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

STAFFORD RANGERS SIGN OFF WITH A WIN!

So, it's Easter Monday and where will I go today. I had been hankering to go to see Rugby Town v Barton Rovers in a play-off clash in the Calor Southern League, Central Division but after seeing the previous day's late night weather forecast with the threat of heavy showers, I decided to head north again and go to another new ground today, namely the Marston Road ground of Stafford Rangers. Looking at the weather map, it looks more likely that if I go north then it's less likely to rain. 

I set off on the train from Worcester, a bit later than I wanted. After changing trains at New Street in Birmingham I am making way to Stafford on the Liverpool train. After 35 minutes I am getting off at Stafford and walk out of the station in to the spring sunshine and cross the road and find myself in Victoria Park. This is a pleasant entrance to a new town for me. The River Sow winds it's way through this park and there are plenty of families spending some leisure time in this pleasant area. On the other side of this I find myself in Stafford's town centre, with plenty of historical timbered buildings lining the main street.

After having a look around the town's shopping centre and partaking of a chicken burger and chips from the burger van in the town square, I make my way up the road for the 15 minute walk to the Stafford Rangers ground in Marston Road.

I'm surprised to find myself walking along side Stafford Prison and then streets of terraced housing. When I arrive near the entrance to the ground I find there are lots of fun activities mainly for kids, like bouncy castles etc. Good idea for a holiday weekend.

I pay £9 at the turnstile and part with another £2 for a programme.
For a few weeks now, Stafford have known for a weeks that after a bad season they are doomed for relegation. Their opponents, Nantwich, have achieved mid-table safety.

There is a crowd of 394 today with a noisy contingent from Nantwich who are providing drum led musical entertainment on the far side of the ground, which gives a livelier atmosphere to the proceedings.

The 2 teams take to the field with Stafford in their usual black & white stripes and Nantwich in their away strip of yellow shirts & blue shorts.

     (Stafford's  Saul Henderson is tracked by a Nantwich Town defender) 

There is lots of endeavour by both teams but not much composure in this half and consequently not many chances. 

Nantwich have the best chances with Meaney, White and Aaron Burns having efforts on goal.

Saul Henderson has the best effort for Stafford Rangers when he fires over the bar.

             (Stafford full-back, Oliver Davies looks to go on the attack)

So still 0-0 at the break and maybe some goals in the next 45 minutes? Stafford's ground has a capacity of 6,000 with one large main stand with seating on the Marston Road side and on the other side there is a covered standing area for most of the length of the pitch.

When play resumes, Stafford start to get more of the play. Substitute, Jack Edward's header hits the post and out and then their lively midfielder goes close too.

At the other end, Max Harrop fails to chip Stafford's keeper, Andy Jones (as shown below).

After 65 minutes, Rangers take the lead through Saul Henderson who after receiving the ball on the left, cuts inside to place a shot inside the far post. Also soon after he hits the side netting too in another attack.

Nantwich come back strongly but Aaron Burns shoots over the bar with their best chance.

  So Stafford Rangers have signed off with a win with their last home league game this season. It seems that the fans would like to see the current manager, Graham Heathcote, stay on and lead them back to this division as soon as possible.

They are certainly a club with potential and I would like to see them do well in the future.