Midland Football League
Heath Hayes FC v Tipton Town FC
Dunkirks' recent surge of form had left Tipton somewhat marooned at the foot of the table but following this game,the hosts are in danger of joining them.
The visitors had the better of the early exchanges and there seemed no danger when Town were awarded a free-kick on the left.Singh seemed to almost mishit the free-kick which eluded everyone....including the goalkeeper.The hosts saw plenty of the ball in both halves but were unable to break through a resolute Town defence.It has to be said,they did their cause no good by persistently belting the ball upfield where it was ably dealt with by Towns' two central defenders. Time and again Hayes' defenders would hit the ball over the top only for it to be returned.When the hosts were able to close in on goal they were rarely able to make the goalkeeper really work; indeed the visiting goalkeeper had a relatively easy time(as,it has to be said,did the home keeper).
Late in the game Pugh was put clear to lob over the advancing keeper and seal the points for Tipton who had their substitute red-carded for an 'elbow'.
For Heath Hayes,it has to be said they can only blame themselves.They controlled great swathes of the game and saw much more of the ball than Tipton but couldn't make it pay with a goal or two and are now only four points clear of their visitors.
For Tipton,from a neutrals' view,you had to admire their defending.It
was certainly 'backs to the wall' stuff at times but they stood
firm.Their two central defenders(including new signing George Williams)
had a somewhat 'they shall not pass' mentality. This now muddies the
waters at this end of the table,the visitors having pulled their hosts
to within clawing distance and,certainly on the evidence of this
game,neither deserve to be where they are.But,of course,as we all
know,the season is about all of the games...............not just one.
MOTM Heath Hayes ; No 10
MOTM Tipton ; No 5
Entrance ; £3(concession)
Programme ; £1
Drink ; £1
Crowd ; 67
Referee ; Ok
West Midlands Regional League Premier division
Shifnal Town v Black Country Rangers
This was certainly a change from last weeks' game watched in blazing Spring sunshine.It was COLD, but when you are addicted to Proper Football,what can you do ?
For the first 20-25 minutes the visitors were camped in Shifnals' half and the only question was 'how many are they going to score?' I've said many times before via this blog, teams have to score when they're on top and although Rangers were running the game,scoring opportunities were at a premium.They did eventually take the lead with an well-taken goal which seemed to be the wake-up call Town needed and it was only a matter of minutes before Town levelled. Two minutes later Town took the lead with a 25 yard screamer.
Half-time ; Shifnal Town 2 BCR 1
The visitors levelled within minutes of the restart but Town are made of stronger stuff these days and before too long,had raced into a 5-2 lead including a flying header which would match anything Rooney could do. The visitors did get a third but to be honest they'd had the stuffing knocked out of them.
Result ; Shifnal Town 5 Black Country Rangers 3
MOTM ; Shifnal No 7
MOTM ; BCR No 10
Entry ; £3(including Programme & raffle ticket)
Drink ; 80p !!!!!!
Crowd ; 45-50 est
Referee ; Good
Evans and Cisse spitting at each other; WBA fans ripping out seats to launch on AV fans;AV 'fans' storming the pitch during the game;Watford fan hanging onto life by his fingertips after being attacked by Wolves 'fans';Sako of Wolves sent off because Forestieri cheated(card now rescinded);Di Maria sent off for cheating('diving').
All the above occurred in the space of 1 week in League football.
IT DOESN'T HAPPEN IN PROPER FOOTBALL !!!!!
Midland Football League Premier Division
AFC Wulfrunians v Long Eaton United
Not really much to report on this game.From the time the visitors scored their first there was only going to be one result; looking ominously ready,willing and able from the start,they took the lead on 14 minutes.Before we reached 15 minutes they'd scored a second. United always looked like they had an extra man while the hosts who are normally a more than capable side have to put this down to 'a bad day at the office'. Wulfs were better in the second half ,but having said that,so were United. The scoreline does not flatter the visitors,they were,on the day,way ahead of their opponents.
Result ; AFC Wulfrunians 0 Long Eaton United 5
MOTM Wulfrunians ; Thompson
MOTM United ; Number 7
Entrance ; £2 concession
Programme ; £1
Drink ; £1
Referee ; Good
Crowd ; 80
West Midlands Regional League. Premier Division
Dudley Town v Bilston Town Community
Arriving late, Dudley Town were already in the lead and bossed most of the first half,limiting the visitors to the occasional breakaway.They always looked a yard faster than the visitors whose slow build-up was in sharp contrast to the hosts rapid shift though the gears. On 30 minutes Dudley increased their lead.It was well-deserved and well-worked.The latter part of the first-half was played in a blizzard.
Half-time ; Dudley Town 2 Bilston Town Community 0
The visitors were a different proposition from the first half almost halving the deficit straight from the kick-off.Their three live-wires , numbers 7,10 and 11 began to inject some much-needed pace to the attack. Their attacks were now much faster but their back four were continually being found out.
Bilstons' efforts eventually paid dividends when an attack down the right reduced the arrears.Try as they might,they were unable to draw level as the home defence stood firm and it was the hosts who got a second wind and a third goal.
A good game for the neutral,played in good spirit.
A nice little touch,free cakes to have with your half-time drink. Yum yum !
Result ; Dudley Town 3 Bilston Town Community 1
MOTM Dudley Town ; No 4
MOTM Bilston Town ; No 10
Click on a pic to enlarge.
Entrance ; £3(concession)
Programme ; Sold out
Drink ; £1
Crowd ; 50 est
Referee ; Good
Vanarama Conference
Wrexham v Barnet
Not the best of games to sit and watch on a cold winters' afternoon.Barnet gave the impression all they had to do was turn up and collect the points but were sent home with nowt.Credit to the hosts who simply denied the visitors time and space.Barnet were bad but could have won the game were it not for some superb stops by Coughlin in the home goal.He is surely destined for better things.The visitors also had at least two very good penalty decisions go against them by a referee who impressed no-one on the day. The visitors cause wasn't helped by Akindes' second yellow card, for diving; the first being given for reasons only known to the referee.
Wrexham earned their 3 points by sheer hard work but their shortcomings are obvious.They need virtually an open goal to score(see goals for in the league table).Time and again their midfield set up good scoring chances only for these to be wasted.
Barnet on the other hand,need to work harder.As already stated,after being outplayed they had the better chances and could have won the game but for Coughlin.
On another note,I,ve been to many grounds over the years and heard lots of different chants from the fans; some clever,some downright nasty and some very funny but when Wrexham scored their fans were singing 'Land of my Fathers' ! What's that all about ?
West Midlands Regional League Premier Division
Bilston Town Community v Wolverhampton SC
What a strange game !
For 45 minutes the hosts looked like a team who had never seen each other before.Being kind,I'd say they were awful. By comparison the visitors were looking like they could do no wrong,pressing the game,snapping into the tackle and moving the ball about confidently.So,it was no surprise to anyone when the visitors took the lead,albeit via a penalty.In truth Bilston could have had no complaints if they had gone in at half-time 3 or 4 goals down.
Half-time ; BTC 0 WSC 1
I think I have a good idea of the managements' half-time team-talk in the home dressing-room.Something along the lines of " What the %$*£ing hell was that load of @~&#ocks about?Anyway,whatever was said had the desired effect.....eventually ! Sporting carried on where they left off by adding a second goal soon after the restart and it seemed to be a matter of how many more would they score.Straight away Bilston were awarded a penalty when half-time sub Turton was felled.This was duly converted and within minutes an equalizer was added. We'd had three goals in about ten minutes!The introduction of Turton had turned the game on its' head and Bilston took command of the game.They had gone from looking like no-hopers in the first-half to a side brimming with confidence.On loan Jake Webb put the icing on the cake with his own version of a 'James Henry screamer' and a fourth was soon added.
The visitors have only themselves to blame.They could have put this game to bed by half-time but all credit to Bilston for winning a game from what seemed a hopeless situation.
There is no other description,it really was 'A game of two halves' .
Result ; Bilston Town Community 4 Wolverhampton SC 2
MOTM Bilston ; No 5
MOTM W Sporting C ; No 9
Entrance ; £2(concession)
Programme ; £1(Excellent content)
Drink ; £1
Crowd ; 80 est
Ref ; V Good
