GORNAL ATHLETIC MAKE A GREAT COMEBACK!

I took the train from Worcester to Stourbridge on a fine winter's day, which was good for the spirits after the recent weather. I had a good lunch at the Cafe Rimski , in the town centre. Recommend the food there for any 'Hoppers' passing through, good portions for a fiver, had Steak pudding,plenty of chips and peas, which was just the job on a cold day!

Took the bus from the impressive Stourbridge bus station and arrived in Gornal Wood, in plenty of time for the kick-off. Had been to this ground last season for their  last League game when Gornal won the West Midland Prem championship. Both teams are going well this season, so was expecting a cracking game.

Had the usual problem of the programmes being sold out well before 3:00pm but was given a team sheet a bit later by a very helpful club official.

There were plenty of photographers at this game, I reckon 7 altogether including your's truly. One of these was taking photos for the 'When Saturday Comes' magazine. He told me that he preferred taking photos at games like this as he could a have a good wander round the ground, rather than being hemmed in one small spot at a Football League ground. As a result of our little chat I decided to buy the latest edition of the mag and it's very professional too.
Met a husband and wife team of photographers all the way from Fleetwood and a Hopper/Photographer from Taunton too. 

So at last 3pm arrived with the teams taking the trek down the terraces on the western side of the Garden Walk Stadium. Confusingly, Gornal were wearing yellow shirts, a la Norwich City, so now 'The Peacocks' had transformed in to 'The Canaries'! 

Wisbech hit the ground running and with help from the Gornal defence found themselves 2-0 up after just 6 mins! Above photo shows Wisbech's 'Red Army' celebrating their 2nd goal.  Gornal struggled to get back in to the game and their strikers were not seeing much of the ball in the first half.

However an early 2nd half penalty raised the Gornal Athletic's players and spectators spirits....game on! Chris Rabone duly thundered in a shot from 25 yards and it was 2-2, seen here above celebrating with the young Gornal fans.

It was not a free flowing game of football by any means. Certainly competitive and quite niggly at times.

As the game wore on, Gornal were in the ascendancy as Wisbech visibly wilted but they held on till the end of normal time without conceding any more goals.

I had to leave to get my bus back to Stourbridge and as I left the ground, I saw a magnificent sunset develop in the sky in front of me.

Noticed the final score later on that evening on the Midland Alliance website and knew that Gornal Athletic would be continuing their Vase adventure away to Bodmin Town in the next round.