​Redditch United v Bishop’s Stortford (Evostik Southern Premier League) - TRICO Stadium, ground #60

It’s getting to that point in the year where games are starting to succumb to the elements, and the flurry of snow on Saturday morning made me slightly nervous that I would get to my game. The away side are just a few places above the relegation zone, whereas Redditch are safely in mid table and looking to push towards the promotion places.

The TRICO Stadium is only a short walk from Redditch train station but then at the bottom of a hill, so for those not a fan of walking it may be worth taking advantage of the match day parking! Three spacious stands surround the 3G surface and offer different heights and angles that the game can be watched from, and I had a great view of the action from a fair few of them. The atmosphere was a very friendly and communal one with plenty of fans of all ages and a few of the youth teams in attendance, and given the weather quite a lot of fans surrounded both the bar and the hatch serving tea and coffee.

In what seems to be a trend at games I attend there was a goal in the first five minutes and it came for the home side. An away corner was cleared and Ashley Sammons was allowed to break across the halfway line and play Dior Angus in as he ran towards the box, and his shot from the corner flew across the goal and into the net. An excellent finish and the home side were in front.

Angus continued to be a threat as the home side dominated the first quarter of an hour, as a ball was lobbed over into his path as he broke into the box, but this time his shot across the face of the goal sailed wide. Bishop’s Stortford only had one chance in the first twenty minutes, as Afolabi Akinyemi picked up a throw in but his attempt to play the ball across the goal was collected and cleared. 

​Bishop’s Stortford then had three corners in quick succession where they could have grabbed an equaliser, but that passage of play ended when John Simpson volleyed well wide from a Redditch clearance.

Just after the half hour Redditch’s Sammons again got hold of the ball and fired a cross in and Pendley was left unmarked for a free header, but it was well collected by the away goalkeeper Tyler McCarthy. A couple of minutes later Redditch broke again, and Thanoj got a shot off from just outside the D. McCarthy caught it but then lost the ball, before gratefully jumping on it before it crossed the line to keep Redditch just one goal in front.

Bishop’s Stortford got their equaliser as the first half came to a close, and it was well deserved after a period of constant pressure from the away side. A cross wasn’t properly cleared and Akinyemi, stood on the edge of the box, got off a shot through a crowd of people and the ball ended up in the corner of the net. Redditch nearly took the lead again almost immediately, but the shot on the end of a floating free kick went wide.

HT 1-1

Bishop’s Stortford nearly took the lead at the start of the second half - a poor clearance from Simpson allowed Foxley to break and shoot across the face but this time his shot went wide.

As the game approached the hour mark a free kick was won by the home side, and only a spectacular save by McCarthy kept Pendley’s header out. The resulting corner came in and the big defender Pendley was not going to he stopped this time, his thumping header found the bottom corner and restored Redditch United’s lead.

Bishop’s Stortford got themselves an equaliser very much against the run of play on seventy two minutes - some neat play on the right wing and a cross came in that was unfortunately turned into his own net by substitute Pauly Apostolopoulos.

Into the last ten minutes the home team pushed for a winner, and thought they had won a penalty as Dunkley went down in the box. The referee did blow his whistle, but then proceeded to point in the other direction and pulled out his yellow card for simulation.

A few minutes later and Redditch won a corner, and after a goalmouth scramble the home team believed the ball had crossed the line before it was bundled out for a corner but the officials did not agree and awarded the corner instead.

With just a couple of minutes to go Redditch won a free kick but Pemdley’s knock down was again cleared away, before Bishop’s Stortford went up the other end and a snap shot was well tipped over by Ethan Ross. 

​The final whistle brought a highly entertaining game to a close, but the home side might well view that as two points lost rather than one gained. They had the lion’s share of the chances and only an unfortunate own goal stood in their way, but having that Bishop’s Stortford had a decent game of their own and are very unlikely to be in trouble come the end of the season. The draw leaves the home side six points adrift of the playoff places, and with the level of competition at the top of the Southern League Premier being so high this year this will be a blow to their hopes.

I very much enjoyed my visit to the TRICO Stadium - a very welcoming and friendly atmosphere along with plenty of great vantage points from which to watch the game. I would definitely recommend taking a game in here, though I would also suggest taking a hat and some gloves this time of year - despite the three stands the ground is quite open and can get very cold very quickly!

Redditch United 2-2 Bishop’s Stortford
Attendance: 258
Entrance: £10.00
Programme: £2.00

Redditch United: Ross, Wright (Apostolopoulos 65’), Fox, Mailancol, Simpson, Pendley, Thanoj, Jackman, Angus, Sammons, Monteiro (Dunkley 75’)
Bishop’s Stortford: McCarthy, Casey, Rogers, Simpson, Ekpiteta, Robinson, Foxley, Westcott, Williams, Moncur (Thomas 89’), Akinyemi 

Lutterworth Athletic v Blackstones (United Counties League Division One) - Smallman & Sons Arena, ground #59
 
This week I found myself driving through rural Warwickshire towards Lutterworth for my second visit of the season. Earlier this year I was in attendance for when Lutterworth Town put Teversal to the sword in the FA Vase, but today’s visit was to neighbours Lutterworth Athletic and their Division One clash with promotion hopefuls Blackstones.
 
The facilities at Hall Lane are quite sizeable with a number of small businesses also based here, as well as numerous sports pitches and the Lutterworth football academy. Today though all eyes were on the main pitch, as both teams looked to push up the table and look for promotion into the Premier Division.
 
The game started brightly and after just five minutes the home side won a corner. Daniel Page whipped the ball in dangerously and it was caught by the keeper, but as he looked to clear the danger the assistant flagged and signalled the ball had actually crossed the line, sparking celebrations from the Lutterworth players as the away team surrounded the referee and his assistant. The goal stood though, and the Atho were one up.
 
The away team were not out of the game though after their early setback, with Jones De Sousa causing problems for the Lutterworth defence all game. Here he won a corner for Blackstones with a deflected cross, with the resulting dead ball then cleared and falling back to De Sousa, but his curling shot was easily collected by home keeper Craig Coombs. Blackstones continued to pile on the pressure and got their equaliser after a quarter of an hour – striker Danny Barker lobbing the keeper for a brilliant equaliser, though with such a small attendance I was busy typing up some notes and only saw the ball cross the line!

​The frantic play continued as the game restarted – the ball came over to 14 on the edge to the box, but his fired shot was caught by the keeper. Lutterworth then went straight up the other end, but the fluffed shot went well wide.
 
The first yellow card came after just twenty minutes, Barker and Mattock jostled for a loose ball on the edge of the box, and as the whistle blew the striker assumed he had won a free kick. To his dismay however he was told to get up, and after remonstrating with the referee he was shown a yellow card as the defender Mattock received treatment for a bloody nose. The game quietened down after this as the half wound down with one further chance for Lutterworth before the break - patient build up play by the home side saw Petranyuk play in Ivens despite looking for the shot, and he was able to cut inside as he entered the box but his shot curled narrowly wide.
 
HT 1-1 

​The second half started much more quietly than the first half had, with Blackstones striker De Sousa twice chasing onto loose balls but not able to get a shot away. The second one however earned a corner, met by Pell and bouncing away off the post. On the hour Lutterworth 8 had a curling shot that was well caught, before away went straight up the other end, with 10 forcing a great save from keeper as he tipped it around the post.
 
Just after the hour mark a Blackstones free kick was collected by Lutterworth, and substitute 16 played a great ball from the half way line that Page ran on to, raced into the box and coolly slotted past the keeper, restoring Lutterworth’s lead. Ten minutes later Lutterworth broke again over the half way line with a three on three attack, but Page slid in and couldn’t get on the end of 16’s cross. Another Lutterworth attack came moments later as again 16 found himself with space and the ball in the box, but Page could only hit the side netting.
 
Blackstones has a chance to equalise in injury time as they broke foreword and the ball landed at the feet of 3, but his low shot was well saved by the foot of the keeper. Blackstones had one final chance as a free kick floated in and was cleared, but De Sousa’s returning volley flew over the bar.
 
So while there was hardly anyone there to watch it, this was a decent game where the home side deserved the win despite the higher league position of their opponents. This win pushed Lutterworth into the top five as Blackstones lost ground on the top position in Division One. Both teams played well though and the ground is an enjoyable one to visit so I would definitely recommend it, though with such a small crowd in attendance it did feel incredibly empty and lacking in atmosphere, not much of a celebration from anyone come the final whistle!
 
Lutterworth Athletic 2-1 Blackstones
Attendance: 40
Entrance: £5.00
Programme: £1.00
 
Lutterworth Athletic: Coombs, Maisiri, Page, Ivens, Mattock, Morgan, Proudlock, Pryor, Coyle, Kirk, Petranyuk
 
Blackstones: Bellairs, Easson, Bates, Pell, Simpson, Boome, Porter (French 45’), Musgrove, Baker, De Sousa, Papworth (13’)

Last weekend I was taking my seat at a game in the Bundesliga, but this week I made my way to much more modest surroundings - the Trevor Brown Memorial Ground just outside Sutton Coldfield to take in the Midland Premier League clash between Boldmere St. Michaels and Heanor Town.
 
After having missed both of my planned trains I arrived rather breathlessly to the Trevor Brown Memorial Ground, but what a ground it is. Covered standing and seating on two sides, an excellent looking 3G surface and clubhouse made for an impressive facility. Combined with a very vocal away support, this game promised to be a good one.
 
With my delayed I ended up missing the first ten minutes of the action, and, frustratingly, the last of the programmes. I’ve started picking up a programme if they are available at games as I think it’s another good way to support a club as well as buying a tea and a ticket in the prize draw, so I always want to get one where possible.
 
My report therefore starts from the twelfth minute, when Boldmere midfielder Milligan ran through, evading a foul that could have drawn a penalty from other referees before squaring for team mate Ben Usher-Shipway, but his shot went narrowly wide and the game remained goalless. This was largely the story of the first half, both teams playing some good football and creating plenty of chances but struggling to put together any sort of end product. 

​With twenty five minutes gone the home side won a free kick on the edge of the area, and despite the initial clearance the ball was hooked back in in a dangerous area, but was caught by Heanor keeper Wayne White. The away side started to make more inroads and create more chances, and seemingly out of nowhere on the half hour striker Elliott Reeves got a snap shot off that rippled the side netting. Not to be deterred though, just a few minutes later Reeves raced away and into the box, but went down rather easily under the challenge from a Boldmere defender and the referee waved play on.
 
HT 0-0
 
The first half had flashes of action but was a bit underwhelming, and there was a fear that the second half would play out much the same. However, just two minutes into the second half the ball came back in from the wing courtesy of Usher-Shipway and Boldmere striker Nesbitt buried it into the bottom corner to give the home side the lead. Not wanting to be outdone only five minutes later the away side won themselves a penalty as Marriott was hacked down inside the box. After having missed a couple of chances in the first half Reeves stepped up and duly converted the spot kick, although the Boldmere keeper did get his hands to it and could perhaps have got more on it. 

​The two sides continued to trade attacks as they both looked to take the lead again, and around the hour it was the home team that went back in front: a floating ball into the area was only cleared onto the back of Heanor defender Hall, and Charlie Morris was able to pick up the loose ball and plant it into the far corner.
 
The game seemed to quieten down a bit after the second Boldmere goal, and it was until the final quarter of an hour that Heanor were able to grab a deserved equaliser. As with much of the play during the game the ball came in from the flank, and the cross was fired back across the face of goal and into the bottom corner by Laurence Constable, bringing the away side level.
 
That second goal though seemed to fire up the home side once more as they now pushed for the winner, and almost straight from the kick off Nesbitt was able to break free on the edge of the box, but the shot was another to hit the side netting. Heanor came back though setting up a frenetic final ten minutes with Nesbitt having another good chance, though his close range shot was easily caught by keeper Fenney. 

​A winner felt like it was coming though, and in the last few minutes Boldmere had several long throws that all looked dangerous, and finally in the third minute of injury time substitute Curvin Ellis got his head on one of those throw ins to grab the winner and all three points for Boldmere St Michaels.
 
While the first half may have flattered to deceive the second half was the polar opposite: a great atmosphere and plenty of chances for both sides. Boldmere deserved the win as they had the better chances, but defeat did seem harsh on the away side that had numerous opportunities to add to their own tally. A very enjoyable day out and I would definitely recommend making the trip to the Trevor Brown Memorial Ground, either to see Boldmere St Michaels or Paget Rangers, playing in the division below.
 
Boldmere St Michaels 3-2 Heanor Town
Attendance: 137
Entrance: £5.00
Programme: £2.00
 
Boldmere St Michaels: Fenney, Fitzmaurice (Lindsey 56’), Abraham, Gayle, Craven, Lyng, Usher-Shipway, Milligan, Nesbitt (Ellis 88’), Shaw (Skinner 76’), Morris
 
Heanor Town: White, Lee (Naylor 65’), Oliver, Gordon, Roulston, Marriott, Wilkinson (Hall 45’), Brown, Reeves, Constable, Lee (Scott 68’)

Despite the freezing temperatures I ventured out to tick off one of my most local grounds and see Coventry Copsewood take on Chemsley Town in the Midland Football League Division One. Both clubs have had differing starts to their seasons so three points would be well received by either side in a tightly contested midtable so far.
 
The Copsewood Sports and Social Club is located on the outskirts of Coventry city centre and is quite a sizeable site, but the main pitch is tucked away at the back and hidden from view on the approach - not the most helpful situation when trying to find it on a dark October night! The pitch was railed off on all sides with a small seated stand and located next to some other pitches making it feel very open, so combined with a very small attendance of just 35 it did feel very quiet in terms of atmosphere.
 
In what seems to be a trend in games I have attended recently, it was the home side that took the lead after just two minutes when a ball whipped across the face of goal was turned in by what looked like an unfortunate Chelmsley defender, despite being credited in the official report to Copsewood striker Daniel Fraser. No team sheet was available to identify which away player it was, but it was not the best of starts for the visitors.
 
However, Chelmsley didn’t falter after the early setback, and their first real chance came after fifteen minutes, as after winning a corner the ball was floated in and fumbled by home keeper James Wardle, but the home team eventually cleared it away to safety.
 
This game can be loosely summed up as scrappy and the opposite of the open, flowing football I’ve seen elsewhere this season - attacks broke down easily and the ball seemed to be confined largely to the midfield, leading to long spells where there wasn’t much action. Chelmsley did nearly score towards the end of the first half though, as the home keeper tried to shield the ball out for a goal kick but was dispossessed on the byline, though as the Chelmsley attacker broke away and made his move towards goal the linesman’s flag went up, much to the bemusement and frustration of the away management. Copsewood did have the chance to double their lead as the half wore down, but a shot from a tight angle drifted harmlessly wide and out for a goal kick.
 
HT Coventry Copsewood 1-0 Chelmsley Town 

​The second half did start brighter than the first half had ended, and within the first five minutes of the second half the home side had a chance to double their lead with a shot from right back Ephriam Pepe that nearly crept in at the near post, but from my viewpoint by the goal it looked to hit the post rather than the keeper getting anything on it, and indeed a goal kick was awarded.
 
The game sprang into life just a few minutes later, as Copsewood earned a penalty on fifty four minutes for a foul inside the area, which was duly fired home by Fraser. However, this seemed to fire up the away side rather than put the game to bed, as Kieran Fitzgerald pulled a goal back for Chelmsley in the sixty first minute seemingly out of nowhere, a ball came across and it was rifled home from the edge of the box.
 
Chelmsley had the chance to equalise with around a quarter of an hour to play with a free kick just outside the penalty area, and as it deflected off the wall the home keeper had to dive smartly back across to parry it away, maintaining Copsewood’s lead.
 
Into the final ten minutes Copsewood had another opportunity to get their third with a great one on one breakaway, but the Chelmsley keeper was able to collect as the home attacker overran and slipped before being able to get his shot away. It proved to be costly as just a minute later Chelmsley moved forward with an attack of their own, and as the home defence scrambled to get the ball away Kieran Fitzgerald was able to bundle it into the net to bring the score level and double his tally with just seven minutes to go.
 
It wasn’t the end of the action though, as with just a few minutes left Coventry Copsewood won a corner, and centre back Brett Davies rose highest to head the ball into the bottom corner and secure all three points for the home side.
 
Overall it wasn’t the best game of football I’ve ever seen, and towards the end tempers got a bit frayed on the bitch - Copsewood have already had one game abandoned this season due to a brawl with opposition players and it looked as though similar may happen here. Cooler heads prevailed however, and the win sees Copsewood occupy seventh in the Division One table, with Chelmsley six points behind in fifteenth.
 
Coventry Copsewood 3-2 Chelmsley Town
Attendance: 35
Entrance: £5.00
Programme: £1.50
 
Coventry Copsewood: Wardle, Pepe, Taylor, Atkins, Davies, Johnston, Civzelis, Upton, Fraser, Rawlings, Yerou
 
Chelmsley Town: Kelly (gk), Egege, R Ellis, T Ellis, Fitzgerald, Keeley, Parke, Sadler, Sawyer, Sweeney, Weller