throw in from the right.

Sustained pressure from 'The Bees' results in a 2nd goal after their No.5 flicks in a neat glancing header inside the far post, from a left-hand corner.

  (Paget's Ryan Kimberley, takes the ball away from this Studley forward)

Paget do start to get back in to the game and near the end of the 1st half, their No.2 goes on a good run, passes to their No.9 but at the vital moment he loses his footing and his attempted shot, scoops harmlessly in to the arms of the Studley keeper.   

So The Bees are 2 goals to the good at the break but there are possible signs of Paget making a game of it after the interval.

During half-time, a guy asks me if I'm a pro photographer and when I say no, he says 'Ah, so you are a groundhopper then'. This makes me laugh as my bag is a bit of a give away.

It turns out that he has come all the way from Swindon, as Studley is one of the new Hellenic club grounds he had yet to go to. He has been 'hopping' himself for around 45 years and counting. We chat for the rest of the interval and the 2nd half too, as we exchange knowledge of the clubs we have seen. He also confesses to being a fan of Rochdale Athletic and is even a club shareholder!

In the 2nd half, Paget do get in to the game more but despite having more possession this time around, don't create too many clear cut chances. Their most dangerous player is forward, Rivel Mardenborough, shown in the photo below.

  Their best effort is comes after 74 minutes minutes when their No.10 has a shot pushed on to the post by The Bees goalkeeper.

Also later on their No.16, hits a shot in to the side netting after a good run down the left.

Studley go close to adding to their tally right near the end but it ends with them still leading 2-0.

So the home side are through and all in all, I'm glad I finally made a visit to The Beehive and I hope the club are able to erect their new stand soon, as they will need it I'm sure with the autumn and winter months coming ahead.

Match attendance.......60 (approximately)

Entrance fee..............£ 6

Match programme......£2

Entertainment value...7/10

BEDWORTH UNITED 4 - 1 WINTERTON RANGERS

     F.A. CUP, 1ST QUALIFYING ROUND, 04/09/2021

             THE OVAL, COVENTRY ROAD, BEDWORTH, CV12 8NN 

This Saturday I have chosen the FA Cup tie taking place between Bedworth United against Winterton Rangers, a team I have to confess of never hearing of before a few days ago. They hail from a small town, situated between the town of Scunthorpe and the River Humber. They play in the Northern Counties East League, Premier Division.

I have visited The Oval ground of Bedworth once before, about 10 to 11 years ago.

When I set out from Birmingham, the weather forecast is good, mainly sunny at 20 c. I take the train, via Coventry, from where I have to take the replacement bus service, which takes a bit longer than anticipated.

Walking through the town I head to the Miners Welfare Park, whose name evokes memories of the local (now defunct) coal mining industry of the North Warwickshire coal field. The Park itself is a very pleasant area, especially in today's fine weather and I have a meal at the Mayor's Cafe situated in the northern end of the Park.

It's a great recreational area for the town, as it not only contains the 'The Oval' but also the town team's cricket pitch and a swimming pool too.

I walk in to the ground with plenty of time to spare. I buy a cup of tea at the tea bar by the main stand on the eastern side of the ground and I am able to buy a club badge there as well!

I take position at the southern end of the ground by the left side of the goal where it's just a hard standing area and on my left is where the club house is with a covered area at the front and on the next level is a covered area where the club execs and guests can look on to the pitch.

The opposite end of the ground is similar to where I'm standing and on the other side is where the main stand is situated, with the changing rooms underneath.

The teams come out on to the artificial pitch with the home side in their all green strip and Winterton in their change strip of all red.

The game proceeds with 'The Greenbacks' camped in their opponents half and Liam Lockett puts them in the lead taking advantage of a defensive mix-up that occurs after a free kick.

The visitors though ride the storm for the first 15 minutes and gradually start to get a foothold in the game. They even equalise when their No.10, Josh Walker, heads in from a corner after 26 minutes.

For the rest of the half Winterton are the more dangerous side and must feel they have a chance of an upset.

It's obvious when play resumes that Bedworth have other ideas and step up the pace. Their No.7 Eesa Sawyers fires home their 2nd goal and then scores again after 65 minutes when cutting in skilfully from the right.

The Greenbacks have another goal disallowed for offside and soon after Winterton show that they are willing to fight back when their No.9 heads over the bar after a cross from the right.

Their captain then has a shot blocked with 5 minutes to go.

The last word though is had by Bedworth when in the last minute, midfielder Olly Mulders is left with plenty of time and space, shoots in from 30 yards out.

So United are very worthy winners and it's great boost for their morale after their recent poor league form. Winterton Rangers showed plenty of spirit today, especially in the first half and will be looking for a good showing now in their league campaign.

Match Attendance:      212

Entrance fee:              £5 (concession)

Programme:               £2

Entertainment value:   8/10  

     

LICHFIELD CITY 1 - 1 BOLDMERE ST. MICHAELS

                           Midland League, Premier Division, 30-08-2021  

              Trade Tyre Community Stadium, Brownsfield Rd, Lichfield  WS13 6AY

                 This Bank Holiday Monday sees the first match report of my brand new Blog. It's a local derby and a top of the table clash between the 3rd placed hosts of Lichfield City against the table topping visitors of Boldmere St.Michaels. 

I made my way by train to Lichfield and the city centre is a buzz of activity with plenty of market stalls providing mainly an assortment of food and drink and some activities for the kids.

After I have had a nice lunch of scampi and chips at the welcoming Fountain pub in Beacon Street I make my way through the crowds and take about 20-25 minutes walking to Lichfield's ground in Brownsfield Road. The club have put in artificial pitch since my last visit here 8 years ago when I attended a Presidents Cup Final between the now defunct Phoenix United and Cadbury Athletic.

I have been impressed by the recent wins of Lichfield that featured on the 'Brooksy TV' channel on You Tube, especially their excellent away FA Cup win at Evesham United. I think they will push 'The Mikes' all the way today.

I had to rush to get to the ground on time and in the process I forget to ask for a programme when I part with my entrance fee. I did manage to remember to ask for a club badge for £3, from behind the Bar. Number 47 in my growing collection.

The teams are playing in their usual colours of Lichfield City in all blue while Boldmere are in their black and white kit.

For the first 10 minutes the play is pretty even but then City start to get the upper hand and their No.4 fires over the bar after some sustained pressure. They create another chance when their No.8 breaks down the left and provides a pass inside for a team mate to again shoot over the bar.

Boldmere are still dangerous though and the Lichfield keeper has to make a block from one of their forwards.  

So there has been plenty of effort from both sides but it's still 0-0. The home side have been the more dangerous so far and anything can happen in the next 45 minutes.

Lichfield are the first to score in the 52nd minute when their No.7, Jack Edwards cuts across the Boldmere goal to the left and then guides the ball in to the opposite side of the net. A classy goal to break the deadlock!

For the last 30 minutes, there is increasing pressure from the visitors and they make 3 substitutions during this time. In the 71st minute, Boldmere think they have equalised when their No. 14 bundles the ball home from close range but the linesman flags for handball. 

Of course with no VAR system there are protests from some of the Boldmere players and coaching staff but to no avail, the linesman's decision stands.

 To their credit, Boldmere intensify their efforts for the equaliser but on occasion this leaves them open to the counter-attack, especially from a Lichfield substitute, their lanky No.16, going on probing runs on the right flank. The closest he gets to increasing City's lead happens when he chips the ball over the bar as the keeper rushes out.

It's mostly one way traffic after this and in the 90th minute, the Mikes No. 15, Isaac Phillips bursts through to score with the Lichfield keeper out of position. 

It is a fair result in the end although I suspect that Lichfield City might not agree with that. It's been an intense, hard fought local derby that has been a treat for the Bank Holiday crowd.

City now have their FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round match at home, next Saturday v Nuneaton Borough, with the game being televised as well!  A tough task but with some quality players, like full-back Luke Childs and the forward, Jack Edwards, Lichfield have a chance of springing an upset.

Match entrance fee : £3 (concession)

Match programme : not obtained (if any were issued ?)

Attendance:  187 

Match entertainment value : 8/10