This midweek BoTP finally got to visit The Heights, home of Hellenic Premier League Milton United. The floodlights, when on, are visible from the A34 and it is a ground that I have passed on many an occasion but never visited. So, a Premier League clash with last season's FA Vase semi-finalists Highworth Town seemed a perfect opportunity.
There is some dispute about the actual year that Milton were formed but the official line is 1926. They moved into their current stadium in 1998, installing floodlights and building a new clubhouse. The ground has an exposed feeling to it being completely open on three side and perched atop a hill. It's call the Heights for a reason I suppose.
There is a single structure along one side of the ground which houses the clubhouse and players area as well as the main covered seating area. There is also a covered standing area on this side of the ground. The dugouts are also on this side of the ground. There is plenty of parking available at the rear of the ground and, from what I could see, no official entrance to pitch-side. Not finding anyone to take my money I wondered in until I came across a man with a box of programmes. I offered him a tenner and got a programme, a sticker and £4 change. A very relaxed way of charging
for entry but, I suppose, it is quite easy to see who is not wearing their sticker. The programme man informed me that there were drinks and snacks available in the club house. Milton seems like a friendly enough club although there is way too much claret and blue around for my liking, especially on the team photos adorning the wall of the clubhouse. Despite hanging up my West Brom season ticket many years ago, once a Baggie always a Baggie and being surrounded by so many Villaesque kits still makes me feel uneasy. Having said that, the current Milton kit, being mainly pale blue with a claret centre panel, is more reminiscent of Scunthorpe than Birmingham's second team.
There is some dispute about the actual year that Milton were formed but the official line is 1926. They moved into their current stadium in 1998, installing floodlights and building a new clubhouse. The ground has an exposed feeling to it being completely open on three side and perched atop a hill. It's call the Heights for a reason I suppose.
There is a single structure along one side of the ground which houses the clubhouse and players area as well as the main covered seating area. There is also a covered standing area on this side of the ground. The dugouts are also on this side of the ground. There is plenty of parking available at the rear of the ground and, from what I could see, no official entrance to pitch-side. Not finding anyone to take my money I wondered in until I came across a man with a box of programmes. I offered him a tenner and got a programme, a sticker and £4 change. A very relaxed way of charging
for entry but, I suppose, it is quite easy to see who is not wearing their sticker. The programme man informed me that there were drinks and snacks available in the club house. Milton seems like a friendly enough club although there is way too much claret and blue around for my liking, especially on the team photos adorning the wall of the clubhouse. Despite hanging up my West Brom season ticket many years ago, once a Baggie always a Baggie and being surrounded by so many Villaesque kits still makes me feel uneasy. Having said that, the current Milton kit, being mainly pale blue with a claret centre panel, is more reminiscent of Scunthorpe than Birmingham's second team.
The records of the two teams seemed to point to an away victory. Highworth have lost just once on their travels this season whereas Milton have only won one at home. However, as we all know, football doesn't necessarily work that way. If it did we would have all won fortunes on the pools or at the bookies.
Having said that it was Highworth who started the brighter. In fact, Milton barely got out of their own half for the first 15 minutes, knocking the ball about with some confidence but not really creating a clear-cut opportunity. As so often happens in these situations, it was the home side who actually created the best opening, forcong the Highworth keeper into a decent save down at his right-hand post.
Milton did start to get a small foothold on the game, venturing past the halfway line a number of times but were still spending a lot of the game penned in their own half. Highworth's passing and movement was causing a lot of problems for the home side, but they were fairly resolute at the back and continued to cut out the final ball or get a body between the ball and the goal.
Finally, with just a minute or so remaining in the first half, The Worthians got the breakthrough that their efforts had deserved. Following a very neat passing move, one of the best of the half, the ball finally reached Parsons inside the penalty area. His drilled shot left the home keeper with no chance.
So the teams went in at half-time with the away side 1-0 up. No more than they deserved, to be fair, but they would certainly be wondering how they only lead by a single goal. You wondered if Milton might take some comfort from only going in a goal down and make Highworth regret it in the second half.
Just a few minutes in, however, Town hit the goal that effectively ended the match when Aaron Maximen applied the finishing touch to a Highworth break. This second goal seemed to instill a lot of confidence in the Worthians and for the next few minutes their football flowed freely. Milton were in real danger of being swept aside at this point. However, to give full credit to United, they kept plugging away and never let Highworth rest on their laurels.
There was no further scoring in the game. So, the 2-0 scoreline sees Highworth climb to fifth in the league whilst Milton remain in fourteenth.
Milton United - @miltonunited
Highworth Town - @highworthtownfc
Having said that it was Highworth who started the brighter. In fact, Milton barely got out of their own half for the first 15 minutes, knocking the ball about with some confidence but not really creating a clear-cut opportunity. As so often happens in these situations, it was the home side who actually created the best opening, forcong the Highworth keeper into a decent save down at his right-hand post.
Milton did start to get a small foothold on the game, venturing past the halfway line a number of times but were still spending a lot of the game penned in their own half. Highworth's passing and movement was causing a lot of problems for the home side, but they were fairly resolute at the back and continued to cut out the final ball or get a body between the ball and the goal.
Finally, with just a minute or so remaining in the first half, The Worthians got the breakthrough that their efforts had deserved. Following a very neat passing move, one of the best of the half, the ball finally reached Parsons inside the penalty area. His drilled shot left the home keeper with no chance.
So the teams went in at half-time with the away side 1-0 up. No more than they deserved, to be fair, but they would certainly be wondering how they only lead by a single goal. You wondered if Milton might take some comfort from only going in a goal down and make Highworth regret it in the second half.
Just a few minutes in, however, Town hit the goal that effectively ended the match when Aaron Maximen applied the finishing touch to a Highworth break. This second goal seemed to instill a lot of confidence in the Worthians and for the next few minutes their football flowed freely. Milton were in real danger of being swept aside at this point. However, to give full credit to United, they kept plugging away and never let Highworth rest on their laurels.
There was no further scoring in the game. So, the 2-0 scoreline sees Highworth climb to fifth in the league whilst Milton remain in fourteenth.
Milton United - @miltonunited
Highworth Town - @highworthtownfc
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