It's the start of the FA Vase today and I have decided to see a tie that features 2 West Midlands League teams, as I have neglected that league so far this season. Also I am going to a new ground, namely the Phoenix Park home of Shifnal Town who are hosting Malvern Town. It's my first football visit to Shropshire for some time too.
Shifnal were relegated from the Premier Division last season but have made a solid, unspectacular start in their league campaign, with 2 wins and two draws so far. The visitors from Malvern Town of the Premier Division, have made a dreadful start with just one win and 4 defeats. Last Season they finished in fifth place and also won the Worcestershire Senior Urn, so it's been a surprise that they have struggled so far this time round.
The weather in Worcester before I set out is not promising, with rain and a cool wind. There is a good forecast though and by the time I board the train, the rain has stopped and by the time I arrive in Shifnal, the sun is breaking out. It's a town I have noticed before when travelling by train on this line.
By the time I arrive in Shifnal today, I only have about 45 minutes to have a wander round. I had something to eat at Wolverhampton on the way here as I had some time to spare while waiting for a connecting train. The train line in Shifnal is on a viaduct over looking the town and the town centre itself is very pleasant with good looking old shops and houses, with a few black and white buildings too. Shifnal is a small town with only a population of six and a half thousand and it's very quiet today so I expect the locals travel to nearby Telford, Shrewsbury, Birmingham or Wolverhampton for their main shopping trips.
Phoenix Park is on the north east edge of the town in Coppice Green Lane and I can see that there is some house building in progress on the north and western sides of the ground. The entrance is to be found after walking through the car park and when I go in I can see the impressive main stand on the other side of the pitch. On the entrance side are the dug-outs with a refreshment hut that is up a slope. The changing rooms are alongside this with steps down to the pitch. The club house I found out later on is located elsewhere in town, which makes for an odd set up. The pitch itself though is one of the best I have seen at this level, a great looking playing surface so there is no excuse for not playing good football today.
The teams come out in their usual kits, Shifnal in red and white striped shirts and black shorts while Malvern are decked out in their claret and blue. It could be Southampton v West Ham with a big leap of imagination!
From the outset both teams are both looking to go on the attack and it looks as if it's going to a good cup tie, with the victors receiving £600 and an away tie away to Ellesmere Rangers in the next round their reward.
Although it's proving to be an open game with both defences being threatened on a continual basis, it's the home team that are the more dangerous. Malvern Town are finding it difficult to get many meaningful attacks going and are increasingly more and more on the back foot. The Shifnal attacks are especially dangerous on the left flank with their No.11 making several surging runs (as shown below).
After weathering the storm, Malvern launch some attacks of their own and after 30 minutes they should have taken the lead when their No.10 with only the keeper to beat sees his close range shot saved.
It's been a surprise that no goals have been scored but that changes in the last minute of the half when a loose ball goes to the Shifnal No.10, Seth Lewis and his shot crashes down from the cross bar and over the line.
So a very entertaining first half ends with the home team, well deserving their 1-0 lead. Can they provide a Cup upset today?
Malvern Town come out with all guns blazing and Dane Aldington fires in the equaliser after some shaky defensive play from Shifnal.
If Shifnal had been on top in the first period, it's Malvern who now seize the initiative with their players harrying the home players at every opportunity and the Shifnal defence look distinctly nervous at times.
The home keeper Tom Whittaker is keeping his teams cup hopes alive with some good stops but the pressure finally tells after 62 minutes when Hooper fires in a great shot when he receives the ball from a short corner (as shown below) with the keeper possibly unsighted.
Ten minutes later and it looks all over for the home team when Matt Turner receives the ball on the right and beats Whittaker for goal number 3 (as shown below).
Shifnal's woes are compounded when there is a defensive mix up and Malvern's No.9 Dave Reynolds is left with the simple task of scoring in to an unguarded net. Understandably the Shifnal Town keeper is seriously pissed off and is using some choice language to voice his displeasure at the way things are going.
Malvern create a few more chances with the live wire Reynolds going closest with a flying header that clips the bar.
A convincing win for Malvern in the end but Shifnal showed in the first half that they will probably be one of the front runners in the 1st Division title race, especially if they can tighten up their suspect defence.
After their triumph today, maybe Malvern Town can now take some confidence from it and start to rise up the league table over the coming weeks?
Just before the end of the game I meet and talk to 2 other ground hoppers from London, a man and an Irish lady who I accompany on the walk back to the train station.
Match entrance fee: £5
Match programme: free with programme
Match attendance: approx 50-60
Match entertainment: 8.5/10
Due to temporary financial constraints I have decided to go to another local game today and it will mean a new ground to visit.
The game in question is a local derby between Powick Rangers and Malvern Under-21's at the Malvern Vale Community Centre that was built 2/3 years ago in a brand new housing estate, located in the area of Upper Howsell in Malvern.
It's a bit of a shot in the dark for me as I don't know what kind of ground it is and because it's so new, it's not that clearly defined on Google Maps and it's certainly not marked on my hard copy map of the Malvern area.
There is a steady light rainfall when I leave for the train at Shrub Hill station but with the promise of dry weather later on. I arrive at Malvern Link station and the rain has soon gone. I have decided to visit Malvern Library after reading in my local newspaper that there is an exhibition by a local photographer specialising in infra-red photography. It's very interesting, giving well known local views an ethereal look.
After having a bite to eat in Great Malvern, it takes me about 25 minutes to get to the Community Centre, which wasn't that difficult to find in the end. When I reach the entrance I can see there are 2 football pitches, with the one on my right being the one to be used for the match. 3 sides of it are bordered by a high wire fence while the other has a rope to separate the spectators from the pitch. Not great for photography but at least I will have my back to the sun that has been appearing from time to time.
Powick Rangers are a new club, being a merger of the old AFC Powick village side who have been a major force in recent years in the Worcester & District Football League and Malvern Rangers. However as the Saturday division of this League has been disbanded due to the withdrawal of 5 teams, Powick threw in their lot with Malvern Rangers who were already playing at this ground in the West Mid Div 2.
Malvern Town Under-21's are a revamp of their old reserve team who also were plying their trade in the Worcester League.
When the teams come on to the pitch, Powick (pronounced Poik) are in white shirts and blue shorts and Malvern in their usual strip of blue,claret and white.
The opening exchanges are even with Powick's No.9 hitting the post with a shot on the right and Malvern's No.8 having his shot well saved. Just a minute later Powick's keeper deflects a shot with his legs.
For the rest of this half though, Powick look the more dangerous side and have several chances that go begging. They even have the ball in the net in the 27th minute but it's ruled out by an offside flag.
In the 30th minute Powick's No.10 who has been one of their best players, has a great shot on the turn but is turned over the bar by the Malvern keeper.
Half-time arrives and it's surprisingly still 0-0 despite the best efforts of both the teams. It's been a keenly contested match so far and it's difficult to predict the likely outcome.
I don't bother looking to see if there are any refreshments on sale as I have brought some of my own and after checking some half-time scores, I see that the teams are coming out 5 minutes early.
Malvern look to be in better form and have a great chance when their No.9 is put through by a lovely pass and finds himself in a one on one situation with the keeper. His shot though bounces off the home keepers legs and out (as shown below).
It looks to be a costly miss as after 70 minutes, Malvern carelessly give away possession in their own half and it ends up with Powick's No.9 having an easy chance to shoot past their keeper.
Malvern Town though immediately fight back with a very soft goal. Their No.9, has a tame looking shot on goal that makes it's way through the covering Powick defenders legs and with the keeper seemingly rooted to the spot, the ball slowly goes in to the corner of the goal. It looks as if the Powick goalie was expecting the ball to go wide. He's very upset with his error and is loudly berating himself!
A woman Malvern Town supporter who has been watching with her husband, close to where I'm standing is very pleased about this and seeing me with my notebook open asks me 'Do you want to know the scorer's name?' I reply that I do and she laughs and says it's their son called Jack Cullity.
( Goal scorer Jack Cullity is congratulated by his happy team mates )
With 10 minutes to go, Malvern's No.12 out on the left, bends in a shot towards the far post but is pushed round the post by the home keeper.
Close to full time, Powick are awarded a free kick on the right. The ball is crossed over and is flicked on by a Powick player to the far post for their tall No.6 who nods it in to the net.
A great time to score a goal but the best goal of the game comes in injury time a few minutes later when Powick's No.11 finds himself with the ball at his feet on the right side of the goal and then blasts it straight in to the top corner.
So 3-1 for the home side and the whistle blows soon after. Powick have deserved to win today but it's been close.
I think they could do well in this division this season and Malvern Town should avoid trouble but will have to be more clinical in front of goal.
Match attendance: 30-40.
Entrance fee: free
Match programme: none
Entertainment value: 7/10
Today is 'Non-League Day', a good day to stay local. So as Worcester City are playing in Barrow-in-Furness I have decided to go to travel the short distance to see Malvern Town in their FA Vase tie v Walsall Wood.
I have been watching with interest, the upturn in fortunes of Malvern over the last few months, both on and off the field. On the field Malvern Town find themselves on top of the West Midlands League and off the field the club house has been spruced up and the pitch re-laid. So it will be good to see them in action and take note of the improvements.
I have enough time to have a quick look around the town in Great Malvern after leaving the train and then have a bite to eat at a local cafe. It's very pleasant walking down the hill towards the ground on a beautiful day. After 20 minutes I'm walking through the car park in to the club house. I pay my entrance and obtain a programme and step out on to a nice new decking area where there is a large gathering of supporters. Looking over to to the pitch I can see that is looking in good nick too.
Over the last 6 years since I came back to the Midlands, Malvern Town have been in a slow decline. After watching a couple of local Sunday League games at this ground at the end of last season, I could see the pitch looked a bit threadbare in places and the club buildings looking a bit neglected.
Last September, the club was in danger of folding after it came to light that the club had debts over £200,000 and it looked like they would have to sell the ground as a result. To the rescue in stepped 2 enthusiastic young businessmen, Chris Pinder and Ted Grizzell. Pinder is the co-founder of local company, HD Connectivity and Grizzell is the manager of Zig-Zag coaching and is also an academy coach at West Bromwich Albion.
They are organising a new youth set up at the club to nurture local talent and have set up the club as a Community Interest Company (CIC). They are a not for profit organisation and can look for extra funding from organisations like The Lottery, Sport England as well as local businesses.
So to the match and there is some bad luck for the home side before the kick-off, with main striker, Bryan Craven having to withdraw from proceedings because of a foot injury sustained during the warm-up. As he is currently his League's top scorer with 9 so far, then this is quite a blow for Malvern.
The match kicks off with the home side in a strip of mainly white but with sky blue and claret too. Looks like their old away kit. The Wood are in their usual all red strip.
The opening exchanges are quite even with plenty of attacking intent from both teams and I can't see this contest ending in a stalemate. Then Walsall Wood start to dominate the play.
After 14 minutes Walsall Wood's No.11 goes past 3 Malvern tackles before sending a shot past the post and then 'The Wood' take the lead with a goal from Dean Holgate.
This proves to be very short lived though as in the very next minute, Malvern go on the attack, win a corner and then score with a tap in by their No.6 I think.
After 37 minutes I'm impressed by a great double save by the Malvern keeper to keep his side in the game. This reprieve only lasts until the last minute of this half as the Wood's No.11 is left with a tap in at the far post after a pass comes in from the left.
So Walsall Wood have their noses back in front in this tie. They have been the classier team so far and just about deserve their advantage.
Walsall Wood only 2 seasons ago had a great run in this competition, losing only after a replay in the quarter-finals, when maybe they should have won in the first match after having the best chances.
The first 15 minutes of the second half sees Malvern Town using all three of their substitutes, which shows they mean business in getting back in to this game.
The balance of the match shifts in the home sides favour when in the 68th minute, Walsall's No.11 is sent off. I miss the incident but Wood's Match Day secretary who I have been chatting to, says he had kicked out at another player.
Then in the very next minute, Walsall Wood probably should have had a penalty when one of their players is pushed down in the area but his sides pleas are waived aside as it looks like the linesman thought the ball had already gone out of play.
(Malvern Town defender Chris Allen, looks to close down this Walsall Wood attack)
Malvern then go close after 79 minutes when their No.15 has a dipping shot sail just over the bar. Five minutes later another home attack produces a diving header, again going over the bar after a good cross from the right.
Their pressure finally pays off when their No.11 manages to push the ball past Walsall's keeper.
Just after this goal's scored I'm thinking that Walsall Wood won't fancy playing extra-time with only 10 men. Then they go and score!
A good run by their No.3, Craig Deakin, in the area is impeded by a Malvern defender and he goes to ground, with the ref blowing for a penalty. This is duly despatched by their No.6, Danny Forrest, as shown below.
There is still time for the Malvern captain Joe Endacott to have an eyeball to eyeball confrontation with Walsall's No.16, who carries on their spat just a bit too long, which is a bit silly seeing that his side look they are about to win the game and go through to the next round.
It's been a great cup tie and although they lost today, Malvern Town showed great grit and determination against their higher league opponents. With their new regime, newly revamped ground and future plans, they seem like a club with a future now.
Walsall Wood's reward for their efforts today is a home tie in the next round against old rivals, Pershore Town, when they were both in the Midland Combination.
Match entrance: £5
Match programme: £1
Match attendance: 137
Entertainment value: 8/10
Today I travelled to the scenic town of Malvern, which is just about 6 miles from where I live in Worcester. Mid-table Malvern Town's opponents are the table topping Lye Town, no less.
Apologies to anyone who visits this site that this latest entry is so late. It would have been published on Monday but I decided that day to go to another game and I was out most of Tuesday as well.
Anyhow, after alighting at the delightful Great Malvern railway station, replete with Victorian era ironwork and tea rooms, I walk up to the town centre for a wander round as it has been awhile since my last visit. I notice a new record shop just off the main road called 'Carnival Records' where they actually sell vinyl as well as CD's. Good selection of old artists like Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison etc as well as more contemporary ones. There is even a guy in the courtyard outside playing old soul records on a turntable creating a funky ambience for all us visitors. After having a quick look round while making a mental note for a return visit next month, I go up to the top of Church Street and come across an Arts & Food market. I give in to temptation and indulge myself with a piece of chocolate fudge cake!
Soon after I am walking back down hill and 20 minutes later enter the Langland Stadium. I see in the programme that Malvern Town are hoping to persuade the council by petition that the club need to find a better site for their team.
Kick-off time arrives and Lye Town are playing in their alternative strip of all-white and after just six minutes their No.11, Ben Jevons, has planted a firm header in to the Malvern net.
Although Malvern try to hit back they make little head way against the Lye defence. Its certainly a well contested match and although the referee looks to keep the contest moving along as much as possible, it backfires as he is far too lenient, letting too many late tackles go unpunished. This culminates with the Malvern Town No.5 and Lye forward, Chris 'Billy' Russell clashing near the touchline. From what I see it looks as if Russell left his leg up while going in to the challenge and unfortunately for him he gets injured and has to hobble off with no further action for him today. This encounter sees both sets of players getting involved with eye ball to eye ball confrontations with the attendant pushing and shoving. Result...no bookings, just a Lye Town throw-in!
However, Lye are the first team to recover their composure and soon after a great quickly delivered left wing cross is dispatched with great aplomb via another Ben Jevons header. Half time arrives soon after and Lye Town find themselves in a great position but I am fearful that the match will turn really ugly.
I take a shot of the ground at the start of the 2nd-half to try and do justice of the lovely back-drop of the nearby snow clad Malvern Hills. It looks more like a game taking place in Switzerland or Austria!
Thankfully the 2nd-half has none of the drama of the first as both sets of players are acting more sensibly even though it's still a tough physical game. The ref even books a few players!
Malvern Town try desperately to get back in to the game but Lye have the greater goal threat and should score at least one more goal. A fairly comfortable win in the end for Lye Town but Malvern certainly gave them a fight.
So I have enjoyed my little trip to Malvern and the West Midland Premiership contest is hotting up nicely between Lye, AFC Wulfrunians and Shawbury. It looks as if it will go all the way to the end of the season.
