MIDLAND FOOTBALL LEAGUE, DIVISION TWO
Coleshill Road Nurseries, Coleshill Road, Sutton Coldfield, B75 7BA
21st January 2023, 3pm Kick-Off
This Saturday sees the local non-league football schedule greatly disrupted again, this time not to excess rainfall but the freezing conditions. My original choice of game this week is the MFL, Div 3 clash between AFC Birmingham v Wake Amateurs and my back-up game is Cadbury Athletic v Fairfield Villa in Div 2 but both games have failed early pitch inspections.
While in Birmingham city centre, I then realise I will have to go again to a club that has an artificial playing surface. I then find out that MFL Div 2 front runners, Sutton United, are at home at their new ground that has an artificial pitch. Although it's a 3pm kick-off I decide to go there anyway. I much prefer an earlier start as the light will usually be better for my photos at this time of year but beggars can't be choosers!
I take the number 907 bus from the city centre and arrive in Sutton Coldfield with plenty of time to have an all day breakfast & coffee at a local cafe and a look around the shops.
Sutton's ground is a 15 minute walk from the town centre in Coleshill Road, next to a garden nursery. Apparently this facility has been planned for some time and mainly paid for by the club chairman. There is a car park in front of the club house and the pitch lies in front of this, with a 100 seater stand to the right of the changing room building. There is a hard standing path railed off and around the pitch, which in turn is surrounded by a high wired fence. The team dug-0uts lie on the opposite side and at the furthest end, there is a neatly piled bank of earth, still awaiting removal, where I hear there will be another stand built. Just behind this, lies the main railway line from Birmingham to Lichfield. Floodlights complete the picture of this modern looking facility along with an artificial training pitch.
Sutton's opponents today are Redditch Borough from Worcestershire. On paper this looks like an almost given 3 points for the high scoring home team but I'm sure Redditch will be looking to give them a tough fight.
Thanks to my malfunctioning watch I have arrived at the ground with 10 minutes already played. I will have to get a new battery as my watch stopped completely at 3:30 pm at last weeks game at Gornal Colts. I'm assured by another spectator that no goals have been scored so far.
When I settle down to watch the game at the dug-out side of the pitch, Sutton United as expected are looking the more dangerous of these 2 teams. Both sides are in their usual first team kits with the home side in green shirts, black shorts & socks while Redditch are decked out in all navy blue.
After some sustained pressure, Sutton United take the lead in the 15th minute with a stooping far post header from N0.7 Tom Massey from a corner from the left.
In the following 10 minutes, Sutton's No.10, Joe Gildea, spurns 2 chances, first when he swivels round and shoots over the bar from a good position and then directing the ball in to the hands of the Redditch keeper when he stretches to an incoming cross but can't get any power in the shot.
Redditch Borough are containing their opponents quite well after this with their pressing game and create a chance of their own when their No.11 cuts in from the left and sees his shot well saved by the United keeper and then just before the break they have another effort blocked by the vigilant Sutton keeper, Reiss Wagstaff.
So half-time arrives and surprisingly Sutton have been restricted to just the one goal and this might encourage Redditch to spring a surprise today? There looks to be a crowd of 100+ and I remember seeing on the Midland Football League website that they had a very impressive turn out of 427 spectators at their recent home Boxing Day fixture with local rivals Boldmere Sports & Social. That's certainly more than nearby Sutton Coldfield Town usually get at their nearby ground and they sit 3 levels higher in the Non-League pyramid!
When play resumes, any thoughts that the visitors may have had of springing a surprise result quickly vanish in the first 10 minutes of the second half.
First Sutton United score from a penalty by captain, Josh Duggan following a push on one of their players on the left of the penalty area. Then in the 51st minute their No.10, Joe Gildea, plants a header in to the net from a corner on the right. Just 2 minutes later and their No.2, Jonny Grigg gets in on the act with a great shot from the right after the ball was worked over to him from the left.
Redditch Borough are understandably a bit shell shocked after this goal blitz but they gamely get on to the score sheet after 70 minutes when their No.7, Tom Fishwick, rises highest to a free kick to head home a consolation goal.
Sutton United's dominance in this half is not to be denied however and Tom Massey fires home his second goal past Tony Swain from the right in the 75th minute and then in stoppage time, skipper Josh Duggan scores with another cracking shot.
A 6-1 win for Sutton United to increase their lead to 10 points over 2nd placed Cadbury Athletic, who now have 2 games in hand over them and a lead of 13 points over Knowle in 3rd place who have 3 games in hand.
It's certainly looking good for Sutton United in the title race this season, following their promotion from the 3rd Division last season and with their new ground, they are going places!
Redditch Borough have a Worcestershire FA Saturday Cup, Quarter-Final coming up next Saturday at Pershore Town, where they face Town's Development team and will be looking for some Cup glory.
Although today's later starting time has meant that it's been more difficult to take photos with a fast enough shutter speed, it's been good to visit this new ground and it will interesting to see United's progress over the coming seasons.
Match Attendance: 100+
Entrance Fee: Free? (but late arrival)
Match Programme: None Available
Entertainment Value: 8/10
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