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.
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.
A few days ago I realised that I had ignored the West Midlands League so far this season, so decided to rectify this, this Saturday. I also thought it would be a good opportunity to visit a new ground too and 2 grounds came to mind while scanning over the fixture list, namely those of Cradley Town and Dudley Sports. Both are reachable by bus from Stourbridge too.
So today I am travelling by train to the Stourbridge Town station and the forecast is not too bad, cloudy but not much rain. After getting to Stourbridge Junction station I see the connecting shuttle train to the 'Town' station just disappearing round the corner. Rats! So instead of waiting another 10 mins for it to come back, I decide to stretch my legs and take the 15-20 minute walk to the town centre.
I get in to town and have a look round the shops, noting along the way that they have completed the new shopping area by the new Tesco and the new entrance for the Library. Also I find a Record/CD fair at a local church, which I find out is to be found there on the first Saturday of the month. There are some good potential buys there but decide not to be extravagant today.
After a good meal at a French style cafe/restaurant I phone up the number for Cradley's ground and am told the good news that the game is going ahead despite the recent rain. I take the No.142 'Diamond' bus for Halesowen which passes near the Cradley ground. After a 20 minutes bus journey I take the five minute walk to Beeches View Avenue where the driveway to 'The Beeches' ground can be found.
I get to the entrance and part with £4 entrance fee + £1 for a programme, which proves to be a good read. It has recent match reports with photos too!
Cradley's ground is a bit of a ramshackle affair. By the ground entrance is the Club House and the eastern end of the pitch. This is covered but with no seats. The ground is situated on the side of a hill overlooking the nearby countryside. The pitch slopes a bit from one side to the other. There is a small stand with 2 rows of seats on the higher side of the pitch and at the western end of the ground is another stand with more seats in the middle. I go to this end as I will be sheltered from the stiff wind and won't be taking my photos in to the sun.
When the teams take to the pitch I see that Black Country Rangers are in their 2nd strip of all pale blue as Cradley play in all red. Rangers are doing very well with 12 wins from 13 matches and lie 3rd in the table. Cradley meanwhile are in 9th position.
(Full-back, Alex Hammond (left) lunges in to tackle this Cradley player)
I see that there is another photographer nearby and find out it is another 'ground hopper' I met at an FA Vase match at Walsall Wood last season, who has travelled from Market Drayton in Shropshire. He tells me that he came here before...20 years ago!
The match is being played in autumn sunshine and for the early part of the 1st half, the visitors are looking the more dangerous. However Cradley get in to the game more and go close a couple of times before they take the lead, when Scott Devlin fires in a great free kick in to the net from the right.
(Scott Devlin, seen here being congratulated by his team mates)
There is another photographer who joins us at this end of the ground. It's the Club Secretary's wife, Jean Attwood, who takes the photos for the Cradley programme. She is very pleased that she has captured a snap of the goal.
Rangers are awarded a penalty when one of their players is pushed over in the box. With five minutes to go to the interval this will put them back on track. However their penalty taker shoots too close to Matt Jones the Cradley keeper and he blocks the shot with his legs.
So 1-0 to Cradley at half-time and an upset is on the cards as the home team are playing well.
The weather is taking a change for the worse though and we have a shower for 5-10 minutes. Although the rain goes, the cloud doesn't and when the teams come back, it's decidedly murky. For the first 10 minutes of this half, it's pretty dark and then the nearest set of floodlights come to life. It takes another 10 minutes for the other floodlights to come on, one after the other down the pitch.
Back to the football and Cradley start the brighter, fashion out 2 good chances and the fancied Rangers are looking decidedly rattled. Gradually Black Country do get back back in to the match and after 57 minutes, equalise through their No.9, Jozsef Jakab. I wonder if he comes from Poland?
(Jakab is congratulated on his equaliser)
Black Country Rangers finish the game, well on top and score a third before the end, although I don't think it's a fair reflection of the whole match. I think Cradley have played well today and were certainly in the running for the first 60 minutes.
(Jozsef Jakab goes close again with a header)
The attendance today looks about 50-60 to me and Black Country move in to 2nd place in the table behind the leaders, Cradley's Black Country rivals, Lye Town.
The Beeches is a 'homely' quirky little ground, that's certainly worth a visit, with plenty of shelter from the elements at this time of year.
Today is FA Cup, 4th Qualifying Round day! All the teams taking part are just 90 minutes away from the 1st Round draw.
I have decided to watch my home club's game against Lincoln City, at their temporary home at Kidderminster's ground of Aggborough. It will be the first time that I have seen them this season and I'm looking forward to it as we have plenty of new faces in the team. Although we are struggling in the League, our defence is functioning well and our problem (as usual) is scoring enough goals.
I take the train to 'Kiddy' and as soon as I reach the station I walk the few yards to the other train station, where the Severn Valley Railway starts. It's always an interesting visit and I have a quick look in the shop where they sell railway memorabilia.
I then have a look round the town and then get to the ground with 20 minutes to go and take my place in the North Stand. The Lincoln fans are in the stand opposite and the rest of the Worcester fans are sat in the western side of the ground.
Worcester take to the field in their blue & white striped shirts while Lincoln City are in their away strip of green & white. Lincoln from the Conference Premier League had played here in a 1-4 defeat against Kidderminster the previous Saturday, so I'm hoping their confidence is not that good as a result.
( Worcester's No.3 Ellis Deeney, battles for possession watched by captain Tom Thorley)
It's soon apparent that Worcester are not overawed by their higher ranked opponents. Danny Glover goes close with an early header and the pace of Daniel Nti and especially loan player, winger Niall Thompson are causing Lincoln problems.
It's a full bloodied cup tie and twice Worcester's defender, Graham Hutchinson has to receive treatment after heavy aerial clashes.
Lincoln cause the Worcester defence some problems too and our veteran keeper, 36 year old Jose Veiga, has to make some smart saves.
When half-time arrives I am more hopeful of a good result for Worcester than I was at the start.
During the interval, it's announced that there is to be an important meeting of the Supporters Club next month who are submitting their plans for the proposed new stadium. It's also announced that today's attendance of 1,019 is the club's biggest so far this season.
In the second half, Worcester take the lead on 57 minutes when Niall Thompson shoots across the goal and substitute, Aaron Williams makes sure by tucking the ball in to the net by the far post.
(The Worcester players celebrate their goal in front of their fans)
Lincoln are stung in to action and Jose Veiga makes some good saves but after 77 minutes the visitor's pressure pays off with Andy Boyce shooting in from close range after a corner is not cleared.
(Niall Thompson's run is halted by this Lincoln defender)
For the rest of the match though Worcester step up the pressure on the Lincoln goal but the visitor's hold firm for a deserved draw.
(Andy Boyce heads clear from this late Worcester attack)
So Worcester go to Sincil Bank for Tuesday's replay. It will be tough but with a bit of luck not an impossible task for us, as I think on this evidence our defence are up to the task.
I was impressed with Worcester's performance today and I think manager Carl Heeley is building the team on the right lines, considering the financial constraints he and his team are having to work within.
Today sees the 1st Round proper of the F.A. Vase taking place. I have decided to visit the leafy Wolverhampton suburb of Castlecroft to see AFC Wulfrunians of the Midland Alliance take on Atherstone Town of the Midland Combination.
I arrive in Wolverhampton at about 12:15 pm have lunch soon after and then make my way to the Art Gallery for a spot of culture. It's a place Iv'e been to before and I can thoroughly recommend it as they display a good mix of sculptures, contemporary and older paintings. Today I see that the Wolverhampton Society of Artists have their exhibition opening and I manage to have a quick look round amongst the crowd of people. Good quality work on show too!
After this artistic interlude I go outside and catch the No.3 bus and 20 minutes later have arrived in Castlecroft which lies just over the Staffordshire border.
The Castlecroft Stadium of AFC Wulfrunians is an impressive facility. On the one side of the pitch is a big stand with changing rooms at the bottom with seating on top and the clubhouse above that. The pitch is of good quality too and a steward there told me that it is being used by the FA to stage schoolboy internationals. Wolverhampton Ladies team use the pitch too on Sundays.
So Wulfrunians are playing Atherstone who this season have already had an impressive FA Cup run after defeating Redditch United and Coalville Town.
The teams take to the pitch with Wulfrunians in their red strip and their opponents in their second strip of yellow and black.
Wulfrunians take the lead early on when their No.7, Jake Webb, evades a tackle, goes inside and drills the ball in to the corner of the net after 7 minutes. Atherstone go close to scoring soon after but it's the hosts who are looking much more dangerous.
Wulfrunians deservedly score a second goal when Nathan Rose-Laing heads home a goal, as shown below.
Atherstone manage to reach the interval without any further damage. I see that there are plenty of rain clouds coming from the south-west and sure enough it starts raining before the start of the second half and I have to take shelter in the stand for the rest of the match.
Soon Wulfrunians go 3-0 up when Dave Asbury shoots in from close range when the ball falls at his feet.
The same player makes it 4, with 20 minutes to go when when he volleys home from a corner.
Atherstone are looking demoralised and Wulfrunians are totally in control of the game, slicing through the visitor's defence with almost every attack.
They score a fifth goal with their player taking the ball round Smith in the Atherstone goal with 15 minutes to go. They could and should have scored 2 more goals before the referee brings a halt to proceedings.
AFC Wulfrunians have put in a very impressive display of attacking football and it just hasn't been Atherstone's day this time round.
Maybe Wulfrunians can have a good run in this year's Vase?
Due to a dire weather forecast for the West Midlands region on Friday evening I decided to scupper my plans for seeing the Hednesford v West Auckland FA Cup tie and instead headed south to the West Country.
So today I am going by train to Gloucester and although as I am heading south from Worcester, the sky is going a dark grey I'm almost certain that it will brighten up later on.
When I arrive at Gloucester, I make the short journey to the bus station and check the times of buses to Cirencester whos'e team have a cup tie against Weymouth. I decide against it as the last bus back is at 5pm which does not give me much leeway. Instead I go for Plan B and go on the bus to Cinderford on the other side of the River Severn in the Forest of Dean for their Southern League game v Godalming Town. By the time I get on the bus, the sun has come out and it's a scenic journey to my destination. Cinderford is a small town, with a population of aproximately 9,000. There is only a small shopping area but I manage to find a decent Cafe for my lunch.
Trouble is I'm not sure where the ground is and unusually for me I have no map. There are none for sale in the local newsagents and am also informed that the nearest Tourist Information Centre is in Coleford. In the end I ask a guy in the street for directions and he tells me he will personally show me the way as it's on his way home. We turn left up a footpath by the local Co-op store, a 10 minute walk through a housing estate and the ground is there on the right. I thank him gratefully and he turns off down the road in front of the ground for his house.
I walk through the car park and to the turnstile and pay my £8 admission + £1.50 for a programme. This is a new ground for me today and also 2 teams I haven't watched before. Cinderford's ground has 3 covered stands on the west side of the ground, the main one with seating being in the centre. Soon the teams come on to the pitch with the hosts in white and black and Godalming in yellow and green.
Cinderford start off in lively fashion and go close a few times to scoring in the first 20 minutes.
Godalming are quick on the break although they are not creating many chances.
The Cinderford No.9, Lewis Sommers is a bit of a handful for the visitors defence as he looks to be be about 6' 5'' tall and of course quite useful in the air.
There is no score by the time the interval arrives. At half-time the draw is made for of bottles of whisky and red wine and I miss out by 3 numbers for a prize.
The start of the 2nd half sees Cinderford in a more determined mood and Dualah, the Godalming keeper is covering himself in glory with some fine stops, especially when Somers nods down for a colleague who fires in a volley which he spectacularly tips over the bar.
Also Cinderford have a strong penalty appeal turned down when one of their players goes flying from a mistimed tackle after flying in to the Godalming penalty area.
On 67 minutes though their impressive midfielder Dale Evans, bursts through the centre of the visitors defence, has a shot blocked by Dualah but fires home the rebound.
(Evans wheels away after scoring and is congratulated by his team mates)
Godalming immediately mount an attack from the kick-off and have the ball in the net only to be ruled offside!
Both sides go close before the end of the game but Cinderford have hung on for a deserved win, which breaks their recent winless streak.
I'm glad I came today as it was an entertaining game in this rural outpost and I later find out that the official attendance figure for the match was 122.
Wow, I can't believe it, I am actually going to a game today! September just didn't happen for me this year, all those Cup games I had lined up but in the end I just couldn't see for one reason or another.
I have decided to see 2 teams I have never seen before who are taking part in an early season basement battle in the Midland Combination Premier, namely Blackwood v Castle Vale JKS. Indeed Castle Vale JKS did actually finish bottom last season but earned a reprieve presumably because Bloxwich United went out of existence.
It's a game that's easy to get to for a rail traveller like me, as Blackwood play at The Coppice ground of Highgate United of which they are tenants and it's located a few minutes walk away from Whitlock's End station which is right on the south-east outskirts of Birmingham on the line to Stratford-on-Avon.
I get to Whitlock's End at 2:30pm and as I walk out of the station I can see the ground of Shirley Town, another Midland Combination team and as I cross over to Tythe Barn Lane, I pass the ground of a womens team called Leafield Athletic on my left. It's a nice rural location but I admit I am not that impressed by The Coppice ground. It has a covered area along the entire nearest side as you approach the pitch, with seating available for one half of it. The club house and changing rooms are near the entrance and there are several full size and mini-soccer pitches there too.
As Highgate are going very well in the Midland Alliance at present I don't think they have much chance of achieving promotion if they win their championship, if they wish to do so.
I see from the programme that prior to last season, Blackwood had gained 3 successive promiotions, quite a feat!
So 3:00pm arrives and Blackwood take to the field in their Inter Milan style
kit and Castle Vale in blue and yellow. The crowd looks to be in the region of 25-30.
Blackwood dominate most of the early play but it's Vale who take the lead in the 11th minute when their centre-forward is left with an easy close range header.
For the rest of this half Blackwood are just the better team and look more likely to score.
(The Castle Vale keeper clings on to this Blackwood cross)
Blackwood do score a deserved equaliser in the 41st minute, I think it's their No.6 sweetly turning on the edge of the penalty area and slotting the ball in to the top right hand corner of the net.
Even-stevens at half time and everything to play for!
During the interval I notice that there is a rugby match taking place on the pitch at the back of us behind the hedge. Yes,there are plenty of different clubs in this area.
The second-half is quite even but Blackwood seeming to be the more dangerous side. One of the features of the game for me is the contest between the Vale centre-half and captain versus the dangerous looking Blackwood No.9. It's the No.9 who has Blackwood's best effort in this half when he shoots from about 20 yards out and the Vale keeper makes a great save to turn it around the post. Another player who catches my eye is the No11 for Castle Vale, very lively and good dribbling skills.
Disaster strikes for Blackwood with 10 minutes to go when one of their defenders in trying to clear the ball from his penalty area just skies the ball straight in to the air and Vale's, Jem Mills is waiting to head in to the net.
After this Castle Vale comfortably keep Blackwood at bay for a win that sees them leapfrog their opponents, who must feel they don't deserve to lose this contest.
So it's hard luck Blackwood and on this showing it looks as if both teams will struggle again this season.
