After looking at the weather forecast for Saturday, the previous evening, I have been wondering whether it's going to be worthwhile to just go out of the house? I look out of the window at about 8 am on Saturday though and can see the expected overnight rain did not materialise and make the decision to go to my chosen match, whatever happens.
I have decided to go to another Cup Final from the West Midlands Regional League, this time involving the Division 2 teams, Bilbrook and Newport Town. This means a second trip for this season to the Garden Walk Stadium of Gornal Athletic. This is a good venue as I know there will be plenty of shelter there.
I go to Stourbridge by train and am greeted on my arrival in the town centre by drizzly conditions and a display of Morris dancing near the High Street! Then it's a sausage and egg sandwich, egg custard tart, washed down by an ample cup of coffee at a local eatery. Cheap and cheerful, just the job!
I have a mooch around a few shops before embarking on the Dudley bound 257 bus for Lower Gornal. It's a 1:00 pm kick-off today, which suits me fine as the weather has cleared up again and rain is more likely to come later this afternoon.
The bus takes about 25 minutes to get us to the small bus station at Gornal Wood and I make the 5 minute walk to the ground and arrive at 12:50 pm. There seems to be a sizeable crowd today and I make my way down the steep terrace on this side of the ground to make my way to the end that has a steep bank of grass behind it.
Bilbrook FC represent the village of that name which is situated in South Staffordshire, close to Wolverhampton. This club was founded in 1978. Newport Town represent the town from Shropshire and have had a very successful league campaign, winning the title with just 2 defeats and by a margin of 20 points between them and the 2nd placed team, Old Wulfrunians. So on paper, Newport are strong favourites today.
Soon the 2 teams come on to the pitch. Newport in an all blue strip while Bilbrook are in white shirts (with diagonal black & red stripes), black shorts and red socks.
From the start it's the underdogs of Bilbrook who are the livelier team.
Indeed it takes 15 minutes before Newport seem to get much of a foothold in this game. Although they are attacking more it's still Bilbrook who look the more dangerous side.
After 29 minutes, Bilbrook's No.7 goes on good run down the right, crosses the ball across the goal for their No.11 to bundle the ball home at the far post, despite the close attentions of a defender.
Just before half time, Newport's No.11 goes down the right to slide the ball in but the Bilbrook keeper does well to block the ball from close range from an oncoming Newport attacker.
The whistle is blown soon after and so it's Bilbrook who lead 1-0 and Newport Town look to have a real fight on their hands today.
During the interval I meet Mark McIntyre,an official from Darlaston Town and he says he is a regular viewer of this Blog. Fame at last! Also a ground hopper who has made the journey all the way from Bedford and who I had talked to earlier likes the look of my Blog when he finds it on his mobile phone.
When play resumes, it's more of the same as Bilbrook go close again in the 48th minute when their No.9 turns his marker on the left side of the goal and slots the ball just wide of the far post.
Bilbrook go close twice more before increasing their lead after 66 minutes. A substitute of their's their No.16 goes down the right before managing to put in a good cross from the by line to the far post and their No.10 is on hand to head in from close range.
Three minutes and it could be game over when the underdogs score their third goal. Their No.10 is on the left of the goal, with his back to it and manages to go on a run, first going out and then cutting back before managing to get in a shot that manages to elude the Newport keeper, who it looks to me as if if he should have done better. Easy for me to say though.
Soon after this, most of the crowd are diving for cover as the rain starts to bucket down. Thankfully though it only lasts for 5-10 minutes.
In the 75th minute a Newport player is adjudged to have been pushed in the back in the Bilbrook penalty area and the resulting penalty is duly despatched. Soon after this in another Newport attack, their No.8 goes down like a sack of spuds in the area. Quite pathetic! He could have had a second booking for that piece of play acting.
Close to full time a Newport free kick from the right comes over for their No.7 to bury a header in to the net. They go close again in injury time but Bilbrook hold on for a deserved win.
A few minutes later and the Bilbrook team collect the trophy and display it for their fans on the terraces behind. Well done Bilbrook!
Newport Town have been second best today but have the satisfaction of a very successful League campaign, ending as Champions and promotion to the 1st Division. Bilbrook can use this cup win as a launch pad for a better League campaign next season, after finishing in 7th place this time round.
Match entrance fee: £3
Match programme: free
Match attendance: Approx 100
PS. I was informed later on by the League Secretary, Wendy Juggins, that Bilbrook FC were found to have played the final with an ineligible player and the result was declared null and void.
Match entertainment 7.5/10
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