SIKH HUNTERS 0 - 2 GORNAL ATHLETIC

 

WEST MIDLANDS LEAGUE, DIVISION ONE

Huxley Logistics Stadium, Long Lane Park, Essington, WV11 2AA

18th February, 2023       3:00 pm Kick-Off

Well, another dull winter Saturday afternoon in the West Midlands is forecast and I have decided to go a ground (Long Lane Park) that I visited once before on a sunny afternoon in May, 2016.That was for the West Midlands League, Premier Division Cup Final which saw a young Smethwick Rangers defeat the hot favourites, Wolverhampton Sporting by a single goal.

Now this ground is the home of Sikh Hunters FC,  a club founded in 1964 by 3 Indian football players originally from the Punjab who wanted to carry on playing the game in their new country. The club started life in the Sunday leagues and after some success, a few seasons later made the switch to Saturday football. 

I have watched this team in action before on 2 occasions, firstly when they played at the former Oldbury United ground in York Road, in Rowley Regis and then when they played at Wolverhampton United (now a defunct club).

Today they host the current league leaders of Division One, Gornal Athletic, while Sikh Hunters themselves are lying in 13th place in an 18 team division.

My journey from New Street station is at first an uncomfortable one, as Aston Villa have an early kick-off game today v Arsenal at 12:30pm. Even though 2 trains have been laid on at this time, both trains are chock a block with fans, making for a hot stuffy ride for 3 stops. It's good to see though that there will a big crowd for this match against the league leaders.  

When I get to Walsall, I first have a look around the Art Gallery but there is not much to interest me there today apart from the permanent collection which has some good paintings and sculptures.

Later on I have a meal of fish and chips at a local cafe and then catch the number X51 bus, ultimately destined for Cannock.  I find out that the West Midlands Travel website (from the night before) has given me some duff information about from which stop to start my journey and it takes me about 20 minutes to find out where to catch this bus.

When I do catch it, the journey takes about 20 minutes, just over the border into Staffordshire up the A34, where I get off near the turning for Long Lane in the village of Newtown. Then I walk 15 minutes up this road past the Wyrley United FC ground (another one to visit) on my left close to the railway line and then crossing over the canal I soon find Long Lane Park on my right.

I walk in to the car park and then go past the club house where the entrance to the pitch is to the left of it. I have made it with just 7 minutes before the start of the match. The pitch lies in front of the 100 seater stand while the team dug-outs are situated on the opposite side.

When the teams troop out, the hosts are decked out in their current first team strip of all grey with black trim, while Gornal are in their usual colours of yellow shirts, green shorts and socks.

After early pressure from the visitors, Sikh Hunters have the first real effort on goal when in the 7th minute their No.3 goes on a good long run down the left and has a shot saved at the near post.

Gornal are the next to threaten when they too attack down the left hand side and see a shot turned around for a corner.

They take the lead soon after, when they have a free kick and the Sikh Hunters keeper spills the resulting shot and the ball is eventually scrambled away for a corner. However they are awarded a penalty and I think possibly there was a handball during the melee.

The spot kick is comfortably dispatched and they double their lead when there is a misplaced pass in the home defence and the Gornal N0.7 takes advantage of this and slots the ball home from the left.

I'm now wondering if this game is going to follow the same path when they played at Gornal's, Garden Walk Stadium earlier in the season when Sikh Hunters lost 0-6? Their early season defensive frailties don't appear to be a problem now as they are definitely showing some fighting qualities in this game.

In the 35th minute, their N0.6 and captain, Sanjay Malhi, slots through a ball for their speedy No.7 to shoot past the advancing Gornal keeper but it's quickly disallowed for offside.

Half-time arrives with no further score and the home side have a lot of work to do to get back in to this match today.

During the interval I ask a guy who is writing at the back of the stand if he is writing a match report but it turns out he is assessing the performance of today's referee. He also tells me that he thinks he's doing a decent job of it so far.

At least half of the supporters in the small crowd today, appear to be from Gornal Athletic. Although they sit in first place, Saltley Stallions are just 2 points behind them in 2nd place and the favourites, Allscott Heath from Shropshire are 5 points adrift but with 4 games in hand.

For the second half I have decided to stand by the goal where Gornal will be attacking now.

In the 19th minute, the Gornal Athletic No.7 clatters in to the Sikh Hunters No.10 and eventually gets booked for his efforts, even though he keeps asking the Referee ,'How was that a foul?' To be honest I don't think it was anything malicious but he is quite a robust physical player.

    Gornal go close after 22 minutes when their No.11 goes on a good run down the left but sees his shot saved by the keeper. 7 minutes later and the visitors No.5 heads straight at the Hunters keeper from a free kick.

In the very next minute, a Gornal player breaks through and pushes the ball past the out-coming keeper in to the net but is in an offside position.

Right near the end of this match, Gornal attack down the left and a good ball is played in and their No.10 races in to shoot but over the bar.

The visitors win 2-0 and despite Sikh Hunters putting plenty of effort in to this match, have not been able to create many chances. They certainly have given the leaders a fight today and will be looking to improve their league position.

Gornal Athletic are worthy winners but they will be looking for Allscott Heath to slip up before the end of the season to have any chance of lifting the title.

Match Attendance:             40 (approx)

Entrance Fee:                      £5  (£3 concessions)

Match Programme:            none available

Match Entertainment:       7/10

  

 

OLD WULFRUNIANS 0 - 2 GORNAL ATHLETIC

 

 WEST MIDLANDS REGIONAL LEAGUE, DIVISION ONE

                LEAGUE CUP, QUARTER-FINAL 

        CKW Stadium, Castlecroft Road, Wolverhampton, WV3 8LU

                     19th March, 2022       3:00 pm Kick-Off

I'm heading to Wolverhampton today, to the leafy suburb of Castlecroft in fact to see some Cup action, between the hosts of Old Wulfrunians against the Division One leaders of the West Midlands League, Gornal Athletic.

'The Old Wulfs' play at the same ground as their senior club of 'AFC' who play in the Midland Premier. I have visited there twice before but I decided it was time I watched some West Midland League teams again.

The forecast is good and I make it to Wolverhampton OK by train (10 mins late) and I wander over to the Molineux Stadium, home of course to the Premiership team of Wolverhampton Wanderers. To get over to the other side of the road I first have to go through the 'Molineux Subway' which has pictures of key dates in the club's illustrious past on the walls. One I definitely remember is from 1974, when Wolves beat my favourite Football League team, Manchester City, by a score of 2-1 in the League Cup final. The photo shows the then captain, Mike Bailey holding the trophy.

I wonder if the club will be winning any more silverware in the next few years?

I then walk down to the Art Gallery which has now fully re-opened after refurbishment. It's good to see again some of their permanent collection but the featured exhibition is not worth bothering with. I don't have a clue what it's about and I don't really want to know either.

Before I go I have a breakfast in the new cafe, which is a very pleasant space to have a meal, although a bit expensive.

I catch the No.3 bus, just across the road to the Gallery and the 20 minute journey takes me close to the ground. There are several sports grounds in close proximity here, as can be seen from the photo.

This also includes the football pitches of the Old Wulfrunians club, including that of their 2nd team, who play in the Premier Division of the Birmingham & District League. They are playing there today against league leaders, CPA. One to visit in the future.

I take the short walk to the CKW Stadium, with it's impressive stand. It was originally built as a training ground facility for the England rugby team, hence the red rose emblem to be seen on the side of the stand.

I pay my entrance fee and the guy who is taking the money turns out to be the Chairman/Secretary, Simon Marsh. I then proceed to the other end of the stand, as I know that up the stairs is the bar area. I get myself a cup of tea there and I'm able to buy an AFC Wulfrunians badge too. 

The teams come out on to the field in their respective first team colours; the hosts in red & white halved shirts, black shorts and red socks, while Gornal are in yellow shirts, green shorts and socks. This makes for a colourful spectacle on a sunny day like today. Gornal must be the hot favourites but only beat their hosts by one goal in the league game at their own ground.

Gornal certainly mean business when play starts, they are constantly pressing Wulfrunians and go ahead after 4 minutes, when a shot is desperately clawed out from underneath the bar by the home keeper only for it to fall to Gornal's No.9, Sam Oakley, to shoot home.

      (Every picture tells a story, as Gornal Athletic celebrate scoring)

This sets the trend for the next 15 minutes as Gornal take control and are constantly threatening the Wulfrunians goal. Their No.10 shoots just wide in the 7th minute and in another attack 5 minutes later, a shot hits the left hand post and out.

At one point, I can hear the home sides No.2 telling his team mates that they are giving their opponents too much space and to tighten things up.

They do start to make attacks of their own from 20 minutes on but find the Gornal defence a tough nut to crack.

It looks as if there will be just one goal in this first half but then Gornal score again after 43 minutes and it's Sam Oakley who gets his and his sides second goal.

 The Old Wulfs keeper has come out too far from his goal and his defenders looked as if they expected Oakley to be adjudged to be in an offside position.

So the first 45 minutes ends with the league leaders firmly in control and look to heading for the semi-finals.

I have been talking to a guy just before half time, who is wearing a Wolves jacket but with a Gornal Athletic scarf and Bayern Munich beanie hat! He's called Malcolm and is a life long Wolves fan, who has visited plenty of Non-League grounds too with plenty of local football information.

The second period starts and the home side are looking more lively now. They twice go close in the first 11 minutes and makes me think that they might just get something from this game after all.

 Gornal Athletic are still dangerous though and in one attack one of their players lobs the keeper, only to see the ball hit the bar, bounce down on the line and out again.

So the game ends with a 0-2 victory for Gornal Athletic, who now no doubt will be looking to get a League & Cup double this season.

Old Wulfrunians, although having a poor first-half showed a marked improvement in the second and can take heart from this and will be trying to improve their currently low league position. I later find out that their 2nd team managed to get a creditable 1-1 draw against CPA in their Birmingham League game. 

Next season will mark their 100th anniversary and I hope it will be a special one for them. 

Match attendance:                32

Entrance fee:                       £4

Match programme:               none available

Entertainment value:            6.5/10