Dudley Athletic and Stourport Swifts share the spoils.

                            ⚽ West Midlands Regional League Div 1 ⚽

Dudley Athletic 2  Stourport Swifts Development 2

                                                                                                                  Played at Brinsford Stadium

Incident-wise, this game had the best start imagineable, a penalty( to the hosts ) after just 2 minutes. Unfortunately for them, it was well-saved by the keeper and apart from a shot rebounding off the Dudley bar that was really it for the next half-hour until the visitors struck on 33 minutes⚽. The keeper did well to stop the shot but in doing so he pushed onto the foot of the oncoming forward who couldn't really miss. The game resumed as before with much effort but little progress from either side. Just before the break a floated cross was met with a well-guided header into the top LH corner to level the scores⚽.

Following the break Dudley were much improved and took the game to the visitors and on 65 minutes were awarded a hotly-disputed penalty for their efforts, which was duly dispatched⚽. Back came the visitors and following a bit of pinball wizard in the area, the ball ended up in the back of the net⚽. There then followed a little bit of handbags which, let's be honest we don't want to see at any level,never mind this one where money is not involved, but things were quickly calmed and that was it really. A game with a rather humdrum first half was a much better spectacle in the second period.

Admission ; £3 concession

Programme ; N/a

Drink ; £1

Referee ; 5/10

Crowd ; 40 est

Entertainment ; 7/10

 

Bilbrook and Walsall Wood share the points

                                ⚽West Midlands Regional League  Div 2⚽

Bilbrook Santos 1 Walsall Wood Prims 1

                                                                                                                             Played at Pendeford Lane

For the opening 20 minutes these two sides were fairly evenly matched with the hosts marginally looking the more dangerous in front of goal. From that point on it was all the visitors,so it was no surprise really when they took the lead; the ball being  pushed out to the left where the No 11 rounded the defender and smashed it home⚽. Just reward for their attacking play.

The second half saw a much-improved home side from the off , taking the game to Wood  rather than receiving from them. something had to give but the equalizer was brilliant in its simplicity ; the Bilbrook No 2 cut in from the left, waltzed his way through the defence and blasted the ball past the hopelessly exposed keeper, giving him no chance⚽. Both sides then really went for the winner, the final 10 minutes seeing a glut of chances missed from both sides.

On reflection, a fair result given both sides had their purple patches in the game.

Admission ; £5

Programme ; N/a

Drink ; £1.50

Referee ; 9/10

Attendance ; 35 est

entertainment ; 8/10

Rugby Borough progress in FA Cup

                                            ⚽Emirates FA Cup 2023/4⚽

Tividale 1  Rugby Borough 4                               Played at Packwood Road

Football returned to Packwood Road for the 2023/4 season,in the guise of Emirates FA Cup, on a cold November afternoon(well, that's what it felt like), this being the initial step on the marathon journey to Wembley in May 2024. Todays visitors, Rugby Borough play in the United Counties League following promotion from the Spartan South Midlands League last season.

The hosts started well, scoring after 4 minutes,only to see it ruled out for o/s. Just minutes later Borough were unlucky with a shot rebounding from the foot of the post....a warning shot of things to come. Tivi took the lead after 17 via Dell⚽ and frankly, that was about as good as it was going to get for the hosts as the visitors got into their stride and basically took control of the game. The equaliser was always on the cards and it came with an almost comical goal with the ball trickling over the line⚽. That was seemingly it prior to the break, but the visitors had other ideas, the ball being crossed from the right, the player just helping it on its way with a little flick sending it looping over the keeper into the back of the net⚽. It wa sno more than they deserved for some enterprising and entertaining play.

The second half was only minutes old when Borough increased their lead with ascreamer from the corh corner of the area, giving the keeper little chance. To be fair to Tivi, they had upped their game and certainly gave it their all but it was never going to be enough against a thoroughly organised, uncompromising defence and if the game was still there to be won, it was definitely lost on 70 minutes as Borough added a fourth following a muddle in the area⚽.

Borough progress to the next round wit a few quid in the bank while Tivi can console themselves by the fact they were beaten by a very good team on the day.

Admission ; £4 concession

Prog ; N/a

Drink ; £1.50

Referee ; 9/10

Crowd  ; 70-80 est

Entertainment ; 8/10