A gale lashed UK is not a great place for outdoor sports at the moment and I was getting worried that maybe all the local football in the West Midlands was going to fall foul of this inclement weather.
At first I was looking to be adventurous (for me) and travel to a new ground at Shifnal in Shropshire but a phone call at 10:30am on my way to the train station found the pitch there had failed the pitch inspection. So I phoned my second option and am told the match at Rostance Edwards FC in Bloxwich had been given the go ahead.
They are playing in the Quarter-Final of the Staffordshire Challenge Cup against Lichfield City Reserves. Both teams compete in the Midland Combination league, Rostance in the 2nd Division and Lichfield in Reserve Division 1.
As it is a 2pm kick-off, I have to get the next train to Walsall as soon as I can when alighting at New Street station. I arrive in Walsall about 12:55 and have just enough time to snatch a bacon & sausage sandwich before taking the bus from the nearby bus station for my 10 minute journey to Bloxwich.
The Red Lion ground where the match is being played is not a new ground for me as I watched the now defunct Bloxwich United play here about 4 years ago. Rostance Edwards are a new team for me though and I have just found out a bit more about them before writing this post today. The name is derived from a company of Chartered Accountants based in Cannock and was formed in 1998 by the sports enthusiast,David Rostance and Barry Edwards (who is also the club's Chairman). I don't know how long the team have been going but do know that they acheived entry to the Midland Combination this season.
When I get off the bus and make the short 10 minute walk to the ground, I start to wonder if they have already kicked off, even though it's 1:40pm. It sounds as if they are playing when I walk in to the entrance of the club house and the guy who is taking the £2 entrance fee tells me it was changed to a 1:30pm start because it is a cup game. Oh well, it's good to be watching a game of some sort today, rather than having a wasted journey like what happened to me last week when travelling to see Mahal FC in Smethwick only to find the gates locked.
Rostance are playing in blue and Lichfield in their away strip of all red. Lichfield are on top for the first 10-15 minutes which I watch.
However Rostance are the first to score when their skilful No.7 goes down the left wing and crosses for one of his fellow forwards to nod past the Lichfield keeper.
Their lead is short lived however and Lichfield equalise from a corner a few minutes later (as shown below).
This galvanises the Rostance team and they restore their goal advantage just before half-time.
It's been a good game so far,despite the pitch being quite muddy in places and I'm glad I came today. Iv'e noticed that there is quite a slope on the pitch from the north end , where the stand with seating is situated to the southern end. At the side where the entrance can be found, are also located the clubhouse and refreshment bar. This ground also has floodlights (although I don't know if they are used at all).
There is a good crowd of about 40 from what I can see, which is good for this level of football.
So after my half-time coffee I just have enough time to get ready for the next 45 minutes of action.
Although Rostance Edwards are the more dangerous looking team going forward, Lichfield at times do have more possession of the ball.
A third goal is duly scored by the home side though and Lichfield lose heart a bit. With the home team becoming more dominant it's only a matter of time before they score a fourth with about 10 minutes to go.
So Rostance Edwards have deservedly won today, with their forwards playing well, although their No.9 was injured just above his left knee and had to hobble off the pitch with assistance after scoring the last goal.
I'm sure they will be hoping for a home draw in the Semi-Final of this competition now.
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