Another new ground beckons today, namely that of the Bolehall Swifts club who hail from Tamworth. Indeed it will be my first venture to this town as well. They are lying second in Division 1 of the Midland Football League and still have an outside chance of the championship title, as they will be playing the current leaders, Highgate United away next Saturday and I also notice that Highgate have a tough away trip at Uttoxeter today.
The weather is a few degrees cooler today and early this morning in Worcester, we have had some rain. By the time I walk to the rail station the weather is brightening up and I'm looking forward to my trip today.
When I get to Birmingham Moor Street station I make my way to New Street to catch the Nottingham bound train. It's a good service with only a journey time of 17 minutes.
The station at Tamworth is based on 2 levels. The Birmingham line on the top and the Liverpool to London line on the bottom.
After a few minutes walk I am in the town centre and soon I am going in to the Peel Cafe in Market Street, which is adjacent to the statue of Sir Robert Peel, the old Victorian Prime Minister, who represented the town as it's MP for many years.
Refreshed by my light lunch I have time to have a quick look at the nearby castle, which is flying a flag I don't recognise. It features a diagonal yellow cross on a mid-blue background. I later find out from a guide standing outside the castle, that it's the Mercian flag from England's Anglo Saxon past. I remember reading earlier that Tamworth was the capital of Mercia in those days. Also I had noticed when looking on my map earlier on the train, that the old Roman road of Watling Street, lies just to the south of the town.
After also having a gander at the nearby Ankerside Shopping Centre and seeing some Leamington supporters roaming round there who are later going to watch their relegation threatened team play Tamworth, I make my way for the walk to Bolehall's ground. It takes me about 20 minutes to get there and lies just beyond the Ankerwood Primary School in Rene Road on the Bolehall estate.
When I walk in to the ground, the nearest building is the club house and further along is the changing room complex which also houses the tea bar. On the gate I pay the £5 entrance fee and also buy a programme but am informed that unfortunately there are no club badges as they need to get fresh supplies.
The ground is more impressive than I thought it would be. On the other side of the pitch to the changing rooms is a long covered stand and on the eastern side is situated the main stand with it's terraced seating. Behind the northern side of the ground is the London rail line.
Bolehall come out in their usual yellow and green strip while Alvis Sporting Club, who come from Coventry, are in a change strip of red and black striped shirts.
Surprisingly it's the visitors who start off the strongest and for the first 5 minutes are threatening the Bolehall goal.
After their slow start though, Bolehall are soon looking dangerous in attack. It's no big surprise when after going close to taking the lead on several occasions, the Swifts finally do so after 26 minutes when Dave Boal is supplied through the middle with a great pass and he lobs the advancing keeper.
Just 3 minutes later and Bolehall's goal machine, Dave Yonwin, heads in another goal from a free kick that was awarded to them on the right (as seen below). That's his 36th league goal of the season. Not too shabby a total!
The Alvis defence at this point is looking decidedly shaky and I am thinking the final result could finish up 6 or 7-0!
The visitors escape any more punishment due to some desperate last ditch defending and some great saves from their keeper, Thomas Byce. 2-0 at half time and the prospect of a few more in the next half.
Alvis Sporting Club are having a tough season and lie just one place above the basement boys of Pelsall Villa. They have shipped in 86 goals in 30 matches so far before this match and it's not hard to see why. Just 2 seasons ago though they probably had their best season ever when they were crowned Midland Combination Div 1 champions and were winners of both the Coventry Charity Cup and the Coventry Evening Telegraph Cup while playing both finals at the Ricoh Arena.
I notice during the interval while looking at my phone that Aston Villa are winning 1-0 at Spurs, courtesy of Mr.Benteke. Tim Sherwood must be well pleased!
The second half sees Bolehall carry on where they had left off and it only takes them 3 minutes to score again. This time it's midfielder, Alex Pollard who belts in a shot from just over the half way line. I reckon it could have been helped in by the following wind as it shoots past the hapless Tom Byce.
After several near misses by Bolehall, it's that man Yonwin again. This time he's on hand when full back Scott Goodby chips the ball over and he guides his header over the advancing keeper.
In the 85th minute, the overworked keeper Byce, makes a great double save from 2 quick fire shots from the Bolehall No.9, Chris Sturridge Packer.
The days only sour note for Bolehall occurs right near the end of injury time when Scott Goodby injures himself while making a last ditch tackle to stop an Alvis forward from scoring a near certain goal.
Then there's still time for Bolehall to go close to scoring again when 2 or 3 shots are all blocked in quick succession.
The ref blows the final whistle and like a punch drunk boxer, the Alvis team are spared any more punishment. Due to desperate defending and some outstanding saves by Byce today, the score is only 4-0 rather than double that score that it probably should have been.
I see later that Highgate were held 2-2 at Uttoxeter, so this sets up next week's clash at Highgate very nicely, with Bromsgrove Sporting waiting to pounce too with their 2 games in hand.
Match entrance fee: £5
Match attendance: 40
Match programme: £1
Match entertainment: 7/10
More match photos can be viewed at http://facebook/wmtraveller
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