MIDLAND FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION ONE, BOLEHALL SWIFTS 3-7 NUNEATON GRIFF, ATTENDANCE: 46 (h/c)
From Kings Norton I headed across to Tamworth where Bolehall Swifts were hosting Nuneaton Griff in an evening kick off. The journey was made in plenty of time, allowing for a quick slurp in the Sir Robert Peel in town.
Bolehall are struggling this season and are yet to register a victory. I was speaking to the couple behind the counter in the tea bar, as they prepared me a delicious steak pie, and they were telling me that their manager and most of their players from last season had departed in the summer and the team was rather youthful at the moment. I guess the last thing they needed was a visit from a team that hit 10 (v Heather) in midweek.
The game kicked off in torrential rain and the pitch did incredibly well to hold up as well as it did. Bolehall looked great when they came forward, and actually took the lead through Leo Thompson after five minutes, but it is at the back they struggled with some self inflicted errors not helping their cause. Ryan Millerchip (10) equalised for Griff from the penalty spot before Sean Gardiner (26) restored the Swifts lead.
Millerchip (29) drew Griff level for the second time before the visitors took the game away from Bolehall. Luke Shorthouse (31) gave Nuneaton the lead before Josh Ruff (40) and Dave Barnett (44) made it five for The Heartlanders.
Bolehall had chances to claw their way back into the game but Nuneaton added more goals late on through Aden Moore (79) and Ryan Slinn (88). They did look a very, very good side.
I enjoyed my evening at Rene Road, despite the weather, and I hope Bolehall can work things out and start picking up some wins. I wish them every success for the rest of the season.
MIDLAND FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION ONE, PILKINGTON XXX 0-5 BROMSGROVE SPORTING, ATTENDANCE: 139
For the first leg of my bank holiday double I found myself in Kings Norton, at the Triplex Sports Association Ground, the home of Pilkington XXX. I have to confess that this was not my original choice for my first game but a combination of an FA Cup replay and appalling Bank Hoilday traffic put paid to plans A, B and C.
However fate certainly smiled on me as I landed at a great little ground and watched a fine entertaining game. Sadly, for them, the home side were on the wrong end of a five goal beating.
Goals from Craig Jones (6 & 34) and Dale Edwards (11) put Bromsgrove Sporting in a commanding position at the half time interval. If I am being honest it could easily have been double that but for some great saves in The Pilks goal by Reece Francis.
Naturally Bromsgrove took their foot off the gas in the second period and only added the gloss to the scoreline late on, after Francis had been sent off on 78 minutes for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.
With no replacement goalie on the bench, Matthew Stirzaker went between the sticks and although he got hands to Reece Hewitt's penalty, the power of the kick saw the ball spin agonisingly into the net. Ollie Gibson (86) completed the scoring for Sporting.
The Pilks were formed in 2002 when Burman Hi-Ton changed their name to Pilkington XXX. The forerunners of the club were the Triplex Safety Glass works team who, in 1984, as Triplex FC, joined the Midland Combination before folding in 1993. Burman Hi-Ton were also a works team and they took over the sports ground after the demise of Triplex FC and another local team, Richmond Swifts, who ironically had developed the ground before they folded.
FA CUP PRELIMINARY ROUND, LEICESTER NIRVANA 2-4 BELPER TOWN, ATTENDANCE: 96
The road, or rather train tracks, to Wembley led East today for a Leicestershire v Derbyshire FA Cup clash. Leicester Nirvana (of the United Counties Premier League) were taking on Belper Town (of the Northern Premier League Div.1 South).
Today was the club's first 'home' FA Cup tie under the 'new' name of Leicester Nirvana.
The club was originally formed by a merger, in 2008, of Thurnby Rangers and Leicester Nirvana, which at the time was a youth set up only, and went under the name of Thurnby Nirvana.
As well as a change of name, the club have also had a change of home. The club played at Dakyn Road until last season but they have now moved to groundshare Gleneagles Avenue with Leicester Senior League side Highfield Rangers.
Despite Belper being the higher ranked team today, there was absolutely nothing between the two sides in the first half but two goals in two minutes just before the break swung the tie in Belper’s favour.
Grant Ryan (43) headed Belper in front before Luke Day (44) raced into the box to fire home. Just seconds after the restart Ryan (46) bagged his second to seemingly put the tie beyond Nirvana.
However the home side refused to give in and reduced the arrears on 57 minutes when Ashley Day scored.
The Nailers soon restored their three-goal advantage when Rob Stevenson (64) broke clear and rounded the 'keeper to slot home. Just three minutes later though an own goal pulled another goal back for Nirvana.
Jonathan Williams was shown a red card after receiving a second yellow card for kicking the ball away, setting up a nervy finish for Belper.
With nothing to lose, Nirvana went for it and nearly pulled off an unlikely draw but the Belper players threw their bodies on the line, blocking shots and clearing one effort off the line.
An excellent competitive cup tie but ultimately disappointment for Nirvana....Nevermind.
WELSH CUP FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND, CPD LLANYSTUMDWY 0-1 NANTLLE VALE, ATTENDANCE: 43 (h/c)
My final Welsh trip of this week dropped me back to the fifth tier of Welsh football (in the North anyway) with a Welsh Cup 'Derby' between Gwynedd League CPD Llanystumdwy and Welsh Alliance side Nantlle Vale.
Llanystumdwy is a small village on the A497, between Criccieth and Pwllheli, located at the point where the road crosses the Afon Dwyfor river, giving the football ground it's name of Parc Dwyfor.
The village is where former British Prime Minister (from 1916-1922) David Lloyd George grew up and is where he is laid to rest. His grave (pictured right) is yards from the football pitch, just over the river.
The ground is located down a narrow dirt track between the village church and the river and is a lovely rural setting. The pitch is fenced off but, apart from some old dugouts behind the goal, there is nothing to protect spectators from the elements. Fortunately today, as much as it tried to, the rain held off. There was a tea hut at the ground, serving up a very welcome brew!
I was expecting Nantlle Vale to have too much for their hosts, and indeed they wasted a chance to take the lead inside 10 seconds, but as the game went on, despite lots of Vale pressure, Llanystumdwy dug in and were very difficult to break down.
As extra time loomed large Nantlle Vale finally managed to break Llanystumdwy's resistance and book themselves a home game with Penley in the next round.
