I have decided to go to a new ground today, that of Earlswood Town who operate in the 2nd Division of the Midland Football League. They will be playing in the 3rd Round of the Birmingham County FA's Saturday Vase competition against the village team of Enville Athletic, who are playing in the 3rd Division of the same league.
I'd spotted a write up of this ground by a ground hopper who'd visited it a few weeks ago. It sounded like a neat ground with nice surroundings, friendly club officials and it's relatively easy to reach by public transport.
I emailed the club's Chairman, Mike Davies, and he got back to me saying that the club would love to see me there and I was very welcome to take photos of the game.
So I have gone by train from Worcester to Birmingham's Moor Street station and after buying my ticket to take me to the 'The Lakes' station on the Stratford-upon-Avon line, when the train comes in, I have to go to the back of this train and tell the guard my destination, as it is only a request stop. The guard, after making a note of my request, informs me that I will have to get a seat in the front coach.
25 minutes later and I can see that as I expected, it's a very short platform at The Lakes. It's situated in the countryside, just inside the Solihull Borough border, halfway between Solihull and Redditch. The station is named after the 'Earlswood Lakes' (popular with local fishermen) and is confusingly closer to Earlswood village than 'Earlswood' station, the previous stop on the line. As I walk up to the road above the station, I can see Earlswood's ground in the near distance.
Within a few minutes I am at the gate leading in to the ground. There is a small car park and by a small gate there is a young lad, along with 2 club officials who takes my £3 entrance fee and an extra £1 for the programme. I have made it to my destination half an hour before the 1:30 pm kick-off, a big improvement on my late arrivals for my previous 2 recent trips. Along the right side of the ground is located the club house and changing rooms, opposite the dug-outs. The only shelter to be had in bad weather is a covered terrace in front of the club house.
I am curious to see this club too because of the fact that Worcester City forward, Michael Taylor, was signed from here following a great season here several years ago, when he scored over 40 goals in total.
I go inside to see if there is any hot food available but the guy behind the bar apologetically informs that none is available today.Usually I eat before the game but today had only time to have a couple of small sandwiches. I have a good chat with him about the club and he tells me that their ground is rented on a one year rolling lease from the adjacent farm. The club had taken a voluntary relegation from the Premier Division of the Midland Combination at the end of last season, as the financial strain of ground sharing over the previous few years with the likes of Pilkington XXX and Bromsgrove Sporting etc was proving to be too much. They had been ground sharing with these clubs who have floodlights, a requirement needed for Premier Division participation.
I sign a visitor's book and buy a club badge that are available at the bar and then traipse outside to see the teams going out on to the pitch. Earlswood are in red and white striped shirts while Enville Athletic are in light blue shirts and dark blue shorts.
Seeing that Enville are occupying a mid-table position in the 3rd division and Earlswood are 4th in the table in the second division, I have predicted a home win of 2 to 3 clear goals but you can never tell with cup games?
Enville are the first to threaten with their No.10 shooting high over the bar from a good position.
Then in the 11th minute, Earlswood's No.11 goes down after a robust but fair challenge. He receives some treatment but is unable to continue.
Earlswood are now beginning to impose themselves on the game and win a free kick on the right near the opposition's goal. The kick is quickly whipped over but without anyone being able to get the decisive touch (as shown below).
In the 26th minute, Earlswood's lively No.9, Jouan Blake-Walker, skips past his marker but overruns the ball and it's collected by the keeper, when it looked he could have a shot on goal and probably score.
When Earlswood next have a good chance, the Enville keeper, Matt Redgrave, turns the shot away for a corner, (as shown below).
3 minutes later, Earlswood's No.4, Chris Morrison, has a shot saved from close in when he probably should have scored.
In injury time, just to remind everyone that Enville are still in with a chance, their dangerous No.10 has a shot saved after he has come in from the right.
A disappointed Earlswood team have still not scored in this tie after a dominant display so far and I think if and when they do score they should win fairly comfortably today.
I go in to the club house for a nice hot cuppa and have a quick chat with 2 of the locals and agree with them that diving in our professional game needs to be stamped out.
I get back just in time for the start of the next 45minutes and what an unexpected turn this match takes!
Enville Athletic have been greatly encouraged to have survived the Earlswood onslaught earlier on and have much the better of the play in this half.
They have several good chances and look more comfortable on the ball than their opponents.
Just when I am starting to think the game will end with no score, the Enville No.7 scores in injury time after he had been played in from a pass on the left. Enville nearly score again when their No.9, Michael Davis shoots just over the bar.
The Earlswood Town Press Officer, John Snape, says he thinks that Enville Athletic thoroughly deserve their victory today and I agree based on their second half display, although I still think Earlswood would have won if they had taken their earlier chances.
So in conclusion, a game of the proverbial 'two halves', well done to Enville and any 'Hoppers' out there looking for a new ground to go to, in a nice rural setting, Earlswood certainly will make you feel welcome.
Match attendance: 38
Entrance fee: £3
Match programme: £1
Entertainment value: 6/10
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