Improving Tipton Town on the up.

                                 ⚽  West Midlands ( Regional )League ⚽

Played at Tipton Sports Academy

Tipton Town 2  Allscott Heath 1

On a bitterly cold and windy afternoon, fast improving Tipton and Allscott served up a blood and thunder game, sometimes a little scrappy but always fully committed, which me and my mate Pete thoroughly enjoyed. There was 1 minutes silence observed before the game to pay respects to #LeonTaylor and little #Arthur Labinjo-Hughes. There wasn't a lot to choose between them but the hosts just about had the better of it and deservedly took the lead midway through the 1st half when Piggot got the better of a tussle with the keeper, following a ball over the top. 

The hosts increased their lead early in the 2nd half and looked to be heading for the 3 points but the visitors had other ideas and a concerted effort resulted in them reducing the arrears on the hour. Despite everything they could muster, the Tipton defence stood firm and they collect the three points.

MOTM Tipton Town ; No 4

MOTM Allscott Heath ; GK

Entrance ; £3 concession

Prog ; N/A

Drink ; £1.50

Crowd ; 40 est

Referee ; 9/10

Entertainment Value ; 8/10

  

Gornal progress in the Birmingham FA Vase

                                                    ⚽  Birmingham FA Vase ⚽

Gornal Athletic 2  v  Southam United 0  

Played at Garden Walk Stadium

Me and mate Pete reckoned this was one of the best games we've seen on our groundhopping trips this season.

The visitors made the early running albeit without threatening a goal but Gornal were soon into their stride and were beginning to look dangerous. The 1st goal was a beauty ; from a corner the ball was hit on the volley giving the keeper no chance. this seemed to spur the hosts and they were playing some nice stuff without further reward. The visitors certainly had their moments but seemed to run out of steam once they reached the opposition area with their big number 9 often ploughing a lone furrow up front.

After the break thinks warmed up considerably with both sides giving it a real go ; Gornal putting together some eye-catching passing and Utd refusing to yield. Another goal was always on the cards and it went to Gornal late in the game.

Gornal were worth their win but the visitors played their part in an exhilarating match.

MOTM Gornal ; Number 8

MOTM Southam ; Number 5

                                               Apologies for the poor quality of pics

Entrance ; £3 concession

Programme ; Free

Drink ; £1.50

Crowd ; 80 est

Referee ; 9/10

Entertainment value ; 9/10

Wulfrunians take the points in an enthralling encounter

                       ⚽   Midland Football League  Premier Div  ⚽

Played at The CKW Stadium

AFC Wulfrunians 2  Highgate Utd 0

First things 1st. Welcome back my mate Pete to Proper Football. Pete has been out of action lately so it's great to have him back.

The visitors were on it straight away and were looking ominous for the first 10 - 15 minutes but Wulfs gradually got there act together and in the 17th minute went ahead courtesy of Hill, direct from a corner. With their midfield snapping at the heels of the visitors Wulfs were enjoying plenty of possession which is not to say the visitors weren't in it ; they were, but on numerous occasions good approach work was let down by poor decisions-making meaning the home keeper was not unduly stretched. Just before the break the hosts increased their lead  with a well-constructed move. Livewire Poole was too quick for the keeper and put the ball through to Knight who only had to tap in.

Highgate made some changes at the break and were a better team for it. They were matching Wulfs in midfield and seeing much more of the ball but apart from a couple of near things were unable to breech a resolute home defence.

    This  was a highly entertaining match with full commitment from both sides.

⭐ Player AFC Wulfrunians.....Number 6

⭐ Player Highgate Utd.......Number 7

Entrance ; £4 concession

Drink ; £1

Programme ; £1.50

Crowd ; 70 est

Referee ; 8.5/10

Entertainment value ; 9/10

Blood and thunder stuff at Queen Street

                                   ⚽Midland Football League Div 1⚽

Bilston Town Community FC 1  Stapenhill 3

Played at Queen Street Stadium

   

The Steelmen will look back on this and wonder how they lost it but they only have themselves to blame. Given the visitors were in front after just 11 minutes and proceeded to boss things for a good while after, Bilston are nothing if not game and for large swathes of this match they played some brilliant stuff.

They went further behind on 40 minutes but that was certainly against the run of play. They came out after the break and played their passing game which was soon rewarded following a ball over the top which was despatched with force ; some were calling a foul but I saw nothing wrong. Stapenhill are where they are for a reason ; Bilston may have had more possession but the visitors always looked more dangerous when they were attacking and hit the net 3 times from not too many chances whereas the hosts were profligate in front of goal.

So, congrats to Stapenhill for a job well done ; commiserations to Bilston who will play a lot worse than this and win.

Entrance ; £3 concession

Programme ; £1 ( Excellent)

Drink ; £1

Referee ; 6/10

Crowd ; 70 est

Entertainment value ; 9/10

Thrilling stuff at Amblecote

                     ⚽Southern League Premier Div Central⚽

Stourbridge FC 1  AFC Rushden & Diamonds 1

                                                                        Played at The War Memorial Athletic Ground Amblecote

This game wasn't my original destination ; I had planned a visit to lye for their game against Boldmere St Michaels but such was the traffic hold-up(roadworks), I turned around and headed to this game(only 5 minutes away). It wasn't a bad decision as this was a really enjoyable spectacle.

The visitors were smartly out of the blocks and were ahead on 10 minutes. I can't describe the goal as I'd only just got into the ground, such was the crowd. Not only were they ahead but also looking very assured, dealing fairly comfortably with anything and everything The Glassboys could muster.

Things changed gradually but immeasurably as the hosts upped their game and many times really good approach work was let down by lack of a decent end product, notwithstanding the immovable object in the visitors defence, ie, their number 5 who hardly put a foot wrong all game.

Following the break, it was The Glassboys on the front foot and in a bizarre repeat of the 1st half, it was they who scored after 10 minutes with a brilliant effort. With this and the substitution of their wily number 9, the visitors were on the back foot for large parts of the last 30 but all things taken into account, a draw was probably a fair result.

MOTM Stourbridge ; Number 5

MOTM  AFC R&D  ;Number 5

Entrance ; £9 concession

Programme ; N/A

Drink ; N/A

Referee ; 9/10

Attendance ; 817

Entertainment Value ; 8.5/10