Today I am heading to Birmingham to take in a game at the Birmingham County FA's headquarters at Ray Hall Lane. This will be the first time that I have seen a game there and am leaving Worcester in brilliant sunshine and the prospect of continued good weather throughout the day.
I make it ok to New Street station and then decide to take the Walsall train and get off at Hamstead. 20 minutes later I'm at Hamstead and walk up Hamstead Road as quickly as possible but arrive late at the ground at 11:10am. Fortunately for me though the teams are just kicking off when I get in to the ground after paying the £3 entrance fee which includes a programme. Don't know the reason for the late kick-off but I'm not complaining.
Continental Star are in an all yellow strip while the cup holders Monica Star are in red and black stripes. I have seen Continental Star before, not their veterans side but their 1st team, 2 years ago when they were winning the Midland Combination but I know nothing about Monica Star. Also this is the first Veterans (35 years old and over) match I have seen.
Monica Star take the lead with their very first attack of the game! They win a free kick on the right, the kick comes over and Monica's No.8 heads past the keeper and in to the net. Later on when I get home and see my photos, I realise that the goal scorer is the ex-Birmingham City player, Lee Carsley, no less.
Monica Star also have the ex-Villa star, Lee Hendrie playing today too. They are certainly bossing the game and after 8 minutes, find themselves 2-0 up. In trying to clear a cross coming in from the left, Continental's captain can only steer it in to his own net. Wow, I wasn't expecting so many goals so quickly!
I chat to one of the County FA officials and he tells me that Monica Star started off in the Small Heath area of Birmingham (now play in Yardley) and years ago had their first team doing well in the Midland Combination.
Continental Star are really struggling to get in to the game and the holders ,who are the more composed side are on the attack most of the time.
Continental Star however get a foothold in the game after 17 minutes though when they get a goal back through another own goal. Well I think it was an own goal because I had been talking to another spectator at the time and quickly looked round when the ball went in.
So now we have more of a game, although Monica Star are probably the better team still. I am particularly impressed by their 2 central defenders, who although looking the wrong side of 40 are showing great positional sense against Continental's speedy attackers.
Half time has arrived with no more score. I think back to yesterday's FA Cup final when Hull took an early 2 goal lead and eventually lost 2-3. Maybe this game will go the same way.
I must say that I'm impressed with the County FA ground. The playing surface is of good quality and it's quite picturesque with plenty of trees lining the pitch. At one end is the FA Head quarter building itself, at the other is another spectator entrance with the main car park behind it. At one side is where the main stand is while on the other are 2 smaller stands with seats. It's the ideal venue for a match of this stature. There is a good sized crowd too, at a guess about 80.
So back to the action and when play resumes, Continental Star have equalised within 2 minutes! Maybe it will be a replay of the Wembley final?
So now it's a level playing field again and Continental Star have done very well to come back against the favourites.
However the game takes another turn when after about 10 minutes near the Continental penalty area, a free kick is awarded against them. The only reason I can think of is that the Continental keeper had strayed out of the area when taking a goal kick. I had noticed that he may have done so in the first half but went unnoticed by the officials. Their is a big confrontation between some irate Continental players and a few of the Monica Star players. It takes about 10 minutes for things to calm down and for the referee to consider what action to take, which ends with Continental Star's No.5 being sent off. Some of Continental's coaching staff too are upset with the situation and one guy in particular is very vocal.
So with one player short, Continental Star also seem to lose composure too. They soon concede 2 goals and with it the match.
Monica Star score a fifth when the opposition keeper is left stranded by his defence.
So a game where Continental Star had promisingly fought back so well have been well beaten in the end, mainly due in my view to their indiscipline.
When the 2 teams assemble after the game for the presentation of the medals and trophy, the atmosphere is thankfully convivial again.
Continental Star's founder, Lincoln Moses, hands out the losers medals to his own side and after the Monica Star players have received their medals, the Veterans Cup is handed to a handicapped son of one of the Monica Star players or coaching staff, who is clearly thrilled and does not want to hand it anyone else, (as seen below).
It's a nice touch that is popular with both of the teams and their sets of supporters.
So Monica Star have deservedly won today while Continental Star will have to try again next season and will continue their good work in the community with young disadvantaged people for which they are famous for.
I thought the standard of football was pretty good today and I'm sure I will see some more veterans football in the future.
No comments:
Post a Comment