Today I am heading west to Hereford. I want to see the Herefordshire Football League clash between Hinton and the reigning champions, Ewyas Harold. They are currently occupying 3rd and 4th places in the Premier Division.
It's a fine day when I set out from Worcester on the train and it's a very pleasant journey, going through Malvern and then the rolling Herefordshire countryside. I duly arrive at about 11:40 am and I have plenty of time to have a look round the market in the city centre.
There is an arts market too today and some of it is worth a browse, especially some classy looking pottery. I have a sausage and bacon panini from one of the food stalls
and then I'm ready to go to the match!
As I am making my way down Barton Road, I look across the road to Hereford Rugby Club and can see that it's got flood water from the nearby River Wye on the pitch. As Hinton FC are located close to the river, I decide to change my plans and will go to Hereford Lads Club FC rather than risk the chance of being disappointed. I have seen their ground before on my trips to see Westfields FC. (I later find out that Hinton's match did go ahead, they lost 1-6, so their ground must be on higher ground than I thought!)
Unfortunately the walk to Lads Club's ground takes a bit longer than expected and so for the 3rd match in a row, I'm 10 minutes late for the game. There is no entrance fee and I ask one of the spectators, if there has been any goals so far? He says no and there hasn't even been a shot on goal yet either. It turns out that he is supporting his son who is playing at full back for the Team Dudley side, the visiting team today. They are the senior team from Dudley College and I saw them 3 months ago at Worcester Raiders, when they lost 1-10.
Lads Club are playing in an all blue strip while Dudley are in black and red stripes.
After watching a so far even looking encounter, Team Dudley take the lead after 21 minutes when their No.8 slots home the ball inside the left hand post.
Just a minute later, Lads Club go on the attack and win a corner. Dudley are not able to clear the ball and a mass scramble takes place in the visitor's penalty area (seen below).
Just after things are looking up for the students, after 29 minutes they have a player sent off! Their No.11,Jahmal Patterson, goes on a run down the right, is fouled and retaliates. Both players push and shove each other, the ref intervenes has a talk with the Dudley player and then shows him a red card (as shown below).
This looks a bit harsh to me but I didn't have a good view of the incident.
Although now down to 10 men, Team Dudley are still very much in the game and in the 34th minute they go close scoring again when their No.10 shoots just over the bar from the right.
Lads Club do equalise though when they are awarded a free kick on the left. A well flighted cross comes over and their No.6, Danny Moon, races in behind the Dudley defence to plant a firm header in to the far side of the net. Good goal!
So it's all square at the interval and it will be interesting to see if Team Dudley can get a result against the odds.
Hereford Lads Club play at the County Ground of the Herefordshire FA, in the Widemarsh Common area. Just across the road from their ground are 3 football pitches and a cricket pitch. A football game is taking place there this afternoon although I have no idea who the teams are, although it's probably a Herefordshire League game of some sort. Also close by is the allpay Park ground of Westfields who play in the Premier Division of the Midland Football League. This afternoon they are playing Batsford United (and lost 0-2). It's a veritable hotbed of football round here!
The Lads Club have several junior teams and a ladies team too. I noticed also when coming pass the ground today that there is a boxing club here too.
Play resumes and it's Lads Club who turn the screw, having the major share of possession, leaving Dudley to try and hit them on the break.
Dudley's keeper makes a good save after 49 minutes and ten minutes later he makes another crucial stop after a good through ball is played through his defence.
The home side though go into the lead after more sustained pressure in the 66th minute when Steve Dixon slots in the ball after being put in by a good through ball.
Team Dudley hit back and go very close to an equaliser when James Hill hits a shot that comes back off the underside of the bar.
Lads Club go close 3 times before Team Dudley's James Hill hits a shot just wide a few minutes from full time.
So it's been an interesting contest with Team Dudley defending well against the home team who stay in 4th place in the table although several teams below them have games in hand on them.
Entertainment value: 6.5/10
Entrance fee: free
Match programme: none available
Match attendance: 20-25
I have decided to visit a local team today, namely Worcester Raiders who play at Claines Lane on the northern outskirts of my home city. Last season they were promoted from the 2nd Division of the West Midlands League and are doing well this season too. Their opponents today are Team Dudley, who are the senior team of Dudley College and I saw them play last season at Cadbury Athletic in the Birmingham Vase.
Also I didn't see many games in this league last season and want to rectify this this season as it is this League's 125th anniversary season.
I have transport problems at the bus station as the No 144 bus does not leave until 2:40pm rather than the advertised 2:30pm. The slowness of the driver making his way from the staff room to the bus is a sight to behold and is a good reminder of why I try to avoid using their services as much as possible. It amazes me that this does not seem to faze my fellow passengers.....they must be resigned to having such a crap service!
I make it to the ground just before kick-off and I'm quite surprised to see 2 young lads sitting at a table which acts as a turnstile for the ground. When I came here 2 years ago to see the now defunct Archdales FC, there was no charge. I pay the £3 entrance, £1 for raffle tickets and receive a free four page programme. I certainly don't mind paying the money as I'm sure the club have plenty of expenses.
As I walk the short distance to the pitch I realise the teams are just about to kick off. The Raiders are in a red and black strip while the Dudley side are in all blue.
Just as I am getting my camera out of my rucksack, I quickly look up to see the ball nestling in the corner of the net after Worcester Raiders have scored direct from a corner (courtesy of Anthony Smith I find out later). This leaves me inwardly cursing the bus company for helping me miss the goal.
Fortunately I don't have to wait long for the next one! After 5 minutes, the Raiders striker, Jamie Insall, steals possession off a Dudley defender (as shown below) and slots the ball past the advancing keeper.
Just 3 minutes later, the Raiders win a free kick which is quickly taken and No.17, Joey Haines lifts the ball over the keeper for goal number 3, (as shown below).
The Raiders front line is certainly causing the students a lot of problems with their movement and tenacity in hunting down the ball. This is typified by Jamie Insall, who has a proven track record of goal scoring at this level. Team Dudley also make life difficult for themselves at times by not clearing the ball quickly enough.
After 28 minutes, Insall has scored his second after lobbing the keeper.
It's certainly not all one way traffic though and Team Dudley pull a goal back when after a mistake by a Worcester defender, their impressive No.7 lobs the ball over the advancing home keeper.
Also the visitors nearly get a second when after good work by their No.9 a shot is well saved by the young Jackson Huxley.
So it's 4-1 to the Raiders at half-time and now looks to be just a matter of how big the winning margin will be.
It's a very pleasant day to watch this game and the ground has a rural feel to it with trees on 2 sides, more trees behind the higher ground at the back, with another pitch on the left hand side. There are a set of steps leading up to the club house and changing rooms between the 2 pitches. Some of the spectators have been watching the contest sat outside the club house where they must have a good elevated view of the ground. On the right hand side of the pitch is a small covered area flanked by both dug-outs. There are no floodlights and I wonder if Worcester Raiders will be looking to erect some if they qualify for promotion?
After Iv'e checked the Premiership's half time scores, the teams are trooping back on to the pitch and the Raiders have soon scored again after some slack defending and their No.6 has again lobbed the keeper.
Team Dudley soon go on the attack and twice go close to scoring themselves.
Then it's that man Insall again with him blasting the ball home after having his first shot blocked and the defence failing to clear it. 2 minutes later he's scored his 4th goal after shooting in the ball off the outside of his boot.
3 minutes later in the 66th minute, it's goal number 8 when the Raiders No.6, Ben Harbourne has headed in from a corner and before he is substituted, Insall sees a shot crash off the underside of the bar and out!
The Raiders last 2 goals are scored by their No.10, Richard Smith, who has scored 7 goals already before today.
Team Dudley have most of the play in the last 15 minutes and their No.7 has a good run and shoots just past the post.
(Team Dudley's No.7 is stopped in unorthodox fashion by his marker)
So 10-1 is the final scoreline and as a result of this big score, Worcester Raiders jump up to second place behind Bromyard Town in the league table.
The Raiders certainly have a dangerous forward line with Insall and Richard Smith always likely to score goals in most games and Richard's brother Anthony, providing the unexpected and unusual with his dribbling skills. It will be interesting to see how they fare against stronger, more experienced opposition this season.
Team Dudley were promoted to this division from last season and they could struggle in this one although they do have some skilful players, especially up front.
Match attendance: 25-35?
Match entrance fee: £3
Match programme: free
Entertainment value: 8/10
I am travelling to the pleasant leafy 'village' of Bournville, in Birmingham today to see some Cup action. It's the 2nd Round of the Birmingham FA Saturday Vase, that sees Cadbury Athletic, of the Midland Combination Div 1, at home to the visiting team of Team Dudley, from the West Midlands League, Div 2.
This is a new ground and a new competition for me. I have had my eye on a visit here for a while now and with a 1:30 pm kick-off, it means I will be able to take photos in natural light for 90 minutes.
I arrive at the ground in Bournville Lane after leaving the nearby rail station.It's a cool,cloudy day and I arrive 15 minutes before the game starts, enough time for a cuppa in the refreshment area on the ground level of the magnificent Pavilion building that is also home to the cricket club. The changing rooms are just to the back of this area.
The teams come out with the Cadbury team in their usual colours of purple and white (the same as the company's) and Dudley are in all-red.
Cadbury Athletic are currently at the top of their League table while Team Dudley are also doing well in 2nd place in their's. Dudley ground share at Dudley Town's Dell Stadium and are the senior team of Dudley College.
Their are 2 main football fields at Bournville Lane along with 2 smaller pitches. There is also a Bowls Green in the corner and in the summer months cricket is played here too.
As the game kicks off there seems to be about 30 spectators around the pitch. Cadbury Athletic have started off brightly and the visiting keeper has to be on his toes.
( Cadbury's Cordell Jones, fends off the Team Dudley No.5)
Dudley though do get some attacks going and it's quite an even game. Cadbury though take the lead on 20 minutes when Cordell Jones, acrobatically volleys in from the edge of the penalty area, taking everybody by surprise.
(A kneeling Cordell Jones, watches the ball cross the line)
Within the next 11 minutes, Cadbury score another 3 goals and the tie as a contest is over. The Dudley coach is not a happy man and it looks as if the score is going to be 8 or 9-0 at this rate.
The students however manage to make it to the interval with no more goals conceded. Cadbury are a very good attacking team and should be in the Premier Division of their League on this showing.
Team Dudley seem to having more of the possession in the 2nd half although they are not troubling the Cadbury keeper in to action much.
( A rare Team Dudley free-kick )
Although Cadbury's score another goal, Dudley manage to score a consolation goal a few minutes before the end and they have certainly kept battling to the end, which does them credit.
(Cadbury striker, Stuart Butcher attacks the Dudley defence)
So Cadbury have booked their place to 3rd Round and it will be interesting to see who they play next in this competition.
Cadbury's Recreation Ground is well worth a visit even though there is not much in the way of cover, unless you can shelter under The Pavilion.
