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 

Tividale take the points with a superb display.

                              ⚽ Midland Football League  Premier Div⚽

AFC Wulfrunians 1 Tividale 2

Played at The Prestige Stadium

This could have been even better if the man in charge had let the game run instead of blowing his whistle for every little incursion(five or six players booked and two sent to the sin-bin) ; that implies it was a dirty game but it was everything but that, just two good sides really going for it.The visitors have improved massively of late and they came here full of confidence, were well organised and dangerous on the counter.

Wulfrunians took the lead on 8 minutes when Jarrett out on the right beat a couple of defenders and sent over an inviting cross only for the keeper to inadvertantly help the ball into the net⚽.They deserved their lead having been possibly the better side during the early skirmishes.

With Wulfs failing to clear their lines,Tivi deservedly levelled through Wood in the 51st minute⚽ and although looking dangerous on the counter it was Wulfs who looked the most likely to score, being thwarted on numerous occasions by some superb defending from the visitors.

With most folks accepting a draw as the most likely outcome, Tivi mounted a superb counter and on 90 minutes Khoshkhoo put the game to bed with a superb winner⚽.

Fair play to Tivi who never gave up and always believed they could get a result whilst Wulfs will rue missed chances.

Entrance ; £4

Programme ; £1.50

Drink ; From £1

Referee ; 4/10

Crowd ; 100+, est

Entertainment ; 10/10

Heath Hayes impress.

                                           ⚽ Midland Football League Div 1⚽

Heath Hayes 2  Coventry Copsewood 0

Played at The Coppice Colliery Ground

The first quarter of this game was fairly even, with the visitors possibly looking the more dangerous,attack-wise. That was about as good as it got for them, as gradually, the home side stamped their authority on the game and it soon became clear who the winners would be. From their bright start, the visitors descended into mediocrity, seemingly unable to pass to a colleague. In the 29th minute the hosts took a deserved lead when the defender, heading the ball back to his keeper, failed to see the opposing forward behind him ; that forward was left with the relatively simple task of putting the ball into the net⚽. By this time, the visitors were visibly struggling to make any decent headway against their opponents and they were probably relieved to reach the break with a single goal defecit.

The second period was barely 15 minutes old when the hosts increased their lead⚽ and were threatening to run riot, having numerous attempts thwartedcombined with wayward finishing. The visitors seemed to be pre-occupied with their RH side as everything was aimed that way ; whether that was the plan or not, it kept failing.

Coventry made some sustitutes which seemed to stem the tide somewhat, the introduction of their big number 12 certainly helping to change things ; indeed, the final quarter saw them have their most productive spell of the match and they were unlucky with a couple of efforts. 

Heath Hayes deserved their result. They were definitely the better side on the day and Copsewood can have no complaints.

Entrance ; £3 concession

Programme ; N/a

Drink ; From £1.20

Referee ; 8/10

Crowd ; 60 est

Entertainment ; 8/10