MIDLAND FOOTBALL LEAGUE, PREMIER DIVISION
Shrewsbury Sports Village, Sundorne Road, Shrewsbury, SY1 4RQ
23rd April 2022 3:00 pm Kick-Off
Today I am travelling west to the old Shropshire town of Shrewsbury as I want to see my home town club of Worcester City play in their last game of the season at relegation threatened Haughmond F.C.
It will be a new ground for me too and a bonus is that I have wanted to re-visit Shrewsbury for many years after looking around the town for just a couple of hours one day on a family holiday. It looked an historical and interesting town.
When I make an early start by train from Birmingham, the weather is not very promising, with a cool northerly breeze and it's cloudy too. The forecast is promising for this afternoon though, with an increasing chance of sunny intervals.
I arrive in Shrewsbury at about 10:15 am and my first port of call is the town's Museum & Art Gallery, in the Town Square. There is an imposing statue of Robert Clive (of India fame) who helped bring that sub-continent under British rule.
(View of the Town Square behind the Robert Clive statue)
After a quick visit to the Museum I have a stroll along the nearby River Severn, go to a small gallery where there is an exhibition of British cartoons, from publications like 'Punch', 'Private Eye' etc which are very witty, enjoy the architecture in the town and have lunch in a cafe before catching the No.24 bus that takes me close to the Shrewsbury Sports Village on the edge of the town.
Haughmond FC were formed in 1980 and their name comes from a nearby hill that lies just east of their current ground. They have had a bad season this time around and in their last game at home to basement club Bewdley Town, lost 0-1 and swapped places and now need a win today to escape relegation. Worcester City on the other hand are guaranteed 4th place and don't have so much to play for.
I walk through the car park in to the front of the building and come across the cafe where I have time to buy a cup of tea before walking out and down the steps where the football pitch lies. Wire fencing encloses the whole pitch and I walk to the nearby corner of it where the entrance gate is, pay my entrance fee and buy a club badge too. Spectators are able to access 3 sides of the ground while the eastern side houses the team dug-outs. There is a grass pitch with a covered stand with seating on the western side, with another smaller stand, that looks like a bus shelter further down that side. It's certainly an impressive facility for the local community as their are plenty of other football pitches too.
I just have enough time to get settled in a spot between the Sports Club house and the main stand before the teams come out on to the pitch. Haughmond are in their home colours of white shirts, black shorts & red socks while 'The City' are in their away strip of yellow shirts (with diagonal white and blue stripes, blue shorts & socks.
There is a strong wind today which seems to be blowing across from the east. It will be testing conditions for both teams.
Worcester were pressing the most at first but Haughmond looked dangerous on the break, their No.7 going on some good runs down the left and their captain at No.10 looking pretty useful too.
City's No.14 has a shot saved and then Muirhead in the 25th minute has a good effort from the right turned away by the outstretched right hand of the Haughmond keeper, Sam Jones. Great save!
5 minutes later and Haughmond go close with a shot from the left that goes just the wrong side of the right hand post.
Just before the break, the ball is played in from the right for the City No.6 but Jones saves his shot from close in.
It's a scrappy game and the ball is not played on the ground enough for the play to flow well.
So the first 45 minutes ends in a stalemate and it looks as if it can end in a scoreless draw today which will not benefit Haughmond of course. At times their approach play is good but with no end result and according to a local supporter that I talked to, it was the reason they lost to Bewdley last week, after largely dominating the game for long periods.
It's good to see that there are about 20-25 City supporters at this game and another photographer is in their ranks too.
For the second half I go to the far end which Worcester will be attacking and get talking to 2 of the supporters. One has managed to see all their games this season and that's dedication for you!
Worcester start off well and their No.11 goes on a run down the middle but shoots well over the bar.
On the hour, the Haughmond No.16 is played in but his shot is well saved by City keeper, Adam Harrison.
3 minutes later and a Worcester player (Muirhead I think) swivels round on the edge of the area but drags his shot wide of the right hand post.
Like the first half, the game is still generally scrappy and a goal does not look likely.
I get to talking to the photographer I'd noticed earlier and it turns out he goes to plenty of the City's games and gets his photos posted on the website. I tell him that I go to different grounds in the West Midlands and let him know about my Blog too.
In injury time, a miracle happens and Worcester score! It happens when Haughmond desperately pile everyone in to attack and City substitute, Fortune Maphosa gets the ball, goes down the pitch, draws out the home keeper and passes to his left where Ben Tilbury is waiting to put the ball in to the unguarded net.
It's rough justice on Haughmond who have at least been equal to Worcester City in an unmemorable match.
The Worcester players led by captain, Craig Jones, come down the pitch to applaud and show their appreciation to the travelling City supporters and this is reciprocated in turn by the City faithful.
Although the game itself has been disappointing today, I'm glad to have seen City's first team again after a huge gap of 8 years! Plus I have got to view the historic town of Shrewsbury again and bagged a new ground too.
I hope Haughmond regroup next term and have a good shot at promotion back to the Premier Division. Worcester City on the other hand will be looking to improve on their good season next time around and maybe get promotion?
Match Attendance: 121
Entrance Fee: £5 (£3 concession)
Match Programme: None available
Match Entertainment: 6/10
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