Shenstone stand firm.

West Midlands Regional League Division 1

Wednesfield 1 Shenstone Pathfinders 2

Played in  a howling storm,this game was a credit to this level of football.At kick-off my mate Pete remarked on how dry the pitch looked after the winter;by games end that dry pitch had turned into somewhat of a glue-pot.The Cottage Ground has quite a remarked slope to it and the visitors used this and the wind to their advantage in the first half, adapting better to the conditions than the hosts and it wasn't too long before they had opened up a two goal lead although the second of these owed much fortune to the windy conditions.This score seemed harsh on Wednesfield.They were playing uphill into the teeth of a gale and were facing a keeper who was having 'one of those days',refusing to be beaten.Time and again their forwards were foiled when they looked odds-on to score.Five minutes before half-time they reduced the deficit when their number 10 forced his way through and got the goal his persistence merited.

The second half started with a cloud-burst and Wednesfield went looking for an equalizer.It never came.The Shenstone defence were just as dogged as their keeper and try as they might Wednesfield were unable to get the goal their play deserved.Their luck was right out when,near the end they were denied what looked from our position,a cast-iron penalty which to our minds was indicative of the referees' performance.She will have better days.

All in all,a fantastic game for the neutral and high praise to all concerned for the effort and commitment shown in the face of such foul conditions.

Keep smiling,lines-person !

Entrance ; No-one on the gate !
Programme ; N/a
Drink ; 70p-£1
Referee ; n v g
Crowd ; 40 est

Casuals win through in a pulsating game.

West Midlands Regional League Premier Division

Wolverhampton Casuals 3 Stone Old Alleynians 2

What a brilliant game to watch,whether you were a supporter of either side or a neutral/groundhopper.It was stunning stuff from beginning to end,probably the best game we've been to this season.The game was barely a minute old when Stone opened the scoring with a superbly crafted goal, then showed us how they can knock the ball about.I was at a NPL game recently and the football on show that day wasn't a patch on this.Casuals would probably be the first to admit they were a trifle slow from the starting blocks today and were in danger of going further behind as the visitors continued with their 'easy on the eye' game.However Casuals' league position says they are a good side and gradually they grew into this game and began to impose themselves, albeit spurning 3 or 4 decent chances(although credit where due to the visiting defence)which nearly all came from dead-ball situations.

Something had to give and within 5 minutes of the restart Casuals were ahead from two well-taken goals.Stone refused to buckle and were level from a superb 30 yard screamer,Game on ! I would think most spectators there had accepted a draw was a fair result but Casuals were not to be denied.No 10 (Habbershaw ?) who'd been a constant thorn in Stones' side,got his reward with an opportunist goal near the end.Sterling stuff indeed.More please !

Entrance ;  £2 concession(best value in the WMRL)
Programme ; £1
Drink ; £1.10
Crowd ; 40 est
Referee ; V.Good

Sporting Khalsa back on track.

Midland Football League Premier Division

Sporting Khalsa 2  Shepshed Dynamo 1

This game certainly lived up to expectations as fifth entertained fourth. Credit to the hosts who, having lost their previous two games, took the game to the visitors. Khalsa seemed to want it more than than their opponents( who seemed a little lacklustre), dominating midfield and limiting Dynamo to sporadic attacks.Having said that,the visitors always looked dangerous on the counter  without seriously troubling the keeper.The game took a decisive turn with two Khalsa goals in 5 minutes and it really was no more than they deserved having gone close on a number of occasions.

The second half was something of a turn-around with the visitors shaking off the cobwebs and on the front foot from the off and they got their just rewards  with a superb long-range effort which seemed to spur them on and it was now their turn to dominate.Fair play to the hosts who held firm,steadied things and got back into their rhythm. Khalsa were awarded a penalty but were denied by a superb save by the visiting keeper.

With this result Khalsa leapfrog their opponents,moving into fourth with games in hand.This was an all round terrific game for the neutral and was a brilliant advert for non-league.Mention must also be given to a sizeable vocal group of Dynamo fans. 

Entrance ; £3 concession
Programme ; £1.50
Drink ; £1
Crowd ; 80-90 est
Referee ; V.Good

Haughmonds' superb comeback.

West Midlands Regional League Premier Division

Gornal Athletic 2  Haughmond 4

Our first-choice fixture was postponed so this game was actually an alternative.Could we have picked a better game to watch ? I doubt it.It really did have the lot ; good attacking football,organized defending,plenty of goals,a lost cause rescued and an episode of handbags at 5 paces.From the kick-off the visitors looked as though they'd never played together before such was their inability to pass to a team-mate,control a ball or in fact do anything right.Gornal,on the other hand looked well up for it,snapping into the tackle and not allowing the opposition to mount any sort of meaningful attack.It really was no surprise to anyone in the ground when the hosts took the lead on 8 minutes and added another before half-time.The visitors were giving a good impression of a poor side.Comments at the break were along the lines of 'if Haughmond don't change it,they're gonna get stuffed'.

Change it ? They certainly did;seemingly going from York City to Manchester City in the blink of an eye.Two goals in as many minutes turned the game on its' head and it was now the hosts who seemed to be chasing shadows.It was almost as though Haughmond had put 11 different players on at half time,so improved was their second-half performance and try as they might,Gornal had no answers. Haughmond wrapped up the game with a penalty and a fourth goal after a midfield melee in which one or two were lucky to stay on the pitch( but it was never a dirty game).On the evidence of this game two points need to be made ; i)It's no surprise Haughmond are up there with the front-runners, ii)Gornal are in a false position,they look to be one of the better teams in this league.
For the neutral this was a real good game to watch.

Entrance ; £3 concession
Programme ; £1
Drink ; £1
Crowd ; 45 est
Referee ; Good