Saturday 26th February 2011

Yorkshire Amateur 2 Staveley Miners Welfare 2
KoolSport Northern Counties East League Division 1
At: Bracken Edge
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Admission: £4; Programme: £1 (20 pages)
Mileage: 228.0 miles
Weather: Mild, sunny, a few rain showers
Attendance: 80
Duration: first-half: 45:02; second-half: 48:44


While local games involving both Stafford Town and Stafford Rangers were on a long list of postponements due to a waterlogged pitch, there were no such problems at Bracken Edge in Leeds. True, it was a lot further than I’d planned to travel but the top teams in the NCEL Division One served up an entertaining game. After a goalless first half, leaders Staveley twice took the lead and second-placed Yorkshire Amateur twice got on level teams, snatching a vital point courtesy of a late own goal.

Goals:
0-1 Ryan Damms (59)
1-1 Chris Hitchins (65)
1-2 Chris Coy (77)
2-2 Michael Staley (86 og)

Tuesday 22nd February 2011

Stone Dominoes 1 Winsford United 4
Vodkat League Premier Division
At: M-way Stadium at Springbank Park
Kick-off: 7-45 pm
Admission: £5; Programme: £1 (36 pages)
Mileage: 25.7 miles
Weather: cold and dry, a bit misty
Attendance: 102
Duration: first-half: 47:47; second-half: 55:10


Goals have never been in short supply whenever I’ve visited the floodlight M-way Stadium at Springbank Park and tonight continued that trend. Five more goals were added to the tally that now stands at 24 goals in four games seen there. Unfortunately for Stone, four of the five scored at this evening’s game came from the visitors who maintained their promotion push. Liam Newman bagged a hat-trick, scoring twice during a ‘three goals in 10 minutes’ spell midway through the first half to put his side in control. Stone rallied after pulling a goal back during the second half but Newman netted his third goal in second-half stoppage time to wrap things up.

Stone Dominoes (red/black/black): 1. Ben Chapman, 2. Adam Edwards, 3. Glenn Ray, 4. Ryan Connor, 5. Gareth Mayer, 6. Matthew Bradbury, 7. Anthony Marshall, 9, Leon Ashman, 10. James Curley (capt), 11. Andy Matthews. Subs: 12. Simon Eldershaw (for Bradbury, 90+1), 14. Michael Marren (for Matthews, 87), 15. Adam Sloane (for Mayer, 59), 16. Andy Bourne (not used), 17. Liam Rigby (not used).

Winsford United (blue/blue/blue): 1. Richie Mottram, 2. Jack McKay, 3. Lee Duckworth, 4. Colin McAllister, 5. Adam Bayley, 6. Michael Ellison, 7. Adam Foy, 8. Lee Jones (capt), 9. Mattie Ward, 10. Liam Newman, 11. Ryan Stewart. Subs: 12. Mike Brandon (for Morrtam, 80), 14. Lee Thompson (not used), 15. Daniel Brown (for Bayley, ht), 16. Ben Purdue (for Foy, 69), 17. Allan Glover (not used).

Referee: J. A. Sheffield.
Assistants: N. Faunch and R. Gould.

Goals:
0-1 Liam Newman (16)
0-2 Mattie Ward (21)
0-3 Liam Newman (25)
1-3 James Curley (77)
1-4 Liam Newman (90+7)

Cards:
Stone: none.
Winsford: none.

Saturday 19th February 2011

Wellington 6 Stafford Town 1
West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division
At: Wellington Playing Field
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Admission: £3; Programme: £1 (24 pages)
Mileage: 141.0 miles
Weather: dry with late sunshine
Attendance: 45 (headcount)
Duration: first-half: 46:17; second-half: 47:00


Non-league fixtures were badly hit again with snow in the north and waterlogged pitches elsewhere. Just two of nine games in the West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division took place and one of them was my preferred destination – Stafford Town’s trip to Herefordshire-based Wellington. However, after conceding the opening goal after just 15 seconds and another five before half-time, Town may well have wished this game had joined the list of postponements. A goal from Matt Buckham, which reduced the deficit to 3-1, gave Town hope but they were left fuming over a controversial decision not to award a penalty for a challenge on Paul McMahon which would have led to Wellington being reduced to ten men. After the break, Stafford salvaged some pride by drawing the goalless second half. I was impressed with the setup at Wellington which included welcoming club officials, a decent tea bar and the tannoy being used to announce the line-ups.

Tuesday 15th February 2010

Stafford Rangers 4 Hednesford Town 2
Staffordshire Senior Cup Quarter Final
At: Marston Road
Kick-off: 7-45 pm
Admission: press pass (£5+£2); Programme: free teamsheet
Mileage: 8.6 miles
Weather: rain
Attendance: 247
Duration: first-half: 46:00; second-half: 46:19


Two local rivals went head to head with the prospect of a home semi-final tie against Kidsgrove Athletic awaiting the winner. And it was Stafford Rangers who progressed and gained local bragging rights over Hednesford Town with a 4-2 win on a very heavy Marston Road pitch. The win had seemed a long way off when the visitors took the lead after just 47 seconds courtesy of an own goal from Alex Forde, but the impressive Tyree Clarke led the recovery with a hat-trick.

Saturday 12th February 2011

Winterbourne United 0 Easington Sports 0
UHLSPORT Hellenic League Division 1 West
At: The Rec, Parkside Avenue
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Admission: none; Programme: £3 (28 pages)
Mileage: 214.2 miles
Weather: dry and sunny
Attendance: 48
Duration: first-half: 46:54; second-half: 49:09


The two names at the top of my ‘grounds to visit before the end of the season’ are Parkside Avenue and Whiteway Road, the respective homes of Bristol-based clubs Winterbourne United and Roman Glass St George. Both will to be moving to share the ground close to M5 junction 16 that will be vacated at the end of the current season by Zamaretto League side Almondsbury Town.

Coincidently today, both clubs at the top of my list were at home this afternoon but, after scanning forthcoming fixtures, opportunities to head south on convenient Saturdays to watch a future Winterbourne home game were far more limited than a Roman Glass St George home game. So, Parkside Avenue it was this afternoon for a home game in the UHLSPORT Hellenic League Division 1 West against Easington Sports.

The short stretch of the M4 from the M5 to M32 can be rather prone to queues, so rather than take the so-called quickest route, I left the southbound M5 at junction 14 and made my way to Winterbourne via the B4059 and then B4058. Initially following signs for Yate signs, I passed through villages like Cromhall, Rangeworthy and Iron Acton. So approaching from the north, Parkside Avenue was on the left-hand side after passing the boarded-up pub The Swan and around 100 yards after the Taj Brasserie. The entrance to the ground on Parkside Avenue was on the right between house numbers 18 and 20.

With Laurence Reade visiting the ground last week, I knew not to expect a stand or covered standing or any hard-standing around the pitch perimeter. But I knew that the Winterbourne officials put in a lot of effort and their welcome certainly backed that comment up. With no means to taking a gate, programmes were on sale from the bar inside the pavilion – £3 for a good read – and also sold the Chairman after kick-off walking around the pitch.

Looking at the league table, it was clear than neither Winterbourne (8th in the 15-team division with 24 points from 17 games) or Easington (11th with 19 points from 15 games) could finish in a promotion position or in the bottom three. Both had a recent league record of one win from their last five games. If either side managed to find a winner this afternoon, then the winning team would end a winless sequence – Winterbourne hadn’t won a league game at home since October while Easington have been waiting for an away league win since September.

Teams stayed put after the toss, so Easington (wearing sky blue and white striped shirts, black shorts and navy blue socks) got the game under way attacking the car park end in the first half. Perhaps the Winterboune skipper though that the visitors may have problems defending into the sun shining at an angle from the west.

Even though neither keeper was called upon to make a serious save, the first half could be described as competitive. Easington midfielder Graham Source saw a shot cleared off the line, while Winterbourne’s Ben Dowdell, nicknamed ‘Nani’, fired a couple of shots wide of the target.

At half-time I received my usual phone call from Marston Road when Stafford are playing at home with not good news. In the battle of the bottom two, basement side Redditch were leading 1-0 in a poor game on a poor muddy pitch. Time, I feared, to get out the map showing the location of Evo-Stik League Premier Division grounds.

Luck continued to be with Winterbourne (wearing all red) as a header from Dan Watkin was blocked on the line. Just after the hour mark, Source hit a speculative 30-yard drive that ended up rising high and wide of the target, much to the embarrassment of the player himself. And five minutes later, as if the suggest that the afternoon would indeed end up goalless, Ashley Knight sliced a 25-yard shot well wide of the visitors’ goal.

Jack Strawroski dived to his left to keep out a Watkin shot while, at the other end, Greg Stutt headed against the top of the Easington bar.

Into stoppage time and both sides claimed a penalty, in which the referee’s only interest was to reach for his cards. Easington Dan Reeves dribbled past three defender before going down in the box – referee Mr Jack’s only response was a booking for diving. And Winterbourne’s Knight was dismissed for foul language after having his penalty appeal turned down. Winterbourne, who were preparing to replace Knight with Jack James, ended up playing the last 27 seconds with ten men.

So, goalless at full time so Winterbourne and Easington are now one league win out of six games. And both aforementioned winless sequences continue.

Before heading home, I received the full-time score from Marston Road and may be the Evo-Stik League map might not be needed after all. Stafford were much improved in the second half and won 2-1 with goals from Ben Mills and Tyree Clarke.

There was time to have a chat with a club official, who helped me vacate a tight parking space, and I passed on my thoughts about the enjoyable afternoon I’d have. He confirmed the move to Almondsbury which will see Roman Glass St George relocate their first-team as well.

Winterbourne United (red/red/red): 1. Joshua Strawroski, 2. Steve Chambers, 3. Tristan Day, 4. Mike Millett, 5. Jack Watts, 6. Greg Stutt, 7. James Mainstone (capt), 8. Sam Vile, 9. Jimmy Potts, 10. Ben Dowdell, 11. Ashley Knight. Subs: 12. Sean Coles (for Day, 75), 14. Jack James, 15. Kieran Williams. Mgr: Nick Tanner.

Easington Sports (sky blue and white stripes / black / navy blue): 1. Richard Meadows, 2. Chris Kirby, 3. Terry Fitton, 4. Dave Nicholls, 5. James Hastie (capt), 6. Gareth Source, 7. Dan Watkin, 8. Niall Higgins, 9. Luke Bedding, 10. Andy Parsons, 11. Dan Reeves. Subs: 12. Simon Jones (for Parsons, 75), 14. Aaron Bedding. Mgr: Andy Bedding.

Referee: S. Jack.
Assistants: P. Laggett and M. E. Jones.

Saturday 5th February 2011

Stafford Rangers 1 Nuneaton Town 2
Blue Square Bet North
At: Marston Road
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Admission: £13; Programme: £2 (44 pages)
Mileage: 11.6 miles (longer route than normal)
Weather: rain
Attendance: 529
Duration: first-half: 45:36; second-half: 46:34


The local weather forecast that suggested either ‘rain’ or ‘heavy rain’ for this afternoon made the sensible destination today one with covered standing or seating. And Stafford Rangers’ home game with Blue Square Bet North leaders Nuneaton Town was the logical choice, especially in these days of sky-high petrol prices (125.9p per litre at Shell near Marston Road). Ettingshall Park Farm and Penkridge will have to wait for a drier afternoon.

Last time I was at Marston Road (0-2 defeat against AFC Telford United), Matt Elliott was in charge for what turned out to be his only game as Caretaker Manager before he was appointed as Tim Flowers’ replacement. His impact since the Telford game has been to end the goal drought with eight goals in the last four games with the only reward being a much-needed victory and three defeats.

Elliott’s men (13 points from 23 games) needed three points today as they went into this fixture, in the relegation zone in 20th position and six-points behind 19th-placed Hyde. But to do so they would need to defeat the league leaders (51 points from 24 games) sitting three points clear of Guiseley, just as Hyde surprisingly did 11 days ago at Triton Showers Community Arena (aka Liberty Way the home of Nuneaton Town).

The arrival of Nuneaton Town, former from the ashes from the former Nuneaton Borough though still nicknamed ‘Boro’, brought popular keeper Danny Alcock back to Marston Road. He was returning to league action after a one-match ban for his red card at Harrogate Town last month. Stuart Pierpoint was another returning old boy, though I never saw him in a Stafford shirt – nor did I today either in one of Nuneaton’s pink shirts.

Heavy rain in the hours before kick-off left the pitch ‘heavy’.

With floodlights on from the start, my thought when the visitors got the game under way attacking the Social Club end was that if Hyde can defeat Nuneaton away from home, then Stafford could do so at Marston Road.

Disaster struck for Stafford after just 202 seconds. A poor clearance by skipper for the day Andre Francis ended up at the feet of Kyle Storer who sent a deep inch-perfect diagonal ball forward into the Rangers area. It fell invitingly for unmarked Simon Forsdick to volley past Evans into the far bottom right corner of the net. 1-0 down in the fourth minute.

Rangers could have quickly levelled things up. Ben Mills pulled the ball back to Shane Benjamin on the edge of the area who couldn’t keep his well-struck shot down.

A heavy tackle in the 15th minute by Martyn Naylor on Mark Noon, forced the Nuneaton skipper out of the game and Kyle Storer took over the armband.

Rob Oddy sent a 25-yard shot flashing past the Rangers goal midway through the half. Almost 2-0 to the visitors.

There was hope for Stafford as the interval approached. A ball forward into the Nuneaton area fell to Danny Edwards. He couldn’t get in a shot but Mills saw his effort blocked by a defender. The ball was cleared and crossed back in to the area for Benjamin to head well wide. Benjamin had the ball in the back of the net in the 40th minute though the flag for offside was already raised when Mills set up the chance. Francis surged forward and slipped a pass to the feet of Edwards, in the area on the left who fired against the bar.

Despite this flurry of chances, Nuneaton dominated the first half and Rangers struggled to make an impact up front on what was becoming an increasingly muddy pitch.

Harry Shaw came up to the PA box at half time to give the winning number in the ‘Golden Gamble’ draw and also the attendance, which was 529. During the interval Levi Reid, suspended today along with Craig McAughtrie, received an award to mark his 100th appearance for the club.

As if to uncannily mark Groundhog Day (celebrated in the USA and Canada three days ago), Nuneaton scored in the fourth minute of the second half, just as they had done an hour earlier in the first half. James Armson fed Oddy who got to the right bye-line and crossed for Justin Marsden to head home.

As the second half wore on, there was little sign of a goal for Stafford. Behind me in the stand, the match sponsors started to deliberate on which Rangers player to select as ‘Man of the Match’. Francis was the popular choice though one of the group commented that it was ‘hard to pick one when the side is 2-0 down’.

Evans kept his side in with a sniff of gaining an unlikely point. The keeper reacted to push over a deflected shot from Armson.

The save took on some significant in the 87th minute. Substitute Tyree Clarke latched onto a ball down the right and hit a deep cross towards the far left post. Another replacement Tom Moss got in an initial shot that Alcock blocked on the line and Moss, himself, forced home the loose ball.

Hope for Stafford may be but, in reality, merely a consolation goal as the referee added barely a minute of stoppage time to try and secure an equaliser. And the Man of the Match was… Andre Francis for, in my opinion, his tireless effort and enthusiasm.

The defeat left Stafford firmly rooted in the relegation zone and now one point further away from safety than they were at 3 pm. Third-from-bottom Hyde moved up a place after winning 1-0 at bottom side Redditch United, who visit Marston Road on Saturday. So, 20th-placed Stafford are now seven points off safety and Gloucester, who now occupy 19th place, have no fewer than five games in hand on Matt Elliott's men.

So, for the fourth consecutive Saturday, my car hasn’t been more than four miles from home, though for two of them I was a lot further from home myself!

Stafford Rangers (black and white stripes / black / black): 1. Lee Evans, 2. Martyn Naylor, 3. Mark Dudley, 4. Jermaine Johnson, 5. Ashley Wooliscroft, 6. Andre Francis (capt), 7. Marco Adaggio (15 Tom Moss 79m), 8. Niall Maguire, 9. Shane Benjamin, 10. Ben Mills, 11. Danny Edwards. Subs: 12. Tyree Clarke (for Mills, 70), 14. Alex Forde (for Naylor, 85), 15. Tom Moss (for Adaggio, 80), 16. Danny Campbell (not used), 17gk. Tom Turner (not used).

Nuneaton Town (pink/blue/blue): 1. Danny Alcock, 2. Rob Oddy, 3. Simon Forsdick, 4. Mark Noon (capt), 5. Gareth Dean, 6. Danny Spencer, 7. Adam Walker, 8. Kyle Storer, 9. Justin Marsden, 10. Lee Moore, 11. Guy Hadland. Subs: 12. Chris Dillon (for Moore, 76), 14. Eddie Nisevic (not used), 15. Robbie Burns (for Oddy, 83), 16. James Armson (for Noon, 19), 17. Cyrus Christie (not used).

Referee: Matthew Wilkes (Dudley).
Assistants: Dimitru Cheosiaua (Redditch) and Phillip Hardisty (Sedgley)

Goals:
0-1 Simon Forsdick (4)
0-2 Justin Marsden (49)
1-2 Tom Moss (87)

Cards:
Stafford: Niall Maguire (YC, 20), Jermaine Johnson (85)
Nuneaton: Gareth Dean (YC, 64)