Casuals earn the points.

West Midlands Regional League Premier Division

Wolverhampton Casuals v Wellington Amateurs

Me and my mate rate this game as the best we've seen this season.Two committed sides really going for it.Casuals have steadied the ship somewhat after a disastrous start claiming just four points from their first seven games whereas Amateurs find themselves at the foot of the table. Certainly on this showing the visitors are in a false position.For at least an hour, this was anyones' game, Cassies dominating the final third of the game to run out eventual winners with goals from Harvey, Holdcroft(2) and Oldnall. Casuals took an early lead, Meakin equalised and the hosts  regained the lead before half-time. Once Casuals got to 3-1 they must have thought the points were in the bag but back came the visitors with Pavlulik reducing the arrears. Holdcroft got his second and Casuals fourth to claim the points.

Casuals are now on an upward curve and if there's any justice Amateurs will soon be following them.
Mention must be made here of the excellent match programme. Well done The Editor !

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Casuals take an early lead from the spot

MOTM Casuals ; Number 6
MOTM Amateurs ; Number 5

Entrance ; £2(concession)
Programme ; £1
Drink ; £1
Crowd ; 35-40
Referee ; Good

Darlaston take their chances.

West Midlands (Regional) League. Div.2

Darlaston Town(1874) v Newport Town

We are constantly being reminded of the parlous state of non-league football with Councils raising the cost of ground - rentals and clubs going under because of lack of funds. With that in mind,what a pleasure to report the rude health of a team that has been to the depths and risen like the proverbial Pheonix, Darlaston Town(1874).This club was all but dead and buried but through the fighting spirit of those who cared deeply and refused to surrender to the inevitable,it has risen from the ashes.While there's people such as these involved in non-league,it can survive.There's a nice feeling about the place and they have solid support.They are currently playing home games at Bentley Road South,Walsall and I gathered from talking to people,the hope is to one day return to their original home in Darlaston.

Newport Town arrived with 5 wins from their 8 games and 1 point behind there hosts. The visitors will be left scratching their heads and wondering how they have gone home pointless after controlling large swathes of the match but as I have said many times previously, possession counts for nothing. Putting the ball in the net is what gets results ! It's ok moving the ball about in midfield but if you're not getting the shots in,you're never going to score. Credit to the hosts; they took their chances when they arose and the visitors left the field at half-time 3-0 down.

Half-time ; Darlaston Town(1874) 3 Newport Town 0

Newport continued as they had left off,moving the ball about and having lots of possession and eventually they got the goal their play merited but to be fair to the hosts,they too had many chances to increase their lead. So, Darlaston continue their rise up the table and now occupy second place. Should be an interesting game next week when they meet table-toppers Oakengates Athletic. As for Newport, they have little to worry about. They play a nice game,keeping on the deck.They need a target-man.

This was a decent game played in a fantastic spirit. Well done to all concerned. 

Result ; DarlastonTown(1874) 3  Newport Town 1

Entrance ; £1(concession)
Programme ; £1(Excellent)
Drink ; 50p
Crowd ; 45(est)
Referee ; Ok

Curzon Ashton march on.

Evo-Stik League Premier Division

Stourbridge FC v Curzon Ashton

Stourbridge were undone by an extremely well organised Curzon Ashton team.The first 10 minutes saw the home side in the ascendancy but once the visitors had settled down they rarely looked in any real danger. Time and again,through a lack of options, Stourbridge were forced to hoof the ball upfield to Benbow who,in turn,was being tightly marked and given little chance to improve on his current scoring spree.The home side did have their chances but to be honest,none were really clear-cut Conversely,the visitors were a constant thorn in the side of the hosts' defence.This spectator was not particularly surprised when the visitors took the lead on 27 minutes,the ball being worked to the left side and a precision cross into the area saw Cummins unmarked to poke the ball in.Stourbridge kept working but it was becoming increasingly obvious it would take something special to pierce such a well-drilled defence. The hosts problems increased just before half-time when Benbow was carried off with a suspect hamstring.

Half-time ; Stourbridge 0 Curzon Ashton 1

The home side put up a much-improved performance in the second half,peppering the visiting goalmouth but to no avail. They were very unlucky when a rising shot cannoned off the underside of the bar and back into play while they were enjoying the lions' share of possession. The visitors seemed content for the hosts to play across them and when the chance arose,counter-attack at pace.Fair play to Stourbridge who never gave up but one suspects their failure to score was more due to the visitors organisation than to their own shortcomings.

A good game where the home side gave it everything but were beaten by a highly impressive Curzon Ashton team.

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MOTM Stourbridge ; Number 5
MOTM Curzon Ashton ; Goalkeeper

Entrance ; £3(special concession)
Programme ; £2
Drink ; £1
Crowd ; 589
Referee ; Good,but sometimes overly fussy.

Telford battle back for a point

Vanarama Football Conference

AFC Telford v Barnet FC

Second-from-bottom Telford put on a storming display to deny front-runners Barnet. The home-sides game-plan was to defend in numbers and counter attack and Liam Watson must have been surprised  how well it worked.Barnets' problem was they didn't have a plan B. Time and again they would be faced with 11 men behind the ball and be unable to find a way through,whereas the hosts would counter with some ease.When you have the majority of possession, do something with it ! Martin Allen must have been pulling his hair out at the lack of ideas.To be honest, the visitors were pretty lacklustre for most of the first half and it was no more than the hosts deserved,for their efforts at least, when they scored from a hotly disputed penalty.

Half-time ; AFC Telford 1 Barnet 0

Early in the second half it was obvious something needed changing if Barnet were to get anything from the game and Martin Allen brought on Mekki and Nurse. From that moment things changed dramatically and you could sense a goal was coming for the visitors.It duly arrived when Cook smashed the ball home in the 69th minute.It was now all 'The Bees' and Telford were hanging on under tremendous pressure.Following a goal-mouth scramble,Hedge was unable to hold onto the ball and Johnson scored from an acute angle to send the visiting supporters wild.Telford,however, were not to be denied and in the 4th minute of injury time Phenix crowned an excellent display with a superbly headed goal. On this display,Telford would seem to be in a false league position.

MOTM AFC Telford ; McDonald
MOTM Barnet ; Akinde

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Stack is sent the wrong way from the penalty spot.

Visiting supporters and players celebrate their equalizer.

Entrance ; £12(concession)
Programme ; £2.50
Crowd ; 1492
Referee ; Good
 

Tipton progress in FA Vase

FA VASE. First Qualifying Round

Tipton Town FC v Hinckley AFC

It's strange what the fixture list can conjure up. Just one week ago Tipton squeezed through the First Qualifying round of the FA Cup and promptly parted company with their management team and the majority of the senior playing staff . Hinckley AFC is the pheonix risen from the ashes of Hinckley Athletic,the demise of which occurred in October 2013. Following a tumultuous week, Tipton have managed to get a team together from their own youth teams and players begged from other clubs in the area.

From the off, the hosts took the initiative and if this was a 'cobbled together' team it didn't show; there was plenty of neat passing to feet.It was no surprise to this spectator when they opened the scoring,albeit scrappily. Hinckley were doing their bit but were lacking any kind of a 'cutting edge' up front. On 30 minutes Tipton increased their lead, the ball finishing in the net direct from a corner. On reflection,the hosts could have been further in front with better finishing and they paid the price for missed opportunities when Hinckleys' No 9 smashed the ball home following a goal-mouth scramble.

Half-time ; Tipton Town 2 Hinckley AFC 1

The visitors must have had a pretty rousing, Churchillian-type team-talk at half-time. It was now they who enjoyed the lions' share of possession. They were getting the shots in but wayward finishing was costing them. I, for one was convinced they would equalise but it wasn't to be. Indeed,in the final 10 minutes it was Tipton who once again turned the screw and should have put the game to bed but their chances too, went begging.

There was a decent crowd at this match partly due to it being 'Non-League Day' but mostly due to the tremendous following the visitors brought to the game. Mention must be given to the vocal encouragement they gave to their team.Well done them !

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Result ; Tipton Town 2 Hinckley AFC 1

Tipton MOTM ; No 3
Hinckley MOTM ; No 5

Entrance ; £3(concession)
Programme ; £1.50
Drink ; £1
Crowd ; 146
Referee ; Good