The beginning of August and my first game this season, a pre-season friendly at a new ground for me, at the 5 Acres ground of village team, Littleton FC in the Vale of Evesham. Their side who play in the 1st Division of the Midland Football League are taking on AFC Wulfrunians who hail from Wolverhampton and play in the Premier Division of the same league.
Littleton is comprised of the 3 villages, North, Middle and South Littleton which are all in close proximity to each other. Their ground just east of North Littleton, was purchased by the club in the late 1970's. The team was founded in 1893 and has made great strides in the seven years since I moved back to Worcester. In the Midland Combination, they had finished as the Division 1 runners-up in 2011-12 and runners-up again the following season in the Premier Division. Also they have managed to have won the Presidents Cup in 2011 and 2012.
I have travelled to the ground, first by train to the village of Honeybourne, situated on the Cotswold Line running to London, then I have a lift from the Littleton FC secretary, Marion Brighton who has kindly responded to my request for a lift by the club.
Five Acres is a very neat affair, with a car park in front of the club house and separate changing rooms, which are set back from the playing area . The club house also has a small decking area with table and chairs facing the pitch. I am pleasantly surprised by the cleanliness of the gents toilets to the side of the changing rooms when I make a pre-match visit ! The pitch which runs from a west to easterly direction. has a covered standing area on the side nearest the club house in between the dug-out's, on the opposite side is small seated stand and another small seated stand at the western end of the ground. Probably enough cover for about 150 spectators.
Wulfrunians come out in their away strip of all blue while Littleton are in their usual red shirts and white shorts. Play is pretty even until the 12th minute, when the visitors are awarded a free kick to the right of the Littleton goal. The Wulfrunians No.10,Jamie King, takes the kick and fools the keeper by smashing it in by the near post (as shown below).
A great goal and 2 minutes later the same player finds himself unmarked in a central position a few feet outside the penalty area. He tries to place it inside the post but his effort just rolls wide of the goal. As Mr.Shearer would probably say ' He should have tested the keeper'.
Play is again pretty even for the rest of the half but with the visitors looking the more dangerous.
One of the more notable incidents takes place after about 20 minutes. A Wulfrunians attack fizzles out when one of their players is adjudged to be offside. Their No.3 is unhappy with this outcome and a few seconds later he appears to hear a comment from a spectator from the nearby stand and then has a bit of hissy fit. He is very angry and it ends with him being substituted, as he is not calming down. I am later told that the spectator concerned had just said to him that he couldn't possibly have been able to tell (whether the player had been offside) as he had been far from the area where it happened. I think the player must have misheard what was said.
Anyhow it's the visitors in the lead and the outcome is still in the balance. In the first half I had a good natter with the Littleton chairman, Paul Harrison, who tells me that he is a Manchester City fan having come from that area originally. It's always good to come across a fellow 'Citizen'.
The second half sees the home team pressing more, driven on by their combative No.8 in midfield and their No.7 and No.17 making some jinking runs. Their best effort, 10 minutes in to the second period sees their No.9 flick the ball against the post and out after the ball is played in from a corner (as shown below).
They have another good effort after 41 minutes when they have a shot from the right go just wide of the far post.
There is still enough time to see Wulfrunians have a shot cleared off the line from close in by a covering defender. A great piece of defending.
The visitors have come away with a 1-0 win and will be looking to improve on their 7th placed finish last time out. I notice they had the attacking midfielder, Ben Jevons (formerly of Lye Town) in their ranks and he will be a useful addition to their squad.
Littleton gave them a good game and it will be interesting to see how their team will fare this season. They will have a stern test in their opening home game next Saturday, when they take on the free scoring Coventry United, the run away promoted winners of the Second Division.
They look to have some good young players coming through the ranks and a few seasons ago have seen ex-players, Joe Lolley and Matt Smith gain moves to Football League clubs and are now at Huddersfield Town and Fulham respectively. Also at the ground today, news has been circulating round that another ex-player, Jamie Insall has been snapped up by Scottish League club, Hibernian.
I am very kindly given a lift back to Honeybourne by committee member, Graham Bartlett (a record goal scorer in his day with Evesham United) and his wife who actually live in the village.
Littleton are a friendly well run club and I'm sure any visiting groundhoppers will be given a warm welcome.
Match attendance: about 25-30
Match entrance fee: no charge today
Match programme: none available
Match entertainment value: 6/10
More match photos at http://facebook.com/wmtraveller
