THE BUILDBASE FA VASE 1st ROUND CKW Stadium
AFC Wulfrunians 1 Leicester Nirvana 1
The visitors from the United Counties League,Premier Division arrived here with an impressive record of 12 games unbeaten. Wulfrunians on the other hand,endured a recent sticky patch following a highly productive September.
It was easy to see why the visitors had such an impressive recent record with some extremely talented individuals playing a possession-based game,60/40 in their favour;but it seemed to us,they wanted to do an Arsenal and walk the ball into the net.We counted several occasions where the 'put your laces through the ball' option was required instead of dancing around the opponents. This course of action came back to bite them as Wulfrunians took the lead through McDonald late in the half.
The second half was somewhat different as the visitors,chasing an equaliser,began to change their game;as and when required,an element of 'route one' was used and it yielded results.McDonald,the fist-half hero was dispossessed,the ball was passed to Nelson who then proceeded to dance around the keeper and wouldn't you know it,'walk the ball into the net'.😜
The hosts went looking for a winner but as the game wore on,it was the visitors who were on top but fair play to Wulfrunians who were in no mood to capitulate.We had to leave at full-time but thankfully didn't miss any more goals in extra time. This was a highly entertaining game played in an excellent spirit(apart from the meaningless little skirmish at full time)
Replay at Hamilton Park,Sandhills Avenue,Leicester Tuesday 24th October.
Special Mentions:
Wulfrunians....Number 8
Nirvana....Number 8
Entrance ; £5 concession
Programme ; £1.50
Drink ; £1 Coffee ****
Crowd ; 60 est
Referee ; 8/10
Entertainment value ; 9/10
Non-League dogs ; 1(thanks to Mr D)
West Midlands Regional League Premier Division
Shifnal Town 3 Smethwick 2 (click on each team for their Wickipedia page)
Shifnal took their chance to climb the table with this result.With a 2-0 half-time lead,it seemed Town were destined for three points but this game was anything but clear-cut.Granted, Town just about deserved to be in front at the break but the neutral(includes us) could take the other view and say the visitors didn't deserve to be losing.Indeed,for long periods of the first half Smethwick were in the ascendency but lacked the killer touch.
Whatever was said in the visitors dressing-room at half-time....it worked ! Smethwick seemed to take the game by the scruff of the neck and before too long they were level albeit due to two goalkeeping errors but it was no less than they deserved for their efforts.That appeared to be it until a delicious cross was controlled and lobbed over the visiting keeper.
This was a tremendous game for the neutral.Prior to this match,I watched the Liverpool/ManU game which was absolute dross so we say thank you to both teams for entertaining us.
Entrance ; £1 concession
Programme ; £1
Drink ; £1 Coffee ****
Crowd ; 40 est
Referee ; 7/10
Entertainment value ; 9/10
Non League dogs ; Didn't see any
West Midlands Regional League Division 1
The Cottage Ground,Wednesfield
Willenhall Town 0 Tipton Town 3 (click on each team for their Wikipedia page)
Following a few hiccups of late,the visitors got themselves back into winning ways with this emphatic victory over their near neighbours. The hosts got off to a bright enough start but Tipton were soon into their stride and on 12 minutes,took the lead with a simple tap-in. Willenhall saw plenty of the ball but their game seemed hurried and urgent and they created hardly any worthwhile chances whereas the visitors,with their measured passing game saw numerous efforts either saved or fizzed wide.As the match progressed it became more evident there was only going to be one result and the visitors confirmed this by adding two more goals.
Willenhall could not be faulted on effort but on the day Tipton were the better team.
Special Mentions :
Willenhall Town ; Number 5
Tipton Town ; Number 10
The catering lady ; believe it or not we were asked if we wanted croutons on our soup ! Hows that for superior service ?
Entrance ; £1 concession
Programme ; N/a
Drink ; £1. Coffee ***
Crowd ; 40 est
Referee ; 8/10
Entertainment value ; 8/10
