LEEK CUP COMPETITION
Trade Tyre Community Stadium, Brownsfield Road,
Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 6AY
Well today I'm finally getting back in to action with this blog, as I caught the dreaded Covid bug, which I had for about 10 days and then it's taken me another 2 weeks to fully get over it. Fortunately when I did have it, it just felt like a bad head cold but it just also knocked my body out of whack.
I did go to Worcester last Saturday to watch their reserve team's match v Chasetown, took some photos but couldn't be bothered with a match report. It was a 0-0 draw that Worcester should have won and I did post some of my photos on the club website.
Due to the wintry weather conditions, I decide that only teams playing on artificial surfaces will be able to play today and after thinking of going to watch Paget Rangers, I remember that Lichfield City have a reserve team playing in the Staffordshire County Premier League and sure enough they have a home game against Leek C.S.O.B in the Leek Cup, a competition that Iv'e never heard of before.
I think it will be good to visit Lichfield as it's one of my favourite places in the West Midlands.
My train journey goes without a hitch and I soon find a cafe that sells reasonably priced meals. I have a warming dish of steak & kidney pudding with mash, which goes down well in this wintry weather.
There are plenty of Christmas themed stalls in the city centre which means that it's slow going, if you are trying to walk reasonably quickly, so I decide to go to the grounds of the nearby Cathedral and thankfully there aren't so many people around. If I had planned things better I would have got here sooner to be able to have more time to have a good look around.
I make my way past the Cathedral and then along the path at the side of the nearby lake. 20 minutes later and I'm walking through the gates of the ground, which lies at the northern side of the town.
I have time to buy a cup of tea at the bar in the club house and then make my way to the far end of the ground, so that my back will be facing the sun, when it comes out from time to time.
Soon the teams are coming out on to the pitch with Lichfield in their first team colours of all blue, while Leek C.S.O.B. (which stands for County School Old Boys) are decked out in a Croatian style kit, (or Croatia copied them?) of red and white check shirts, red shorts and socks.
It's the home side who are attacking the most and have 2 efforts on goal in the first 25 minutes, their No.9 having a shot blocked following a free kick and then their lively No.10 (who looks very young) rises well to a cross from the right and sees his header tipped over the bar by the Leek keeper. He looks to be a good prospect.
defender decides to clear the ball, with the Leek No.11, Kieran Scotland, standing in front of him, who blocks the attempted clearance and shoots home for a gift of a goal.
The Lichfield keeper makes a good close range save after 32 minutes, while the Leek keeper saves a close range header and 6 minutes later saves efforts from the hard working Casuals No.9 and then their No.10.
Half time arrives and Lichfield Casuals must be wondering why they are losing this match after they have been on top for most of this period.
Their defence has not got a good record this season ( 60 league goals conceded), while the Leek defence look more resolute. Still 'The Casuals' I'm sure will make a good fight of it in the next 45 minutes. It's been a pretty clean game so far and the Lichfield 2nd string are attempting to play like their first team, with a good passing style of play.
When play resumes it's soon apparent that Leek C.S.O.B. are looking the stronger team now and soon see a shot of theirs deflected for a corner. 10 minutes later and another effort of theirs hits a post and out.
It's no real surprise when the Leek No.9, Bradley Wilson breaks through the middle and scores their second goal after 68 minutes.
There is still life in the home side and their No.10 again goes close, when he breaks through from the left only to see the Leek keeper make another good save.
Although there are a few more chances for both sides, Leek hold on comfortably enough for a well deserved cup win but Lichfield certainly pushed them hard in the first half.
It's been good to get another game under my belt and Lichfield Casuals played better than their league position (14th) suggests and I hope they start banging some goals in soon, which their approach play deserves.
I'm sure Leek C.S.O.B. will be looking to win this cup competition (last won in 2019) and also improve on their current league position (5th).
PS. I have not been able to find out which round of the Leek Cup was being played in this match. I think it might have been the quarter-final or semi-final but it's just a guess.
Match Attendance: (approx 30-40)
Entrance Fee: £3
Match Programme: None available
Entertainment Value: 7/10
