WEST MIDLANDS REGIONAL LEAGUE, DIVISION ONE
LEAGUE CUP, QUARTER-FINAL
CKW Stadium, Castlecroft Road, Wolverhampton, WV3 8LU
19th March, 2022 3:00 pm Kick-Off
I'm heading to Wolverhampton today, to the leafy suburb of Castlecroft in fact to see some Cup action, between the hosts of Old Wulfrunians against the Division One leaders of the West Midlands League, Gornal Athletic.
'The Old Wulfs' play at the same ground as their senior club of 'AFC' who play in the Midland Premier. I have visited there twice before but I decided it was time I watched some West Midland League teams again.
The forecast is good and I make it to Wolverhampton OK by train (10 mins late) and I wander over to the Molineux Stadium, home of course to the Premiership team of Wolverhampton Wanderers. To get over to the other side of the road I first have to go through the 'Molineux Subway' which has pictures of key dates in the club's illustrious past on the walls. One I definitely remember is from 1974, when Wolves beat my favourite Football League team, Manchester City, by a score of 2-1 in the League Cup final. The photo shows the then captain, Mike Bailey holding the trophy.
I wonder if the club will be winning any more silverware in the next few years?
I then walk down to the Art Gallery which has now fully re-opened after refurbishment. It's good to see again some of their permanent collection but the featured exhibition is not worth bothering with. I don't have a clue what it's about and I don't really want to know either.
Before I go I have a breakfast in the new cafe, which is a very pleasant space to have a meal, although a bit expensive.
I catch the No.3 bus, just across the road to the Gallery and the 20 minute journey takes me close to the ground. There are several sports grounds in close proximity here, as can be seen from the photo.
This also includes the football pitches of the Old Wulfrunians club, including that of their 2nd team, who play in the Premier Division of the Birmingham & District League. They are playing there today against league leaders, CPA. One to visit in the future.
I take the short walk to the CKW Stadium, with it's impressive stand. It was originally built as a training ground facility for the England rugby team, hence the red rose emblem to be seen on the side of the stand.
I pay my entrance fee and the guy who is taking the money turns out to be the Chairman/Secretary, Simon Marsh. I then proceed to the other end of the stand, as I know that up the stairs is the bar area. I get myself a cup of tea there and I'm able to buy an AFC Wulfrunians badge too.
The teams come out on to the field in their respective first team colours; the hosts in red & white halved shirts, black shorts and red socks, while Gornal are in yellow shirts, green shorts and socks. This makes for a colourful spectacle on a sunny day like today. Gornal must be the hot favourites but only beat their hosts by one goal in the league game at their own ground.
Gornal certainly mean business when play starts, they are constantly pressing Wulfrunians and go ahead after 4 minutes, when a shot is desperately clawed out from underneath the bar by the home keeper only for it to fall to Gornal's No.9, Sam Oakley, to shoot home.
This sets the trend for the next 15 minutes as Gornal take control and are constantly threatening the Wulfrunians goal. Their No.10 shoots just wide in the 7th minute and in another attack 5 minutes later, a shot hits the left hand post and out.
At one point, I can hear the home sides No.2 telling his team mates that they are giving their opponents too much space and to tighten things up.
They do start to make attacks of their own from 20 minutes on but find the Gornal defence a tough nut to crack.
It looks as if there will be just one goal in this first half but then Gornal score again after 43 minutes and it's Sam Oakley who gets his and his sides second goal.
The Old Wulfs keeper has come out too far from his goal and his defenders looked as if they expected Oakley to be adjudged to be in an offside position.
So the first 45 minutes ends with the league leaders firmly in control and look to heading for the semi-finals.
I have been talking to a guy just before half time, who is wearing a Wolves jacket but with a Gornal Athletic scarf and Bayern Munich beanie hat! He's called Malcolm and is a life long Wolves fan, who has visited plenty of Non-League grounds too with plenty of local football information.
The second period starts and the home side are looking more lively now. They twice go close in the first 11 minutes and makes me think that they might just get something from this game after all.
Gornal Athletic are still dangerous though and in one attack one of their players lobs the keeper, only to see the ball hit the bar, bounce down on the line and out again.
So the game ends with a 0-2 victory for Gornal Athletic, who now no doubt will be looking to get a League & Cup double this season.
Old Wulfrunians, although having a poor first-half showed a marked improvement in the second and can take heart from this and will be trying to improve their currently low league position. I later find out that their 2nd team managed to get a creditable 1-1 draw against CPA in their Birmingham League game.
Next season will mark their 100th anniversary and I hope it will be a special one for them.
Match attendance: 32
Entrance fee: £4
Match programme: none available
Entertainment value: 6.5/10
No comments:
Post a Comment