BROMYARD TOWN 3 - 3 DROITWICH SPA ( 9-8 penalties )

      WEST MIDLANDS REGIONAL LEAGUE, DIV ONE

                           LEAGUE CUP FINAL

       Bilbrook Juniors FC, Pendeford Lane, Wolverhampton WV9 5HQ 

                21st May, 2022         3:15 pm   Kick Off  (delayed)

Originally I had pencilled in to watch the Birmingham FA Vase Final today between Cadbury Athletic and Tipton Town at the Birmingham County FA headquarters at Ray Hall Lane. This choice was derailed due to the excitement of the ongoing achievements of Droitwich Spa, a team that was local to me when I was still living in my home city of Worcester a few years back. I occasionally took photos of their team, having them published on my previous blog, on their website and in the local newspapers. This week they were crowned champions of the West Midlands League, 1st Division and are now chasing a league and cup double in the League Cup final at Bilbrook's ground in Wolverhampton. 

When I set out from Birmingham on the train, the weather forecast is very promising, it's going to be mainly sunny with temperatures about 18-19 degrees centigrade.

When I get to Wolverhampton I decide to have a quick look around the Art Gallery and I find out that they have an exhibition of photographs and memorabilia of well known musical groups and artists from the region, (such as Slade, Robert Plant, Beverley Knight, The Wonderstuff etc)  called 'Black Country Beats'. It also highlights the different multi-cultural music artists from the area, who are well known in the Reggae and Bhangra genres of music. 

      (Singer Robert Plant at Molyneux for a charity penalty shoot-out)

                      (The soul singer Beverley Knight in action)

I then get a good value meal at little restaurant called 'Nutmeg', (even that name has a football connection) and then hop on to the No.3 bus bound for the Fordhouses district where the ground is located. 20 minutes later I get off the bus and make the short walk to the ground along a footpath that leads in to Pendeford Lane and soon I am turning in to to the car park with the ground to the right of it.

  This ground is home to the West Midlands League Div 2 outfit, Bilbrook Santos FC and the pitch looks to have a decent playing surface. On the left hand side of the car park are some mini-pitches, while on the other side of the car park, beyond the main pitch is another full sized pitch but lying sideways on.

The club house/changing room complex lies at the top of the main pitch and the main road is beyond that, while on the other side of this road is located the huge Jaguar-Land Rover Engine Manufacturing complex.

There is a rail surrounding the main pitch with the team dugouts on the side facing the club house. There are floodlights with a small covered shelter for spectators on the dugout side in the corner.

I have a half pint of Strongbow to quench my thirst and when I wander outside I meet up with some of the Droitwich Spa's faithful followers, who have been in action at a Wetherspoon's in town on their way here (but not too worse the wear for it).

We find out that there is some kind of delay and so the match will start at 3:15 pm instead. This also means that if the scores are still level at full-time then it will go straight to penalties, as they will be having another function here at 6:00 pm.

I go to the shelter with some of the Droitwich supporters and when the teams troop out on to the pitch, both teams are decked out in their first team colours, with Bromyard Town in all blue strip and 'The Spa' in red & black striped shirts, white shorts and black socks.    

The first half turns out to be a scrappy affair and with Droitwich especially a bit too frantic in their efforts and not passing it around much. Their manager Andy Crowther is not very impressed and is basically telling them to wake up. 

Not many chances are being created and Droitwich are given a warning after 37 minutes by their opponents when their No.7 gets through on goal and his shot is saved well by Droitwich's young keeper, Ryan Williams, who usually turns out for their Under-21's side.

Bromyard keep up the pressure and take the lead in the 42nd minute when their No.11, Ben Cowlishaw fires past Williams.

                (The Bromyard players celebrating their first goal)

Just a minute later and the Herefordshire team double their lead when Andrew Hudson fires in a great shot from the right.

Droitwich leave the field in shock at half-time and will need to fight back quickly to get back in to this game. I hear one of their supporters say that it's the worst football he's seen them play this season. 

I notice that there are at least 3 other photographers here today. One of them I met at Gornal Colts last week and I think he's based somewhere in the Black Country. He tells me that he's planning to go to a cup final in the west Welsh coastal town of Barmouth tomorrow. I'm sure the scenery will be good there as it lies close to Snowdonia.

When play resumes, Droitwich Spa are looking up for it more now and they peg a goal back through their No.9, Connor Collins.

In the 72nd minute Droitwich's No.12, Connor Baker, comes through to score the equaliser for the League champions. He is certainly making an impact on the game after coming on in this half as a substitute.

Soon after Droitwich Spa's, Haydn Morris, scores to put his team in front and their dreams of a League and Cup double are looking more likely.

Bromyard Town though score an equaliser right near the end, when they are awarded a free kick on the right and the subsequent cross is powerfully headed in by Daniel Cottrill.

There is just enough time to see the Droitwich skipper, James Lemon  run through and shoot over the bar. That would have been some finish if it had gone in!

So it's the dreaded penalty shoot out and the Droitwich keeper saves the first two he faces.

Unfortunately Droitwich Spa miss 2 of their own later on and then it comes down to the 9th lot of penalty kicks and it's the 2 keepers who are taking them now. Williams hits his spot kick straight at the Bromyard skipper Alex Rhodes and then Rhodes coolly slots home his effort to the left of Williams and in to the corner of the net to win this topsy turvy encounter.

Rhodes runs off in jubilation and is soon mobbed by his team mates.

The presentation takes place a few minutes later and soon the Bromyard Town players and coaching staff are jumping around in celebration. They certainly showed great fighting spirit today. Also they finished in a very creditable 3rd place in the League. Maybe they can kick on next season with their own championship challenge? 

Then it's 'The Saltmen's' turn to celebrate when skipper, James Lemon, is presented with the Division One League championship trophy and he proudly holds it aloft surrounded by his team mates.

A great way to end the best season in the club's history (founded in 1985) which sees them promoted to Step 6 for the first time and they will be playing back at their refurbished home at the King George V Playing Fields ground.

Entrance Fee:                £4 (£2 concessions)

Match Attendance:         100-120 (guesstimate)

Match Programme:         none available

Match Entertainment:     8.5/10

GORNAL COLTS 1 - 3 DROITWICH SPA

 

 WEST MIDLANDS REGIONAL LEAGUE, DIVISION ONE                     LEAGUE CUP (SEMI-FINAL)

   The Dell Stadium, Bryce Road, Brierley Hill, West Midlands, DY5 4NB 

                        14th May 2022          3pm Kick-Off

Today I am going to another new ground, this time The Dell Stadium in Brierley Hill where Gornal Colts currently play and watch their League Cup, Semi-Final v Droitwich Spa. 

Also it will be only the second time that I have watched a game at a ground with an athletics track between the spectators and the pitch. The first was six years ago when I went to The Pingles Stadium in Nuneaton Griff to watch their FA Vase tie against Salisbury. That time along with a few other photographers, I was given a pass to go near the pitch to take my photos. No such luck this time as the club secretary, Susan Johnston informed me that they have a rule for everyone to stand behind the barrier around the outlying running track, so it will be interesting to see if I can get some good shots today.

It's a promising day weather wise, as the forecast is for temperatures reaching 20 c later this afternoon, with plenty of sun too. 

I decide to go to Stourbridge on the train from Acocks Green, my local station and then travel from on from there by bus to Brierley Hill, where The Dell Stadium is located.

I haven't been to Stourbridge for some time and I have a good look around the town, have a good meal in a place called 'Stuffed' and decide to come back later in the summer to have a look at a glass museum up the road.

I take the No.6 bus headed for Dudley which takes me to Brierley Hill, High St and decide to walk the rest of the way as it's such a nice day. 20 minutes later I make it to the ground.

There is a building just past the car park, where the club house and changing rooms are. Behind it is an artificial football pitch and to the left is another football pitch, with the main pitch situated to the right of the club house. This pitch is enclosed by the athletics track, with the covered seating housed in a stand in front of the artificial pitch. On the opposite side are the team dugouts. 

Before I go in to the club house I chat with some of the Droitwich supporters who are gathered in the car park. I am able to get a cup of tea in the club house but unfortunately they don't have any club badges for sale.

Gornal Colts were formed in 2005, when most of the youth teams left the set up at Gornal Athletic. After enjoying some success in youth leagues like the Midland Floodlight Youth League, their senior side went straight in to the West Midlands Regional League. I'm not sure how long they have called The Dell Stadium their home, as I remember Dudley Town were the tenants when I left the West Midlands 6 years ago.

I decide to shelter from the sun for the 1st half and sit in the stand. There seems to be a decent sized crowd today. The winners of today's contest will play Bromyard Town, who had a walk-over  from their semi v Gornal Athletic.

Droitwich Spa are in their 2nd strip of gold shirts and black shorts while Gornal are in a mainly dark blue strip.

The Droitwich team are looking a bit sluggish, which is not really a surprise as they have been having to play 3-4 matches per week in recent times, including a vital 3-2 win over close rivals Gornal Athletic.

Gornal Colts are giving them some problems but they unfortunately give the first goal away, when there is a defensive mix up by their No.6 who heads back to his keeper, who is not where he thought he was and the ball bounces in to an unguarded net, after 22 minutes.

This helps to inspire 'The Saltmen' who then increase their lead when their forward, James Lemon is put through and he neatly sidesteps the oncoming Colts keeper to slip the ball home.

  Gornal Colts are unable to take any of the chances that come their way and so trail 0-2 at half-time.

For the second-half I decide to wander over to the other side of the ground, for a more varied view of the action.

After 73 minutes, Gornal Colts peg a goal back when they are awarded a penalty when a Droitwich defender mistimes a lunged tackle.

Leon Salmon fires home the spot kick and the home side are back in with a chance.

 Droitwich have other ideas though and seal the tie 7 minutes later when Connor Collins heads in at the far post when a good cross is delivered to him from the left.

Gornal Colts have shown plenty of energy at times in this game but have lacked that killer instinct this time round, with the experience of Droitwich Spa getting them through.

The final is going to be played at Bilbrook Juniors FC next Saturday. Also today I found out that Droitwich Spa have been awarded the league title too as they had an outstanding fixture v AFC Bentley that couldn't be fulfilled even though they had tried to get the fixture played 3 times but Bentley were unable to field a team. Not the most satisfactory way to win it but I'm sure that Droitwich would have most probably have won that game.

I'm glad that I finally visited The Dell Stadium today and I look forward to watching 'The Colts' in the future and monitor their progress.

Droitwich Spa will be stepping up in to the Midland Football League, Division One next season and will be playing their home fixtures back at their newly refurbished ground with new floodlights too!

Entrance Fee:              £5 (£3 concession)

Match Programme:       none available

Match Attendance:       80-100 (guesstimate)

Entertainment Value:    6.5/10

 

 

MALVERN TOWN 0 - 1 PERSHORE TOWN

 

   SMEDLEY CROOKE MEMORIAL CHARITY CUP FINAL

Redditch United FC, Trico Stadium, Sallie Swan Street, Redditch B97 4AU

                              8th May 2022,    1 pm Kick-Off

A few days ago I was in a bit of a quandary as I realised that there were 5 cup finals in the West Midlands area that I could go and see, after originally planning to see the Worcestershire Saturday Cup Final at the County Ground in Claines Lane, Worcester.

I have finally decided to go to Redditch F.C.'s ground instead to watch the final of the Smedley Crooke Memorial Charity Cup between the Worcestershire clubs of Malvern Town and Pershore Town. As both of these teams have had impressive seasons, it's got all the hallmarks of being a cracking game.

The weather is good today, mainly sunny and the temperature is going to reach the 19 C mark later this afternoon. My rail journey to Redditch goes well and after having an early lunch in the Kingfisher shopping centre I walk down the Bromsgrove Road to make the 10 minute journey to the Trico Stadium. It's the first time I have been here for 6 years, when they still had a grass pitch and had the old name of 'The Valley Stadium'.  

This is a new cup competition for me and it's named after a former Conservative MP for the old constituency of Birmingham Deritend, which he served for many years. He arranged for this charitable competition to help blind and partially blind people and it started immediately after the Great War in 1919. It's contested usually by teams from the Worcestershire and Birmingham areas, from the Midland Football League and the West Midland Regional Football League.

When I pay my entrance fee, the guy at the turnstile tells me that they collected £5,000 for local charities the last time around. Of course this competition has not seen finals being played in 2020 and 2021.

This ground has it's main stand on the west side of the pitch which houses the club house and changing rooms and has cover for seated spectators at the front. There is another stand on the opposite side which is standing room only.

I place myself at the southern end of the ground, to the right of the goal and there seems to be mainly Pershore supporters located here.

Both teams are wearing their first team colours when they come on to the field of play, Malvern (The Hillsiders) in sky blue shirts with maroon stripes, white shorts and sky blue socks. Pershore (The Plums) are decked out in all blue kit.

Although Malvern are the team that's on top in the early stages, hitting a post with one effort, Pershore Town get more in to the game and in the 28th minute, take the lead with a great header from their No.7, Jordan Jones. Malvern's keeper Kieron Blackburn gets a hand a on the ball but is unable to keep it out.

It's hard to believe that it's the end of the season as both teams are putting on a great display of attacking football.

Both teams have created chances but there's no more score before the break. During the game I chat to a guy who is following 'The Plums' as a relation of his is playing at No.5 for them. It turns out that he's a long term (and probably suffering) fan of Sunderland as he originally comes from that part of the country. Of course he's hoping they will make it back in to the Championship via the play-offs and I think they might just do it this time round.

Pershore Town have seen an amazing transformation this season as a few months ago they appointed a former player of theirs, Danny Janes as the new manager and he and his coaching team have helped them reach 5th place in the League (losing in the play-off semi-final) and taking them to 3 cup finals! They beat Worcester City in the Worcestershire Senior Cup on penalties, then triumphed 5-2 over Roman Saint Glass (from Bristol) in the Hellenic League Supplementary Cup too, both opposition teams playing at a level higher than themselves, which is the same situation with Malvern Town who play in the Hellenic Premier.

Malvern Town too have had a decent season, as they finished in 3rd place in their division. 

When play resumes, it's Malvern who are asking all the questions as they take control for long periods of the second-half.

    ( Pershore keeper, Eddie Cox has to stretch to keep Malvern at bay)

The Hillsiders hit the woodwork again with another effort but Pershore are proving to be still dangerous on the break, especially their tricky winger, James Baldwin.

  ( Malvern skipper, Matty Turner, trying to find a way through on goal )

Both sides go close in this enthralling encounter but it's Pershore Town who are the first team to keep a clean sheet against Malvern Town this season and turn out to be the most resilient team and win this cup.

 Then the Pershore players and their young manager after receiving their trophy come over to my end of the pitch and applaud their waiting fans as a thank you for their valued support.

I'm really glad I came to this match, as it's been one of the best that Iv'e seen this season, even if only one goal was scored. I now understand how my home town team of Worcester City could be beaten by Pershore, as they certainly have a great team spirit which bodes well for next season, especially if they can improve their squad. Malvern too should do well again on this showing and were a tad unlucky today.

Entrance Fee:               £5 (£3 concessions)

Match Attendance:        400

Match Programme:        Free 

Match Entertainment:    9/10

 

   

WALSALL PHOENIX 5 - 0 BALL HAYE GREEN

 

      STAFFORDSHIRE COUNTY SENIOR LEAGUE,                                   PREMIER DIVISION

        Stick & Wicket Club, The Green, Aldridge, Walsall, WS9 8NH

                          30th April 2022,   2:30 pm Kick-Off

Earlier this week I was toying with the possibility of attending the Northern Premier League (Midlands Division) Play-Off Final at Chasetown FC v Belper Town but found out on Friday morning that only 50 tickets remained unsold after going on sale at the ground the previous evening. As they were only being sold at the ground itself, I quickly gave up on that idea.

Instead, I was itching to go to a ground I hadn't visited before and then I remembered that I'd pledged myself a few weeks ago to go to a Staffordshire County League game for the first time. Two of the nearest grounds to me are at Brereton Social near Rugeley and also at Walsall Phoenix, who play in the town of Aldridge. As Brereton are playing in a cup game I decide to see Walsall Phoenix instead.

Saturday comes and the forecast is very promising, temperatures at the 15 c mark with long spells of sunshine!

I go to Walsall by train without any problems and then take the Sutton Coldfield bound bus that goes through Aldridge on the way.

Aldridge is yet another town in this area that was known for it's coal mining and also because of the quality of the local clay, had several brickworks located there too. Today it has a population of approximately 35,000 people.

The bus is running on time and the first thing I do is locate a cafe in the town square, which I visited before about 9 years ago and it's still there. I have an all day breakfast (with chips) and coffee included for £6:25p!

I then make my way over to the ground which is just 5 minutes walk away. The 'Stick & Wicket' club is so named because the local hockey and cricket clubs play there. Also there is a fitness club there as well as the Walsall Phoenix football club. When I walk in to the grounds of the club I notice that there are 2 cricket games taking place. There is a communal club house for all the teams playing here and after briefly looking at one of the cricket matches I walk over to the far side where the football pitch is situated.

The pitch lies sideways on with a short flight of steps to leading down to it for the players and officials, with a rail all around it too. On the far side are the team dugouts and there is a noticeable slope running down from the eastern end of the ground.

The teams come out in their first team colours, Walsall in all-red kit while Ball Haye Green (who come from the town of Leek) are in yellow shirts, green shorts and yellow socks.

Walsall Phoenix are lying in 8th place while their visitors are in 15th in an 18 team division.

When play starts, it's the home team who quickly establish their superiority.

They do most of the attacking and Ball Haye Green are finding it difficult to get out of their own half even though they are playing down the slope.

When they do manage to mount some attacks, they usually get pulled up for being offside.

After plenty of near misses, Walsall Phoenix finally take the lead through their No.9 after the visitors are not able to clear the ball properly in the 25th minute.

They double their lead 7 minutes later through their No.11. Somehow Ball Haye Green escape further punishment before the interval and it's just 2-0 for their hosts. 

Both of these clubs have long histories with Walsall Phoenix celebrating 125 years of existence (founded 1897) and Ball Haye Green, are an even older club (founded 1880).

I have been chatting with an elderly couple who although they live in Aldridge, are visiting this club for the first time today. They are both West Bromwich Albion season ticket holders and have come here due to their team playing away from home. They are both impressed with the facilities at this local sports hub. 

When play resumes, it's much the same as in the first half, with the home team very much on top and exploiting the slope by planting the ball behind their opponents back line so that their forwards can run on to the goal.

It's not long before they are awarded a penalty when their No.11 is adjudged to have been fouled, by the Ball Haye keeper I think.

The best goal of the game is scored by the Phoenix No.18 who from near the right touch line, bends in a shot across the goal and just inside the far post, much to the annoyance of the visitor's keeper, who thinks he should have done better. At times he must have felt that he's been playing the Walsall Phoenix front line on his own.

Referring to my notes I can't see when the 5th goal was scored but that is the official score on the league website. I must have lost count!

So Ball Haye Green have been comprehensively outplayed today and it's hard to see how they only lost 3-4 at home to their opponents earlier in the season?

I think Ball Haye Green must have an injury crisis as their team seemed all at sea today. They are certainly lacking in confidence. Walsall Phoenix on the other hand looked more capable than their mid-table position suggests.

This result does not change the teams respective league positions and the main interest in the Premier Division is whether Brereton Social or AFC Alsager will clinch the league title. Alsager host Brereton next Saturday in a game that could be the decisive factor.

Match Attendance:       20-30 approx

Entrance Fee:              Free

Match Programme:      None available

Match Entertainment:  6/10