Wulfrunians and Highgate share the spoils

Midland Football League  Premier Division

AFC Wulfrunians 2  Highgate United 2

Utd came here on the back of a tremendous result,winning at high-flyers Lye Town last week-end with Wulfrunians suffering a mid-week blip against Coventry Sphinx after a mini upturn in recent results. The visitors were quickly into their stride making their intentions clear and it was no surprise when the took a deserved lead on 27 minutes;this goal seemed to spark the hosts into life and from this point it was they who enjoyed the majority of attacking intent for the rest of the first half and from their comfort zone of earlier,the visitors found themselves behind at the whistle as Wulfrunians were awarded two penalties in the final 4 minutes,both converted.

 Utd had more possession in the second half and got their reward for some enterprising play when they equalized on 68 minutes and were unlucky to be denied a winner.On balance of play the visitors would probably feel it was two points dropped.

Entrance ; £4
Programme ; £1.50
Drink ; £1.20
Crowd ; 45 est
Referee ; 6/10
Entertainment value ; 6/10

Dudley Sports top in bottom-of-the-table clash.

West Midlands Regional League  Premier Division


Gornal Athletic 0 Dudley Sports 2

Looking at the league table,this game would probably not be your first choice of matches to see; but you would be mistaken as this was a thoroughly entertaining match for the neutral viewer showcasing the overall standard of the WMRL,ie, if these two sides were bottom at start of play then how good are the top two.

 The difference between the sides wasn't massive

just that the visitors had that extra nous to find a player whereas Gornal were often guilty of passing to their opponents instead of taking a look first.

If their accuracy matched their effort they probably wouldn't be in their present position.

        The visitors took the lead on 35 minutes from an excellent but fairly simple move;a diagonal cross from the right was quickly despatched giving the keeper no chance.Dudley went looking for a second but Gornal were in no mood to cave in and had chances of their own to level.

The second half followed much the same pattern as the first with Dudley shading possession and Gornal looking occasionally dangerous on the break.the game was effectively put to bed midway through the half when the visitors were awarded a penalty which was duly dispatched.

  

     Gornal may be  rock bottom but mention must be given to their support which rarely waivers.

Look closely to behind the goal as the penalty is taken !

All in all,an excellent afternoons' football-watching

Entrance ; £3 concession
Programme ; £1
Drink ; £1
Crowd ; 50 est
Referee ; 6/10
Entertainment value ; 7/10

Willenhall Town strike late

      ⚽West Midlands Regional League  Premier Division⚽

Shifnal Town 1  Willenhall Town 2

Our latest sojourn to The Trio Construction Stadium,home of Shifnal Town witnessed the definitive 'game of two halves'.The visitors,in front after 3 minutes controlled the first half ,being first to the ball,quicker into the tackle and faster to close down any attacking threat from the opposition.Indeed,it was only luck that prevented the hosts being much further in arrears at the interval.

Fair play to Shifnal;whatever was said at half-time had a dramatic effect on their performance.Within minutes of the restart,they were level.Now the roles were reversed with the hosts enjoying the majority of possession and the number of goalbound shots.It seemed only a matter of time before they scored a second.As written in this blog many,many times previously,when on top make sure you score because possession is irrelevant if you don't;and so it proved with the game seemingly heading for a draw a long cross-field ball found was hit first time into the area and tapped home to give the visitors a  winner in the final few minutes.

Willenhall got their just desserts for keeping going while Shifnal paid the price for not making their possession pay.All in all, a very good game for the neutral(us).

Entrance ; £2 concession
Programme ; £1
Drink ; £1
Crowd ; 35 est
Referee ; 7/10
Entertainment value ; 7.5/10

Tipton progress in Div 1 Cup

West Midlands Regional League  Division 1 League Cup

Tipton Town 3 Kington 1

It was quite an unusual day as we made our way to The Tipton Sports Academy,unusual in the sense of it being a lovely sunny day with blue skies and it didn't take long to see the visitors had come to make a game of it as they took the lead after 10 minutes with a superb volley.Game on. Tipton were not slow with their reply;within 5 minutes they were level.The visitors certainly belied their lowly league position with some carefully crafted midfield play,rarely hoofing it while the hosts were content to use their wide men to feed their 'bag of tricks' number 9.

Five minutes into the second half Town took the lead and from there on it was a game of to and fro with the visitors searching for a leveller which ultimately led to the hosts getting a third to wrap up the tie and progress to the next round.

This was a really good game for the neutral spectator with both teams committed to attack.

Entrance ; £3 concession

Programme ; N/a

Drink ; £1

Crowd ; 45 est

Referee ; 8/10

Entertainment value ; 8.5/10