Tividale leave it late...very late !

                           ⚽ Midland Football League Premier Div ⚽

Tividale 2  Highgate Utd 2   Played at The Beeches

What a great way to spend Saturday afternoon !

Two committed teams going at it hell for leather ; a side lying 7th and one at 15th, but a neutral wouldn't have known which. The 1st half undoubtedly belonged to the visitors who took full advantage of a below par Tividale performance and seemed to cope with the strong breeze much better and were sharper in the tackles, faster in attack and more committed.

The second half continued in much the same vein and the inevitable goal for the visitors came on the hour mark with the home defence hoping for an offside...which didn't come. Tivi began to up their game but were brought back down to earth when the visitors increased their lead with just over 10 minutes to go. This was probably the spur Tivi needed as they threw the kitchen sink at their visitors and just 4 minutes later they reduced the arrears with a stunning free kick. With time running out, incredibly, the hosts saved the day with an 89th minute equaliser.

Hard luck on the visitors who belied their lowly league position but you have give the hosts credit for a tremendous fightback when all seemed lost.

MOTM Tividale ; No 11

MOTM Highgate ; No 9

The fightback begins !

Entrance ; £4 concession

Programme ; £2

Drink ; £1

Referee ; 8/10

Crowd ; 60 est

Entertainment Value ; 10/10

Tipton & Willenhall share the spoils

                                        ⚽West Midlands League  Div 1⚽

                             Tipton Town 1  Willenhall Town 1

Played at Tipton Sports Academy

A real cut and thrust, evenly matched game with just enough 'needle' to make it highly watchable. Tipton could have taken an early lead  when a 25 yard shot smacked against the bar and only minutes later the visitors had a goal-bound shot diverted by the keeper for a corner. 

On 22 minutes Tipton did take the lead with a simple goal constructed via a right-wing cross to the far post and a tap in. the lead lasted only 12 minutes when The visitors scored with a ball through the middle with  only the keeper to beat....which he did.

That was really how it stayed with both sides having spells of pressure and defences to the fore.

MOTM Tipton ; No 4

MOTM Willenhall ; No4

Entrance ; £3 concession

Programme ; N/A

Drink ; £1.50

Referee ; 9/10

Crowd ; 50 est

Entertainment value ; 9/10 

OJM Black Country do it with 10

                                    ⚽ Midland Football League  Div 1⚽

Wednesfield 1  O J M Black Country 2

Played at The Cottage Ground

The visitors were at Wednesfield from the off and for the first twenty minutes it was backs-to-the-wall stuff from the hosts. A goal had to come and it duly arrived in the 20th minute.....for Wednesfield ! The visitors were red-carded for deliberate hand-ball and the penalty despatched. For the rest of the half the hosts bossed it without adding another goal.

The visitors reorganised and soon after the break, were level. Late in the game they took the points  with a delicious lob over the keeper.

Credit to the victors who played with 10 men for over 70 minutes and commiserations to the losers who despite plenty of effort, were undone by the better team on the day.

 

 

Entrance ; £3 concession

Programme ; £1

Drink ; £1

Crowd ; 50 est

Referee ; 7/10

Entertainment value ; 8.5/10

Wulfrunians shade a dour encounter

                                                                                                                                        29/01/22

                            ⚽ Midland Football League Premier Div ⚽      

                  Wolverhampton Casuals 0  AFC Wulfrunians 1

Played at Brinsford Stadium

A dour uncompromising local derby epitomised by the refusal of Casuals to submit to their high-flying neighbours. Having taken the lead after five minutes, more than a few observers expected the visitors to rattle in a few more. It was never going to happen, as the more Wulfs  pushed, the more obstinate Casuals became and try as they might, the visitors were fairly comfortably held at bay. 

The hosts saw much more of the ball in the second half without really threatening to score, multiple corners coming to nothing.

This was never a dull game even though real chances were at a premium and on the balance of play the visitors just about shaded it.  

Entrance ; £4 concession

Programme ; £1

Drink ; £1.50

Referee ; 8/10

Crowd ; 80

Entertainment value ; 8/10