I am venturing to the land of the 'Purple People'. No I'm not on an LSD trip but am referring to the colours of the Cadbury Athletic football team. Their reserve side are playing Birmingham AFA, Premier Division team, BT, who play in the district of Sheldon. It's a Quarter-Final tie of the Birmingham Saturday Amateur Cup, which used to be called the Minor Cup.
It's a cool, cloudy and very blustery day but with thankfully no rain. Due to the large amount of Christmas shoppers, I have had to stand up for all of my journey on the train today. After alighting at the University station I backtrack to Bournville station on the next Redditch bound train.
I have enough time to walk in to the centre of Bournville for a meal at a local Cafe. Bournville is a nice area with good architecture and a 'village' feel to it and independent shops.
It's only a ten minute walk to Cadbury's ground in Bournville Lane. The first team now ground share at Pilkington XXX's ground in nearby Kings Norton as they have floodlights, a requirement for First Division teams in the Midland Football League.
I have described the Cadbury Recreation Ground in an earlier post in November 2013. It's situated at the back of the companies factory, the pitch allegedly has the same turf that is used at Wembley and 'The Pavilion' which houses the changing rooms at the bottom, is a fine looking building.
Although Cadbury Athletic are a relatively new club (founded in 1984), I have found out on the internet that one Daniel Sturridge had started his early football career on this very ground, by playing in of the club's junior teams on Sundays some years ago.
With very few people around I talk to a guy who is standing by the dug-outs. He turns out to be a referee assessor, who is running the rule over today's man in the middle. Of course the assessor turns out to be an ex-referee himself.
The game starts at the early time of 1:30 pm and the 'chocolate men' of Cadbury are in their usual purple and white strip while BT are in yellow and black. It's the visitors who are dominant in the early stages of this game.
They force two early corners and after 15 minutes, their No.17 shoots wide when put through on goal. I reflect that he really should have scored.
After this Cadbury Athletic begin to get in to the game more and start to dominate possession, without really threatening their opponents goal but it's BT who take the lead in the 39th minute when under presure the Cadbury No.5 turns to chip back to his keeper,Fraser Oliver but unfortunately he has advanced to the edge of his area and the ball sails over his head and in to the net.
Cadbury do have a shot on goal in the fortieth minute but it goes well over the bar.
So it's 0-1 to the BT team at half-time and it's been a pretty unexciting game so far.
I go over to the Pavilion and along with another spectator and his wife, to find that the tea bar area is closed today, maybe because of the small amount of spectators. Shame, as I was looking forward to a nice hot cuppa.
After their sluggish start to the match, Cadbury Athletic are making up for it right from kick-off in the second half. Their sustained pressure pays off after 53 minutes, when No.9 Adrian Parkes bundles the ball home from a great in-swinging corner (as shown below)
In their very next attack, Cadbury's captain, Eddy Fogg puts through their No.7 to round the BT keeper and put his side in to the lead.
BT are still dangerous on the break and they have a shot turned on the post and out by keeper Oliver.
Cadbury score a third when their marauding No.2, Craig Brooks, is brought down for a penalty. The penalty is saved at the foot of the right hand post by the visitor's keeper but Brooks races in to hit the rebound home in to the left corner.
A few minutes later another Cadbury attack sees the BT keeper bring down an attacker but the ball runs loose for their No.11 to score in the unguarded net.
BT do reduce the arrears when their impressive No.10 shoots in off a post which rounds off a great run past some bemused defenders.
So Cadbury Athletic have won handsomely in the end after a great 2nd-half display and are now through to the semi-final in the new year, while BT have pushed them all the way today and will be looking to improve their league position in the lower half of the table.
Match entrance fee: free
Match programme: none available
Match attendance: 10-15 (estimated)
Match rating: 7.5/10
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