GRAHAM STREET PRIMS 0 - 4 LICHFIELD CITY

 

               FA VASE 1ST ROUND, 23/10/2021 

        ASTERDALE SPORTS GROUND, BORROWASH ROAD, SPONDON,

                                      DERBY, DE21 7PH

Well today, it's FA Vase time again and I have decided to visit a new ground in a city I have never been to before. The city in question is Derby and the ground is that of the team called Graham Street Prims. An unusual name but 'Prims' is just an abbreviation of 'Primitive Methodists' and that was the name when the Graham Street club was first formed in 1904. They sound like they were a hard bunch of God fearing men!

I take the train from Birmingham New Street with no problems and get to Derby in about 40 minutes. I have enough time to visit the Art Gallery & Museum, the Cathedral (see below) and a quick wander around the very large 'Derbion' indoor shopping complex.

After having a light meal at a cafe near the Cathedral I make my way to the Bus Station and take the Indigo Number 4 bus (bound for Nottingham) to Spondon and get off near Borrowash Road where 'The Prims' ground is located.

Unfortunately I walk past the entrance to the ground, as I can only see a derelict building and there is no visible sign indicating the club. I realise my mistake when I soon consult Google Maps on my phone. I go to the left after going up the drive to the derelict building, as the ground is soon visible.

I pay to get in at the entrance but I'm disappointed when the guy tells me that there are no programmes available. I do find out that club badges are for sale and I purchase one in the club house.

The Fred Harding Ground is a bit basic but definitely good enough for this level. It has floodlights, with hard standing all around and a small stand is near the entrance with seating for about 100 spectators, to the side of the goal at the western end of the pitch. There is fencing all around, except for 2 gaps either side of the goal at the eastern end, so that any stray balls can be retrieved (very important feature). On the southern side of the pitch is a sheltered area with a long bench for more seating. The team dugouts are located on the opposite side.

The teams come out in their usual colours. Graham Street in red and white striped shirts, with black shorts and socks. The visitors are in their all blue kit apart from the white frontage on the shirts.

I have predicted a 4-1 victory for Lichfield today as I know they are in good form and in 2nd position in the Midland Football League, Premier Division, while their hosts are next to bottom in Div One of the United Counties League, which is also a step below that of Lichfield. Only their very near neighbours, Borrowash United, sit below them in the league table.

From the off, it's Lichfield having most of the play and they take an early 5th minute lead. It starts with left back, Joe Haines going down the left and crossing the ball for Lichfield's captain Patterson but the home keeper gets to the ball first but he only manages to see the ball loop in to the air for the waiting Jack Edwards to control it well and turn to shoot in to the right hand corner. Seen below being congratulated by a team mate.

   Luke Childs, scores a second when he receives the ball from a corner on the right makes a run across the to the goal, scuffs a shot and a Prims defender makes a hash of clearing the ball and the ball goes past him and the startled keeper and in to the goal. A bit of a fluky goal.

The hosts are battling to get in to the game but find it hard going as the superior passing game of Lichfield means that they don't see that much of the ball and the visitors defence is coping well with any attacks.

Lichfield bag another goal in the 40th minute when their midfield lynch-pin and captain, Patterson, is pulled back by The Prims No.4 Garton while running toward goal in the box and their No.10, Lomas, strokes the resulting penalty home.

So at the break, City are in control and three goals to the good and Graham Street need to up their game to get a look in.

It's a cloudy and cool day and I decide I will need to wear my gloves for the 1st time this season, to keep my shutter finger warm.

In the second half it's still Lichfield dominating the play and their No.9 Dixon sees his shot blocked by the keeper, Musgrove, when he gets through on goal.

After 70 minutes Luke Childs sees his shot well saved by Musgrove and 3 minutes later he saves well from another Lichfield effort. It's only a brief respite however as from a right hand corner, the ball drops invitingly for Dixon to slot home goal number 4.

Graham Street Prims keep battling to the end and their substitute, No.14 Wilks sees his header go close. I think he probably should have played from the start as he does trouble the visitors defence with his speed and physical presence, (shown below, holding up the ball).

 Lichfield have enough time to see them go close to scoring a fifth goal when substitute Pegg has a shot crash against the cross bar and Childs has another shot saved with a minute to go.

It's been a tough game for the home team but they stuck to their task well despite being outplayed for much of the time and I hope they can fare better in their league before the end of the season.

On the other hand Lichfield City continue to the next round in November for a home encounter with fellow Midland Leaguer's Highgate United and they still have an eye on the Premier Division title.

I certainly have enjoyed my first visit to Derby and I can recommend a visit to this friendly club. Just make sure you don't miss the entrance to the ground!

Match attendance:      60 (approx)

Entrance fee:                           £5

Match programme:  none available                       

Entertainment value:             7/10

 

KNOWLE 4 - 0 BOLDMERE SPORTS & SOCIAL FALCONS

        MIDLAND FOOTBALL LEAGUE, DIV 2, 09/10/2021

    The Robin's Nest, (Draintech Community Stadium), Hampton Road, 

                                  Knowle, Solihull, B93 0NX 

 It's time for me to fly over to the Robins Nest ground of Div 2, Midland Football League team of Knowle F.C., who are currently riding high in the league table. The first four teams, (Fairfield Villa, Coton Green, Knowle and Cadbury Athletic) are all in very close proximity to each other and there is the prospect of a very exciting title race for this season between them.

I take the short rail journey to Dorridge and then catch the A8 bus to the High Street of Knowle village. Again I am lucky with the weather, with it being cloudy but with plenty of sunny intervals.

I make it in to Knowle village centre and it's a very smart shopping area, much better than some town centres that come to mind. I have a panini and coffee at a local coffee shop and make my way to the ground which is just 5 minutes walk away.

It's a venue I have visited twice before and the third time I have watched Knowle, with every time resulting in a Knowle victory!

 The ground is now called the 'Draintech Community Stadium' no doubt due to a sponsorship deal. I walk in and pay my £3 entry fee that comes with a free programme and it looks to be the last one!

Today's visitors from Boldmere, are in a mid table position (sixth) and I think that Knowle will probably win 3-1 but I'm not known for my accurate predictions. 

I'm a bit put out that I won't be able to take any photos from the end nearest the entrance as there is a mesh fence right across there to stop stray balls going over the hedge and in to a neighbouring property. So I decide to go to the far side of the ground, a few yards away from the small stand (seats for 48 spectators), with the portacabin like club house, close by on the other side and then further along the changing rooms and toilets.

The far end of the pitch is accessible to spectators and the other side has the team dugouts and it's where the car park area is located too (handy for the older spectators on a cold winter's day, as you can get a warmer view from your vehicle).

The 2 teams come out and the home team are resplendent in their usual red shirts, black shorts and socks. Boldmere have to change from their usual red and black stripes, to a mainly dark blue kit with yellow trimmings.

It's Boldmere on the attack for the first few minutes but Knowle hit back quickly and see a header just go over the bar. After 6 mins, the home team take the lead with their No.9, Nathan Corry, taking advantage of a mix up in the Boldmere defence to slot home from close in.

It's mainly 'The Robins' on the offensive after this and 'The Falcons' keeper is definitely the busier of the two.

Coming in to the last 15 minutes of this half, the visitors start to mount some attacks of their own, inspired by their captain Matty Tyler. He is an excellent box to box midfielder who I saw play for one of my then local teams from 5 years ago, Worcester Raiders and was one of their key players at that time in an improving team (seen in action below). 

 However this proves to be a false dawn for Boldmere's hopes as some more sloppy defending on their part, sees Knowle's Charlie Morris score from close in.

Just a minute before half-time sees a slick attacking move by Knowle, from right to left across the pitch sees their No.3, Jay Payne, score goal number 3! Then in injury time, Knowle's George Seeley screws his shot just wide when he should have scored.

So Knowle are 3 goals to the good at the interval and have been the sharper team, with a good pressing game, helping to force mistakes from the visitors.

During half-time a man called Ronald Crane comes over to me and introduces himself and asks if I can provide some photos for the club's Facebook page. Of course I'm happy to oblige and he is the guy who writes the match reports for the programme, which turns out to be a good informative read.

The first team's last match turned out to be a closely fought 1-1 draw with 4th placed Cadbury Athletic and also there is a match report on the Ladies team's FA Cup victory over the higher ranked Coundon Court Ladies from Coventry.

It's good to see the club doing well and Knowle go close to scoring again after just 5 minutes of play in the 2nd half when one of their attackers beats the Boldmere keeper to the ball finds the angle too acute to score from.

Another good attempt in the 78th minute sees a Knowle player spotting the visitor's keeper some way off his line and his attempted lob sails just over the bar.

Yet another defensive mix up by Boldmere sees the ball go to a Boldmere substitute, Kaine Williams, who takes it past the keeper and strokes it in to an empty net.

An emphatic victory to The Robins who have certainly clipped the wings of The Falcons, who will have to work on their defensive short comings if they want to improve their season.

Knowle are looking likely title contenders and indeed with today's result and results elsewhere, they leapfrog on goal difference over former leaders Fairfield Villa in to top spot!

It's interesting to read in the programme that Knowle are looking to move to another nearby site that will enable them to have on site training facilities and an all-weather playing surface too.

I have enjoyed my visit today, pleased with keeping my 100% viewing, winning record for Knowle FC.

I make the short walk in to the High Street and while waiting for the bus I take a photo of the church and village sign across the road.

Match attendance          51

Entrance fee                 £3

Programme                Free

Match entertainment  7/10

 

  

  

SUTTON COLDFIELD TOWN LADIES 2 - 0 REDDITCH UNITED LADIES

                    Women's FA Cup, 2nd Qualifying Round,

         The Central Ground, Coles Lane, Sutton Coldfield, B72 1NL  03/10/2021 

                                   

This weekend I have decided not to go to any games on Saturday as the weather forecast is pretty dismal and I notice that it's the Women's FA Cup being played on Sunday. I have a look at the fixtures and decide to go to Coles Lane, for the Sutton Coldfield v Redditch United game at 2pm.

I get the train to Sutton Colfield, have a snack and a coffee and a quick look around the Gracechurch Shopping Centre and walk for 20 minutes to get to the ground.

I'm greeted by a friendly lady in a blue tracksuit and I pay my £3 entrance fee. Later on I think she may be the manager? 

The forecast is sunny with showers for the first part of the match and I have gone to stand at the far end of the ground by the side of the goal to keep out of the direct sunlight and under some shelter.

The teams come out with Sutton in an all royal blue strip and Redditch in all red. As soon as the game kicks off, the rain decides to start falling!

 Sutton Coldfield hit the match running and take the lead after just 2 minutes. The ball is lobbed over from the right and their No.14 heads home.

The same girl scores a second but I must confess to not seeing it as I had been checking some previous shots on my camera.

Sutton are quicker to the ball and in speed of thought and I am beginning to fear that they will be totting up a cricket score at this rate but Redditch do gradually get more in to the game and they have a few attacks of their own down the left.

They don't trouble the home goal keeper while the Redditch keeper has had to save several shots in this half although most have been straight at her.

So it's half-time with Sutton two goals to the good and Redditch will be looking to get an early, confidence boosting goal in the next 45 minutes.

Both teams are in the West Midlands Regional League, Premier Division and I have noticed the difference in class between this level and the first 2 levels of the Women's football pyramid which I have watched in the past.

The weather is mainly still rain and sometimes it's heavy too.

'The Royals' of Sutton Coldfield are attacking towards me now and they are pressing from the off again.

After 55 minutes, there is a nasty collision between the Sutton No.10 who bravely goes to head the ball with the Redditch keeper rushing out. They both collapse to the floor but fortunately they are just winded rather than injured and are able to resume after about 2 minutes.

After 62 minutes, Redditch have their best attack of the match when they have a shot turned away by the home keeper for a corner.

They have a few attacking forays down the left but it's still The Royals looking the most likely to score. I am impressed with their No.19 who seems to be their driving force from midfield (shown in action in the photo below). 

As you can see, the playing conditions got a bit too unpleasant at times but luckily the real downpours didn't last too long.

Near the end, The Royals twice go close to scoring again, once from a corner and another from a shot going just the wrong side of the post, from the right hand side.

The full-time whistle blows soon after and it's Sutton Coldfield's name that will go in to the draw for the next round.

I have enjoyed the match, much more so in the 2nd half as I got used to the style of play and admired the ladies efforts in the trying conditions. I will see if I can get in another women's match before the end of  this season.

Match Attendance:        70

Entrance fee:               £3

Entertainment value     6/10

Match Programme        None available