Khalsa heading in the right direction.

   ⚽Northern Premier League (Midlands Div)⚽

Sporting Khalsa 2  Rugby Town 0

                                                                                             Played at Guardian Warehousing Arena

With this result, Khalsa leap-frogged their opponents in the table and their proximity to each other was evident in this closeley fought encounter between two well-matched sides. Town were fastest out of the blocks and threatened in the first couple of minutes with a couple of efforts coming to nothing and it was a while before Khalsa could impose themselves. Khalsa upped the ante and you sensed a goal was in the offing and it duly arrived on 30 minutes when Landell was quickest onto a ball over the top; racing across the 18 yard line he beat two defenders before smashing a ball into the far corner⚽. 

Town continued to push but their efforts were ably dealt with by the Khalsa defence. A second goal for Khalsa came on 45 minutes following good work on the right, a superb cross was floated in for McGrady to nod in at the worst possible time for the visitors⚽.

The second half was very much a replay of what had gone before with Khalsa having the lions share of possession while negating most of Towns attacks.

This was a thoroughly entertaining match for fan and neutral alike. 

Entrance ; £5 concession

Drink ; From £1.50

Referee ; 7/10

Att ; 154

Entertainment ; 9/10

Wulfrunians edge an absorbing contest.

                                           ⚽ FA Vase 2nd Round⚽

AFC Wulfrunians 5  Coventry United 4

                                                                                  Played at The Prestige Midlands Arena

The game was delayed for 30 minutes due to a terrific thunderstorm.

The visitors were fastest out of the blocks and were ahead on 3 minutes (I missed the goal as I was talking to a couple of visiting fans)⚽. Their lead only lasted 3 minutes due to Wulfs player Webb showing some nifty footwork to beat the defender and keeper⚽. Clever play by Hall around the twenty minute mark, tempted the defender into a tackle earning a penalty for the hosts, duly despatched by No 9⚽. Wulfrunians were upping the tempo and another goal was  added 5 minutes later when Wulfs number 9 latched onto a terrific through ball to round the keeper and score his second and Wulfs third⚽. United were, at this time, struggling to contain their opponents who added a fourth at 27 minutes and were seemingly destined for a big score⚽ ; this was a false dawn as United rallied and 6 minutes later reduced the arrears with an excellent goal⚽ and were in the ascendency for the remainder of the half, being very unlucky with two more efforts. A scintillating 45 minutes of football.

Following the break, United carried on where they left off and had soon reduced the arrears further, cutting in from the left with only the keeper to beat....and he did⚽. United were now the team looking most likely to score and were desperately unlucky, only being denied by some last-ditch defending. This brilliant game was settled 5 minutes from normal time when a smart move on the right resulted in a straight ball across the area needing only to be tapped in⚽.   

A fantastic game played in an excellent spirit from both sides. For long periods, it was anyones game but Wulfrunians progress to the next round while  United played their part in an absorbing contest.

                                       

Entrance ; £4 concession

Drink ; £1.50

Referee ; 8/10

Att ; 70-80 est

Entertainment ; 9.5/10

 

Dudley Kingswinford put on a display.

           ⚽West Midlands Regional League Div 1⚽

Dudley Kingswinford FC 5  FC Premier2008 0

A highly impressive display by the home side over their visitors consolidated their position in the table. Such was their dominance, their keeper wasn't  tested before the break. The first goal after 10 minutes was a beauty with the winger beating his man and scoring from a narrow angle⚽. Around the half-hour mark DK increased their lead when, following some good work on the left, the ball was passed to an unmarked player who couldn't really miss⚽. The visitors were made to work overtime to contain the hosts and credit to them for keeping the score to 2-0 at the break.

The second half was really just more of the same with DK well on top but Premier giving them a little more to think about. Another goal seemed almost inevitable and so it was, a third was added at the 70 minute mark⚽  and a fourth 10 minutes later⚽. The scoring was wrapped up just before the end with a fifth goal⚽.

The result was richly deserved by the home side for an outstanding display of attacking football to which the visitors had no answer, try as they might.

  

Entrance ; £3 concession

Drink ; £2

Referee ; 9/10

Attendance ; 35

Entertainment ; 9/10