GORNAL COLTS 4 - 4 SALTLEY STALLIONS

WEST MIDLANDS REGIONAL LEAGUE, DIV ONE

The Dell Stadium, Bryce Road, Brierley Hill, DY5 4NB

14th January 2023,   2:00pm Kick-Off

I have been lucky to have found a match that is still going ahead, the West Midlands League, Div One clash between Gornal Colts and their table topping visitors, Saltley Stallions. Originally I was hoping to see Wyrley United play Allscott Heath from Shropshire, in the same Division but it was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, like so many other games today.

This is my second visit to the Dell Stadium, the first being in May last year when I saw Droitwich Spa win a hard fought League Cup semi-final against 'The Colts'.  

I have managed to get to the ground 15 minutes before kick-off, by train to Stourbridge and then by bus despite setting off relatively late.

When I pay my entrance fee at the gate, I'm informed that the game will be played on the 3G pitch which is adjacent to the main pitch and it's outlying athletics track. I'm not a big fan of artificial pitches but at times like this they are a definite bonus!

The game starts and Gornal are playing in their usual strip of navy shirts & shorts with grey socks, while Saltley are in their away strip of green shirts, black shorts & socks. 

Saltley who have started the brighter of the two teams, take the lead after 8 minutes but I miss it completely as I had turned round to talk to the Gornal club secretary, the very helpful Susie Johnson, who had informed me earlier by text that the game was still on.

Saltley go close after 15 minutes when their No.9, Arabab Ali, has a cross shot from the left following a free kick.

Gornal Colts do get into the game more and have 2 efforts in the next 20 minutes, the second being a shot from their No.10 which goes over the bar when he was in a good central position.

Saltley are looking the more dangerous team in this half and the Gornal coach is pacing the touch line, encouraging his players to close the opposition down as much as possible.

After 35 minutes 'The Stallions' No.8, Mohammed Konteh, has a shot blocked by the rapidly out-coming home keeper but they are not to be denied and their No.12, Ruman Hussain, has plenty of time when the ball is slipped in to him from the left to guide the ball in to the right hand corner of the net.

Gornal Colts hit back 4 minutes before the break when they are awarded a penalty and this is dispatched by their No.10.

So it's good to have seen some goals and there seems to be the likely prospect of more in the second half of this game.   

I have been talking to a guy who turns out to be the father of today's referee. He is only 18 years old but is in a Birmingham County FA  programme of fifteen candidates to fast track them to a higher level. Although young he has shown good judgement and authority so far.

I have time to have a warming cup of tea in the club house, as there is a cool wind blowing from the south west across the pitch today. Indeed I have to put on my gloves when play resumes to enable me to keep taking photos.

It doesn't take long for Saltley to take a firmer grip on this game when their No.8 scores from close range and then things get worse for the hosts when on the hour Saltley's No.14 shoots home from the left.

It's 4-1 to the league leaders and it's looking to be an uphill struggle for Gornal now. They get a foothold back in the game, just 4 minutes later when following a defensive mix up, the Gornal No.7 athletically volleys the ball home from close in.

The home side are visibly gaining confidence now and look hungry for the ball. However Saltley, with their speedy forwards always look dangerous on the break and Konteh heads the ball against the bar following a good cross from the left.

Gornal's No.11 goes on a good run a bit later and shoots across the goal from the left....but wide. Saltley don't heed this warning though and the same player makes a similar run and shot and this time is successful.

The league leaders are being pressed back strongly by the home side now and are awarded another penalty when Saltley's keeper panics and brings down a Gornal player just inside the right-hand side of the penalty area. Gornal's N0.10, Will Slater, scores his second spot kick for the equaliser.

In injury time there is still time to see Gornal Colts No.15 go racing in on goal but Saltley's No.20 hurries over to make a great blocking tackle but is hurt in the process.

The full-time whistle is blown soon after and brings to an end a great advertisement for football at this level. Both sides showed a willingness to attack throughout the game and although Gornal Colts showed great fight and made a stirring comeback, Saltley must feel that they threw away 2 points and very nearly 3!

Saltley do retain their No.1 spot, 3 points clear of 2nd placed Gornal Athletic with Allscott Heath, looking to be the favourites as they have 5 games in hand over Saltley now and are only 6 points behind them in 3rd. Still they have to keep winning and that could be prove to be a hard task if the postponed fixtures keep piling up on them.

Gornal Colts are in 10th place and encouraged by today's display will be looking to improve on this before the end of the season. 

Entrance Fee:           £5 (£3 concession)

Match Attendance:            Approx 15-20

Match Programme:           Non Available

Entertainment Value:                        9/10

  

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