Stafford Town progress in the F A Vase

                                                       ⚽      F A Vase  ⚽

Bilston Town  1  Stafford Town First 4

A lightning quick start to the match as Bilston are awarded a free kick on the edge of the area in the first minute...back of the net 1-0 ⚽

If that stunned the visitors, it didn't show as they  gathered themselves, raced down the left and cut in to beat the keeper. 1-1 ⚽

Things seem to calm somewhat and both sides had chances to gain the advantage but none were taken until two minutes before the break when Stafford took advantage of some lax defending 1-2 ⚽.

The second half could not have been more different as Stafford gradually took control and the hosts seemingly collapsed before our eyes with passes increasingly either going astray or straight to the opposition. It was no surprise to anyone when the visitors increased their lead around 70 minutes, 1-3 ⚽. Just a couple of minutes before time the visitors scored the easiest goal of the game with a tap-in 1-4 ⚽. 

This was such an absorbing game in the first session that it was hard to understand the second half, such was the transformation in The Steelmen. Stafford Town move on to the next round.

 

Entrance ; £4

Drink ;  From £1.20

Referee ; 8/10

Att ; 183

Entertainment ; 8/10

Rugby Town leave it late.

                             ⚽                    ⚽ FA Cup ⚽          ⚽

Wolverhampton Casuals 0  Rugby Town 3

                                                                                                                    Brinsford Stadium 3/08/2024

What could be better to kick off the new season than an FA Cup game ? Rugby Town were the visitors and brought along a raucous backing.

The visitors were quickly out of the blocks and looking threatening without really testing the home keeper with Casuals relying on quick breaks, particularly down the left. Casuals did have their own spells of possession but were also guilty of wasting the chances they created.

Following the break, Town seemed to step up the pace and the hosts were finding it increasingly difficult to contain them, seemingly being penned in their own half. Following a speight of corners late in the match, it  seemed only a matter of time before Town scored and so it transpired when, following another corner,the ball seemed to beat all at the near post to leave an open goal for a tap-in⚽. Once that happened, the floodgates opened as Casuals collapsed and two more quickly followed⚽⚽.

Town were well worth their win and progress to the next round with a few quid in the bank. Casuals were unable to carry their first-half performance into the second half and were duly punished.

   

Entrance ; £5 concession

Drink ; £1

Referee ; 8/10

Att ; 150 est

Entertainment ; 8/10

Spalding in a goal spree,

       ⚽Northern Premier League(Midlands Div)⚽

            Sporting Khalsa 1  Spalding United 7

This report is in no way intended to disparage or embarrass the players, officials or members of Sporting Khalsa FC.

The clock showed 1minute 30 secs when the visiting number 9 rattled one in from just inside the area⚽ and United were already looking dangerous, closing down any attempt by the hosts. On 17 minutes United added a second via Winters⚽ and you were already fearing the worst for Khalsa who were being outrun and outfought. The visitors were awarded a contentious(in my opinion)penalty on 36 minutes, duly despatched⚽. Khalsa were guilty of multiple misplaced passes but that was probably down to United not giving them a second on the ball.

On 51 minutes Khalsa pulled on back when their number 11 cut in from the right, beat the defender, took his time and beat the keeper ⚽; was this a glimmer hope ? Sadly for them, it was not as just 8 minutes later they added a fourth via that man O'Sullivan⚽ again and just 5 minutes later Clifton⚽ tapped in a fifth with Khalsa still working but now looking bereft of ideas against such superior opposition. United looked like they still had plenty of goals in them and on 77 minutes they hit a sixth through Graham⚽ who stuck his leg out to divert a shot into the net. The final goal of the game on 88 minutes was indeed a thing of beauty as the Barker⚽ waltzed his way through 3 or 4 defenders and smacked a fine shot into the top left-hand corner.

Khalsa were beaten by a fine side who showed why they are top of the league.

     

Entrance ; £5 concession

Drink ; £1.50

Referee ; 7/10

Attendance ; 250 est

Entertainment ; 8/10

Atherstone Town leave it late.

            ⚽ Midland Football League Premier Div⚽

AFC Wulfrunians 0  Atherstone Town 1

The visitors started at 100 miles an hour with a plan of closing down the hosts at every opportunity ; this led to the game being played in the middle part of the pitch with goal attempts at a premium. Once the lung-bursting efforts from Town were over, the game settled to a more evenly contested game with both sides having spells of possession but devoid of real goal threats.

The second period progressed in the same vein but Atherstone certainly looked the more threatening whereas Wulfrunians lacked a cutting edge up front. The game was settled on 83 minutes following a corner for the visitors, the ball finding its way through a crowded goalmouth from a shot by the visitors No 7⚽.

Atherstone probably deserved their win as they certainly had more goal threat than Wulfs who had their fair share of pressure but nothing at the end of it.

Entrance ; £4 concession

Drink ; £1.50

Referee ; 9/10

Att ; 200 est

Entertainment ; 9/10