For my match today I am dropping down the divisions to the 2nd Division of the Midland Football League. The match I will be covering is the league clash between the basement boys of Earlswood Town against fifth placed Rostance Edwards (who play in Bloxwich).
The weather today will be mainly cloudy and cool, with the chance of sunny intervals and it's certainly cloudy when I set out from Worcester Shrub Hill rail station. I visited here last season and I have kept in touch from time to time with their Press Officer and Vice-Chairman, John Sharpe, as I have sent him a few photos from other games I have covered, for articles in their programme (which sadly is not published
now).
I get to Birmingham OK but then find out that there is only one train per hour that calls at Earlwood Town's local station, called 'The Lakes' and then it's a request stop. Oh well, it just means that I will miss the first few minutes of the match. The Lakes in question are the Earlswood Lakes (3 in total), that were man made in the 1820's in order to supply water to the nearby Stratford Canal, which it still does to this day. They are a local tourist attraction too, where there is a sailing club, it's a haven for anglers, there is a craft centre and there is a wildlife reserve there too!
When I do reach my stop on the line, which continues to Stratford-upon-Avon, it's 2:59pm and after walking down nearby Malthouse Lane, I reach the ground entrance at 3:05pm.
As I had walked down the lane, I'd heard the shouts of the players but guessed that no goals had been scored in the first few minutes and I am proved right by the guys at the gate telling me so when I pay my entrance fee.
Earlswood, 'the Earls' are playing in their usual home strip of red and white striped shirts, with black shorts and socks. Rostance Edwards are in their usual all blue kit.
For the first 10 minutes, it's the home team who are the dominant team and Rostance are unable to get over the half way line.
Although Earlswood have the majority of play they can't press home their advantage and then the visitors start putting pressure on The Earls defence.
In the 16th minute a left wing cross is headed by the Rostance No.7, whose effort hits the bar and is then put in to the net by their No 10, 0-1!
Rostance Edwards twice more go close to scoring in the next 8 minutes and then the home team are awarded a penalty when their No.9, Matt Green, looks to have been shoved in the back while looking to shoot in the penalty area.
Unfortunately the spot kick is saved by the keeper and The Earls goal scoring problems continue.
Both teams have chances to score but the first half ends with the visitors still a goal to the good. Earlswood have displayed some good approach play during the first 45 minutes but have shown a lack of composure in front of goal.
The Earls have had a disastrous start to the season and only last week managed to obtain their first point after a draw v Austrey Rangers. They have had to build virtually a new team this term after a mass exodus of their best players at the end of last season and as a result have suffered some heavy defeats.
So the second half starts and after 50 minutes are awarded a free kick but this is saved by the Rostance keeper when it's taken.
After 61 minutes the visitors show they are still hungry for goals when after a good break down the right and the ball is crossed to their No.9 who just fails to connect properly with an attempted scissor kick on the edge of the area.
5 minutes later and The Earls attack down the left which ends with a curled shot going just wide of the far post.
(Earlswood Town No.7, Daniel Wallace, squeezes past 2 Rostance defenders)
After 65 minutes, there is a double substitution, when their forwards, No's 9 & 10 are replaced. In the case of the No.9 it's probably a good idea because over the last few minutes he's been having a niggly running feud with the Rostance No 3.
Rostance Edwards think they have scored again when a cross from the right is swept in by their No.8 but it's ruled out for offside.
In the 86th minute, an Earlswood free kick from the right is headed just wide and then shortly after, when I look up after checking some photos on my camera, I see the Earlswood No.5, Bradley Morris, trooping off the field. I learn later that he was sent off for allegedly spitting at an opponent in front of the referee. Not a pleasant act and a deserved dismissal.
With just 2 minutes to go, the visitors are awarded a penalty kick after Earls keeper, David Hancock, has been ruled to have brought down the Rostance No 11 (as shown below), and the same player slots the ball home to confirm his sides victory.
I leave the ground soon after, hurrying to catch my train which leaves in 6 minutes time. I hear the final whistle blown, just after I turn to walk down the road and know the final score has remained at 0-2 to Rostance Edwards, who have proved to be more ruthless in front of goal today.
So although Earlswood are still routed firmly to the bottom of the table, I have seen signs today that provided they can score a few goals, potentially they have the fight to move themselves up the table in the coming months. Rostance Edwards on the hand look as if they might be pushing for promotion.
Match attendance: 36
Match entrance fee: £3
Match programme: None available
Match entertainment: 6/10
Footnote: Earlswood Vice-Chairman John Sharpe informed me that he thinks the club earned the title of 'Town', when Earlswood, (which is clearly a village), is that about 40 years ago there were plans to have a large number of houses built in the area to take a lot of the Birmingham overflow but there was local opposition to this and the development never took place. The club though probably jumped the gun and renamed the club as Earlswood Town and remains that way to this day.
After much prevarication I have finally decided to go to watch the Div 3 top-of-the-table clash between 2nd placed Rostance Edwards against the visiting leaders of Alcester Town, today at Grosvenor Park in Bloxwich, in the Midland Football League.
Originally I had been looking to go to either Kington Town or Highgate United for their respective top table matches but thought I'd give this game a go as I have been meaning to check out Alcester for a while now.
After making my way on the train from Worcester to Walsall, the weather has turned in to a bright sunny day but with a stiff south-westerly wind. I get an egg & chips at the Gardenia Cafe and then I stroll over to the nearby bus station and catch the No.301 bus that takes me in to Bloxwich.
I have been to this ground 3 times before in the past. When I get there, I make a mistake at first by trying to get in to the club house as this was the entrance route last season. The have re-opened the turnstile gate now though and when I get in I have plenty of time to have a cup of tea and a look at the 50p programme (which has some good jokes inside).
Alcester Town and Rostance Edwards are the top 2 teams but they are being chased hard by Austrey Rangers, who are playing at 3rd placed Smithswood Firs this afternoon.
The teams come out in their usual first team colours, Rostance in their all-blue strip and Alcester in their red and black striped shirts.
This ground has a slope going down from the entrance end (north), where a low seated stand can be found. The club house and tea bar are to be found along the western side opposite the dug-outs and there is some high fencing that encloses the southern end of the ground, which is where I go to take photos.
The game is turning out to be an even affair with the visitors threatening after 11 minutes when their No.9 curls in a cross from the left that one of his fellow forwards just fails to connect with in a good position.
In the next 3 minutes, Rostance Edwards (who are kicking up the slope) hit back with 2 free kicks that are awarded to them on the right. The first is well held by the Alcester keeper, who then tips over the next one over the bar after it had been on target to go in to the top right corner.
I can't help noticing that the Rostance Edwards No.5 looks as if he's had a few good lunches recently. Joking aside though he's proving to be the main prompter of some of their attacks.
On 27 minutes, from the half way line and using the following wind to good effect, he arrows in a good ball to one of their forwards on the left who then puts in a good shot across the visitor's goal.
Six minutes later and the home side have taken the lead. I must admit I have missed this due to fiddling around with my camera at the time.
(The dejected Alcester players watch the Rostance players celebrating their goal)
A few minutes later and Rostance Edwards have a lucky escape. Alcester are awarded a free kick to the left of the home goal and from it the ball is flicked on where a desperate defender touches it on to the post and out!
Their reprieve does not last long when in the 43rd minute, the Alcester No.11 runs on to the ball in to the Rostance penalty area and is adjudged to have been pushed in the back by a defender.
The fouled Alcester player takes the penalty himself and slots the ball in to the net for a vital equaliser (as shown below).
Half time sees both teams with still everything to play for and I must admit I can't see how it will go. I do know that it will be another tight contest, as these two teams look evenly matched.
With the home side attacking the southern end where I'm stationed, I see that their No.11 looks to be impeded in only the 2nd minute but nothing is awarded.
In the 21st minute the Alcester No.6 is helped off the pitch after injuring his right knee.
3 minutes later and a good ball sees it go to the Rostance No.11 on the right. He manages to turn past a defender only to see his shot saved. Another home attack sees them go close again when a header comes back off the post, hits the keeper's knee and goes out for a corner.
In the 38th minute, a cross from the left by the home team sees a desperately attempted clearance by an Alcester defender hit his own arm but penalty appeals are dismissed by the referee.
Then in the next Alcester attack, one of their forwards is allowed a free header but it's just not strong enough to trouble the keeper.
An honourable 1-1 draw for both teams which keeps Alcester in top spot and 3 points ahead of Rostance Edwards. I later find out that Austrey Rangers have displaced Smithswood Firs in 3rd spot after thumping them 5-1. They are now 4 points behind Rostance but with 3 games in hand over them and Alcester.
It's been a keenly fought if at times scrappy contest, no doubt not helped by the blustery wind blowing up the pitch which hindered goal kicks going over the half way line, even down the slope.
Match entrance fee: £2
Match programme: 50p
Match attendance: approx 35
Match entertainment: 6.5/10
A gale lashed UK is not a great place for outdoor sports at the moment and I was getting worried that maybe all the local football in the West Midlands was going to fall foul of this inclement weather.
At first I was looking to be adventurous (for me) and travel to a new ground at Shifnal in Shropshire but a phone call at 10:30am on my way to the train station found the pitch there had failed the pitch inspection. So I phoned my second option and am told the match at Rostance Edwards FC in Bloxwich had been given the go ahead.
They are playing in the Quarter-Final of the Staffordshire Challenge Cup against Lichfield City Reserves. Both teams compete in the Midland Combination league, Rostance in the 2nd Division and Lichfield in Reserve Division 1.
As it is a 2pm kick-off, I have to get the next train to Walsall as soon as I can when alighting at New Street station. I arrive in Walsall about 12:55 and have just enough time to snatch a bacon & sausage sandwich before taking the bus from the nearby bus station for my 10 minute journey to Bloxwich.
The Red Lion ground where the match is being played is not a new ground for me as I watched the now defunct Bloxwich United play here about 4 years ago. Rostance Edwards are a new team for me though and I have just found out a bit more about them before writing this post today. The name is derived from a company of Chartered Accountants based in Cannock and was formed in 1998 by the sports enthusiast,David Rostance and Barry Edwards (who is also the club's Chairman). I don't know how long the team have been going but do know that they acheived entry to the Midland Combination this season.
When I get off the bus and make the short 10 minute walk to the ground, I start to wonder if they have already kicked off, even though it's 1:40pm. It sounds as if they are playing when I walk in to the entrance of the club house and the guy who is taking the £2 entrance fee tells me it was changed to a 1:30pm start because it is a cup game. Oh well, it's good to be watching a game of some sort today, rather than having a wasted journey like what happened to me last week when travelling to see Mahal FC in Smethwick only to find the gates locked.
Rostance are playing in blue and Lichfield in their away strip of all red. Lichfield are on top for the first 10-15 minutes which I watch.
However Rostance are the first to score when their skilful No.7 goes down the left wing and crosses for one of his fellow forwards to nod past the Lichfield keeper.
(These Rostance Edwards players celebrate their first goal)
Their lead is short lived however and Lichfield equalise from a corner a few minutes later (as shown below).
This galvanises the Rostance team and they restore their goal advantage just before half-time.
It's been a good game so far,despite the pitch being quite muddy in places and I'm glad I came today. Iv'e noticed that there is quite a slope on the pitch from the north end , where the stand with seating is situated to the southern end. At the side where the entrance can be found, are also located the clubhouse and refreshment bar. This ground also has floodlights (although I don't know if they are used at all).
There is a good crowd of about 40 from what I can see, which is good for this level of football.
So after my half-time coffee I just have enough time to get ready for the next 45 minutes of action.
Although Rostance Edwards are the more dangerous looking team going forward, Lichfield at times do have more possession of the ball.
A third goal is duly scored by the home side though and Lichfield lose heart a bit. With the home team becoming more dominant it's only a matter of time before they score a fourth with about 10 minutes to go.
So Rostance Edwards have deservedly won today, with their forwards playing well, although their No.9 was injured just above his left knee and had to hobble off the pitch with assistance after scoring the last goal.
I'm sure they will be hoping for a home draw in the Semi-Final of this competition now.
