THE BADGERS SHOW THEIR TEETH

After dithering over which ground to visit this Saturday, I eventually plump for the Stafford based village side of Brocton who are playing Walsall Wood. Brocton are in their first season in the Premier Division of the new Midland Football League.

There are similarities between these 2 clubs. Both have won the title in the last 2 seasons of the Midland Combination Premier and both have had good cup runs in this season's FA Vase competition (both going out to Northern clubs in the 4th round).

I have a trouble free journey on the train from Worcester (via Birmingham) and get to Stafford in time for a spot of lunch and a look round the shops and town centre. I'd noticed that when coming in to the town that there is more cloud coming over and by the time I am waiting at the bus stop for my journey to the ground, the town is suddenly hit by a hail storm that lasts about 5 minutes. I'm glad it stops as I was worried it might affect the match. 

Even though my bus is nearly 10 minutes late, I arrive at Silkmore Lane in plenty of time. There is a prominent sign for the ground at the top of the drive that leads you down there.

Brocton moved to this ground in 2006 after getting a lease from the council. It used to be the Old Police Sports Ground but it had fallen in to disrepair over the years after the police had ceased to use it. With the help of various funding schemes including the National Lottery fund, Brocton have brought it up to the standard required for them to compete in the Premier Division of the Midland Football League.

There is a car park at the entrance that extends round to the north part of the ground and then a path leads to the portacabins that house the changing rooms, toilets and tea hut. Looking down the ground, to the right is the 100 seater stand, with trees lining the back and also the southern end. On the left there is another pitch that is used by the youth section of the club. It's a neat and tidy ground with a pretty good looking playing surface too.

I make my way to the tea hut area at the end of the portacabin area and get myself a cuppa that's served in a ceramic mug. Also I am able to buy a club lapel badge from here to add to my collection.

Before the game I meet Bill Ward the First Team Secretary of Walsall Wood, who I have met twice before this season at FA Vase games and who I sent photos once for publication in their club programme . He tells me about their Vase replay at Shaw Lane Aquaforce where he says they didn't get much luck at all in their cup exit.

Both teams come out in their usual first team colours, Brocton in green & white and Walsall in all red.

                                   (Walsall Wood captain, Harry Harris on the ball)

It's Brocton who start the strongest and go in to the lead after just 6 minutes. It's scored by their experienced striker Dave Berks after being set up by a pass from the right.

Walsall Wood go on the attack and one of their players goes close with an attempted chip from about 25 yards.

Brocton continue to trouble the Walsall Wood defence down the right flank where their No.7 Jack Edwards is proving to be a speedy opponent and he provides the cross in the 21st minute that Sam Bell dispatches in to the net for goal number 2.

The hosts go close again 7 minutes later when Berks sees his free kick fizz past the far post.

The Wood press strongly near the break and their No.7's shot is deflected off a defender and just over the bar. Their pressure pays off on the stroke of half time when they are awarded a penalty when the Brocton keeper, Callum Barrett is adjudged to have brought down a Walsall attacker. 

Walsall's Drew Aiton takes the spot kick which is saved but he slams in the rebound (as shown below).

So Walsall Wood have kept themselves in the game and it's all to play for in the second half. They are currently in seventh place and with their games in hand on the teams above them, have an outside chance of mounting a title challenge.

At half time I have a chat with a guy called John Miller who has travelled all the way from Edinburgh to see this match. He tells me he does this on a regular basis and has already visited many grounds in the north of England. A dedicated groundhopper! I later find out that another groundhopper called Nick Palmer is at the match and has covered the match in his Blog called simply 'The Groundhopper'. I had noticed him with his camera but had thought he might have been the official Brocton photographer.

The second half comes round and Brocton in the 16th minute have a volley from Sam Bell that sails over the bar. Walsall respond with a shot from their No.8 that is saved from close range. 

                    ( Carl Morris, the Brocton skipper looks to set up another attack ) 

The longer the game goes on the more Brocton get on top of the play and their threat is usually coming down the right with Jack Edwards (on loan from Stafford Rangers) the main danger. He scores the important third goal in the 26th minute (shown celebrating below).

Walsall Wood still pose the occasional threat and after 28 minutes minutes their No.8 goes round the Brocton keeper only to see his shot hit a defender and out.

Sam Bell sees his shot turned away by the Walsall keeper, Dale Faultless (great name for a goalkeeper!) The last action I see before leaving to catch my bus back to the train station is the Brocton No.12 shooting just over the bar.

I have enjoyed my visit today and am impressed with Brocton who from their humble pub team beginnings in 1937 have made steady progress over the intervening years and strike me as being a very well run club. Although they are in the lower half of the table in 17th place, when I saw them play at Westfields in August they then occupied bottom place,so obviously have improved. They looked full of confidence today after their 3-0 win at league leaders Lye Town in midweek.

Walsall Wood were outplayed today and need to regroup to consolidate their league position. They finished in a worthy sixth place in their first season in the Premier Division in 2013-14, so could well finish in a higher place this time round.

Match attendance: 89
Match entrance fee: £5
Match programme: £1
Match entertainment: 8.5 / 10   

LAST GASP WIN FOR WESTFIELDS

Due to a distinctly unfavourable forecast for the Birmingham/Black Country area for this afternoon, I change my plans to watch a West Midlands League match and decide instead to head west for the city of Hereford. I am now going to see Westfields take on last years Midland Combination Premier champions, the village side from Brocton, situated close to Stafford. 

On arriving at Worcester's Shrub Hill rail station, I find to my dismay that there are engineering works on the Hereford line today. Of course this means I have to take the option of the replacement bus service. This will mean that I will not have much time to explore the city on my arrival as I'm sure the journey will take twice the usual time. 

Unfortunately this is the way it pans out but on the plus side, I can take in the glorious country views on the way. As we are nearing Hereford, I think I see where the Bartestree football ground is situated, who play in the West Midlands League and who I'd like to visit in the future.

We are taken to the forecourt of the rail station and I make my way on the 10 minute walk to the city centre. I decide to go to the bus station and there I go in to a nearby cafe and have a breakfast butty.

When I get to the pedestrianised High Street, I find that there are more food stalls than usual and am told by a stall holder that there is a food festival taking place.

I walk to the allpay Park ground of Westfields, which is just past the ground of Lads Club, who have a game that's already started, probably their reserve team who play in the Herefordshire League.

I pay the £6 entrance fee and £1 for the glossy programme. It's sunny at the moment but there are clouds coming our way. Rain wasn't forecast for around here today but you never know?

The Westfields team troop out in their usual claret and blue and visitors Brocton in their green and white. Brocton find themselves at the bottom of the table after 3 games played, so are finding life a bit harder after promotion last season.

When they kick-off with Westfields attacking the end where I'm stood, I'm surprised to see that Dene Whittal-Williams is playing at No.9 rather than his usual central defensive position.

 (Dene Whittal-Williams sees an intended cross snapped up by the Brocton keeper)

The dead lock is broken after 14 minutes when the ball is played to Zac Sirrell who cleverly finds space on the right and beating the off-side trap and pulls the ball back for Jamie Cuss to push in to the net.

Just 12 minutes later though, Brocton draw level, when a great cross from the left is met by No.9 Gary Fife, who guides the ball in at the near post.

                  (Jamie Cuss gains possession near the Brocton goal) 

Westfields go close near the end of the half when a left wing cross is met full on the valley by Jamie Cuss and his shot crashes against the cross bar and over. Could have been a spectacular goal!

The weather has deteriorated during the first 45 minutes and we had a brief few minutes of rain near the end. Although it stops during the interval, the oncoming clouds don't bode well.

The second half sees Westfields largely on top but without threatening the Brocton goal. In fact Gary Fife very nearly scores a second but fires over with a fierce shot from a few yards out.

Westfields however gradually get back on top and with their full backs pushing down the flanks are getting more urgent in their efforts to score the winning goal.

  The rain has come back too, the conditions adding to the drama of the last stages of the match.

With just 3 minutes to go, the hosts win a free kick on the right. The ball is driven in low, skidding of the wet turf and looks to deflect off a defender before going past the flailing arms of the keeper.

             (Here Westfields players celebrate their late second goal)

So Westfields have won the game at the death. They seemed to want it more than their opponents who maybe had settled on holding on for a draw.

It's been a disappointing match, with Westfields looking out of sorts and not the same team that was playing with a free flowing style 2 years ago. The attendance though was an impressive 148. 

Brocton I'm sure will improve after their stuttering start but definitely need to improve in attack because from what I saw today, only the experienced Gary Fife looks to be a threat up front.

When I am travelling back to Worcester, the rain soon stops and when the coach is climbing up the side of the Malvern Hills, I can see across Herefordshire over to the Welsh mountains, with the setting sun gleaming out from the rain clouds. We cut through the Hills at Wyche and start on our way down on to Great Malvern. Below us a rainbow is shining and makes me wish I could take a photo of this spectacle from the confines of the coach. 

PS. I sent some of my match photos to Brocton, which have been put on their website by their Publicity Officer, Adam Checkley. He also told me that any visiting 'groundhoppers' are always most welcome at the club. Very sociable!