ROMULUS 2 - 1 NEWCASTLE TOWN

I have travelled to the Coles Lane home of Sutton Coldfield Town, where their tenants, Romulus FC are in league action against the visitors Newcastle Town on this Bank Holiday monday. The weather is fine and pleasant without being too hot at 20 degrees C.

Both teams are unbeaten so far in the new season, with Newcastle in 3rd place and Romulus in 4th.

Romulus started off as a boys team in 1979, when the current club President, Roger Evans, along with other parents established an Under 12 and an Under 13's team, met with instant success and then later evolved in to a Sunday League team again finding instant success. After several seasons of continued progress, the club joined the Pyramid system of Saturday football and have steadily climbed up to their present level whilst maintaining a successful youth policy. Some of their products have been Darius Vassell (Aston Villa & England),  Stefan & Luke Moore (Aston Villa) and recently Marvin Johnson (Kidderminster & Motherwell). Pretty impressive!

Newcastle Town are also a recently formed club (1986) after a merger with the Parkway Clayton side and have also steadily progressed up the Pyramid system.

Romulus troop out on to the pitch in their usual red & white stripes and Newcastle in all blue.

I have noticed in the programme that Charisma Agbonlahor, a relation of the Villa's Gabi is playing for Romulus, having been signed from nearby Boldmere St.Michaels and in the 8th minute he almost sets up a goal for their No.10 but the ball is played in just too far in front of him.

                   ( Romulus fire in a shot on the Newcastle Town goal)

After 12 minutes, Romulus are awarded a penalty after a Newcastle player handles in the penalty area. Unfortunately, the Romulus captain and No.3 steps up and places the kick against the bar and out. I wonder if the home team are going to rue that miss? 

Eight minutes later though, Romulus play in a long ball and the resultant back pass is intercepted by Agbonlahor who bundles the ball home after robbing the Newcastle keeper.

                      (No.6 Charisma Agbonlahor is congratulated after his goal)

Their lead is short lived as a Newcastle attack down the left sees Jake Lovatt played in from a neat pass by Jordan Cole and he slots the ball in at the near post.

Newcastle have 2 more chances before the break but are unable to make them count.

During the first half, I buy some raffle tickets from a friendly Romulus official called Richard (Tricky Dicky) Clarke. I find out he is also the club's photographer and is one of the Academy coaches too. He tells me that Hereford will be playing here next week in the FA Cup and thinks that they could have a crowd of 2,000. That will be a good cash bonus for the club!

The second half starts with the visitors on the attack and after 8 minutes their No.10 shoots from the left and just the wrong side of the far post.

A bit later and Agbonlahor has a chance but shoots straight at the the keeper.

In the 73rd minute when Romulus mount a quick counter attack following a break down of a Newcastle attack, Agbonlahor plays in a great ball over to the left and the receiving Romulus player sends in a pass over to the far post and their diminutive No.7, Chad Degville-Cross races in to fire in a shot over the advancing keeper (as shown below).

This proves to be the winner and I think they have just about deserved it, especially after their 2nd-half showing. This win has moved them up to second place in the table while Newcastle slide down to 4th.

When I leave I say goodbye to Richard Clarke and wish his team luck in their Cup tie next week.

Match attendance: 101
Match entrance fee: £8
Match programme: £2
Match entertainment: 7/10 

RUGBY TOWN 0 - 0 BELPER TOWN

Originally I had planned to visit AFC Bridgnorth's game v Wolverhampton Casuals today but due to some dodgy looking forecasts for the weather in that area, I have chickened out of that idea and instead am going to Rugby Town's ground, in Warwickshire instead.
They are playing Belper Town who hail from Derbyshire, situated 8 miles north of Derby in fact.

I arrive in Rugby rail station at about 1pm, giving me a bit of time to have a look around the town centre and have some lunch.

It's certainly a hot sunny day,much better than the cold blustery weather I endured on my last visit here 5 years ago. After having a cheese burger from a chip shop on the walk in to the town centre, I have a quick look at the outside of the famous 'Rugby School' and take this photo of the statue of the founder of the game of Rugby, William Webb Ellis.

Also nearby on the other side of the road is a treat for real ale fans, 'The Rugby Tap' a combined micro brewery and pub. I then have to make the 25 minute walk to the football ground in Butlin Road.

Rugby Town have been moved from the Southern League, Central Division to the Northern Premier League, Division 1 South. Their opponents today had been relegated from the Premier Division.

I'm pleased that there are badges for sale today as I have steadily building up my collection over the last 2 years, even though this one is a bit on the expensive side at £4.

Butlin Road is a good ground for this level of football,with a capacity for 6,000 spectators. The main stand (which includes the changing rooms) is on the entrance side of the stadium and can hold 500 spectators. I am standing on the terrace of the 'Allotment End' which is all under cover. On my left there are 2 small covered standing areas, either side of a small seated stand (for 240 spectators) , while on the far side of the ground is another covered standing area, giving overall,cover for 2,800 spectators. The pitch looks to be a good playing surface and beyond the far side of the ground are located some astroturf training pitches with floodlights. A very neat set up all round.

Rugby are playing in their usual strip of light blue shirts and and dark blue shorts while Belper are in yellow shirts and black shorts and are attacking towards the Allotment End in this half.

Belper have started the match brightest but can't make any worthwhile chances, although their No.7 Wilson has a good effort with a free kick. Their No.11, Stevenson, has to go off after 30 minutes after an awkward fall to be replaced by recent signing, Ben Fairclough.

Both defences are on top and it isn't until near the end of this half that Rugby have their best chance so far, when danger man and No.9 Kolodynski, is put through by strike partner Liversedge only to put his effort over the bar.

Although the football itself has not been that great, the Belper Town fans at my end of the ground have been entertaining me with their singing. Although only numbering between 15-20, they are quite vociferous.

I see from my programme that Rugby suffered a 1-6 away defeat at Loughborough Dynamo last Saturday but beat Gresley at home during the week, while Belper have had a win and a draw so far.

In the second half, Rugby Town continue to have the best chances with Liversedge having a shot tipped over the bar by Belper keeper, Haystead and after 60 minutes, Kolodynski is again supplied by  Liversedge but his first time shot goes the wrong side of the far post.

           (Rugby's Liversedge is well held by Belper's Matthews as he heads the ball)

Belper Town's No.9, Garnett has a shot saved by Dutton and this match has 0-0 written all over it.

I have a chat with a guy who looks to be an official of some kind and he turns out to be a representative of the Northern Premier League who is there to welcome Rugby to their League. He tells me that he used to be involved with Chasetown FC.

Soon after I decide to leave (with just injury time to go) as I have a fairly lengthy walk to the train station. Not a great game to watch but it's been good weather (although not ideal for playing football) and a good ground to visit. 

Match entrance fee: £8
Match programme: £2
Match attendance: 212
Match entertainment value: 5/10 

 

ONE GOAL IS ENOUGH FOR SUTTON COLDFIELD TODAY!

With a dismal looking forecast for today I am not that hopeful of seeing a game at my choice of venue today, the Palmers Meadow ground of Tenbury United who play in the Herefordshire Football League.

I receive an email from their Fixture Secretary that their game is off today, so my Plan B is to go and see Barnt Green Spartak's game in Kings Norton. I receive a text from their Secretary just before reaching the University rail station in Birmingham that that game is off too. I would have had to change trains here to get to that ground.

So it's Plan C, to visit the 3G all weather pitch at Coles Lane to watch Sutton Coldfield Town's local derby against Stafford Rangers. As they are both riding high in the league table I reckon it could be a good game to watch. Not so good for photography though due to the 3pm kick-off  with falling light levels in the second half.

After getting safely to New Street station in Birmingham, I get the next train to Sutton Coldfield. The weather is cloudy with occasional drizzle now. When I arrive at my destination, I have time to have a look round the shops and a bite to eat. It's a good place for shopping with most major stores located here.

Then I make the 15 minute walk to the ground. It's a place I have been to several times over the last 4 years, to watch the home side, plus also Romulus FC and Aston Villa Ladies, Sutton Coldfield and Romulus Under-21 teams and Walsall Wood when they had a re-arranged FA Vase tie played here.

Sutton have an average gate of approximately 150 so it will be interesting to see if it's a bigger crowd with the visit of nearby Stafford who usually have good support.

Both teams are riding high in the league this season, with Sutton top of the table and Stafford lying in 5th place. The teams come out with Sutton in their all royal blue strip and Stafford in black and white striped shirts.

I go to the far end of the ground and am joined by a contingent of the Stafford supporters just before kick-off. Stafford who are attacking the goal at this end, seem to be inspired by their fans in the early stages as they have the best of the play.

     (Mc.Naught of Stafford Rangers has a shot blocked by Sutton Coldfield's defence)

Sutton do go close though when their No.8, Jamie Sheldon, has a shot that hits the post after the Stafford keeper, Adam Whitehouse, fails to hold on to an effort by Scott Lycett. 

I am impressed by the Stafford Rangers No.9, Ryan Wynter, who is proving to be a lively opponent for the Sutton defence. He also has a distinctive  shaving brush like hair style (shown below).

Wynter has a good effort saved by Lee Evans in the Sutton goal but the latter stages of this half, see Sutton Coldfield imposing themselves more on the game. So it's 0-0 and all to play for both teams in the next half.

I hear from a Sutton Coldfield fan, wearing a Villa scarf, that Birmingham City are 0-2 down at half-time, in their away 3rd Rd FA Cup tie at Blyth Spartans, so no wonder he looks to be in good spirits!

There seems to be a decent crowd at today's match and it's good to see 2 local teams doing well. Stafford were relegated last season and will be looking to book a play-off place. Sutton Coldfield have been there or close to it in the last few seasons and look to be a more consistent side this time.

I have a chat with a guy who is wearing a WBA scarf. He tells me that he doesn't watch the Albion very much these days but instead watches non-league matches, mainly at Tividale who now play in this division.

There are a number of Sutton Coldfield fans who come down to the end of the ground where their team will be attacking in the next period. They have some musical accompaniment with 2 guys playing a trumpet and drum respectively. They are both decent players and should have no trouble in getting a regular gig at home games.

It's Sutton Coldfield Town who are fast out of the blocks at the start of this 45 minutes. In the 48th minute, they take the lead courtesy of Justin Richards from a well struck shot.

     (scorer, Justin Richards in the centre of the photo is congratulated by team mates)

Stafford Rangers come back at Sutton and Nathan Smith and Dan Cope have chances but it's Sutton who are the more threatening.

It's only some good goalkeeping from Adam Whitehouse that keeps the score line down to one goal as he makes saves from Sheldon and Turton near the end.

                                   (Sutton Coldfield on the attack late on in the game)

So Sutton Coldfield have won against a useful Stafford Rangers team. They have done well to bounce back after their recent home defeat to Tividale, while this game marks the end of Stafford's unbeaten run.

Both Mickleover Sports and Spalding Town have games in hand over Sutton and are the current favourites for the league title and automatic promotion. Sutton Coldfield and Stafford Rangers both look strong for a play-off place at the end of the season.

Match attendance: 362
Entertainment value: 7/10
Match entrance fee: £8
Match programme: £2