It's FA Vase time again, with 2nd the Qualifying Round taking place today and the winners of today's matches will pocket £800. I have decided to go to the Walshes Meadow ground on the River Severn of Stourport Swifts (Midland Football League, Prem Div) who are hosting the West Midlands Premier team from Rowley Regis, Black Country Rangers.
It will be my first visit there for 3 years and this season the Swifts have started well in their league campaign, currently lying in 5th place. Unfortunately they recently saw their captain and defensive lynch-pin, Jamie Willets, transferred to rivals Hereford FC and their defence does not seem as dependable as before. Black Country Rangers hold a mid-table league position but they are always tough opponents.
After travelling by train to Kidderminster, having a fish & chips at 'Captain Cod's Fish Bar' opposite the Severn Valley rail station, I walk down the hill to the town centre and catch the bus by the Town Hall. It's only a 15 minute ride to Stourport.
After a misty start to the day, it's now cloudy but with the chance of later sunny spells. I have time to have a quick look at the canal, buy some vitamin C for my cough & cold and then cross the bridge to get to the football ground which lies just on the other side.
Walking in to the ground, which is just past the local sports centre, the ground is immediately in front of you after turning left, with the club house and changing rooms on your left. This has an over hanging roof which provides shelter at this end of the ground. In the near corner on the left is the tea bar and the only other cover in the ground is to be found in the main stand on the right hand side of the pitch.
After buying my pre-match cuppa the teams take to the pitch, then line up for kick-off and the ref blows his whistle for the start of the match at 2:55pm! Stourport in their yellow and black kit are on the attack for the first few minutes.
Black Country Rangers are dangerous on the break with their speedy forwards and they take the lead after 13 minutes when their No.11 weaves his way down the left and manages to pass across the goal mouth for their No.7, Mc.Kerdy, to apply an easy tap in.
Just 2 minutes later and another quick break by the visitors sees their No.9 go past keeper Dominic Richards but he can only shoot in to the side netting.
It's only until the last 15 minutes of the half that Stourport really threaten the Rangers goal. First their No.11, James Baldwin, heads over the bar after a cross from the right then after 39 minutes, some good build up play culminates with their No.3 trying his luck with a dipping shot which clears the top of the bar.
In the last minute, the Rangers keeper parries a 20 yard shot by the Swifts No.4 for a corner and from this the ball is eventually cleared out to the Swifts No.11 who sees his shot again turned round the post.
So it's 0-1 to the Rangers and Stourport will have to improve in front of goal to stay in this match as the visitor's defence has been coping well so far. The most dangerous attacker for Stourport has been their top scorer, Ben Maund but his chances have been limited.
5 minutes in to the second half and the comeback for the home team has become much harder as Black Country Rangers score a second goal. They do so courtesy of their tall No.4, who leaps the highest to head home from a corner.
Stourport fight back and are rewarded somewhat fortuitously in the 23 minute when a Rangers defender slices in to his own net following a free kick played in to their penalty area. 5 minutes later and a Swifts player side foots the ball just wide at a corner kick.
Then Ben Maund turns well to then bend in a curling shot that goes the wrong side of the far post. After 37 minutes the Swifts go close again when their No.6 powers a header at a corner just wide of the goal.
The outcome of the match is decided at the death, when in a last minute break away down the left, the impressive Rangers No.11,Ross Williams, slots the ball home which is followed by jubilant celebrations from the visiting team.
3 minutes later and the final whistle is blown and Black Country Rangers have deservedly gone through to the 1st Round proper as they have been resolute in defence and clinical in their finishing.
As I leave the ground, I realise that there could have only been one result today due to my presence. Whenever I have watched Stourport (4 times so far) they have always lost while on the other hand I have witnessed BCR win 3 times every time I have watched them. So apologies to Stourport and I promise not to visit your club too soon.
Match attendance: 99
Match entertainment: 7/10
Match entrance fee: £5
Match programme: £1
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