Atherstone Town 2 Coleshill Town 2

Saturday 24th December 2011
Atherstone Town 2 Coleshill Town 2
Baker Joiner Midland Alliance
At: Sheepy Ground
Kick-off: 12-30 pm
Admission: £5; Programme: £1 (36 pages)
Attendance: 269
Weather: mild, sunny spells
Duration: first-half: 45:52; second-half: 47:51

With just two games on today in the entire Midlands, Atherstone Town were rewarded with their largest attendance of the season and the bumper crowd saw a thrilling local derby. Visitors Coleshill eased into a two-goal lead and looks set to claim the points until the Adders fought back to earn a deserved draw with two late goals.

The present Atherstone Town FC was formed in 2004 and, due to off-the-field difficulties, they voluntarily dropped down from the Southern League to the Baker Joiner Midland Alliance at the end of last season. Predecessors Atherstone Town (1897–1979) and Atherstone United (1979–2003) also played at the Sheepy Road ground.

Now, this ground should have a high position on any ‘grounds to do list’. Previously visited by me once before in 1986, it is a wonderful venue full of character and one which oozes history. I guess that most of the main features of the ground date back to the halcyon days when the original Atherstone Town were a Southern League Premier Division club. The main stand occupies most of the length of one touchline with a substantial area of seating and an area of covered standing at one end. It was named the 'Andy Rammell Stand' after a former player who left the club for Manchester United and subsequently enjoyed a successful professional career. Opposite behind the dugout isan area of covered terrace on half-way with plenty of open terracing around the remaining parts of the ground. Wonderful!

A message, yesterday, on both Atherstone’s official website and the Non-League Matters Forum convinced me to head east rather than to the day’s other possible game in Bloxwich: ‘After a local pitch inspection this afternoon, Atherstone Town Officials are pleased to confirm that tomorrow's home game with Coleshill (Christmas Eve) is Definitely ON. The weather forecast is dry this evening and sunny all day tomorrow’. So off I headed east along the A5, left at the roundabout on to the A4116 (signed Twycross and Sheepy Magna) then right at the next roundabout by the distribution centre on to Rowlands Way to the ground.

Raffle tickets were on sale and my lucky strip for today was a yellow one – 736–740. Lucky? Find out later!

Atherstone (19th out of 22 teams with 18 points from 20 games) got the game underway attacking the grass bank [south-west] end in the first half, though it was visitors Coleshill (13th with 27 points from 19 games) who made the better start.

Early on, a left-wing corner caused problems for the Atherstone defence and defender Guy Clarke fired wide past the right-hand post. A nice move almost led to a goal for the visitors. Former Willenhall striker Richard Gregory took the ball forward and laid it off to the overlapping Chris Laight who hit an angled right-foot shot which keeper Courtney Belton beat away.

It was perhaps no surprise when Coleshill took the lead in the 17th minute. Danny Carter pulled the ball back from the right bye-line to the far post for Gregory to fire back low into the right corner of Belford’s net.

Perhaps content with their lead, Coleshill allowed Atherstone to create all the decent chances up to half-time. Just before the half-hour, Will Stannage was forced to produce an acrobatic save to keep out Dale Farley’s shot from the left (see photo right). The home side needed a goal to get reward for their pressure and David Boal poked a shot inches wide as the interval approached.

Winning raffle ticket numbers were announced and, just like Pinxton in January 2010, I was one strip away from winning second prize (741–746)!

Right on the stroke of half time, Laight crossed from the right and Carter’s header forced a good save out of Belford who turned the ball round the right-hand post.

By this time, I’d made my way around to the covered standing area at the end of the stand where 'Stourbridge Tim' and 'Hednesford Rob' were stood with a few other travellers. They proved good company right up to the full-time whistle.

Coleshill (in white shirts, blue shorts and blue socks) made a bright start to the second half. Carter fed Gregory who saw his shot beat Belford but Dean Johnson got back to clear the ball off the line. A lovely passing move set up another chance for Gregory who fired wide.

The visitors were certainly playing some nice football and doubled their lead in the 55th minute, though I’m not certain what actually happened. They were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area for a trip by Chris Socket on the tricky Carter. Both Carter and Sam Wilson lined up to go for goal (se photo right) and I think it was Carter who took the free-kick. The ball was cleared off the line and Laight, following-up with Steve Hakner, put in the rebound. The assistant referee flagged and the referee appeared to assume that Laight was offside. However, a quick chat between the two officials led to the referee signalling a goal as Carter’s initial free-kick had crossed the line (see photo lower right).

Atherstone immediately threw on Kurtis Mewes and he picked up a yellow card within seconds for a foul. The Adders (in red and white striped shirts, black shorts and red socks) upped their game and brave goalkeeping from Stannage kept out efforts from both Boal and substitute Mewes during the same attack. A long throw from Tom Weale flew off a defender just after the hour mark and looked destined for the net until Stannage pulled off another acrobatic save.

Eventually, Atherstone pulled a goal back in the 79th minute when George Washbourne fired home during a scramble inside the Coleshill area.

Given a warning, Coleshill looked for a third goal and Belford (in the opinion of the referee) turned round a fierce near-post shot from Carter.

Could Atherstone bag an equaliser? Yes, they could from an unlikely source in the 84th minute which I think they deserved. Full-back Johnson ,out on the right, hit a cross-cum-shot which flew over the helpless Stannage and dropped into the far left side of the net.

Coleshill almost snatched a winner in stoppage time. Gregory pulled the ball back for captain Jason Lams who drove just wide of the right-hand post.

The other game in the Midlands I mentioned involved Sikh Hunters and Tenbury United and they served up a seven-goal thriller which the visitors won by the odd goal. This West Midlands (Regional) League game was played at the Red Lion Ground in Bloxwich which Sikh Hunters share with Bloxwich United.

Atherstone Town (red and white stripes / black / red): 1. Courtney Belford, 2. Dean Johnson, 3. Chris Socket (capt), 4. Matty Selvester, 5. Craig Ridsdale, 6. Liam Bailey, 7. Jordan Holmes, 8. Tom Weale, 9. Dale Farley, 10. David Boal, 11. George Washbourne. Subs: 12. Kurtis Mewes (for Farley, 56), 14. Connor Renchen (for Holmes, 73), 15. Nathan Rolph (for Socket, 88), 16. Brandon Hayes (not used), 17. Joseph Swift (not used).

Coleshill Town (white/blue/blue): 1. Will Stannage, 2. Barry Fitzharris, 3. Steve Hakner, 4. Jason Lams (capt), 5. Guy Clarke, 6. Ben Porter, 7. Chris Laight, 8. Rob Seal, 9.Richard Gregory, 10. Danny Carter, 11. Sam Wilson. Subs: 12. Nathan McBean (for Seal, 75), 14. Remi Williams (for Laight, 68), 15. Carl Adams (not used), 17gk. Paul Hathaway (not used).

Referee: C. Ward.
Assistants: P. Hewitson and E. Corbett.

Goals:
0-1 Richard Gregory (17)
0-2 Danny Carter (55)
1-2 George Washbourne (79)
2-2 Dean Johnson (85)

Cards:
Atherstone: Kurtis Mewes (YC, 57)
Coleshill: Will Stannage (YC, 75)

AFC Wulfrunians 5 Stafford Town 2

Tuesday 20th December 2011
AFC Wulfrunians 5 Stafford Town 2
West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division
At: Castlecroft Stadium
Kick-off: 7-45 pm
Admission: £4; Programme: £1 (44 pages)
Attendance: 30 (headcount)
Weather: rain
Duration: first-half: 46:57; second-half: 48:55

Even though AFC Wulfrunians recovered from a half-time deficit to take the points with five second-half goals, perhaps the story of the evening from my point of view concerned the injured referee Richard Gould. He was unable to continue after half-time and, with no fourth official, a frantic hunt commenced to find a replacement linesman to avoid the game being abandoned. Being a qualified but no longer registered referee, I offered my services and seemed set to run the line while someone more suitable arrived at the ground. However, with no disrespect to me, the home bench understandably were not happy with my ‘appointment’. Thankfully, a local official was eventually found and the game continued to a conclusion after a lengthy 45-minute half-time.

Goals:
0-1 Sam Agar (44 pen)
1-1 Grant Joshua (54)
2-1 Ashley Burd (59)
3-1 Nathan Rose-Laing (61)
3-2 Sam Agar (66)
4-2 Nathan Rose-Laing (88)
5-2 Kyle Brady (90)

Wrens Nest 3 St Martins 1

Saturday 17th December 2011
Wrens Nest 3 St Martins 1
West Midlands (Regional) League Division 2
At: Handrahan Stadium, Mile Flat, Wall Heath
Kick-off: 2-00 pm
Admission: none; Programme: none
Attendance: 15 (headcount)
Weather: rain
Duration: first-half: 47:23; second-half: 47:55

Another nostalgic revisit, this time to a ground previously visited 13 years ago in December 1998. Back then, Handrahan Timbers defeated Dudley Sports in the Midland Combination and this afternoon Wrens Nest recorded their sixth straight league victory thanks to a hat-trick from striker Ricky Hammond.

This morning, partly through looking out of the window at the sleet and partly through reading about postponements on the Non-League Matters Forum, I really wasn’t sure what was in store today. I’d also noticed games at Bromyard, Darlaston and Warstones were postponed but a quick phone call to Wrens Nest Chairman Malcolm Guy proved to be very positive. He suggested the pitch was thawing nicely and would phone me back if the game was off. Thankfully, no phone call was received and what was probably my first choice game went ahead as planned. Once at the ground, I was made to feel very welcome by Mr Guy and others, and enjoyed the company of visiting officials and fans during the game sat in the stand.

The ground, around 8 miles south of Wolverhampton, was easily found less than a mile from the centre of Wall Heath. Travelling on the A449 towards Kidderminster shortly after the junction with the A491, turn right at the second of two consecutive mini roundabouts into Enville Road, which becomes Mile Flat straight on after the traffic-lighted crossroads. The ground entrance was about 400 yards on the right.

Handrahan Timbers left the Midland Combination at the end of the 2003/04 and over the years the Handrahan Stadium (known as the Mile Flat Sports Ground in 1998) has also been home to Dudley United, AFC Wombourne, and currently Dudley United Ladies.

The pitch, with four floodlight pylons down each side, was fully railed off with changing rooms behind the near goal. At the far end along the near touchline was an area of covered standing with the words ‘DUDLEY UNITED FC’ on the roof. A small stand opposite on halfway, the ‘D.A.W. Stand’, contained a couple of rows of bench seating and proved to be good shelter from the elements all afternoon!

On the back of their winning run, Wrens Nest (22 points from 17 games) have risen up the table to sixth position with visitors St Martins (22 points from 14 games) one position above with a better goal difference. Both were 20 points behind leaders Haughmond.

Wrens Nest (in orange shorts, black shorts and socks) opted to attack the changing rooms end in the first half so St Martins (in yellow shirts, black shorts and yellow socks) got the action underway on a firm pitch with a soft top inch.

Rain soon started to fall and in the 11th minute Wrens Nest midfielder David Jones hit a fiercely swerving right foot drive that Carl Edwards did well to hold. Edwards then produced a decent one-handed save to keep out Scot Foster’s right-foot volley during “[t]his is a good start, this is” for the home side.

Wrens Nest suffered a blow when central defender Ben Podmore limped out of the game but that didn’t matter as they took the lead barely 20 seconds later in the 26th minute. Defender Chris Smout couldn’t stop Ricky Hammond latching on to a throughball and the tall striker rounded Edwards before slotting into the far right corner of the net.

Certainly in good form, Edwards pulled off a superb save to tip a rising drive from Jones on to the bar as the Wrens looked for a second goal. However, at the other end, Liam Bailey sent a 20-yard volley flashing past the home goal. Edwards soon excelled again to block another shot from Foster at the near post.

A foul by Smout on Foster inside the area – captain on captain – left referee Mr Read little option other than to award a penalty which Hammond confidently fired home to score his second goal of the game in the 33rd minute.

With Wrens Nest on top, St Martins were urged to “liven it” and they did just that by pulling a goal back in the 39th minute. Tim Allen played a free-kick forward into the area where Tim Mackerel sent a looping header past Grant Trevis into the net.

After Karl Bailey replaced his brother Liam in the St Martins defence soon after the restart, Wrens Nest restored their two-goal advantage in the 53rd minute. Jones crossed from the right and Foster saw his shot well saved by Edwards. However, the ball rebounded off the keeper’s hand straight to Hammond who fired home to complete his hat-trick.

Hammond almost scored a fourth goal with a well-struck 20-yard drive which thundered past the goal and Foster also fired against the bar just before the hour mark.

The woodwork denied Evans a place of the scoresheet in the 67th minute, The midfielder stayed onside to latch onto a ball down the right and saw his low shot rebound off the near post.

Hat-trick hero Hammond continued to look for more goals and the striker drove over from Ryan Yeomans’ pass.

Needing a goal themselves, St Martins created some decent chances during the final 15 minutes. Mackerel ran into the area and unleashed a low shot which Trevis kept out with his boot and the diving Wrens keeper did well in the 78th minute to turn round Allen’s shot at the expense of a corner.

In the end, Hammond’s finishing proved the difference between two evenly-matched sides. Wrens Nest were able to celebrate a sixth straight league win which moved them above St Martins in the Division 2 table.

I did wonder about detouring on the way home to watch the last half-hour of nearby Gornal’s home game with Sporting Khalsa. Good job I didn’t as this fixture was one of 11 West Midlands League games to fall foul of the weather. Nearby Dudley Sports and Team Dudley were amongst the postponements. I did pass Molineux (where Wolves lost 2-1 to Stoke) and Brinsford Lane (where Wolves Casuals beat Pegasus Juniors 2-0) on my way home.

Wrens Nest (orange/black/black): 1. Grant Trevis, 2. Sean Wynne, 3. Matthew Stevens, 4. Dean Stevens, 5. Ben Podmore, 6. Ryan Yeomans, 7. David Jones, 8. Dale Evans, 9. Sam Pearson, 10. Scott Foster (capt), 11. Ricky Hammond. Subs: 12. Richard Price (for Podmore, 26), 14. Keith Dalton (for Matthew Stevens, 69), 15. Paul Annis (for Evans, 82), 17gk. Dana Meddings (not used). Manager: Shane Stevens.

St Martins (yellow/black/yellow): 1. Carl Edwards, 2. Liam Bailey, 3. Wayne Batha, 4. Mark Coles, 5. Chris Smout (capt), 6. Joshua Sumner, 7. Daryl Davies, 8. Ryan Butcher, 9. Tom Mackerel, 10. Ashley Jones, 11. Tim Allen. Subs: 12. Lee Thomastone (for Batha, 85), 14. Karl Bailey (for Liam Bailey, 49), 15. Wayne Withers (for Davies 63), 16. Brian Wood (not used). Joint Managers: Paul Huggins and Tim Allen.

Referee: Neil Read.
Assistants: Steve Theo and Alex Thomas.

Goals:
1-0 Ricky Hammond (26)
2-0 Ricky Hammond (33 pen)
2-1 Tom Mackerel (39)
3-1 Ricky Hammond (53)

Tipton Town 2 Highgate United 1

Wednesday 14th December 2011
Tipton Town 2 Highgate United 1
Baker Joiner Midland Alliance
At: Tipton Sports Academy
Kick-off: 7-45 pm
Admission: £5; Programme: £1 (32 pages)
Attendance: 48
Weather: dry, very cold
Duration: first-half: 48:15; second-half: 50:19

Tipton Town made good use of their game in hand on a very cold night at the Tipton Sports Academy. They took the lead with an easy goal from defender Richard Huckfield and Tom Tonks added a second in the 75th minute. The visitors pulled a goal back late through Luke Benbow and Tipton successfully wound down the clock to record a fourth win in their last six league games.

A shortlist of two games became a shortlist of one with the postponement of Dudley Town’s home game with Darlaston Town. Even though a return trip to the Dell Stadium will now have to wait until next year, I did enjoy my second game of the season at the Tipton Sports Academy, despite the freezing temperatures (see Bustleholme v Goodrich on Wednesday 31st August for daylight photos of the ground).

Goals:
1-0 Richard Huckfield (3)
2-0 Tom Tonks (75)
2-1 Luke Benbow (88)

Stafford Town 0 Tividale 7

Tuesday 13th December 2011
Stafford Town 0 Tividale 7
JW Hunt Cup Second Round
At: Evans Park
Kick-off: 7-45 pm
Admission: £4; Programme: £1 (28 pages)
Attendance: 39
Weather: dry, very cold wind
Duration: first-half: 45:12; second-half: 45:00

Midland Alliance title chasers Tividale booked a place in the quarter finals of the JW Hunt Cup with seven unanswered goals at Evans Park. The visitors scored twice during in the opening nine minutes to make a perfect start and striker Matt Jukes ended up with a four-goal haul.

Stafford has been a happy hunting ground for Tividale over recent times and just a week ago they progressed to the FA Vase Fourth Round with a 2-1 victory at Brocton. Last season they recorded a 6-1 win at Evans Park in a league game on the way to winning the 2010/11 West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division title.

Goals:
0-1 Adam Hill (3)
0-2 Matt Jukes (9)
0-3 Matt Jukes (26)
0-4 Matt Jukes (52)
0-5 Chris Russell (62)
0-6 Matt Jukes (81)
0-7 Adam Wattley (90)

Whitkirk Wanderers 0 Knaresborough Town 3

Saturday 10th December 2011
Whitkirk Wanderers 0 Knaresborough Town 3
West Yorkshire League Premier Division
At: Whitkirk Sports and Social Club, Selby Road, Leeds
Kick-off: 2-00 pm
Admission: none; Programme: £1 (28 pages)
Weather: cold, cloudy, sunny spells
Attendance: 55 (headcount)
Duration: first-half: 46:36; second-half: 46:34

In a rare game for me in the West Yorkshire League, Knaresborough Town moved to the top of the Premier Division table thanks to three second-half goals against mid-table Whitkirk Wanderers.

One of the many things I like about a pre-Christmas trip to visit relatives near Leeds is the chance to watch a game in a league not normally on my radar. Two years ago, I made a short trip from the relatives to Sherburn White Rose and this afternoon it was an 11.5 mile round trip to Whitkirk Wanderers, based on the eastern edge of Leeds close to Garforth.

Travelling up, I was a bit concerned about a possible postponement due to the rain, ice and snow of the past few days. Thankfully, The Football Traveller Directory Part Two provided a phone number and I got the ‘game on’ message I wanted!

The directions on the league’s full-time website, enhanced by a bit of local knowledge from my cousin, made the ground easy to find. From M1 junction 46, follow A6120 Leeds to the second roundabout. Take the second exit signed ‘Halton Temple Newsam House’ to the lights by the Brown Cow pub. Go straight on and turn left down the drive immediately after the cemetery.

The ground itself was some 100 yards from the car park and Sports and Social Club, past the cricket ground and down a slope between railings. The sloping pitch ran lengthways from the entrance close to which was the changing rooms block which incorporated a tea bar hatch. Conservatory-style overhang provided shelter around two sides and it was possible to see all of the pitch from underneath the cover at the end. The pitch, which sloped from near-right corner to the far-left corner, was fully railed-off on three sides with no spectator access behind the bottom goal.

I’d read beforehand that Whitkirk were regular issuers and, true to form, a small pile of blue-covered programmes were on sale from a pay-table by the changing rooms.

Visitors Knaresborough (29 points from 16 games with a three-point deduction) went into this fixtures knowing that a win would take them top above leaders Beeston St Anthony who had no league games this afternoon. They had won their last five league games. Mid-table Whitkirk (20 points from 14 games) occupied eight position in the 16-team division. The teams met on the opening day of the season at Knaresborough with Whitkirk winning 5-2.

As Whitkirk opted to attack down the slope in the first half, Knaresborough (in red shirts, black shorts and red socks) got the game underway and almost scored with barely 20 second on the clock. The home side lost possession allowing Byron Littlefair to take the ball forward and curl a shot wide of the far right post.

Chances were scarce in highly-competitive game and Stephen Bromley headed a deep corner from Littlefair over the bar at the far post.

I think Whitkirk’s Simon Ndure was unlucky to pick up the game’s first booking in the 24th minute. The challenge on Tom Clarke was his “first tackle of the game”.

Whitkirk (in all blue) created their first decent scoring opportunity just before the half-hour mark. Karl Robinson threaded a delicious pass through the Knaresborough defence into the path of Steve Copley who steered his shot just wide of the left-hand post.

The visitors responded and, from Littlefair’s cross, Paul Stansfield saw a header blocked on the line.

The tea bar was certainly popular at the interval and three minutes after the restart, Tom Clarke curled a free-kick over the wall from 20 yards out straight into the chest of Carl Lill.

Knaresborough took the lead in the 55th minute. Joel Freestone ran into the area from the right and saw his shot rebound kindly off Lill for O’Hare to force the ball over the line at close range.

Just before the hour mark, Clarke fed Freestone who broke into the area only for Karl Robinson to produce a superb saving tackle to prevent a certain goal.

Whitkirk created chances to equalise – Ryan Robinson headed the best one straight at Jack Rushworth – but Knaresborough doubled their advantage in the 71st minute. A deep free-kick from near the right corner of the area was delivered to the far post where the ball was knocked down for Freestone to fire home from eight yards out.

A well-struck shot from Karl Robinson almost led toWhitkirk halving the deficit. Rushworth could only parry the ball to Will McGahan who fired across the face of goal.

Knaresborough wrapped up the win to take them top of the table with a third goal in the 83rd minute. David Thomas sent Lill the wrong way with a well-taken penalty.

Whitkirk Wanderers (blue/blue/blue): 1. Carl Lill, 2. Ryan Staniforth, 3. Danny Leaf, 4. Alex Wilson, 5. Phil Schoular, 6. Lydon Watson, 7. Mickey Eilliott, 8. Karl Robinson (capt), 9. Steve Copley, 10. Simon Ndure, 11. Matthew Dexter. Subs: 12. Ryan Robinson (for Dexter, ht), 14. Will McGahan (for Copley, 65), 15. Glen Hewitt (for Ndure, ht).

Knaresborough Town (red/black/red): 1. Jack Rushworth, 2. David Thomas, 3. Chris Ellerker, 4. Matthew Duerden (capt), 5. James Bradley, 6. Paul Stansfield, 7. Ian O’Hare, 8. Tom Clarke, 9. Stephen Bromley, 10. Joel Freestone, 11. Byron Littlefair. Subs: 12. Chris Hastings (for Stansfield, ht), 14. Daniel McDaid (for Littlefair, 84), 15. Colin Heath.

Referee: Martin Saville.
Assistants: Dan Mawer and Andrew Walker.

Goals:
0-1 Ian O’Hare (55)
0-2 Joel Freestone (71)
0-3 David Thomas (83 pen)

Shifnal Town 4 Gornal Athletic 5

Wednesday 7th December 2011
Shifnal Town 4 Gornal Athletic 5
West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division
At: Phoenix Park, Coppice Green Lane
Kick-off: 7-45 pm
Admission: £5 including 28 page programme and raffle ticket
Weather: mild, dry
Attendance: 50 (headcount)
Duration: first-half: 47:45; second-half: 48:00

Shifnal Town and Gornal Town served up a nine-goal thriller on a not-that-cold an evening Phoenix Park to better the six goals I saw on my only previous visit to the ground in 1993. Tonight, both sides scored twice during the first half and both added a third goal before the hour mark. Shifnal edged ahead 4-3 just after the hour mark when Chris Henry completed his hat-trick only for Gornal to equalise again. However, Gornal striker Seb Craven took full advantage of a bad mistake by Shifnal’s keeper in the 79th minute to coolly score what proved to be the winner.

Despite being only 25 miles from home, I’d only been to Phoenix Park once before – one of the pleasures I’m getting this season is returning to long-since visited grounds like Heath Hayes last Tuesday and Shifnal tonight. My previous visit to Phoenix Park was 18 years and 3 days ago on Saturday 4th December 1993 in the era before lights were installed at the ground. Then Shifnal recorded an emphatic 6-0 win over Kings Heath in the Skol Midland Combination Premier Division.

Without looking at my old photos, I remembered a substantial stand and parking in the adjacent school car park before walking up to the pitch. The stand, holding around 200 seats, is still in situ with banking around all but the south end of the ground. On the Coppice Green Lane side was a Refreshments kiosk.

Visitors Gornal Athletic (47 points from 19 games) may have been 14 points behind seemingly runaway leaders Black Country Rangers in second position but have enough games in hand to take over top spot provided they keep on winning. Mixed form has, to me, hampered the progress of Shifnal (26 points from 20 games) who went into this game in 13th position in the 22-team division.

Teams were announced over the tannoy and Gornal (wearing blue shirts with white pinstripe hoops, blue shorts and socks) got the game underway attacking the North End (right to left in relation to my seat in the stand).

Shifnal (in red and white striped shirts, black shorts and socks) took a 10th-minute lead with the game’s first attempt on goal. Chris Henry latched onto a ball down the middle and lifted a shot into the net past James Pemberton as defender Chris Waterhouse challenged. Waterhouse, hurt trying to prevent the shot, required lengthy treatment and was entually replaced in the 21st minute.

Despite losing their captain, Gornal equalised a minute after Waterhouse departed. Lee Wherton, now wearing the armband, ran into the area down the middle and stabbed the ball into the bottom left corner as home keeper David Maguire challenged. Wherton required treatment through was able to continue.

Wherton put Gornal ahead just before the half-hour with a spectacular left-foot shot from some 30 yards out which flew past Maguire into the left side of the net.

Maguire produced a diving save to keep out a shot on the break from Marvin Nisbett before Shifnal equalised in the 42nd minute. Henry got in a shot 15 yards out which Pemberton could only help into the bottom right corner.

“Shifnal, good half” said one home players encouragingly towards his teammates. I felt more goals were on the way in the second half – and I wasn’t wrong.

“Winning raffle ticket tonight is 845. Take it to the pay gate entrance gate”. Alas, with ‘830’, it wasn’t me!

Just before the start of the second half, one spectator relayed the news to anyone interested that “Man City winning, Man United losing”. Of course he was on about the Champions League action.

Even though Shifnal got the second half underway, Gornal almost went ahead within 35 seconds of the restart. Unmarked Kristian Green hit a well struck right-foot shot inside the area which Maguire scrambled round the post at the expense of a corner.

Gornal regained the lead in the 48th minute from a free-kick. Matt Martin delivered it from the left to the far post where Mark Swann knocked the ball down for Seb Craven to stab home at close range.

Goals continued to flow and Shifnal levelled things up at 3-3 just before the hour mark. Glynn Coney crossed from the left and Liam Bood looped at near post header over Pemberton into the far side of the net.

It got even better for the home side five minutes later when they made it 4-3.Henry robbed the dawdling Swann, ran towards goal unchallenged and lashed an angled shot past Pemberton to complete a hat-trick.

Matt Weyman replaced Martin and his introduction proved to be an inspired substitution. A minute after coming on Weyman got on the end of Craven’s right-wing cross and sent a looping header into the top left-corner of the net.

Gornal, who had won their last four league games, showed why they are challenging for the title by scoring what proved to be the winner in the 79th minute. Maguire raced to his line to clear a long ball into the area, kicked thin air under pressure and presented Craven with a simple task of slotting into an empty net.

I have never seen a 5-5 draw and Shifnal had a couple of late chances to snatch a point. Bood fired the wrong side of the right-hand post from ten yards out and deep into stoppage time, Pemberton dropped a free-kick inside a packed area only to quickly claim the loose ball.

Shifnal Town (red and white stripes / black /black): 1, David Maguire, 2. Adam Smith, 3. Tom Griffin, 4. David Howells, 5. Pat Ellis, 6. George Williams (capt), 7. Liam Bood, 8. Dan Martin, 9. Chris Henry, 10. Andy Thompson, 11. Glynn Coney. Subs: 12. Mark Adamczyk (for Andy Thompson, 59), 14. Danny Hill (not used), 15. David Robinson (nit used), 16. Matt Kent (not used), 17. Joshua Thompson (not used).

Gornal Athletic (blue with white pinstripe hoops / blue / blue): 1. James Pemberton, 2. Richard Young, 3. Robin Keates, 4. Conor Gater, 5. Chris Waterhouse (capt), 6. Kristian Green, 7. Michael Perks, 8. Lee Wherton, 9. Seb Craven, 10. Marvin Nisbett, 11. Matt Martin. Subs: 12. Matt Weyman (for Martin, 70), 14. Gurdeep Wilkhoo (for Nisbett, 80), 15. Ravi Sangha (not used), 16. Mark Swann (for Whitehouse, 21), 17. Ricky Nicholls (not used).

Referee: Tom Keady.
Assistants: M. Swinscoe and C. Griffiths.

Goals:
1-0 Chris Henry (10)
1-1 Lee Wherton (22)
1-2 Lee Wherton (29)
2-2 Chris Henry (42)
2-3 Seb Craven (48)
3-3 Liam Bood (58)
4-3 Chris Henry (63)
4-4 Matt Weyman (72)
4-5 Seb Craven (79)