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