I have decided to venture in to the Herefordshire Football League and visit the Palmer's Meadow ground of Tenbury United, which will be my first ever visit there.
Tenbury Wells is a small sleepy little town (approx population, 3300) in the north west corner of Worcestershire which is bordered by Shropshire (other side of the River Teme to the north and Herefordshire just to the west.
When I get up today at about 7am, it seems to be blowing a gale outside and it's raining too! I do know though that the weather conditions should be improving for the afternoon, so I'm not panicking just yet.
By the time I go to Worcester bus station, the weather has improved although it's getting colder. I catch the 12:00pm, No.758 bus for Tenbury Wells and about 50 minutes later, we arrive on the main shopping street (Teme Street). It's been a scenic journey, mainly along the Teme valley with views of the surrounding hills.
I find a chip shop for a pie and chips. Just the ticket! There's time for me to have a wander around before the game. It's the 3rd time I have been here, the last being 3 years ago. I remember seeing the Pump Rooms, which I see is described as being Chinese-Gothic in style! Well it's certainly an exotic sight in a rural English town, (as shown below).
They were constructed in Victorian times to house baths using the local mineral water when Tenbury Wells was being developed as a Spa town. It never really took off and it was closed down in the 1930's. They were renovated in 2001 and are used mainly as offices for the Town Council.
Just on the other side of the Knyre Brook to the Pump Rooms, Palmer's Meadow can be found. Housed here are a leisure club and the local swimming pool. To the back of this complex are 2 football pitches and 2 rugby pitches, plus a playground and skate park area. Tenbury United play on the pitch nearest the Brook. There is no hand rail round the pitch and the dug-outs are housed in a roofed metal cage construction. Very basic! I'm a bit surprised, as I know Tenbury had played in the West Midlands League until 2 seasons ago before deciding to go back to playing at a more local level for financial reasons. Maybe this was a good idea, as I had read in a local newspaper 20 minutes earlier that Ledbury Town (who had re-joined the West Midlands League after playing in the Herefordshire League for a short while) had folded due to those very reasons.
Just before the 2pm kick-off I notice another photographer from the local press. The 2 teams come eventually come out, with Tenbury decked out in black and white striped shirts and Hinton in their usual red and black stripes.
The game kicks off at 2:07 pm, which seems par for the course for a lot of Non-League games these days. Even the, game I saw at Sutton Coldfield the previous week,had started 5 minutes late.
It's the visitors who start the more strongly and look as if they mean business today.
The rather young looking Tenbury keeper saves a shot after just 3 minutes. Tenbury create a chance of their own after 14 minutes, when their No.9 has a shot saved when cutting in from the right. 7 minutes later though they should have taken the lead when one of their players found himself in a one on one situation with the Hinton keeper but fails to make a good enough connection while trying to lift the ball and justs end up guiding the ball in to the keepers arms.
Hinton are generally still the more dangerous looking team and after going close when their No.9,Damion Gallimore, can't make a good connection with a header in front of goal, they take the lead after 27 minutes. This time their No.10 is put through with a great pass to shoot past the keeper with a deflection off a Tenbury defender's boot (as shown below).
It's certainly a chilly day and hot cup of tea would be most welcome but without a club house I have to go without and just have my whole nut chocolate bar to comfort me.
I wonder if Tenbury United can score a quick goal after the break and make a come back today?
(Tenbury United midfielder, Sam Williams, is tackled by the attentive,Mike Marsden) They do create the first chance 3 minutes in to the second half when their No.9 is put through but his shot is well saved.
Tenbury have an escape 7 minutes later when their keeper drops the ball but a fellow defender manages to clear the ball to save his bacon. I don't think he is their regular goalkeeper as when I look on the United website, it looks as if he a midfield player called Robbie Farrar. I notice he is also struggling to get much distance with his goal kicks sometimes but the strong wind is certainly not helping him.
The next chance after 30 minutes falls Hinton's way when Damion Gallimore goes past 2 defenders but shoots straight at the keeper. They do increase their lead just 3 minutes later after Gallimore plays in a good ball for a fellow forward to shoot home.
Tenbury have a half chance a few minutes later when one of their players tries his luck with a stooping header but his effort proves to be of no trouble for the Hinton keeper.
The game ends in a fairly comfortable win for Hinton, which keeps them in fourth place while Tenbury drop a place to 9th, just above Leominster Town. Tenbury look to have a mainly youthful team and Hinton's more experienced team were certainly the more dominant in midfield today.
Overall I have enjoyed my trip to Tenbury but this ground I certainly don't recommend to visit if it's raining, as there is no immediate shelter except for the sports complex wall if it's raining from a westerly direction.
I do have time to have a warming cup of coffee at the 'Spotted Dog Gallery' which has some good paintings to view on the walls. Unfortunately the Regal Cinema (opened in 1932 and closed in 1966) nearby is just closing down for the day when I walk past. It has been restored recently with the help of Lottery money and has Art Deco style fixtures and fittings and would have been worth a quick wander round. As well as film showings they also feature live shows too. The last bus for Worcester arrives a few minutes later and I soon doze off in it's warmth on my journey home.
Match entertainment: 6/10
Match attendance: 20
Match entrance fee: free
Match programme: none available
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