It's the start of the FA Vase today and I have decided to see a tie that features 2 West Midlands League teams, as I have neglected that league so far this season. Also I am going to a new ground, namely the Phoenix Park home of Shifnal Town who are hosting Malvern Town. It's my first football visit to Shropshire for some time too.
Shifnal were relegated from the Premier Division last season but have made a solid, unspectacular start in their league campaign, with 2 wins and two draws so far. The visitors from Malvern Town of the Premier Division, have made a dreadful start with just one win and 4 defeats. Last Season they finished in fifth place and also won the Worcestershire Senior Urn, so it's been a surprise that they have struggled so far this time round.
The weather in Worcester before I set out is not promising, with rain and a cool wind. There is a good forecast though and by the time I board the train, the rain has stopped and by the time I arrive in Shifnal, the sun is breaking out. It's a town I have noticed before when travelling by train on this line.
By the time I arrive in Shifnal today, I only have about 45 minutes to have a wander round. I had something to eat at Wolverhampton on the way here as I had some time to spare while waiting for a connecting train. The train line in Shifnal is on a viaduct over looking the town and the town centre itself is very pleasant with good looking old shops and houses, with a few black and white buildings too. Shifnal is a small town with only a population of six and a half thousand and it's very quiet today so I expect the locals travel to nearby Telford, Shrewsbury, Birmingham or Wolverhampton for their main shopping trips.
Phoenix Park is on the north east edge of the town in Coppice Green Lane and I can see that there is some house building in progress on the north and western sides of the ground. The entrance is to be found after walking through the car park and when I go in I can see the impressive main stand on the other side of the pitch. On the entrance side are the dug-outs with a refreshment hut that is up a slope. The changing rooms are alongside this with steps down to the pitch. The club house I found out later on is located elsewhere in town, which makes for an odd set up. The pitch itself though is one of the best I have seen at this level, a great looking playing surface so there is no excuse for not playing good football today.
The teams come out in their usual kits, Shifnal in red and white striped shirts and black shorts while Malvern are decked out in their claret and blue. It could be Southampton v West Ham with a big leap of imagination!
From the outset both teams are both looking to go on the attack and it looks as if it's going to a good cup tie, with the victors receiving £600 and an away tie away to Ellesmere Rangers in the next round their reward.
Although it's proving to be an open game with both defences being threatened on a continual basis, it's the home team that are the more dangerous. Malvern Town are finding it difficult to get many meaningful attacks going and are increasingly more and more on the back foot. The Shifnal attacks are especially dangerous on the left flank with their No.11 making several surging runs (as shown below).
After weathering the storm, Malvern launch some attacks of their own and after 30 minutes they should have taken the lead when their No.10 with only the keeper to beat sees his close range shot saved.
It's been a surprise that no goals have been scored but that changes in the last minute of the half when a loose ball goes to the Shifnal No.10, Seth Lewis and his shot crashes down from the cross bar and over the line.
So a very entertaining first half ends with the home team, well deserving their 1-0 lead. Can they provide a Cup upset today?
Malvern Town come out with all guns blazing and Dane Aldington fires in the equaliser after some shaky defensive play from Shifnal.
If Shifnal had been on top in the first period, it's Malvern who now seize the initiative with their players harrying the home players at every opportunity and the Shifnal defence look distinctly nervous at times.
The home keeper Tom Whittaker is keeping his teams cup hopes alive with some good stops but the pressure finally tells after 62 minutes when Hooper fires in a great shot when he receives the ball from a short corner (as shown below) with the keeper possibly unsighted.
Ten minutes later and it looks all over for the home team when Matt Turner receives the ball on the right and beats Whittaker for goal number 3 (as shown below).
Shifnal's woes are compounded when there is a defensive mix up and Malvern's No.9 Dave Reynolds is left with the simple task of scoring in to an unguarded net. Understandably the Shifnal Town keeper is seriously pissed off and is using some choice language to voice his displeasure at the way things are going.
Malvern create a few more chances with the live wire Reynolds going closest with a flying header that clips the bar.
A convincing win for Malvern in the end but Shifnal showed in the first half that they will probably be one of the front runners in the 1st Division title race, especially if they can tighten up their suspect defence.
After their triumph today, maybe Malvern Town can now take some confidence from it and start to rise up the league table over the coming weeks?
Just before the end of the game I meet and talk to 2 other ground hoppers from London, a man and an Irish lady who I accompany on the walk back to the train station.
Match entrance fee: £5
Match programme: free with programme
Match attendance: approx 50-60
Match entertainment: 8.5/10
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