Pen-y-ffordd 0 Coedpoeth United 1

Saturday 22nd October 2011
Pen-y-ffordd 0 Coedpoeth United 1
Guy Walmsley & Co Welsh National League (Wrexham Area) Premier Division
At: Castle Ground, Padeswood
Kick-off: 2-30 pm
Admission: none; Programme: £1 (32 pages)
Attendance: 80 (headcount)
Weather: sunny
Duration: first-half: 47:02; second-half: 48:15

After moving to the Castle Ground at the start of the season, Pen-y-fforrd celebrated the official opening of their new ground this afternoon. Clearly evident was the tremendous amount of work put in to mark the occasion in style and I, for one, was made to feel extremely welcome. On the field, visitors Coedpoeth United ended Pen-y-fford’s unbeaten home league record with a 1-0 win, the goal scored midway through the second half.

After a club official sent me an email invitation earlier in the week describing the festivities and with today’s London Midland £10 vouchers sold out, I decided to head to North Wales in the hope that other football travellers would have the same idea as me – several did including Mike Latham, the Lollipop Man and Len with Ben the dog.

I would like to extend a cordial invite to you & your fellow non league enthusiasts to our official ground opening day this Saturday October 22nd. Pen-y-ffordd FC enjoyed great success last year gaining promotion to the Welsh National League Premier Division as champions of division 1. As a consequence of our success and due to the fact that we needed to meet Premier Division ground criteria, we were forced to move home from Abbotts Lane in Pen-y-ffordd to The Castle Ground at the Hanson Cement Works in Padeswood.
During a very busy close season, we managed to prepare a ground “from scratch” and in July had the ground passed as fit by the Welsh National League Inspection Committee.
We have played a number of home games already; however will be hosting an official opening day on Saturday 22nd October, when our first team host Coedpoeth FC. Festivities will commence at 12:00 when Stewart Jones, Plant Manager of Hansen Cement officially “opens” the ground. We shall be staging a couple of exhibition games in the lead up to the 14:30hrs kick off. The exhibitions will involve our junior teams & a short 5-a-side match for PFC vets against Hanson Cement vets. Complimentary teas & coffees will be on offer along with the sale of match day programmes, club badges, food & non alcoholic refreshments.
We would love to see you and any of your fellow non league enthusiasts at our event.

The village of Pen-y-ffordd is located south-west of Chester and north of Wrexham. The ground at the Hanson Cement Works in Padesford proved to be an easy find on the westbound A5118 from A55 junction 35a; a few hundred yards on the left after passing under the railway bridge.

The pitch was some 100 yards from the clubhouse/changing rooms building beyond the line of tall trees. It was fully-railed off with one dugout on each touchline bang on the half-way line. The playing surface was undulating, though not as extreme as Biggin, and didn’t spoil the flow of the game one bit. Programmes and badges were available from a table adjacent to the clubhouse, with a BBQ and refreshments tent close by. The place had the atmosphere of a groundhop game.

Welsh Cup and Welsh Trophy games played in various numbers by the 16 Premier Division teams had left the league table a bit 'higgledy-piggledy' with some clubs having played just six games and other nine or ten games. Pen-y-ffordd (11 points from 9 games) occupied ninth position, 10 points behind leaders Rhydymymn, with Coedpoeth United (6 points from 6 games) four positions below.

There were no fair-play handshakes and Coedpoeth (in green and yellow hoops, green shorts and yellow socks) got the game underway defending the far railway line end in the first half into the sun.

Chances were scarce in a feisty contest during the opening half hour. In the 34th minute, following a tackle on Coedpoeth’s John Griffiths, Pen-y-ffordd broke upfield through Nathan Lavender who was prevented from shooting by keeper Sam Davies who rushed off his line to block.

Lavender broke clear again six minutes later and this time steered a shot past the advancing Davies and agonisingly wide of the far right post.

Pen-y-ffordd (in red shirts, black shorts and black socks) made a bright start to the second half. Defender Adam Pugh fired inches wide of the left-hand post with Davies hurriedly scrambling to his right and also sent a downward header just wide of the target.

However, Coedpoeth scored what proved to be the winning goal in the 66th minute. Nick McCormick chased a ball down the middle and collided with onrushing keeper Jordan Baxter. The ball ran free for Kevin Breeze to lob into an empty net from 20 yards. Baxter got back but failed to prevent the ball crossing the line.

The home side pressed during the final ten minutes with Lavender, Marcus Davies and Phil Simons going close.

Goals:
0-1 Kevin Breeze (66)

Stafford Town 7 Stone Old Alleynians 3

Tuesday 18th October 2011
Stafford Town 7 Stone Old Alleynians 3 (aet)
J. W. Hunt Cup First Round
At: Evans Park
Kick-off: 7-45 pm
Admission: £4; Programme: £1
Attendance: 60 (headcount)
Weather: cold, dry
Duration: first-half: 45:31; second-half: 49:51
Extra time (15): first-period: 15:58; second-period: 15:06

A lot for the admission money at Evans Park this evening – a local derby, extra time and ten goals with six scored by Stafford Town’s Sam Agar in a come-from behind victory for the Reds. Visitors Stone Old Alleynians took the lead on three occasions during the 90 minutes and each time Stafford Town got back on level terms through striker Sam Agar. Town raced ahead in extra time with four unanswered goals including three more from Agar and another scored by Craig Hulme.

Tonight was a first for me – the first time I have seen a J. W. Hunt Cup tie! The compeition was named in memory of John William Hunt, the founder of the Chillington Tool Company, who died in 1925. The Molineux Hotel in Wolverhampton hosted the inaugural Hunt Cup meeting when the cup was presented by members of the Hunt family. Short Heath United and Cannon Iron contested the first final at Molineux during the 1926/27 season, won 2-0 by Short Heath. It is a charity competition to raise funds for the sole benefit of the local blind. Stafford Town reached the final in 2010 and this season 32 teams have entered the competition.

Following Saturday 3-2 home win over Cradley Town, Stafford Town (17 points from 11 games) went into this tie in ninth position in the West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division table. Stone Old Alleynians (18 points from 9 games) are also enjoying a good season in WM(R)L Division One and moved up to fifth position with a 2-1 win at Shenstone Pathfinder on Saturday.

On the coldest football night of the season so far, and the first one requiring a coat, Stafford Town (in all red) got the game underway attacking the cricket ground end in the first half.

While both sides created chances, Alleynians keeper Richard Stone was the busier with saves from Tom Smith and a couple to deny Sam Agar.

Alleynians (in black and white striped shirts, black shorts and socks) had red numbers on the back of their shirts – so the help identify players I needed to note that: ‘9 lime green boots and gloves’, ‘2 orange boot heel, cream boots’, '4 captain’, ‘10 tall wearing gloves’, ‘8 sky blue boots’.

The visitors took the lead in the 42nd minute. Daryll Johns broke into the area down the left and got past advancing keeper Andy Heal who got tangled up with his own defender. Johns fired home from a narrow angle and claimed the goal even though defender Jordan Bloor and striker Matthew Wood could have got a touch on the line.

Town equalised in the 58th minute. Smith was brought down by Ben Henderson and Agar hammered home the free-kick from 25 yards out.

However, Alleynians regained the lead in the 68th minute with Johns on target again. James Cresswell burst into the area from the right and fired a low ball towards goal which Johns turned over the line at close range.

Scores were again level within 103 seconds. Agar latched onto a defence-splitting throughball which the visitors appealing for offside and slotted home at close range.

The goal rush continued three minutes later in spectacular fashion. Wood hit a dipping volley from the edge of the area over the leaping Heal and under the bar to put Alleynians ahead for the third time.

Town, keen to avoid an upset on their own turf, equalised for a third time in the 81st minute. Agar got on the end of a long ball down the middle and lifted it over keeper Richard Stone to complete his hat-trick.

Some 5½ minutes of stoppage time failed to produce a winner so extra time.

Stone got the extra 30 minutes underway attacking the south end of Evans Park. But it was Stafford who took the lead for the first time in first period stoppage time. Morgan Hurley cut in from the left, got past defender Adam Cunningham and fed Agar who sidefooted home at close range.

Now attacking the south end, Town extended their lead in the 108th minute. Agar fed Bloor who embarked on a run to the edge of the area before returning the ball for Agar to round Stone and slot into an empty net – now 5-3 to Stafford.

Alleynians weren’t down and Cresswell forced a good block out of Heal and Wood fired over after the loose ball wasn’t cleared.

Agar rounded off a memorable performance with his sixth goal of the night and 22nd goal for Town since joining Town earlier in the season. He exchanged passes with substitute Matt Buckham before firing home at close range past keeper Stone.

A seventh Town goal in the 118th minute rounded off the evening’s entertainment. Mat Dockerty fed Craig Hulme who fired home low from the edge of the area.

Town go into the hat for the second round draw along with Brocton who defeated Wolverhampton Sporting 4-1 at the nearby Old Police Sports Ground.

Goals:
0-1 Daryll Johns (42)
1-1 Sam Agar (58)
1-2 Daryll Johns (68)
2-2 Sam Agar (69)
2-3 Matthew Wood (72)
3-3 Sam Agar (81)
4-3 Sam Agar (105+1)
5-3 Sam Agar (108)
6-3 Sam Agar (116)
7-3 Craig Hulme (118)

Hanwood United 2 Wellington Amateurs 1

Saturday 15th October 2011
Hanwood United 2 Wellington Amateurs 1
West Midlands (Regional) League Division 1
At: Recreation Ground
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Admission: none; Programme: £1 (32 pages)
Attendance: 65 (headcount)
Weather: sunny
Duration: first-half: 47:58; second-half: 49:42

I remember thinking with around 10 minutes left that this game was the best 0-0 draw I’d seem for a long while. It was, until the most dramatic of dramatic conclusions which made the decision worthwhile to head again into Shropshire countryside and not continue my ‘Road to Wembley.

Visitors Wellington Amateurs went into the game with nine wins out of nine but looked to be running out of team to preserve their 100% record until Gavin Davies headed them in front in the 88th minute.

However, in stoppage time, Ollie Williams claimed a scrambled equaliser and amazingly Ben Houlston coolly netted the winner for Hanwood to stun the previously unbeaten league leaders.

FA Cup Third Qualifying Round day and my 2011/12 ‘Road to Wembley’ had visited Ascot United, Bloxwich United, Holbrook Sports, Thurnby Nirvana, Romulus (at Chasetown) and Thame United. Amongst the 40 ties today were just five at grounds I’d not previously visited though only one within two hours drive of home. Pondering where to head, I decided to forgo an FA Cup tie in preference for a top-of-the table league game with the added spice of being a local derby.

Wellington Amateurs (27 points from 9 games) headed along the A5 at the top of the West Midlands (Regional) League Division 1 table with a 100% record. Last Saturday they hammered Leominster Town 10-0. Home side Hanwood United (3rd position with 18 points from 9 games) had also made a decent start to the season but lost their unbeaten record last Saturday with a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Stone Old Alleynians.

I found the ground without a hitch – on the A488 heading away from Shrewsbury at the western end of the village on the right-hand side just after the low railway bridge. The pitch ran widthways with the village hall behind the right-hand goal that had a two separate small stands in front – one with seats (Wheaty Stand) and the other covered standing (Frudgie Stand). Programmes were on sale inside the hall at the refreshments table and also for a seller walking around the pitch perimeter.

Hanwood (wearing all white) got the game underway in sunshine defending the Village Hall end in the first half. It quickly became clear this derby was going to be a feisty contest and the referee quickly asserted his authority with stiff words with several players as tackles went in and decisions were contested.

Amateurs (red shirts, black shorts and socks) created the early chances and Hanwood keeper Ashley Spittlehouse made a vital block to thwart Jamie Price who had a clear shot on goal. The keeper then produced a fine diving save to keep out a deflected free-kick in the 13th minute (see photo). Dan Beddows later fired straight at Spittlehouse and Danny Walne send a long-range put forward bouncing inside the area and over the bar.

As the interval approached, referee Tim Gregory needed to calm things down and told two offending players in no uncertain terms that “more shenanigans’ would result in cards. He pointed out it was a local derby and he was “trying to keep players on the field”. Certainly sound advice from a match official who, in my opinion, had a superb afternoon in the middle.

Hanwood returned to the changing rooms at half-time while Wellington decamped to the far end for their half-time team talk.

The visitors almost took the lead three minutes after the restart. Steve Faux delivered a deep corner who Gavin Davies fired towards goal and Chris Brownlow headed just wide.

Just after the hour mark, Mr Gregory again needed to remind the players that he wanted “to keep 22 men on the field”.

Hanwood, who had rarely threatened, enjoyed a spell of pressure midway through the second half, winning three corners in quick succession which put the Amateurs defence under pressure. Keeper Chris Worrall hurt his shoulder dealing with one of these corners and was forced out of the game after lengthy treatment. Outfield player Walne took over in goal and quickly produced a decent near post save under pressure to keep out Stewart Owen’s low shot.

With time running out for Wellington to find a goal, Spittlehouse parried a well-struck shot from Jamie Price and the ball was scrambled clear.

Eventually the deadlock was broken in the 88th minute when Wellington thought they’d scored the winner. The ball was played forward into the area from the right for Davies to glance a header into the bottom left corner out of the reach of the diving Spittlehouse.

That wasn’t the end of the drama, far from it.

In stoppage time, Hanwood won a free-kick on the right which was delivered into the area and forced over the line by ??? (see photo right). Was it an own goal or did a Hanwood player get the final touch? After the game I asked a club official who told me that “Ollie Williams recons it was him [who scored]”.

With over three minutes of injury time played, Ben Houlston stayed onside to break into the area and coolly slot home the winner past the helpless Walne. Amazing!

A word about the referee Tim Gregory – top marks from me for sensibly controlling a very competitive contest and for achieving his aim of keeping 22 men on the pitch.

One purpose of our hobby is to watch football on as many different grounds as possible. That was why I made a first visit to Hanwood this afternoon. In recent times I have enjoyed returning to previously visited ground and I’m sure I’ll made another trip to Hanwood during the next couple of years. Wellington Amateurs could do with a revisit as well to see the changes to the ground the retired trainer told me about.

Goals:
0-1 Gavin Davies (88)
1-1 Ollie Williams (90+2)
1-2 Ben Houlston (90+4)

Goodrich 0 AFC Wulfrunians 3

Tuesday 14th October 2011
Goodrich 0 AFC Wulfrunians 3
West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division
At: Goodrich Sports Ground
Kick-off: 7-45 pm
Admission: £3; Programme: £1 (20 pages)
Attendance: 80 (headcount)
Weather: mild, dry
Duration: first-half: 48:16; second-half: 48:54

A second visit to Goodrich this season and this time round visitors AFC Wulfunians took the local bragging rights with three unanswered second-half goals in this Wolverhampton derby.

The win lifted Wulfrunians up four places in the Premier Division table to fifth position and, significantly, to within 14 points of the leaders Black Country Rangers with five games in hand.

I like Goodrich – a friendly club with programmes available at the gate, teamsheets easily obtained and refreshments available from a room at the side of the pavilion. Of course, a feature I really like is the stand!

Looking at the league table, Goodrich (18 points from 12 games) occupied seventh position with the visitors (16 points from 8 games) two positions below.

The referee wrong-footed me by lining up the teams facing the second pitch rather than the pavilion so the best I could do for the handshakes photo was one at the tail end with just a handful of Wulfrunians players still to meet the match officials.

On to the action and AFC Wulfrunians (in yellow and black halved shirts, yellow shorts, black socks) got the game underway attacking the pavilion end in the first half – a wholly appropriate description for this former cricket ground where I recall one playing.

Goodrich (wearing all red) could have taken the lead in the 11th minute Levi Chambers latched onto a forward ball inside the area, got past the advancing keeper Marc Evans before shooting over from a narrow angle.

Few clear-cut chances were created in the first half and I heard one person mention in the resfreshments room during the interval that there hadn’t been a shot on target. He must not have seen Goodrich almost take the lead… a close range header in the 17th minute from Jordan Lee which keeper Marc Evans pushed over the bar – well I suppose it wasn’t a shot! But three minutes later Wulfrunians Nathan Rose-Lang fired a shot on target straight at well-positioned Paul Fryer.

After the half hour, Andy Mitchell got on the end of a delicious left-wing cross from Ashley Burd but fired into the side netting at the far post. And just before the break, defender Graham Ashton was annoyed to have not hit the target with a close-range header from Burd’s corner.

On a mild, dry and windless evening, I saw the majority of the evening stood next to pitch barrier, though a trip to Goodrich isn’t complete without some time sat in the rather aforementioned and photographed unique stand.

Decent entertainment, just lacking a goal.

The ball finally ended up in the net just after the hour but Lee’s shot came after he was flagged for offside, just before Chris Rabone’s shot took a deflection and flew just wide of the Goodrich goal with Fryer wrong-footed. The visitors thought they’d scored in a scramble but again the flag was raised for offside. Still 0-0.

Eventually, AFC Wulfrunians edged ahead in the 76th minute. A quick throw on the left by Burd allowed Rose-Lang to find Rabone at the far right post. Rabone fed Michael Eagles who slotted home at the near post.

The lead was doubled six minute later. Danny Crudgington crossed from the right and Rose-Lang headed home.

In the closing stages, Evans dived to his right to push away a low shot from substitute James Machin, which could have made injury time interesting had it gone in.

But Wulrunians secured the points with a third goal in stoppage time. Ricky Anslow was bundled over inside the area and Crudgington confidently converted the resulting penalty.

Goals:
0-1 Michael Eagles (76)
0-2 Nathan Rose-Lang (82)
0-3 Danny Crudgington (90+4 pen)

Wem Town 0 Trysull 4

Saturday 8th October 2011
Wem Town 0 Trysull 4
West Midlands (Regional) League Division One
At: Butler Sports Centre, Bowens Field, Wem
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Admission: £2-50 including 16 page programme
Weather: cloudy, dry, blustery wind
Attendance: 50 (headcount)
Duration: first-half: 45:49; second-half: 46:18

With plenty of choice today, I drew up a short list of six possible destinations and opted for a relatively short 78-mile round trip into Shropshire to the Butler Sports Centre, ground of today’s home side Wem Town and also Shawbury United.

Suprisingly, this was my first visit to the ground considering it is only 35 or so miles from home and two clubs share the venue.

This West Midlands (Regional) League Division One game pitted Wem, on a run of five league games without a win, against a Trysull side unbeaten in their last two games. And I suppose the game went true to recent form as the visitors won 4-0 even though Wem hit the bar three times.

The ground was located to the north of the town centre at the end of Bowens Field and from the car park the ground entrance was round to the right past the ‘Wem Sports Club’ gate. Programmes was available with admission from the paybox and the pitch ran widthways with the stand being to the left and containing around 114 blue seats in three blocks. Dugouts straddled the halfway line on the opposite touchline.

A plaque at the back of the stand above the players entrance remembers Les Butler, a founder member and devoted chairman 1968–1977. One of two other plaques commemorates that ‘The Centre was officially opened on behalf of Wem Sports and Social Organisation by Mr Billy Wright C.B.E. June 14th 1975. The third plaque remembers a former President.

After a decent start, 13th-placed Wem (6 points from 8 games) have found points hard to come by in recent weeks while Trysull (13 points from 9 games) occupied 7th spot in the 16-team division.

A one minute silence was observed in memory of Terry Davies. Teams changed ends and Wem (white shirts, red shorts and socks) got the game underway attacking what I described as the Town Centre, or right to left in relation to my seat in the stand.

Trysull (yellow shirts with blue sleeves, blue shorts and socks) wasted no time in taking the lead in the 4th minute. A long ball forward landed perfectly for Josh Wright on the edge of the area who lifted it over the advancing Wem keeper Ryan Ford into an unguarded net.

The visitors continued to dominate possession and Ford produced a fine save to keep out Jon Patrick’s 20-yard left-foot drive. Ford also needed to be alert to keep out another long-range effort from Anthony Blakeway.

A 25-yard drive from Steve Pritchard which flashed past the left-hand post was Wem’s best attempt on goal during the first half. However, Trysull doubled their lead in the 39th minute. From a left-wing corner, Daniel Patrick’s header was turned onto the bar but the same player fired home from the rebound.

“Get one back before half-time,” was the shout to the Wem players and Adam Jones almost responded by heading narrowly wide at the far post.

Trysull continued to create chances in the second half and netted a third goal just after the hour mark. Wright flicked home a low left-wing cross at the near post for his second goal of the game.

With all three substitutions made, Wem caused problems during the last 20 minutes. James Astley saw two efforts hit the bar while Jones sent a cross-cum-shot against the bar as well.

The afternoon’s scoring was completed in the 90th minute with Richard Watts’ glancing header and three points lifted Trysull up to fifth position, some nine points behind still 100% leaders Wellington Amateurs.

Goals
0-1 Josh Wright (4)
0-2 Daniel Patrick (39)
0-3 Josh Wright (63)
0-4 Richard Watts (90)