SMEDLEY CROOKE MEMORIAL CHARITY CUP
FINAL
Trico Stadium, Sallie Swan Street, Redditch, B97 4AU
27th May 2023, 1:00 pm Kick-Off
I'm going to my final game of the season and like the season before, I'm heading to Redditch United's ground for this charity cup final. Again the current holders, Pershore Town are involved. They are proving to be a great cup winning team, as they already have the Hellenic League cup under their belts this season, as well as achieving promotion to the Premier Division of their league competition, by winning the 1st Division championship.
Their opponents today, Lye Town, are also having a great season after achieving promotion to Step 4 in the Non-League pyramid for the first time ever. They did this via the play-off's, after finishing 2nd in the league. This game is shaping up on paper to be a very good one.
I have made the journey to Redditch on the train and get here just after midday. As it's a 1:00 pm Kick-Off I need to get my lunch soon. Luckily I notice a cafe, just along from the toilets at the foot of the entrance to the Kingfisher Shopping Centre and get a meal of omelette & chips. Just the job!
The stadium is located just a few hundred yards up the Bromsgrove Road and soon I am turning right down to the ground.
It's certainly good weather today and there should be a decent sized crowd for it. I pay my entrance fee and receive a free programme too before making my way to the cafe for my usual pre-match cup of tea.
When I go to find a position at the southern end of the ground to take photos, I am disappointed to find that no-one is allowed to stand directly behind the goal but have to make their way back on to the terracing behind this area. As it's a bit too far from the pitch for photography, I make my way to the western side of the ground where the main stand is located. I take a position half-way between the stand and the corner flag, with the sun behind me over my right hand shoulder.
Maybe it's a better position but it makes me wonder if there has been any crowd trouble this season, for there to be a clear space behind that goal?
Soon the teams come out on to the pitch, with Lye Town (The Eagles) in their usual all navy blue strip while Pershore Town (The Plums) are in their 2nd strip of all red.
When play commences, Lye Town apply some early pressure, win 3 corners but without reward.
Pershore go close with an effort saved by keeper Ben Newey and then Lye's midfield maestro, Ben Billingham, in the 14th minute spots Pershore keeper, Scott Loader off his line but his effort goes wide of the left hand post.
Pershore Town are looking more dangerous now, especially down the left hand side with good runs by their No.3 Sean Cooke and with the trickery of No.11 James Baldwin and twice go close on the 20 minute mark.
Lye Town make good with one of their chances on the half hour to take the lead, when their No.9, Zidan Sutherland, is neatly played through for a one on one with Loader in the Pershore goal. He cooly slots the ball home in to the left hand corner.
Pershore show they are not out of this contest when their No.4, Steve Webb, smashes in a shot on goal but it's well held by Newey.
Ben Billingham then goes through on the right and just about manages to push the ball across the goal but it's cleared by a Plums defender. He's not to be denied though and doubles The Eagles lead when Sutherland's shot comes back off the keeper and Sutherland taps the ball across to Billingham to smash home a great shot at the near post.
Pershore Town go close twice before the half-time whistle and are still looking dangerous despite their higher ranked opponents 2 goal advantage.
During this half I have been chatting occasionally to a photographer who turns out to be another groundhopper, called Paul, who hails from Castle Bromwich in Birmingham. It turns out that he posts some of his photos on Twitter (to be found @groundhopper174) and I check them out later that evening. Not surprisingly some of his photos are similar to mine.
There are also 2 official photographers in attendance too today, with their more expensive looking gear. Not that I'm jealous of course, ha ha!
Yes, it's been a feast of attacking football so far, even better than last years final and it's going to be interesting to see what unfolds next.
When play resumes it's Pershore who threaten first when the marauding Sean Cooke, following neat build up play on the left, cuts inside to shoot past the right hand post.
Then Pershore close the gap when the ball is passed inside to Baldwin who slides the ball past Newey.
That's what 'The Plums' desperately needed to keep themselves in the game.
Lye go close with a long range shot going just wide of the right hand post but it's Pershore who equalise through the irrepressible Baldwin. He's put through by Jordan Jones and cuts inside to slot home inside the right hand post. A quality goal!
'The Eagles' come back with a shot from danger man Sutherland and Baldwin gets through again only to be denied by Newey.
In the 70th minute, Lye's captain Sam Tye scores his sides 3rd goal, when he heads in a cross in to the opposite side of the net.
5 minutes later and a good shot from Pershore's Sean Cooke is well saved by Newey, who also later on saves Steve Webb's header.
That's how the scoreline stays for a narrow victory for 'The Eagles' in a great advertisement for West Midlands Non-League football.
The cup is presented to the Lye Town captain and the players celebrate in front of their fans with another trophy in a great season and they have the Northern Premier League to look forward to in August.
'The Plums' have played their part in an entertaining match and have their next season in the top flight of the Hellenic League to look forward to, albeit without the services of outgoing manager Danny Janes.
Match Attendance: 200
Entrance Fee: £5 (£3 concessions)
Match Programme: Free
Match Entertainment: 9.5/10
A very enjoyable read. Thank you for the mention 😊
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