Dudley Town defeat Wednesfield

                                        ⚽Midland Football League Div 1⚽

                                 Dudley Town 2 Wednesfield 1

Played at Guardian Warehousing Arena

Curious game,this ; a first half of absorbing entertainment followed by a pretty dismal second half.

The hosts got off to a flyer on 8 minutes when the keeper failed to hold onto a speculative effort and the ball was tapped home. They proceeded to boss most of the remaining first-half minutes with the visitors relying mostly counter attacks.

Wednesfield levelled straight after the break from the penalty spot ( the keeper saving the shot but failing to hold and as before,the balled was tapped home).  Their half-time 'chat' must have been something as they were much better than their first-half efforts and were unlucky on a couple of occasions. Dudley gained themselves a second goal on the hour. The game gradually descended into numerous fouls and free-kicks with Dudley regaining control to see out the game for a deserved win.

  

Entrance ; £4 concession

Programme ; £2

Drink ; £1.20 - £1.50

Referee ; 9/10

Entertainment ; 8/10

Tipton Town progress in Birmingham Vase

                                                 ⚽ Birmingham Saturday Vase ⚽

                              Tipton Town 3 Continental Star 1

Played at Tipton Sports Academy

This was a very decent game with Town entertaining their MFLDiv3 visitors. The first quarter was very nip and tuck as both teams enjoyed periods of possession but a youthful looking Town always looked the more likely to score and so it was they who closed the half with a 2-0 lead.

Following the break the hosts continued to appear the more threatening with some fast,flowing moves especially down the left and try as they might,the visitors found an impregnable defensive line blocking their advance. Town added a well-deserved third before Star raised their game for a final push which earned them a penalty, duly despatched, to put a more respectable touch to the scoreline.

 

Entrance ; £3 concession

Programme ; N/a

Drink ; £1.50

Refereee ; 8/10

Entertainment value ; 8/10 

Wolves Casuals and Atherstone Town play out an exciting draw.

                  ⚽Midland Football League Premier Division⚽

               Wolverhampton Casuals 1 Atherstone Town 1

Played at Brinsford Stadium

This was certainly time well spent as these two sides served up some excellent entertainment.

Atherstone were cheered on by a sizeable, vociferous following, with plenty of banter being thrown around, most of it aimed at the referee 😁. 

The visitors look an accomplished side and they showed why they're in the top half of the table during a first half of many to's and fro's, having the bulk of possession but on every occasion spoiling good build-up work with poor finishing. Casuals were not by any means overawed, also having their moments but found an almost impregnable defence facing them,

The hosts must have had a discussion during the break as they put the visitors under pressure from the off and were rewarded with a goal on 57 minutes. Thereafter it was they who called the tune and threatened, on numerous occasions, to increase their lead. All seemed set fair for a home victory but for some astute substitutions by Town ; the pendulum swung completely as they bombarded Casuals,who were just about clinging on. Something had to give......and it did. On 90 minutes,following an almighty goalmouth scramble the ball was stabbed home and Town got their just reward for playing to the final whistle.

A highly entertaining game played in an excellent atmosphere.

 

Entrance ; £5 concession

Programme ; £1

Drink ; £1

Referee ; 9/10

Crowd ; 90-100 est

Entertainment ; 9/10

Shifnal Town blitzed at Wulfrunians

                      ⚽Midland Football League  Premier Division⚽

                        AFC Wulfrunians 5  Shifnal Town 0

                                                                                                                          Played at CKW Stadium

The visitors made a bright enough start, knocking the ball about and enjoying lots of possession. That said, there was little or no end result and Wulfs showed them how it was done on 23 minutes when Bishop(who apparently is moving to  a higher grade) waltzed his way through 3 players before scoring. Still Shifnal continued to enjoy possession and were again shown how when Ray added a second for the hosts. So Wulfs enjoyed a 2-0 half-time lead without, it has to be said, really impressing.

Things were obviously said during the break and Wulfs came out firing on all cylinders and on 57 minutes Sharman despatched a smashing curling shot leaving the keeper wrong-footed. This seemed to somewhat take the sting out of the visitors as the home side really ramped up the pressure and a fourth was added  10 minutes later via a Reeves header. Shifnal tried to respond but there was no let up from the home side and they added a fifth with possibly the best goal of the lot as Poole chased a lost cause, forcing the defender into an error and rounded the keeper to pass the ball into an empty net.

This was a scintillating display from the home side to which the previously unbeaten visitors had no answer .

 

Entrance ; £5 concession

Programme ; £1.50

Drink ; £1.50

Referee ; 9/10

Crowd ; 90 est

Entertainment value ; 9/10