Counting difficulties

Romulus 2 Stafford Rangers 2 (no extra time, Stafford win 4-3 on penalties)…It was clear to see what this victory meant to the Stafford Rangers players, management and supporters. After enduring some painful experiences on the road, they were finally able to cheer a victory away from Marston Road, though the final moments were bordering on comical. Rangers goalkeeper Jon Brain produced his second save of the shoot-out to give his side a 4-3 win. Stafford knew they’d won but Mr Chesiaua had lost count and wanted the shoot-out to continue until becoming convinced of his counting error.

Considering that following Stafford Rangers had been a part of my life since the early 1970s, I hardly get to see them in action these days. In the past, watching tonight’s game would have been a case of ‘I will’ rather than ‘will I’, particularly during the latter stages of Ian Painter’s reign as manger and the Phil Robinson era that followed. Whether a good or a bad thing [I think good], I watched no fewer that 314 consecutive competitive Rangers games between November 2001 and November 2007 – the one that broke the sequence was Phil’s last game in charge at Ebbsfleet United.

Since Rangers were relegated from Blue Square Premier in 2008, which coincided with a renewed desire to return to football travelling as a neutral fan, I’ve had the whole fixture list to choose from rather than one containing 42 or so league games and some cup ties. So much so, tonight’s Doodson Sports Cup tie (for Evo-Stik League clubs) turned out to be my first competitive game featuring the Boro since a trip to Stalybridge Celtic on the last day of the 2010/11 season.

It is fair to say that Stafford Rangers haven’t had the best of campaigns so far in 2013/14. Losing the opening seven league games cost Greg Clowes his job and successor Andy Mutch has brought hope that relegation can be avoided with improved form at Marston Road. Currently sitting second-from bottom (23rd) in the Evo-Stik League Premier Division with eight points from 18 games, Rangers are some 12 points from safety. The team have struggled away from home, losing all eight league games as well as an FA Trophy tie at Coalville Town.

Fortunes of Romulus have taken a turn for the better this season and they currently occupy 9th position in the Evo-Stik League Northern Premier Division One South. Six wins from their eight home league games highlight solid form at Coles Lane.

For those unfamiliar with the history of Coles Lane, the main stand was built during the 1950s to replace a previous structure destroyed by fire. Believe it or not, the current one was purchased from Manchester City! The 4G surface replaced the old grass pitch in 2011. It is certainly one of my favourites and high up on the list of my most visited grounds whether it be for a Sutton Coldfield Town or Romulus match.

Stafford (in black and white) got the game underway attacking the clubhouse end in the first half, right to left in relation to the stand. With less than a minute of the clockb, Sean Kinsella delivered a delicious right-wing corner which Tom Morris headed wide.

Romulus, however, took a 15th-minute lead. A superb throughball from Blake Thompson picked out Danico Johnson who hit a stunning 25-yard shot which flew past a stunned Jon Brain. It was certainly a fitting way for the young forward to mark his senior debut after impressing for the Under-21 side.

The lead lasted just six minutes as Darren Bullock met Kinsella’s free-kick (see photo) at the far right post to send an angled header past Lewis Exall.

Brain kept his side on level terms with a couple of vital blocks to keep out two decent shots from the lively Dubidat.

Stafford Secretary Mike Hughes revealed an interesting fact that, even though playing at home, Romulus always use the ‘away’ changing room and the visitors the one usually frequented by Sutton Coldfield Town.

Exall required lengthy treatment in the 40th minute and an opportunity for Stafford FM’s Gary Hazlehurst, broadcasting full-match commentary, to summarise the first half. “Even in terms of chances created,” he concluded. Stafford’s best opportunities were coming from set pieces while Romulus’s Dubidat certainly posed plenty of problems.

Stafford took the lead in the fourth-minute of stoppage time with virtually the last kick of the first half. The Romulus defence failed to clear another excellent Kinsella corner and Matthew Burke sent a low 20-yard drive into the bottom right corner past the motionless Exall.

Chatting at half-time to Gary, Chris and ‘Rugeley Mick’, amongst other things we wondered if Exall would re-emerge for the second half. He didn’t and defender Robert Evans took over in goal, a more than competent deputy as it turned out.

Chances continued and Brain again produced a vital save with an outstretched boot just after the hour mark to keep out a low left-foot shot from Luke Keen, once of Stafford Rangers.

It was Evans’ turn to excel in the 66th minute. The stand-in goalkeeper somehow kept out a far post shot from Daniel Cope with a diving save. Evans also saved a header from Morris as well though wasn’t overly kept busy.

Stafford twice could have wrapped up the win during the final ten minutes. James McCarthy battled on the right before pulling the ball back to Joe Guest who couldn’t keep his shot down. McCarthy then created a glorious opportunity for Cope who fired across the face of goal.

Dramatically, in the third minute of stoppage time, with barely five seconds remaining on the referee’s watch, Scott Meer crossed from the left into the Stafford area where Johnson turned and sent a low shot into the bottom left corner of the net. Romulus 2 Stafford Rangers 2

Play continued for just a few seconds before Mr Chesiaua’s whistle signalled a penalty shoot-out to decide who progressed into the second round without having to endure an extra 30 minutes.

Using the goal at the clubhouse end, Burke and Morris as well as Romulus’s Keen converted the opening three penalties to put Stafford 2-1 up. Marcus Brown took the fourth penalty only to see it saved by Brain diving to his right. Guest increased Stafford’s lead to 3-1 before Lee Smith reduced the deficit to 3-2. Next up was Jack Lees who had his penalty saved by Evans and Gregory Downes sent Brain the wrong way to make it 3-3 with one penalty each left.

We wondered if Evans would emerge a hero by saving Stafford’s fifth penalty but Cope converted it even though the stand-in goalkeeper guessed correctly.

Pressure fell on Daniel O’Callaghan who had to score and Brain successfully dived to his right to produce another save. Stafford knew they’d won 4-3 but Mr Chesiaua had lost count and wanted the shoot-out to continue until becoming convinced of his counting error.

One pre-match topic centred around the potential size of the crowd. My database suggested that the lowest post-War crowd was 74 for a Staffs Senior Cup tie at Rushall Olympic in 1998. Tonight, even with the presence of a few visiting fans and groundhoppers, the official attendance of 60 set a new club low. Those who stayed away missed an interesting game.

Monday 11th November 2011
Romulus 2 Stafford Rangers 2
No extra time, Stafford won 4-3 on penalties
Doodson Sport Cup First Round
At: Coles, Lane, Sutton Coldfield
Kick-off: 7-45 pm
Admission: £7; Programme: £1 (16 pages)
Weather: mild and damp with drizzle

Romulus (red and white stripes / red / red): 1. Lewis Exall, 2. Robert Evans, 3. Scott Meer, 4. Cameron Lee, 5. Liam Francis (capt), 6. Gregory Downes, 7. Daniel Dubidat, 8. Blake Thompson, 9. Luke Keen, 10. Danico Johnson, 11. Tyron Amory. Subs: 12. Lee Smith (for Dubidat, 70), 14. Daniel O’Callaghan (for Exall, ht; Evans in goal), 15. Thomas Turton (not used), 16. Marcus Brown (for Amory, 70), 17. Craig Marshall. Manager: Dave Barnett.

Stafford Rangers (black and white stripes / black / black): 1. Jon Brain, 2. Paris Bateman, 3. Oliver Davies, 4. Tom Morris, 5. Darren Bullock (capt), 6. Jermaine Johnson, 7. Kaiyne Woolery, 8. Matthew Burke, 9. Dan Cope, 10. Sean Kinsella, 11. Louis Harris. Subs: 12. Scott James (not used), 14. Jack Lees (for Harris, 73), 15. James McCarthy (for Johnson, 62), 16. Joe Guest (for Kinsella, 66), 18. Jason Beardsley (not used). Manager: Andy Mutch.

Referee: Dimitru-Ravel Chesiaua.
Assistants: Matthew Bond and Gregory Rollason.

Attendnace: 60
Duration: first-half: 49:20; second-half: 48:39

Goals:
1-0 Danico Johnson (15)
1-1 Darren Bullock (21)
1-2 Matthew Burke (45+4)
2-2 Danico Johnson (90+3)

Penalty shoot-out
0-1 Matthew Burke (Stafford)
1-1 Luke Keen (Romulus)
1-2 Tom Morris (Stafford)
MISS Marcus Brown (Romulus)
1-3 Joe Guest (Stafford)
2-3 Lee Smith (Romulus)
MISS Jack Lees (Stafford)
3-3 Gregory Downes (Romulus)
3-4 Daniel Cope (Stafford)
MISS Daniel O’Callaghan (Romulus)

Cards:
Romulus: Scott Meer (YC, 38), Luke Keen (YC, 90+2)
Stafford: Jermaine Johnson (YC, 60)

Romulus 2 Mickleover Sports 2

Monday 11th March 2013

Romulus increased the gap between themselves and bottom side Hucknall Town to seven points following a 2-2 draw against Mickleover Sports. On a bitterly cold night, reportedly one of the coldest in March for 25 years, Kevin Grocott gave Sports a slender half-time lead with a goal in the 27th minute. After the break, Romulus fought back by first equalising and then taking the lead after the hour mark thanks to two goals in the space of eight minutes from Daniel O’Callaghan and then Ibrahim Diarby. However, Sports, who lost 2-1 against Sutton two days ago, avoided another defeat at Coles Lane with Ben Spargo’s 75th-minute equaliser.

Romulus 2 Mickleover Sports 2
Evo-Stik League Northern Premier Division One South
At: Coles Lane, Sutton Coldfield
Kick-off: 7-45 pm
Admission: £8; Programme: £1 (20 pages + car sticker)
Weather: very cold, dry

I can’t remember when I last travelled to and from a midweek evening game by train, perhaps as long ago as the 2001 game between Fisher Athletic and Dorchester Town. Recent perusing of rail timetables showed late night trains departing Birmingham New Street for home at 22:30 and 22:55. Trains from Sutton Coldfield after the full-time whistle to New Street left at 21:51 and 22:21 meant that, for once, I could leave the car at home especially with snow forecast – and enjoy a beer!

The connection on the way to Sutton gave me around 45 minutes in Birmingham so there was time to first head up Bennetts Hill to the Briar Rose (half of Wibbler’s Hoppy Helper) and then the Shakespeare on Lower Temple Road (half of Sharp’s Doom Bar). Once at Sutton Coldfield station, the walk to the ground took around 15 minutes.

On my 17th visit to Coles Lane (moving the ground into joint fourth on my most visits list), I don’t need to describe the ground other than continue to rave about the wonderful old stand. Soon I was joined by good friend ‘Albion Steve’, white-bearded Dave Cox and the irrepressible ‘Groundhopper Dave’. No curry sauce on tonight, so a nice change to have mushy peas with my usual Coles Lane chips.

As I mentioned, Romulus (21st with 22 points from 32 games) and Mickleover Sports (26 points from 32 games) occupied second-and third-bottom positions in the table. I believe that only one side will be relegated to step 5 and Hucknall Town were six points adrift at the bottom with just nine games left to play.

Teamsheets were handed out in the clubhouse and lineups announced on the PA before kick-off.

Romulus (in red and white) got the game underway defending the clubhouse end in the first half. Mickleover created the first of three chances during the opening 20 minutes with Sam Kellog firing low straight at goalkeeper Lewis Exall from the edge of the area.

With Romulus struggling to make an impact in attack, the deadlock was broken in the 27th minute when the visitors took the lead. A diagonal forward ball from the right to the far post was knocked back by Matt Harris for Kevin Grocott (playing in midfield) to head home. Mickleover took the lead against Sutton Coldfield two days ago but ended up losing 2-1.

It took Romulus 36 minutes to create their first serious chance. Ashley Jackson ran at the Mickleover defence down the right into the area and hit a rising right-foot shot which goalkeeper Joe McCormack pushed over the bar.

Before the break, Liam Francis, who had stayed up after a corner, fired over the Sports bar and just before the half-time whistle, McCormack saved a low shot from Daniel O’Callaghan.

While some of my fellow travellers left the stand for the warmth of the clubhouse and a second-half vantage point on the other side, I decided to stay put, perhaps frozen to the spot!

Mickleover created a couple of chances early in the second half. Martin Smythe sent a well-struck 30-yard shot flashing past the left-hand post past the diving Exall. Alex Steadman then fired a low drive across the face of goal from the left.

With two substitutes on by the 53rd minute, Romulus certainly pushed for an equaliser in what must have been difficult windy conditions. Cameron Lee crossed from the left to Ibrahim Diarby who saw a resulting shot hit McCormack.

Romulus had only scored two goals in their last five league games so were delighted to find an equaliser in the 62nd minute. Dexter Ravenhill delivered a deep cross from the left to Diarby who played the ball back into the six-yard box for O’Callaghan to volley home.

It was substitute Diarby who put Romulus ahead eight minutes after the equaliser. McCormack left his line to attempt to clear a perfectly-weighted throughball into the area. The goalkeeper failed to make contact, allowing Diarby to get in a shot which the backtracking Smythe attempted to clear without success.

Could Romulus hold on to their lead to end a run of five straight defeats with a win?

Mickleover, themselves without a win in the league since mid-December, wanted to take home at least a point and got back on level terms in the 75th minute. John Guy delivered a free-kick from the right near to the corner flag to the far post where substitute Ben Spargo headed home.

Both sides could have won in stoppage time. Exall held on to a deflected long-range shot from Spargo and, just before the final whistle, Romulus won a corner which was hooked clear by a defender.

Full-time after five minutes of stoppage time and a brisk run back to the station to catch that 22:51 train with seconds to spare.

Romulus (red and white stripes / red / red): 1. Lewis Exall, 2. Robert Evans, 3. Cameron Lee, 4. Sean Robinson, 5. Liam Francis (capt), 6. Graham Parkin, 7. Ashley Jackson, 8. Luke Keen, 9. Daniel O’Callaghan, 10. Ethan Mannion, 11. Dexter Ravenhill. Subs: 12. Richard Munday (not used), 14. Thomas Turton (for Robinson, ht), 15. Jermaine Clarke (for Keen, 87), 16. Joe Price (not used), 17. Ibrahim Diarby (for Mannion, 53).

Mickleover Sports (blue/blue/blue): 21. Joe McCormack, 2. Kevin Grocott, 3. Joe Congleton, 4. Sam Kellog, 5. Joe Pheasant, 6. Nick Wood (capt), 7. Martin Smythe, 8. Anthony Tansley, 9. Nathan Benger, 10. Matt Harris, 11. Alex Steadman. Subs: 12. Robbie Ritchie-Smith (not used), 14. John Guy (for Congleton, 68), 15. Mark Farthing, 16. Ben Spargo (for Harris, ht), 17. Tom Kellog (for Sam Kellog, 75).

Referee: Declan Bourne.
Assistants: Colin Hunter and Reece Tyler.

Attendance: 42

Duration (45): first-half: 45:51; second-half: 50:00

Goals:
0-1 Kevin Grocott (27)
1-1 Daniel O’Callaghan (62)
2-1 Ibrahim Diarby (70)
2-2 Ben Spargo (75)

Cards:
Romulus: none
Mickleover: Kevin Grocott (YC, 35), Nick Wood (YC, 57)

Bilston Town 1 Sutton Coldfield Town 1

Wednesday 9th January 2013
Bilston Town 1 Sutton Coldfield Town 1
(Sutton won 5-4 on penalties, no extra time)
Walsall Senior Cup Quarter Finals
At: Queen Street, Bilston
Kick-off: 8-25pm (delayed by 40 minutes)
Admission: £3; Programme: £1 (20 pages)
Weather: cold, foggy
Attendance: 120
Duration (45): first-half: 45:10: second-half: 48:06 

Sutton Coldfield Town booked their place in the last four of the Walsall Senior Cup, winning 5-4 on penalties against Bilston Town at a foggy Queen Street after the tie finished 1-1 after 90 minutes. Because of a 40-minute delay caused by floodlight failure, the game didn’t kick off until around 8-25 pm and by the 23rd minute both sides had found the net. Nick Turton’s opener for Bilston was cancelled out by Reece Leek. Neither side could find a winner during the second half and sensibly the tie went straight to penalties because of the time, 10-10 pm, and thickening fog. The Steelmen had third penalty saved while all the other nine were converted so Sutton won the shoot-out 5-4. The Royals join Walsall FC in the semi finals who won 2-0 at Walsall Wood last night. 

I’ve got Tim on the Non-League Matters Forum to thank for flagging up this game and tempting me into a short trip down the M6 to the Black Country when I’d decided to give a midweek game a miss. 

Bilston are really on the up at the moment and remain top of West Midlands (Regional) League Division One with an unbeaten record (15 wins and two draws from 17 games). Tonight, as one contributor to the programme highlighted ‘It’s the first time in many years that we can welcome Southern League (sic) opposition to Queen Street’. I know what he means even though visitors Sutton Coldfield Town are members of Evo-Stik League Northern Premier Division One South, three promotions above The Steelmen. Bilston and Sutton were regular opponents over many seasons 10–25 years ago. 

I love Queen Street with that fabulous tangerine-painted main stand, a relic from a past non-league era and long may it continue to look over the playing surface. Perhaps that love of Queen Street is shared by others as quite a few groundhoppers – Ratty, Rob, Mugsy, Coxey and Tim to name a few – were also at the game. The announcer allowed us to copy down the line-ups (much appreciated) before reading them out to a crowd that numbered over one hundred, many wearing tangerine and white scarves. 

Around five minutes before kick-off, as the teams assembled in the tunnel, ‘pop’ – out went the floodlights! Fortunately, an electrician was called out to replace a blown fuse and the game got underway 40 minutes late around 8-25 pm. Bilston (in tangerine) kicked-off attacking the left-hand goal in relation to my seat in the stand. 

Bilston took the lead in the 6th minute. Nick Turton took the ball into the area on the right, beating two defenders before firing into the far left-side of the net to score his 21st league and cup goal of the season. “There’s only one Nicky Turton,” sang the delighted home fans sat in the stand. 

The lead lasted until midway through the first half. Louis Keenan crossed from the left into the area where Reece Leek rose to head past Bilston goalkeeper Ben Astley. 

So 1-1 at half-time. 

I found out the expected news that my raffle ticket (556–560) was unsurprisingly not the winner (581–585) so still nothing to add to my last prize of a Cheryl Cole poster and head massager won at Aberystwyth University ten months ago. 

On a more positive note, I hope the half-time bucket collection for cancer research was well supported. 

Sutton could have taken the lead a couple of minutes after the restart but Astley’s boot got in the way of Luke Chapman’s shot. Astley produced another save to block a shot from substitute Ben Lund while, in the 69th minute, Keenan’s free-kick hit the far left-hand post. 

The Bilston fan set next to me – a lady who’d only recently started watching the Steelmen – started to get worried and commented that it was “getting a bit precarious”. 

Astley continued to produce saves to keep in his in contention and pushed a curling effort from Chapman round for a corner. 

Then, in the 89th minute, Sutton thought they had scored the winner. From Craig Milligan’s corner, a header from Joel Kettle was blocked by a defender. The ball rebounded to Kristian Ramsey-Dickson who powered a header onto the underside of the bar and Astley somehow prevented it from crossing the line. 

I don’t know if extra time is used for drawn Walsall Senior Cup. Whatever the rule, sensibly, extra time was skipped – good news bearing in mind the time and fog. 

Taken at the left-hand end nearest the entrance, both sides converted their first two penalties (all left-footed) before Daniel Westwood had his saved by Jake Bedford. All the remaining penalties were converted with Sutton’s Scott Lycett scoring the match-winner at 10-20 pm. 

Bilston Town (tangerine/white/tangerine): 1. Ben Astley, 2. Neil Evans, 3. Leon Pugh (capt), 4. Rhys Hall, 5. Chad McCormack, 6. Neil Eccleston, 7. Matty Rutter, 8. Lee Onions, 9. Nick Turton, 10. Stuart Skitt, 11. Jamall Pinnock. Subs: 12. Daniel Westwood (for Pinnock, 67), 14. Matt Curley (for Turton, 85), 15. John Griffiths (for Rutter, 58), 16. Ryan Trumpeter (for Rutter, 73), 19gk. Karl Frankham (not used). Manager: Andy Rutter. 

Sutton Coldfield Town (blue/blue/blue): 1. Jake Bedford, 2. Scott Lycett (capt), 3. Louis Keenan, 4. Craig Milligan, 5. Joel Kettle, 6. Jamie Murrall, 7. Reece Leek, 8. Jamie Sheldon, 9. Kristian Ramsey-Dickson, 10. Mark Danks, 11. Luke Chapman. Subs: 12. Danny Edwards (for Leek, 63), 14. Phil Male (for Murrall, ht), 15. Ben Lund (for Danks, 63), 16. Andy Ling (not used), 17gk. Lee Evans (not used). Manager: Neil Tooth. 

Referee: Dave Kerrigan.
Assistants: Alan Sheffield and Glyn Thomas. 

Goals:
1-0 Nick Turton (6)
1-1 Reece Leek (23) 

Penalties
1-0 Leon Pugh SCORED
1-1 Louis Keenan SCORED
2-1 Stuart Skitt SCORED
2-2 Craig Milligan SCORED
2-2 Daniel Westwood SAVED
2-3 Luke Chapman SCORED
3-3 Lee Onions SCORED
3-4 Jamie Sheldon SCORED
4-4 Ryan Trumpeter SCORED
4-5 Scott Lycett SCORED 

Cards:
Bilston: Chad McCormack (YC, 26)
SCT: Mark Danks (YC, 53), Reece Leek (YC, 59)

Walsall Wood 4 Wigan Robin Park 1

Sunday 6th January 2013
Walsall Wood 4 Wigan Robin Park 1
FA Carlsberg Vase Third Round
At: Coles Lane (Sutton Coldfield FC)
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Admission: £5; Programme: £1 (20 pages)
Weather: mild/cold, cloudy, dry
Attendance: 176
Duration (45): first-half: 46:10; second-half: 52:00 (plus 14 minute delay) 

In a much postponed FA Vase tie switched to the 3G pitch at Coles Lane, Walsall Wood kept the Midland Combination flag flying in the competition by storming into the Fourth Round with a giantkilling 4-1 victory over Wigan Robin Park. Wood scored late in the first half and again on the hour mark to take control before a lengthy delay caused by an injury to referee James Thornhill halted proceedings for around 14 minutes while a replacement assistant was appointed. When play resumed, both sides quickly scored to make it 3-1 and Wood ended any threat of extra time with a late fourth goal. A home tie against Hanworth Villa at Oak Park awaits the successful Walsall Wood side in two weeks time. 

A late decision to head out this afternoon and had kick-off been 2pm rather than 3pm I wouldn’t have had enough time to drive to Coles Lane, park up, buy a programme, get the line-ups and settle down before the action got underway. 

Originally scheduled for Saturday 10th December, the day when Rocester beat Long Eaton 2-1, this much-postponed tie had to be switched from Walsall Wood’s Oak Park ground to Coles Lane to ensure it was played this weekend. The pitch at Coles Lane is a 3G surface, as you’ll know from reading recent blogs of games invloving Sutton Coldfield Town. 

As expected, there were plenty of familiar faces in the crowd including ‘Albion Steve’, ‘Ratty’, Albion Paul’, ‘Cannock Rob’ and ‘Groundhopper Dave’. 

Home side Walsall Wood play in the Athium Midland Combination Premier Division (step 6) like my locals sides Stafford Town and Brocton. While currently in third position (36 points from 15 games), they do have eight games in hand on leaders Bromsgrove Sporting who are just seven points better off. 

Visitors Wigan Robin Park achieved last season what Walsall Wood are striving to achieve this season – gain promotion from step 6 to step 5 of the non-league pyramid. After yesterday’s games, they stood in 15th position in the North-West Counties League Premier Division on 26 points from 21 games. 

Defending the car park end in the first half, Wigan Robin Park (in a change kick of yellow and green) got the game underway but their goalkeeper, Jason Foulds, was soon called into action to turn round a low angled shot from the dangerous Ahmet Bilgimer. 

Both sides made a lively start though the game developed into a midfield contest with defences on top and few decent scoring opportunities. 

However, there was a breakthrough before half-time and it was Lewis Taylor-Boyce who gave Wood a 38th-minute lead. Tom Evans got down the right and crossed low into the area where Taylor-Boyce turned a defender and thumped a close-range shot past Foulds. 

Just before the break, a club official with white hair and glasses announced to my section of the stand that the tie would be decided today with extra time and penalties if necessary. 

Those comments seemed to become irrelevant just before the hour mark when Walsall Wood doubled their lead. Ian Rowlands chopped down Taylor-Boyce inside the area and Jamie Hawkins made no mistake with the resulting penalty. The home side immediately made a change – Scott Cooper replaced Danny Forrest – but the game didn’t resume. Clearly a problem had arise but what? 

Some puzzled looks on the pitch (photo right)and also in the stand; @Sam_Hodkin tweeted to let me know that ‘Injured lino according to the NWCFL Media Officer at the game’. It turned out that referee James Thornhill was unable to continue. After a delay of around 14 minutes, senior assistant Martin Watts took over in the middle and someone from the crowd ran the line.

The delay didn’t harm Wood as they scored a third goal within three minutes of the resumption. A terrible backpass (if indeed it was a backpass) ended up at the feet of Evans who hammered the ball past Foulds from 20 yards out. 

Game over? Well no, as Wigan Robin Park quickly pulled a goal back. Ryan Small crossed low from the left and to the unmarked Joseph Hull in front of goal who steered the ball wide of Dale Faultless into the far right corner of the net. 

Three goals in six minutes though they took 22 minutes to score them! 

Undeterred, Wood kept pushing forward without showing signs of nerves and Foulds kept Wigan’s feign hopes alive with a save to keep out a shot from Bilgimer. 

However, Bilgimer put the outcome beyond doubt with his side’s fourth goal scored in the 81st minute. He chased a seeming lost cause down the left, which lured Foulds out of his area. The striker won the ball, ran towards goal and slotted it into an empty net chased by the goalkeeper. 

The Fourth Round draw is now complete (ties to be played on Saturday 19th January 2013):
Gornal Athletic v Wisbech Town 
Bodmin Town v Ashington 
AFC Emley v Hadleigh United 
Tunbridge Wells v Dunston UTS 
Rye United v Guernsey
Bitton AFC v Shildon 
Larkhall Athletic v Peacehaven & Telscombe 
Brantham Athletic v Whitley Bay 
Newport (IW) v Brighouse Town
Bemerton Heath Harlequins v Blackfield & Langley 
Ampthill Town v Enfield 1893
Ely City v Spalding United 
Spennymoor Town v Lordswood 
Rocester v Runcorn Town
Borrowash Victoria v Ascot United
Walsall Wood v Hanworth Villa 

Walsall Wood (red with white diagonal stripe / red / red): 1. Dale Faultless, 2. Craig Deakin, 3. Tom Evans, 4. Shawn Boothe, 5. Lee Stretton, 6. Danny Forrest, 7. Ahmet Bilgimer, 8. Jamie Hawkins, 9. Lewis Taylor-Boyce, 10. Drew Aiton, 11. Andre Gonzales. Subs: 12. Scott Cooper (for Forrest, 60), 14. Michael Murray (for Hawkins, 84), 15. Tom Howard (not used), 16. Nathanial Jones (not used), 17. Matthew Bennett (for Bilgimer, 90+4). Manager: Mark Swann. 

Wigan Robin Park(yellow/green/yellow): 1. Jason Foulds (capt), 2. Ian Rowlands, 3. Sean White, 4. Stephen Kay, 5. Michael Wood, 6. Colin Quirk, 7. Joseph Hull, 8. Andrew Neafcy, 9. Philip Howard, 10. Ryan Small, 11. Dean Callaway. Subs: 12. Callum Mahoney (for Callaway, 67), 14. Daniel Curren (not used), 15. James Edgar (for Hull, 67), 16. Philip Johnson (not used), 17. Daniel Whiteside (for Neafcy, 39). Manager: John Neafcy. 

Referee: James Thornhill (replaced by senior assistant Martin Watts after 60 minutes).
Assistants: Martin Watts and Robert Massey. 

Goals:
1-0 Lewis Taylor-Boyce (38)
2-0 Jamie Hawkins (59)
3-0 Tom Evans (63)
3-1 Joseph Hull (65)
4-1 Ahmet Bilgimer (81) 

Cards:
Walsall Wood: Danny Forrest (YC, 25)
Wigan Robin Park: none

Sutton Coldfield Town 4 Kidsgrove Athletic 3

Saturday 29th December 2012
Sutton Coldfield Town 4 Kidsgrove Athletic 3
Evo-Stik League Northern Premier Division One South
At: Coles Lane
Kick-off: 3-00pm
Admission: £7; Programme: £1-20 (24 pages)
Weather: showers, heavy at times
Attendance: 170
Duration: first-half: 47:00; second-half: 48:50 

“That was one hell of a comeback”, said one supporter at full-time after Sutton Coldfield recovered from a 3-1 deficit to defeat Kidsgrove 4-3 with a spectacular winning goal scored by Luke Chapman. Sutton’s four-goal haul included a ‘double’ from Mark Danks who took his tally since joining the Royals to ten goals in eight games. He gave Sutton an early lead before Kidsgrove responded with three unanswered goals including two in four minutes from Andy Kinsey. The Royals fought back through Danks, Jamie Sheldon and Chapman’s unstoppable 35-yard screamer to make it four league wins in a row. 

I fancied this game whatever the weather as it pitted a decent and entertaining Sutton Coldfield side against Kidsgrove who I’ve got fond memories of visiting several times during my stint with The Sentinel. It turned out that only a handful of non-league games on grass throughout the Midlands survived the rain and none locally. 

As I mentioned on Boxing Day in my blog of the 2-0 win over Halesowen Town, Sutton are chasing promotion to the Premier Division and went into this game in third position with 24 points from 24 games. Kidsgrove, however, found themselves at the wrong end of the table in 19th position with 23 points from 22 games. 

Several other familiar faces had the same idea as me with ‘Stourbridge Tim’, ‘Gornal Grumpy Dwarf’, ‘Albion Steve’ and ‘Albion Paul’ also at Coles Lane this afternoon. Teamsheets were available in the clubhouse foyer – much appreciated! 

Kidsgrove (in a change kit of all red) got the game underway attacking the car park end in the first half – right to left in relation to my seat in the stand. 

The first decent chance came in the 11th minute when a miss-directed pass from the Kidsgrove midfield ended up at the feet of Daryl Taylor on the right. He fed Luke Chapman who saw a low near-post shot kept out by the boot of Dave Dyson. As the game came to life, Kristian Ramsey-Dickson fired low across the face of goal in Sutton’s next attack. 

It was no surprise when Sutton took the lead in the 17th minute when Mark Danks beat one defender before firing low past Dyson from 15 yards out. 

Like Boxing Day, the Sutton defence looked tight and in no mood to concede. No sooner had I jotted down this comment… a lapse at the back gifted a goal to Kidsgrove in the 34th minute. Liam Shotton, brother of Stoke’s Ryan, crossed low from the right-bye line and unmarked Kinsey fired home the equaliser at close range. 

Louis Keenan thumped a 21-yard free-kick inches wide of the right-hand post before Kinsey struck again to give Kidsgrove an unexpected lead. The prolific striker had time to pick his spot before shooting past Lee Evans from a few yards out. 

Sutton quickly responded only to have a ‘goal’ disallowed for offside. Taylor’s weak shot rolled into the net past Dyson but Kristian Ramsay-Dickson was flagged offside for interference in front of goal. 

Heavy rain before and during half-time kept me firmly in my seat though ‘Albion Steve’ decided to brave the elements to pick up the half-time scores, especially for his Albion at Old Trafford and rivals Villa at home to Wigan. 

At 1-2, I felt that the first goal of the second half would determine which side would claim the three points. Shotton went close as he beat Evans with a 20-yard shot which narrowly missed the target. 

It was Kidsgrove who scored the next goal six minutes after the restart. Evans needed to leave his line for the edge of the area and prevented Shane Reaney from getting in a shot. The ball, however, was laid back to Dan Skelton who drove into an empty net from 25 yards out. 

If my theory was correct, then game over and three points for Kidsgrove. 

Wrong. Neil Tooth made a bold change by replacing a defender, Keenan, with a forward, Jamie Sheldon, and the move paid dividends within three minutes of the substitute’s arrival. Ramsay-Dickson found Taylor on the right who crossed to the far post where Sheldon sent a right-foot shot past the partly unsighted Dyson to make it 2-3. 

The comeback continued in the 71st minute. A long throw from the right by Ramsay-Dickson into the area wasn’t cleared and Danks’ low shot found the bottom-left corner of the net to make it 3-3. 

With their tails up, Sutton won a corner which Sheldon delivered into the area. Ramsay-Dickson powered a first-time header towards goal which Jack Sherratt headed off the line. 

Pressure continued and eventually Sutton bagged the winner in the 81st minute. And what a goal. Luke Chapman picked up the ball 35-yards out and hit an unstoppage swerving 35-yarder which gave Dyson no chance whatsoever of keeping out. 4-3 to Sutton. 

Sutton made a couple of further changes – including the welcome re-appearance of Stuart McNaught at Coles Lane who has recovered from a broken leg. 

With just one other Division One South game surviving the weather – Brigg Town 3 Rainworth Miners Welfare 2 – Sutton took full advantage of their rivals’ inactivity to move level on points with second-placed Stamford AFC. 

So that wraps up my 116th and final game of 2012, a year which has brought me a mammoth 524 goals – at an average of 4.5 per game – and just one goalless draw. Local trips have dominated the past two months and I look forward to continuing this next year mixed in with some longer journeys. 

Sutton Coldfield Town (blue/blue/blue): 1. Lee Evans, 2. Scott Lycett, 3. Louis Keenan, 4. Lee Parsons (capt), 5. Joel Kettle, 6. Phil Male, 7. Daryl Taylor, 8. Danny Edwards, 9. Kristian Ramsey-Dickson, 10. Mark Danks, 11. Luke Chapman. Subs: 12. Jamie Sheldon (for Keenan, 54), 14. Reece Leek (for Taylor, 86), 15. Carlos Thompson (not used), 16. Stuart McNaught (for Danks, 90), 17gk. Jake Bedford (not used). Manager: Neil Tooth. 

Kidsgrove Athletic (red/red/red): 1. Dave Dyson, 2. James Curley, 3. Paul Taylor, 4. Paul Donnelly (capt), 5. Phil Parkinson, 6. Karl Espley, 7. Shane Reaney, 8. Dan Skelton, 9. Liam Shotton, 10. Andy Kinsey, 11. Jack Sherratt. Subs: 12. Alan Nagington (for Reaney, 87), 14. John Johnston (for Sherratt, 77), 15. Ashley Hill (not used), 16. Jordan White (not used), 17. Kevin Street (not used). Manager: Shaun Hollinshead. 

Referee: Kevin Andrews.
Assistants: Shaun Willoughby and Andrew Stickley. 

Goals:
1-0 Mark Danks (17)
1-1 Andy Kinsey (34)
1-2 Andy Kinsey (38)
1-3 Dan Skelton (51)
2-3 Jamie Sheldon (57)
3-3 Mark Danks (71)
4-3 Luke Chapman (81) 

Cards:
Sutton Coldfield: Lee Parsons (YC, 82), Phil Male (YC, 85)
Kidsgrove: Karl Espley (YC, 90+2) 

Photo on programme cover by Ian Hartwell

Sutton Coldfield Town 2 Halesowen Town 0

Wednesday 26th December 2012
Sutton Coldfield Town 2 Halesowen Town 0
Evo-Stik League Northern Premier Division One South
At: Coles Lane
Kick-off: 3-00pm
Admission: £7; Programme: £1-20 (24 pages)
Weather: mild, showers
Attendance: 202
Duration: first-half: 46:50; second-half: 49:32 

Two unanswered goals in nine minutes at the end of the first half from Lee Parsons and Mark Danks gave Sutton Coldfield Town a 2-0 victory over Halesowen Town. The win, in front of the biggest crowd of the season at Coles Lane, kept the promotion-chasing Royals in touch with the top two while the Yeltz slipped a bit further away from the play-off zone. 

Whatever the weather, I’d always planned to visit one of my favourite local non-league grounds, especially as this game pitted 3rd-placed Sutton and 7th-placed Halesowen. Waterlogged pitches first at Stafford Town (v Brocton) and then at Heath Hayes (v Rocester) put paid to the ‘first leg’ of a Boxing Day ‘double’. By the time I found out that Sutton United’s 11-30 am kick-off was on, I’d already committed to dropping the family off at Star City to watch Skyfall before continuing to Coles Lane. 

As I mentioned, Sutton (39 points from 23 games) went into the game in third position, six points better off than Carlton Town, the first team outside the play-off zone. Visitors Halesowen (30 points from 21 games) stood one place below Carlton in seventh. The programme included a form guide table covering the last six games which showed Sutton third (four wins, one draw and one defeat) and Halesowen (four wins and two defeats) fifth. 

Heavy rain preceded kick-off and Halesowen (in a change kit of all green) got the game underway attacking the car park end in the first half. As usual I sat in the stand, today in the company of Steve Munday who HAD watched the earlier game Sutton United which the hosts won 6-0. 

Sutton had Lee Evans in goal and the former Chasetown and Stafford Rangers man tipped over an early 30-yard shot from Mitchell Botfield. The Royals’ first chance came from a free-kick which Mark Danks curled over the bar (photo right). 

The diving Evans was also called into action just after the half-hour mark to turn round a well-struck 20-yard left-footer from ex-Sutton striker Craig Milligan. 

Someone one in the stand commented that “Halesowen look strong defensively” and I felt he should have gone further to add that Sutton looked strong at the back as well. 

Often in tight games, it takes something exceptional to break the deadlock and this was the case in the 37th minute. From fully 35 yards out in the middle, Lee Parsons hit an audacious lob which cleared Dean Colemen and also the bar. The assistant gave a goal kick then suddenly Sutton started to celebrate when the Halesowen goalkeeper retrieved the ball from the back of the net. 

The goal got Sutton’s ultras singing! 

While the opening goal was a bit bizarre, the best way of describing Sutton’s second goal was ‘clinical’. Danks, who netted four times on my last visit to Coles Lane, latched on to a throughball into the area and hit a first time shot low past Coleman into the bottom-left corner. 

Halesowen made a change at the interval and came out for the second half on the attack. Evans produced another decent save to get down and turn a low 25-yard free-kick by Brendan Kelly round for a corner. The Royals ‘number one’ again excelled just before the hour mark to keep out a shot by substitute Luke Corbett hit from just outside the area. 

With Evans in top form and the Sutton defence solid, the Yeltz found it difficult to create decent chances especially for Ben Haseley, the division’s leading scorer with 17 goals. Haseley got a sniff around the 79th minute when he first shot against the bar, then volleyed over in Halesowen’s next attack. 

The win kept Sutton in touch with the two teams above them. Leaders Coalville, averaging over three goals a game, could only draw 0-0 at home to Loughborough Dynamo while second-placed Stamford beat Kidsgrove Athletic 4-1. 

Sutton Coldfield Town(blue/blue/blue): 1. Lee Evans, 2. Scott Lycett, 3. Louis Keenan, 4. Lee Parsons (capt), 5. Joel Kettle, 6. Phil Male, 7. Daryl Taylor, 8. Danny Edwards, 9. Kristian Ramsey-Dickson, 10. Mark Danks, 11. Luke Chapman. Subs: 12. Reece Leek (for Danks, 79), 14. Jamie Sheldon (for Taylor, 71), 15. Carlos Thompson (not used), 16. Andy Ling (not used), 17gk. Jake Bedford (not used). 

Halesowen Town (green/green/green): 1. Dean Coleman, 2. Eric Bowen, 3. Nathanial Caines, 4. Mitchell Botfield, 5. Gavin Winsper, 6. Brendan Kelly, 7. Aaron Griffiths, 8. Neil Barnfield (capt), 9. Craig Milligan, 10. Ben Haseley, 11. Jean-Michel Gueyes. Subs: 12. Naveeed Arshad (for Botfield, 83), 14. Joe Hull (for Winsper, 87), 15. Luke Corbett (for Griffiths, ht), 17gk. Paul Evans (not used). 

Referee: Neil Pratt.
Assistants: Robert Hathaway and Paul Wainman. 

Goals:
1-0 Lee Parsons (37)
2-0 Mark Danks (45+1) 

Cards: none 

Photo on programme cover taken by Ian Hartwell

Sutton Coldfield Town 4 Loughborough Dynamo 2

Tuesday 27th November 2012
Sutton Coldfield Town 4 Loughborough Dynamo 2
Doodson Sport Cup First Round
At: Coles Lane, Sutton Coldfield
Kick-off: 7-45 pm
Admission: £7; Programme: £1-50 (24 pages)
Weather: cold, dry
Attendance: 49
Duration: first-half: 45:29; second-half: 47:58 

Sometimes a change of plan can turn out to a good thing as was the case tonight. 

I’d planned to watch two games this week – Coventry Sphinx v Rocester last night and Brocton v Nuneaton Griff tonight. Last night game’s at Sphinx Drive fell not unexpectedly to the bad weather but this afternoon I remained hopeful of making the short 1.7 mile trip from home to the Silkmore Lane Sports Ground, especially after a mostly dry day in Stafford. 

However, around 4pm came the bad news via Twitter: 

To confirm tonight’s game vs Nuneaton Griff is OFF sorry all! 

Not for the first time this year in bad weather, my thoughts then turned to the 3G pitch at Coles Lane and, as luck would have it, Sutton Coldfield Town were hosting Loughborough Dynamo in a Doodson Sport Cup First Round tie. I’ve said before that Sutton’s ground is one of my favourites with that impressive tall stand. 

‘Bad news’ about Brocton became ‘good news’ about Sutton Coldfield by the time I’d arrived at Coles Lane and I saw an entertaining game in which Mark Danks bagged four goals for the Royals. Another former Stafford Rangers player from the Phil Robinson era, Danny Davidson, made a real impact as a half-time substitute by scoring TWICE for Loughborough within 64 seconds of the restart. 

This tie in what is the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Cup pitted two sides in Division One South at opposite ends of the table. Sutton (5th with 30points from 20 games) are chasing promotion to the Premier Division while Loughborough (17 points from 19 games) occupy 20th position out of 22 clubs. 

Loughborough were making their second trip to Coles Lane in three days after defeating Romulus 4-2 in a league game on Saturday. 

As usual, programmes were available at the gate, a teamsheet pinned up in the clubhouse foyer, line-ups announced on the tannoy, the tea bar offered its usual extensive menu (chip and curry sauce for me tonight) and I took my usual place towards the front of the stand. Things some people take for granted but always appreciated. 

Three named stood out on the teamsheet – Danny Edwards and Mark Danks for Sutton and Loughborough’s Danny Davidson. All three previously played for Stafford Rangers though Edwards’ blond hair and central midfield role had me confused [I think Luke Chapman may have started – need to check]. 

Before kick-off, I had a chat with ‘Grounhopper Dave’ who I only seem to see at Coles Lane and briefly with another person [whose name I don’t know] who no doubt will report the proceedings in a future edition of a well-known Sunday non-league newspaper! 

Sutton Coldfield (in all blue) got the game underway defending the car park end of Coles Lane. Unlike my last visit to see them when they drew 0-0, Sutton took the lead after just 14 seconds! Mark Danks picked up the ball on the left and fired a low shot past the diving Dynamo goalkeeper Laurie Pearson into the far corner of the net. 

Sutton’s Jake Bedford, playing in place of suspended Lee Evans, was called into action in the 19th minute to tip over a far post header from Tom Liversedge. 

Danks, on his full debut for the Royals, struck again five minutes later. He intercepted a poor backpass from Chris Hollist, rounded the goalkeeper and somehow scored from the acutest of angles on the right side of the area. 

Even though the visitors started playing with some urgency, Danks completed his hat-trick in the 39th minute. He latched on to a ball over the top of the Loughborough defence, got the better of Mark Ruddock and lobbed the advancing Pearson from 25 yards out. 

Loughborough made a change at the interval, replacing Liversedge with Danny Davidson, what an impact the substitute made. Barely 18 seconds of the second half had elapsed when Bedford dropped a hanging right-wing cross and Davidson tapped home on score with his first touch his debut. 

Davidson (pictured right chatting to Danks) scored again with 64 seconds on the second-half clock to reduce Sutton’s previously unassailable lead to just a single goal. Bedford could only parry an initial shot from Reece Lester and the tall former Stafford striker slotted home. 

The possibility of extra time had all but ended by half-time, now it was a real possibility especially when Amoo fired a decent chance over the bar from just outside the area. Davidson almost completed a quick-fire hat-trick with a header that Bedford held.

Loughborough continued to press forward. Bedford blocked a shot from Amoo and Shawn Richards curled another shot wide of the left-hand post. 

With 20 minutes remaining, I thought it more likely that Loughborough would equalise than Sutton would net a fourth goal. 

No sooner had I made that comment in my notebook… Sutton scored a fourth and Danks it was Danks who netted from another tight angle with two defenders on the line. 

Shows what I know! 

Despite the two-goal deficit, Loughborough heads didn’t drop and they kept on pressing for a goal. They were almost gifted one when Bedford managed to keep out an eccentric wild backpass from Joel Kettle. And the Sutton keeper then produced a diving fingertip save to turn Rob Norris’s angled shot round the post. 

Into stoppage time and Bedford picked up a harmless backpass which initially went unnoticed until the visitors appealed. Norris slammed the indirect free-kick against the wall.

Sutton Coldfield Town(blue/blue/blue): 1. Jake Bedford, 2. Scott Lycett, 3. Louis Keenan, 4. Danny Edwards, 5. Joel Kettle, 6. Kristian Ramsey-Dickson (capt), 7. James Wilcock, 8. Jamie Sheldon, 9. Mark Danks, 10. James Quiggan, 11. Reece Leek. Subs: 12. Luke Chapman (not used), 14. Daryl Taylor (for Leek, 67), 15. Phil Male (for Danks, 75), 16. Jake Healy (for Quiggan, 56), 17. Lee Parsons (not used). 

Loughborough Dynamo (amber/black/black): 1. Laurie Pearson, 2. Wayne Dean, 3. Chris Hollist, 4. Dan Henton, 5. Danny Gibbons (capt), 6. Mark Ruddock, 7. Shawn Richards, 8. Ryan Amoo, 9. Tom Liversedge, 10. Dom Brennan, 11. Reece Lester. Subs: 12. Matt Langham (not used), 14. Danny Davidson (for Liversedge, ht), 15. Jake Betts (not used), 16. Rob Norris (for Amoo, 71), 17. Mitch Williams (for Henton, 83). 

Referee: Dumitru-Ravel Cheosiaua.
Assistants: Philip Hardisty and Simon Gudger. 

Goals:
1-0 Mark Danks (1)
2-0 Mark Danks (24)
3-0 Mark Danks (39)
3-1 Danny Davidson (46)
3-2 Danny Davidson (47)
4-2 Mark Danks (71) 

Cards:
Sutton Coldfield: none
Loughborough: Reece Lester (YC, 36)

Romulus 2 Rainworth Miners Welfare 3

Monday 22nd October 2012
Romulus 2 Rainworth Miners Welfare 3
Evo-Stik League Northern Premier Division One South
At: Coles Lane, Sutton Coldfield
Kick-off: 7-45 pm
Admission: £7; Programme: £1 (28 pages)
Weather: mild, damp, foggy
Attendance: 46
Duration: first-half: 46:20; second-half: 50:55 

Both sides finished with ten men as Rainworth Miners Welfare came out on top of this competitive game by the odd goal in five and made a massive leap up the table from 14th to seventh position as a result. Two goals came within 80 seconds just before the quarter-hour mark with Sean Robinson cancelling out Karl Slack’s opener. Slack regained the lead for the visitors earlier in the second half before Romulus had Robert Evans sent off for violent conduct. A super goal from substitute Jordan Turner increased Rainworth’s lead in the 75th minute. In a late twist, Ryan Goward picked up a second booking for handball inside the area and Dexter Ravenhill converted the resulting penalty to set up an interesting finale. 

Romulus (red and white stripes / red / red): 1. Lewis Exall, 2. Robert Evans, 3. Stefan Popovic, 4. Sean Robinson, 5. Liam Francis (capt), 6. Nicky Campbell, 7. Dexter Ravenhill, 8. Nathan Walker, 9. Dan O’Callaghan, 10. Nathan Jackson, 11. Ashley Jackson. Subs: 12. Mykel Beckley (for Campbell, 68), 14. Ray Facey (for Popovic, 68), 15. Peter Folkes (not used), 16. Richard Munday (not used), 17. Keenan Meakin-Richards (not used). 

Rainworth Miners Welfare(white/white/white): 1. Joe McCormack, 2. Kieran Walker, 3. Ryan Goward, 4. Mark Camm (capt), 5. Ashley Kitchen, 6. Adam Burton, 7. Callum Lloyd, 8. Danny Bacon, 9. Karl Slack, 10. Jared Holmes, 11. Blair Anderson. Subs: 12. Ewan Clarke (for Slack, 82), 14. Jordan Turner (for Bacon, ht), 15. Lee Cooksey (not used). 

Referee: Mike Bingham (Leamington Spa).
Assistants: Richard Cutts and Kenwin Hughes. 

Goals:
0-1 Karl Slack (14)
1-1 Sean Robinson (15)
1-2 Karl Slack (52)
1-3 Jordan Turner (75)
2-3 Dexter Ravenhill (89 pen) 

Cards:
Romulus: Robert Evans (YC, 67), Robert Evans (RC, 74)
Rainworth: Joe McCormack (YC, 57), Ryan Goward (YC, 72), Jordan Turner (YC, 82), Ryan Goward (YC/RC, 88)

 

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Sutton Coldfield Town 0 Market Drayton Town 0

Tuesday 9th October 2012
Sutton Coldfield Town 0 Market Drayton Town 0
Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Division One South
At: Coles Lane
Kick-off-7-45 pm
Admission: £7; Programme: £1-50 (24 pages)
Attendance: 93
Weather: cold, dry
Duration: first-half: 46:26; second-half: 47:06 

Driving home, I kept on thinking ‘does it matter?’ after my run of 91 consecutive games came to an end at Coles Lane. Of course not, other than I would have been nice to have reached the magical century. It was a case of missed chances, decent saves and a few took many offside flags, one of which, quite correctly, denied Sutton a first-half goal. I didn’t know until full-time that Sutton hadn’t recorded a 0-0 since March 2009 or hadn’t had one at Coles Lane for around nine years – trust me to visit when those sequences came to an abrupt end! 

Coles Lane has always been a favourite of mine with the tall stand that, according to Kerry Miller’s The History of Non-League Football Grounds, was purchased from Manchester City during the mid-1950s. This was my 11th visit in total and a fourth this year, partly due to the artificial pitch. 

Sutton Coldfield (in all blue) got the game underway defending the car park end in the first half and immediately started creating chances, which kept Gingerbreads’ goalkeeper Damien Stevens busy. In the 10th minute, Matt Gardner intercepted a weak back pass header from Ryan Connor but saw his shot smartly turned round by Stevens. 

I honestly though Jamie Sheldon’s well-struck 25-yard drive was going to burst the back of the net as it flew past Stevens – yet the ball ends inches the wrong side of the right-hand post. 

Going into the game, two points and seven league positions separated Sutton (9th with 10 points from 8 games) and Market Drayton (16th with 8 points from 8 games). Both were looking to get back to winning ways as Sutton lost 4-0 at home to leaders Coalville on Saturday while the Gingerbreads drew 2-2 at Mickeover Sports. 

Back to the action and the Royals (Sutton’s nickname) had the ball in the back of the net in the 18th minute. Sheldon’s deflected shot fell into the path of Luke Chapman who sidefooted home from an offside position. 

Never mind, still a good 70 minutes left but one stat was starting to ‘trouble’ me bearing in mind I really needed someone to score. Sutton had only scored nine league goals so far in 2012/13. However, the form guide in th programme gave me hope as Market Drayton’s last six league games had produced 26 goals. 

The Gingerbreads really threatened in the final third until, on the half hour, Jake Bedford on his league debut, acrobatically turned round a follow-up shot from Martyn Davies after Dorryll Proffitt’s initial effort was blocked. Why are Market Drayton nicknamed the Gingerbreads? 

I couldn’t fault Sutton for effort as they continued creating chances… 

32nd minute – Gardner’s header off a defender for a corner 

33rd minute – low right-foot shot from Chapman just wide of the right-hand post 

35th minute – shot from unmarked Sheldon rebounded off the goalkeeper’s knees 

37th minute – shot from Kristan Ramsey-Dickson blocked by Proffitt 

38th minute – rising 25-yard left-foot shot from Chapman thumped the right-hand post 

“We’ve got to be taking these chances,” someone shouted. Little did he know that somebody in the stand (i.e. me) was also desperate for one to go in as well! 

Goalless at half-time. 

I started to become resigned to the fact that there might not be a goal as the chances started to dry up during the opening 15 minutes of the second half. A poor clearance by Stevens fell straight at the feet of Sheldon but the goalkeeper recovered to save the resulting 35-yard shot. 

The Gingerbreads made the first change and took off one of their forwards to stiffen up the midfield. I feared they wanted to “keep the back door shut” and make sure they didn’t lose. 

Bedford kept alert and turned round a decent 25-yard shot from Kyle Blake just after the hour mark. 

For a moment, I thought the visitors would score in the 75th minute. Unchallenged Proffitt intercepted a loose pass from Joe Kettle but Bedford got down to smartly save the resulting shot. 

With ten minutes to go, I started to think about how I might start this report. What about … It was a tale of missed chances at Coles Lane as my run of 91 consecutive games without a 0-0 came to a frustrating end, etc. 

Then, Chapman hit the left-hand post from a narrow angle in the 86th minute. 

Hope… Sutton substitute Chris Gumery almost intercepted a weak backpass from Sean Jones but Stevens raced off his line to boot to safety. 

Into stoppage time and could either side do what Northwich Villa did at Eccleshall last month – score an injury-time winner? 

With seconds remaining, Gumery met Louis Keenan’s left-wing cross and Stevens produced a wonderful point-black save to push the ball out for a corner. 

And that was it. 

As soon as the referee blew the full time whistle, the PA announcer (not over the tannoy) mentioned “that’s the record gone” because no Sutton game had finished 0-0 since March 2009. Apparently, Sutton hadn’t drawn 0-0 at home in the league for nine years either. 

I hope I’ve not been too negative as Coles Lane is a really nice place to watch a game of football with normally at least one goal scored. 

Sutton Coldfield Town (blue/blue/blue): 1. Jake Bedford, 2. Aaron Stringfellow, 3. Louis Keenan, 4. Lee Parsons, 5. Rikki Bains, 6. Joe Kettle, 7. Kristan Ramsey-Dickson, 8. Scott Rickards (capt), 9. Matt Gardner, 10. Jamie Sheldon, 11. Luke Chapman. Subs: 12. Phil Male (not used), 14. Dean Rathbone (for Ramsey-Dickson, 70), 15. Jimmy Quiggan (for Gardner, 63), 16. Chris Gumery (for Sheldon, 80), 17. Andy Ling (not used). Manager: Neil Tooth. 

Market Drayton Town (white/white/white): 1. Damien Stevens, 2. Matt Johnson, 3. Ryan Connor, 4. Rhys Swetman, 5. Matt Cohen, 6. Kyle Blake, 7. Nick Porter, 8. Shaun Humphries, 9. Adam Proudlock, 10. Martyn Davies (capt), 11. Dorryll Proffitt. Subs: 12. Paul McMullen (not used), 14. Andy Cooke (not used), 15. Trumane Armstrong (not used), 16. Sean Jones (for Proudlock, 57). Manager: Jimmy Mullen. 

Referee: Christopher Husband (Worcester).
Assistants: Richard Gardner and Stephen Checketts. 

Goals: none 

Cards: none

Romulus 1 Chasetown 3

Monday 3rd September 2012
Romulus 1 Chasetown 3
Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Division One South
At: Coles Lane
Kick-off-7-45 pm
Admission: £7 Programme: £1 (28 pages)
Attendance: 160
Weather: mild, dry
Duration: first-half: 46:21; second-half: 51:51 

This was my first visit of the season to Coles Lane and a game between two neighbours looking to climb the table for differing reasons. 

Romulus (red and white stripes / red/ red): 1. Lewis Exall, 2. Robert, 3. Ray Facey, 4. Peter Folkes, 5. Liam Francis, 6. Marcus Jackson (capt), 7. Dexter Ravenhill, 8. Nathan Walker, 9. Nathan Jackson, 10. Naveed Arshad, 11. Ashley Jackson. Subs: 12. Nicky Campbell (not used), 14. Nicky Dodds (not used), 15. Chris Morris (for Naveed, 53), 16. Daniel O’Callaghan (for Evans, 86), 17. Sean Robinson (not used). 

Chasetown (blue/blue/white): 1. Ryan Price, 2. Jack Farmer, 3. Matt Jackson, 4. Chris Slater, 5. David Bate, 6. Richard Teesdale (capt), 7. Simon Brown, 8. Greg Downes, 9. Nick Wellecomme, 10. Paul Sullivan, 11. Mark Branch, Subs: 12. Anthony Maguire (not used), 14. Tyrone Clarke-O’Connell (not used), 15. Gavin Saunders (for Bate, 81), 16. Daniel Smith (for Sullivan, 75), 17. Lee Evans (not used). 

Referee: Paul Hobday.
Assistants: Gary Walker and Philip Hardisty. 

Goals:
1-0 Nathan Jackson (8)
1-1 Mark Branch (10)
1-2 Paul Sullivan (65)
1-3 Greg Downes (83) 

Cards:
Romulus: Ashley Jackson (YC, 74)
Chasetown: none