The season is nearing it's end and it seems to be the same for Droitwich Spa's promotion bid from the 2nd Division of the Midland Football League. They have to win today's home match against close rivals Chelmsley Town as they are now 6 points behind them in 3rd place and Chelmsley have a game in hand too, while Alvis Sporting Club are nearly out of sight in first place.
The weather is good today, cool but mainly sunny. I have arrived in Droitwich and have a wander around the town centre, taking photos of the old buildings and the nearby canal before going to have lunch.
(Looking down to the High Street by St. Andrew's Church)
I then take a leisurely walk down to the canal to walk along the tow path which takes me down to the Briar Mill area, where the King George Playing Fields are, the home of Droitwich Spa FC .
By the pitch, is the Droitwich Leisure Centre, where the changing rooms, toilets, bar and small club shop are housed. I buy myself a club badge and a programme and while waiting around outside, come across a guy who recognises me. I met him about this time last year at the Birmingham County Junior Cup Final. He has come from Leicester and Droitwich is a new ground for him.
I make my way down the nearest side of the pitch, which is lined by trees and will be out of the sunshine (better for photography). The teams come out with Droitwich in their usual red and black but Chelmsley are in a change strip of green and white.
Droitwich are the first to go close when their No.9 and top scorer, James Lemon, bursts at speed down the left. He crosses the ball across the goal (as shown below) but there is no one in the right place to open the scoring.
The match is being played at a frantic place with no one looking to put their foot on the ball and spray the ball around.
( Chelmsley's Chris Lloyd and Droitwich's Luke Molloy run for the ball )
Droitwich are slightly the better team in the first 45 minutes but nearly go behind in injury time but their full back Andy Crowther, clears the ball off the line from a corner.
There have been no clear cut chances in the first period and I wonder if there will be any goals at all today?
Chelmsley Town are much more of a threat in the second half and their top scorer, Chris Lloyd, cleverly volleys first time but over the bar with the Droitwich keeper, Wayne Oliver stranded.
After 69 minutes, the visitors take the lead. From a corner their No.4, James Sawyer, jumps above Oliver to head in from close range (as shown below).
11 minutes later and the Chelmsley No.9 has a shot saved after some good build up play instigated by Chris Lloyd (who has been the best player today).
The Leicester ground hopper,who has been checking football scores on his smart phone then lets me know that Hinckley AFC have ended up with just 7 men in their match against Coventry Copsewood in Division One and then it's abandoned after the referee is attacked by a Hinckley player .There will be some repercussions from that match for sure!
Hard as Droitwich try to get back in to the game, Chelmsley manage to keep them at bay for a deserved win.
Droitwich Spa now have a very busy period of 6 games in the next 15 days, including 2 Cup Finals! This includes the Worcestershire Junior Cup Final next Saturday against Worcester Raiders. So there's still plenty to play for by the Saltmen.
Chelmsley Town will be looking for any unlikely slip ups from unbeaten leaders, Alvis Sporting to take the title. I am wondering if they will be able to erect floodlights at their ground in Marston Green or will they ground share with nearby Coleshill Town to get promoted?
Match entrance fee: Free
Match attendance: Approx 50
Match prgramme: £1
Match entertainment 6/10
A top of the table clash beckons me today as I head east of Birmingham to watch Chelmsley Town host Droitwich Spa at their ground in the village of Marston Green. It's in the Midlands Football League, 2nd Division. It will be another new ground for me.
The weather is promising,cold but with no rain likely to fall for a change.
This match has been on my radar and I have been encouraged to go as 1/ it will be a new ground for me 2/ Droitwich are a local team to me and have been doing well this season and 3/ the Communications Manager of Droitwich Spa, Ben Lloyd, has been in touch with me, as he has come across this Blog and has said he has enjoyed reading about my travels. He also said that it would be good if I could take photos for the club at this match.
I journey to Birmingham on the train and after a spot of shopping and some lunch, take the London Euston bound train from New Street station to get to Marston Green. When we are approaching the platform I can see the tower blocks of Chelmsley Wood in the near distance gleaming in the sunshine.
Although Marston Green is classed as a village, it does boast a population of 5,000 and is basically part of the commuter belt for Birmingham, Solihull and probably London. While making the 20 minute walk to the ground, I can see several houses that have a cottage like look and gives an impression of a village atmosphere. There is countryside close by as well and with the sunshine and daffodils in bloom by the roadside there is definitely a hint of Spring in the air.
I soon find the ground just to the left on the Coleshill Road, make my way through the small car park and turn right towards the club house, which is behind one end of the pitch.
This end has an entrance door, through the netting, (see above) through which the players go on to the pitch from the changing rooms.
I find several Droitwich supporters in the club house and chat to Ben Lloyd before heading out to view the proceedings. It looks like that at least half of the spectators are from Droitwich today. The club have experienced an upturn in fortunes this season under the guidance of joint managers, Wayne Oliver and (ex-Worcester City player) Mark Owen.There has been talk of promotion in the Worcester News and the possibility of ground sharing with another local club, as Droitwich don't have the right facilities in place if they do finish in the top two.
Chelmsley Town club have been going since 1927 and are just behind Droitwich in the table, in 3rd place, while Rostance Edwards sit in top spot. Droitwich have also been unbeaten in their last 21 matches!
The players troop on to the pitch, with Chelmsley in light blue shirts and black shorts and shirts. Droitwich Spa are in their away strip today of white shirts, red shorts and socks.
(Chelmsley captain, Ross Casey, tries to get a grip on his opponent)
It's a game with not much quality football on show to be honest, competitive though with both sides not giving each other an inch, which you expect in a match of this nature.
Droitwich Spa go close after 23 minutes when a free-kick is dinked in and their No.9, James Lemon, is just wide with his effort.
Chelmsley go even closer on the half hour when they have a shot from the right that clips the cross bar.
It's still goalless at the interval and it's a difficult call to predict who the likely winners might be today.
At half time I go in to the club house for a much needed cup of tea. It's a pretty good facility for a club of this size and both the bar and tea bar are doing a good trade.
Also apart from the main pitch, there is another at the back of it and a smaller one on the right side of it. On the other side the ground is bordered by housing.
So the second-half gets under way and it's the home team who come to the fore.
After 56 minutes Chelmsley are awarded a penalty when they have a player brought down in the area. Their No.11 , Mitchell Thompson, duly dispatches a shot to the Droitwich's keepers left and they quickly proceed to press home their advantage in the very next minute.
Their No.9, the burly Kieron Fitzgerald, attacks down the left of the visitor's area, draws the tackle from the Droitwich captain , Mike Seeley (as shown below) and skips past on his right before bearing down on goal and squeezes in the ball through the narrow angle and in to the net, despite the keeper being in close proximity. Very good goal!
For a big guy, Fitzgerald is very nimble on his feet. So now the Saltmen have a mountain to climb to get back in this match.
Despite stepping up their efforts Chelmsley hold firm, well marshalled in defence by the silver haired Ross Casey.
Near the end of full time, Chelmsley nearly add to their tally when their top scorer, Chris Lloyd first blazes over the bar and then has another shot saved at the near post.
In injury time though, Droitwich's top scorer, James Lemon scores with a shot from the left but it's come too late to save their unbeaten record.
I think the best team has definitely won today but I am sure that Droitwich can play better than this. This win sees Chelmsley hop over Droitwich in to 2nd place. It's going to be an interesting last few weeks of the season, with Chelmsley, Droitwich, Rostance Edwards and Alvis Sporting all in the running to win the Division 2 title. Alvis have several games in hand and an unbeaten league record but have the pressure of playing at least twice every week before the finish.
(Scene near the Marston Green village centre)
Match entertainment: 5/10
Match attendance: 75
Match entrance fee: Free
Match programme: None available
Hello sports fans! I am travelling to yet another new ground for me today, namely that of Hampton FC's, at the Field Lane Sports Ground, Lugtrout Lane near Solihull for their Midland Combination, Division 1 clash against near neighbours, Chelmsley Town.
Originally I had been looking to visit Malvern Rangers ground but have been put-off this choice because of the weather forecast, which implies there will be rain in that area by early afternoon.
It takes me about 1.5 hours to get to Solihull by train and when I arrive it's quite sunny and there are plenty of people in the town centre of course doing their Christmas shopping. Solihull is a great venue for shopping with it's branch of John Lewis and the indoor Touchwood Shopping centre to hand. I do a bit a spot of window shopping and after a cheap snack of a bacon butty, chocolate eclair & a coffee, I'm on my way by foot to Hampton FC.
Unfortunately, I get a bit lost and what should have probably been a 30 minute walk turns in to a 50 minute walk and my late arrival. So I'm here with 20 minutes already been played. The ground is in the countryside and I walk through the gate in through the car park. I pass the club house and changing room complex and see the ground in front of me. There is a rail surrounding the pitch with 2 small covered stands either side of the team dugouts on the west side with banking at the southern end. On the eastern side are other playing fields.
I take a position at the southern end, sheltered from the stiff breeze (with now cloudy sky) and see that Chelmsley are attacking in my direction.They are in a sky blue kit while Hampton are in their colours of red shirts and black shorts & red socks. I am told there is no score yet but within 5 minutes, Chelmsley take the lead. Their No.7 heads the ball in at the near post from a corner, as shown in the title photo. Later on I realise I have seen this player before. He used to play, usually at left-back for Pilkington XXX. He certainly took the goal well.
Hampton are struggling to contain their visitors and sure enough, Chelmsley double their lead a few minutes later with one of their forwards shooting in from from the edge of the penalty area.
Hampton come in to the game more now, determined to peg a goal back.
Despite Hampton's best efforts though, Chelmsley score another goal on 41 minutes and what a little cracker it is too! Their No.11 cuts in off the left-wing and curls the ball across and over the Hampton keeper in to the far corner.
I didn't expect to see Hampton 0-3 down at this stage of the match as they were 6th in the league table before this match and they are playing at home.
After a cup of tea in the club house, I venture in to the cold again just as the teams are coming back on to the pitch. There are only 10 spectators apart from myself (maybe due to the proximity of Christmas no doubt).
The second period proves to be a more even affair and Hampton are awarded a penalty after just 3 minutes. The Chelmsley keeper barging in to the back of a Hampton forward in front of the ref! The spot kick is duly dispatched and there is hope again for the home side.
I am mystified later on when the Hampton keeper rushes out and stops a shot with his arm. To me, albeit being at the opposite end of the ground, it looked as if he had run out his area. The ref, books the keeper and awards a free kick. I'm sure the shot was going close to the goal too. Very puzzling!
Despite the best efforts of both sides though, the score remains 3-1 in Chelmsley's favour. I thought both teams played pretty well considering the unfavourable conditions today.
Chelmsley look a strong team but I can't see them catching Cadbury Athletic at the top of the table.
I make my way back to Solihull rail station without any mishaps this time (reading the map properly helps!).
