Mainly due to an unfavourable looking weather forecast for Saturday afternoon, I have decided to go for a morning kick-off game in the shape of the Under 21 encounter between Sporting Khalsa v Bromsgrove Sporting. It's in the Challenge Bowl competition in the Midland Football League.
Khalsa play at the Aspray Arena in Willenhall, the former home of Willenhall Town and Sporting Khalsa bought the ground in May 2010 when it went in to receivership.
I have been there before in 2011 to see Khalsa play in the FA Vase against Heath Hayes, when they were sharing the ground with Willenhall Town.
When I make an early start on the train at Worcester, it's cloudy and a bit misty, with rain forecast for early afternoon. After changing at New Street I get to Walsall at about 9am. Plenty of time to have a cooked breakfast at 'Dino's Diner' near Walsall bus station.
I embark on the bus at 9:30 and 20 minutes later have reached Willenhall. This is the second week in a row that I am seeing a game in the Black Country and I remember reading that Willenhall was an area that specialised in the making of locks. Hence the football team having the nickname of 'the Lockmen'.
It takes me about 20 minutes to walk to the ground and I can see on the other side of Noose Lane, is the road haulage firm of 'Aspray', who I presume must sponsor the ground. On the one side of the ground is Fibbersley Primary School and on the other is Fibbersley Nature Reserve. At the front of the ground is the '442 Bar & Lounge'. It's not readily apparent where the entrance is but then I spy a chap who is walking to the left of the Bar area, follow him round and voila, there it is!
The ground has certainly changed since I last came here. I am at one end of the ground with a new looking modern stand, the main one, on my left (with blue and yellow seating) and a smaller one on the right which is for standing spectators only. At the far end, as far as I can recall, there used to be slope at the back but it's certainly not there now. This ground is a complete contrast to Lye Town's, where I went last week, modern and a bit characterless. It's neat enough and would seem a bit better if there were more spectators around.
When the teams come on to the pitch, it seems they are both playing in their away colours. Khalsa in red and black striped shirts and Bromsgrove in an all green kit.
It's an open game with play switching from end to end. Bromsgrove have a shot on goal from the left after 13 minutes but it's pushed round the post by the Khalsa keeper.
Sporting Khalsa's No.10 has a shot well saved 6 minutes later and then go ahead after good work on the left of the penalty culminates in a shot slotted in by their No.8.
Bromsgrove go close to equalising in the 35th minute, when their No.5 sees his header crash against the bar after the ball is cleared to him by the Khalsa keeper from a corner (as shown below).
Bromsgrove come back strongly in the next few minutes when the Khalsa keeper makes a great save from a header by the visitor's No.9 and then from a corner they see a header cleared off the line by the post.
Sporting Khalsa then increase their lead after 38 minutes when their No.9 takes the ball past the keeper and slots the ball home.
The hosts diminutive but lively No.6 then bends in a shot towards the top corner but it's tipped over the bar by the Bromsgrove keeper.
So it's 2-0 to the hosts after a closely fought first-half but they have looked to be the more dangerous side so far.
Sporting Khalsa ('Khalsa' meaning 'Brotherhood') were founded in 1991, firstly playing in the Walsall Sunday League.
In 2004 their first team joined the 2nd Division of the West Midlands Regional League and have made steady progress since then. They are now enjoying their best start in the Premier Division and are currently occupying 3rd place with games in hand on the top 2 teams of AFC Bridgnorth and Black Country Rangers. They have 3 Academy teams (including the Under 21's) and youth teams down to the age of 8, so have a steady stream of young talent coming through.
The sun has shone briefly twice in the first half but it's looking pretty gloomy at the start of the second period.
Sporting Khalsa are the first team to go close with a hard shot just going the wrong side of the post after 10 minutes by their speedy No 7.
But Bromsgrove come back strongly and in the space of 3 minutes have gone close to scoring 3 times. They are making most of their sorties down the right flank and after 21 minutes their No.4 again goes down the right, crosses across the face of the goal but again the chance is not converted.
They are finally rewarded 10 minutes later when their tall gangly looking No.8 (Luyanda Kwinana) shows good close control and composure to evade 3 challenges and place a shot past the keeper in to the far corner.
Sporting Khalsa however finish the game strongly. In the last 10 minutes they go close twice from headers on goal and then deep in to injury time one of their forwards is brought down from behind by the Bromsgrove keeper near the edge of the penalty area. The penalty is put away for a 3-1 win for the home side.
They have been pushed all the way today by Bromsgrove who could have got a result if their finishing had been better.
Match attendance: 12
Entrance fee: free
Match programme: none available
Entertainment value: 7/10
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