Today I am going to cover the Midland Combination match at the Triplex Sports Association ground in Kings Norton. The home team, Pilkington XXX, who are lying next to bottom in the Premier League table are taking on 10th placed Stafford Town.
Indeed this is the second time in the last week that these 2 teams have locked horns. The previous game, a Les James Cup tie at Stafford's Evans Park, was a bit of a classic, the game went to extra time and Stafford triumphed in a 6-4 win. I think both team's managers must have had a few sleepless nights this week contemplating this match. Although both teams played in that recent exciting game, the attendance looks to be a poor one with kick-off just 5 minutes away. I can only count another 8 other spectators in the ground at this point. Thankfully there are some latecomers and a few more emerge from the club house.
Due decorum is observed, when after both teams take to the field, a minutes silence is observed in respect of the fallen in the World Wars.
Stafford have to wear their 2nd strip of all yellow today while Pilkington are in their red and dark blue kit. The day has a definite autumnal feel to it, distinctly chilly with the sun having to struggle from out of the clouds.
Pilkington start off in attack mode and are definitely looking to make amends for last week's result. Stafford have great difficulty in breaking out of their own half for the first 10 minutes.
Although Pilkington are in territorial control of the game so far, they are struggling to put the ball in the net. Stafford though do come back in to the match for the last 20 minutes of the first half.
( Odane Barnes battles against two Stafford defenders)
In my view the best chance of the half, sees Stafford's No.11 attempting to clear the ball from his team's penalty area but only succeeds in giving the ball to the Pilkington centre-forward, who opts for placing his shot and sees it turned around the post by the keeper. Should have been 1-0!
All in all, I think Pilkington should be ahead at half-time and I'm sure the Manager will be telling the players that too.
The second-half sees Pilkington still in the ascendancy and after 63 minutes they take the lead! Their lively muscular forward, Odane Barnes, who scored a hat-trick in the cup game at Stafford the previous Saturday, is left unmarked at a free-kick and duly obliges by rising up and flicking the ball with his head in to the net.
( Goal scorer, Odane Barnes is engulfed by excuberant team mates)
While the players are trekking back to the half way line, a member of the Pilkington coaching team who is passing by, shouts encouragingly 'Come on The Pilks, let's build on this!' Unfortunately his words seem to goad the Stafford team to act in retribution and within the next minute have equalised. I didn't even see the goal as I was quickly checking on my camera if I had captured the Pilkington goal (I got the player on screen but not in focus).
So Pilkington are trying desperately now to recapture the lead but Stafford Town are dangerous on the break.
The game ends with the teams all-square but I thought Pilkington shaded it on the day and their display bodes well I think for the rest of the season.
I finally got my football season under way today when I took in the pre-season friendly between Pilkington XXX of the Midland Combination Premier League and Solihull Moors Under-21's side.
Originally I had earmarked the Midland Alliance game at Heath Hayes v Loughborough University as my first game, as it would have been a new ground for me. However I received an email from the Pilkington President, Saul Gray, asking me to come along to their game as there was going to be a special presentation for one of their committee members, a certain, Dennis Ellis, in recognition of his 50 years of service to Non-League football in the Birmingham area and he wanted me to take photos of the occasion. I agreed to go as I like to hear about these kind of stories of dedicated service to the game.
When I set out on the train from Worcester Foregate Street, the weather forecast was of sunshine and showers and the closer we got to Birmingham, the cloudier it got. On the way to my destination at King's Norton it did rain but miraculously stopped just before we reached there.
I arrived at the Triplex Sports Ground in time for the presentation at 1pm. Dennis Ellis was invited to join Pilkington's committee last year and his presentation was set up at the ground for Dennis surrounded by his good wife,family and friends.Dennis was a keen player in the South Birmingham Saturday and Sunday Leagues but unfortunately sustained a severe leg injury which curtailed his playing career at an early age. In his 50 years of service to the game, Dennis has taken on the roles of, Club Secretary, Press Officer, Referee, member of the Birmingham County FA Council, Secretary & Manager of a successful Sunday football team for 13 years AND a kit man. He was instrumental in the rise of the Castle Vale football team too until they folded last year. A successful man of many roles and a gentleman too by all who know him.
Steve Poole, the Vice-Chairman of the Birmingham County FA led the presentation with a speech praising Dennis for his big contribution to Non-League football in the local area and presented him with a special service medal.
(Here is Dennis in the centre with a signed Pilkington XXX shirt, with the club's Committee in attendance and Steve Poole, next to last on the right.Well done Dennis!)
Everyone who attended were well looked after with plenty of refreshments.
(Here, Dennis blows out candles on his 50th Anniversary cake)
So now to Pilkington's final pre-season friendly. There was a final downpour of 10 minutes duration which thankfully ended 10 minutes before the game and then both teams came on to the pitch in their new kits. Pilkington in their red shirts with dark blue shorts and socks and Solihull in a blue and yellow striped kit. I could see that Pilkington had a lot of new faces in their side and mainly younger ones at that. Prior to this game they had won 5 of their 6 previous friendlies too!
The match starts off at a brisk pace with both sides eager to impress and sharpen themselves up for the new season with Pilkington having the lion's share of possession but can't make the most of their early dominance.
Solihull take the lead after 20 minutes and a bit later should have scored a second but one of their forwards makes the mistake of making sure the ball goes over the line and is flagged up for off-side.
In first-half injury time, the Pilkington keeper comes racing out to help clear the ball but only succeeds in clattering in to one of his own defenders.
After a delay of five minutes he manages to get up on his feet. Although walking with a limp he carries on in goal for the rest of the game on one good leg.
So it's 0-1 to Solihull at half-time and still everything to play for.
The attendance today looks to be about 50 and I chat to 2 Solihull supporters. One says that there is not much between the teams but Solihull have the greater threat up-front, which is about right from what I have seen so far. Pilkington's defence thankfully do seem to have improved from last season when they had the worst goal difference in the division.
Again the second-half is played at a good pace and although there are not many chances on goal it's a good competitive game. The No.7 for Pilkington shows a lot of pace and troubles the Solihull defence on several occasions. (Seen below with 2 markers in attendance)
Of course both sides make several substitutions during this half and Solihull score another goal, which I miss while checking over some shots on my camera screen.
( One of the Pilkington substitutes runs at the Solhull defence)
So the game ends with a 2-0 win for the visitors and it's been a worthwhile workout for both sides. On the evidence of this match I think Pilkington should have a better season this time and look forward to seeing them again soon.
Today I have travelled to the Triplex Sports Association ground of Pilkington XXX, which is located close to the Kings Norton railway station, in Eckersall Road, Birmingham.
I had texted the Pilkington Chairman, Saul Gray, the previous day asking if he thought the game would would be played, as I had noticed that on Saturday, many games in the Birmingham area had been postponed. He said that he would text me as soon as possible the next day about this.
So today just after 10am he texts me affirming that it will go ahead. I have taken photos here on 2 previous occasions and the club have used my photos to illustrate their programmes and I get free admission!
Pilkington XXX unfortunately are having a bad season and find themselves just 2 places off the bottom of the Premier Division table, while today's opponents, Bromsgrove Sporting find themselves in a creditable 3rd place after their promotion from last season.
About 70 Bromsgrove fans,have boosted the attendance to a healthy 102 after making the short trip north for this game.
I station myself at the Club House end of the ground to photograph potential Pilkington attacks. After the game starts, Pilkington certainly do attack for most of the first 20 minutes.
( The Pilkington number 9 has a shot blocked)
However, with only their 2nd or 3rd attack of the match, Bromsgrove break away quickly down the left after the breakdown of a Pilkington corner and score the first goal!
( Pilkington forward, Dan Carter, manages to fire in a shot )
Unfortunately for the home side, Bromsgrove repeat this feat 3 more times before half-time to kill the game as a contest. Of course this pleases their supporters and they applaud their players off the pitch at the interval.
The second-half sees Bromsgrove in good control of the game and Pilkington have to defend desperately at times.
Sporting however only manage to score one more goal and achieve the double over Pilkington with an identical scoreline from their first match.
So Bromsgrove will be looking to finish the season with a top 5 finish considering some teams below them have games in hand but Pilkington will have to fight hard to make sure they don't finish at the bottom after they lost to Racing Club Warwick 2 days previously.
