West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division
At: Beech Grove
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Admission: £3; Programme: £1 (36 pages)
Attendance: 80 (headcount)
Weather: mild, sunny
Duration: first-half: 46:46; second-half: 48:14
I learned quite a bit following the recent trip to Retford about what sort of places to take Junior ‘iwf’. We both felt that, even though Retford was a good place to visit, it was a touch too far to travel.
Today Mrs ‘iwf’ was enjoying the delights of a scenic railtour to Carlisle out via the Settle and Carlisle line and back via the Cumbrian coast line. So, once again, Junior was with me. We opted for a short journey and she chose West Midlands League leaders Ellesmere against midtable Wolves Casuals for the shortlist I offered.
On the way, we talked about the difference between an ‘optimist’ and a ‘realist’. For this game, an ‘optimist’ would think Casuals had a chance of at least a point while the ‘realist’ would be certain of three points for Ellesmere come full time.
The 47-mile journey took us via Newport and Whitchurch before an unexpected twist – we crossed into Wales a few miles west of Whitchurch before returning to England along the A495 before reaching Ellesmere. We passed the famous Mere and then through the town centre before following Oswestry signed (still A495) before turning right into Trimpley Street (B5058 signed St Martins). It was left into Cambria Avenue and the ground entrance was clearly signed on the right just after the crossroads.
A short drive between houses led to a large recreation ground and we parked on the left facing the grass before the clubhouse. There were three pitches, one straight ahead running lengthways and two on the right running widthways with the enclosed Ellesmere ground being the nearest of the latter two. A metal fence with tarpaulin-like material attached separated it from the rest of the recreation ground and made sure no one could watch without paying!
The turnstile was on the far side of the clubhouse and a decent programme was on sale there for £1. Admission prices were prominently displayed – £3 for me and £1 for Junior. Through into the ground, the pitch (orientated south-east–north-west) ran widthways to the right. Adjacent to this near corner was the adjoining clubhouse/tea bar and changing rooms building. On halfway down the near touchline was the stand with covered standing and around 109 individual tip-up seats in four rows. Opposite were the dugouts wither side on the halfway line.
We felt warmly welcomed in the tea bar. We didn’t spot the ‘golden arches’ on the way so Junior was pleased with here chips and also a club badge for £3 prominantly featuring a white swan. The home Secretary took time to lend me the teamsheets even though the line-ups were going to be announced over the tannoy.
The programme cover acknowledges the fact that 2009 is Ellesmere’s 40th anniversary and next month both an Anniversary Party and Sportsman’s Dinner with Lee Sharpe are being held to commemorate the milestone. Ellesmere are nicknamed the ‘Swans’.
Also included was a league table which showed Ellesmere (29 points from 23 games) on top of the table, one point better off than Shropshire rivals Ludlow Town, with just one league defeat. Visitors Wolverhampton Casuals occuplied 14th position with 13 points from their 12 games.
We opted for seats on the back row, numbers 81 and 82, and saw Ellesmere get the game underway attacking from left to right towards the far end. Within a minute, the raffle ticket seller reached us – would strip 861–865 be lucky?
As expected, the league leaders made a dominant start and soon Casuals’ keeper Steve Booth was called into action to turn a right-foot shot round the left post with a diving save. Danny Barton headed over at close range from the resulting corner.
A fan sat near us with a radio provided an early update of scores elsewhere – Lewis Neal with the first goal of the day and an own goal by Zat Knight.
The ball had been mostly in the Casuals half until the visitors got forward in the 13th minute to take the lead very much against the run of play. Anton Daley inside the area received a pass from Mark Walpe and saw an initial shot blocked. The rebound fell to Luke Tudor, wearing three but playing on the left side of midfield, who fired low into the bottom-left corner. Junior said to me that the ‘optimist’ was right so far!
Casuals grew in confidence and Rangers keeper Andy Mulliner turned round a good effort from unmarked Mark Webb.
The worried fans to our right had something to cheer when defender Mark Walpe sliced an attempted clearance straight out for a throw.
Booth was again called into action in the 23rd minute. Ian Rowlands exchanged a one-two with Andy Ford down the right and the former delivered a dangerous low cross which the keeper got down well to cut out.
“Arsenal 2 Birmingham 0,” was the latest from the Emirates. I predicted a 1-0 scoreline, which now couldn’t happen, so I hoped Arsenal would stay in front to give me a correctly predicted home win.
Kenny Paul fired across the face of the Casuals goal before Ellesmere got back on level terms in the 29th minute. Following a foul by Matt Turner on the Ellesmere right, Andy Reeve delivered a free-kick into a populated area and Barton rose to power home a header. The ‘realist’ must have been pleased!
The home side were on a roll. Rowlands did well out on the right and got in a goalbound shot that was blocked by Jon Clarke. The resulting corner fell to Scott Graham at the far post who went for goal. Adam Edmunds got hurt putting his body in the way though was able to continue after treatment.
However, a fine reaction save from Mulliner prevented Casuals from regaining the lead in the 36th minute. The keeper somehow stopped a first-time bullet header and the loose ball was scrambled clear.
Just before the break we had another score update, this time informing us that ‘Valencia got the second’. Presumably the Manchester United player had found the net rather than the Spanish giants!
After popping back to the tea bar at half-time, I had a change to my normal routine. I usually take my ground photos before kick-off but this time we circumnavigated the pitch during the interval for a change.
I was back to seats 81 and 82 for the second half and the two Ellesmere WAGs, one wearing leopard skin print leggings, were still in position on the front row near us. Alas, no joy on the raffle.
Ellesmere were awarded a penalty in the 51st minute for a trip by Clarke on Barton. Mark Walpe was unimpressed with the decision and picked up a booking for dissent before Barton sent Booth the wrong way from the spot – “Ellesmere’s second goal scored by Danny Barton!,” announced the tannoy man.
Casuals bounced back and almost equalised. David Walpe saw his shot blocked by a defender but Daley couldn’t take advantage of the rebound.
Edmunds was booked in the 56th minute for dissent just before we heard that “West Ham have scored at Stoke.”
Booth got down to save a well-struck shot from Barton before Edmunds received what looked like a final warning from the referee for more dissent. Just after the hour mark, Booth again did well and turned a long ball forward by Reeve round the post at the second attempt.
Reeve was replaced by Chris Catterall in the 65th minute and Ellesmere scored their third goal two minutes later. Booth did well to keep out a long-range shot from Graham but Catterall squared the loose ball to Barton who slotted home to compelte his hat-trick.
Casuals made they only substitution in the 68th minute with the unimpressed Mark Walpe replaced by Tom Chew.
Barton fell victim to the current interpretation of the offside rule two minutes later. He was certainly puzzled when flagged offside for touching the ball a few yards inside his own half. The striker had strayed offside moments before in the Casuals half and the flag had gone up when he became active.
Confident the points were in the bag, Ellesmere took off hat-trick hero Barton in the 75th minute to loud applause from the home faithful and brought on Gaz Meredith. Strike partner Kenny Paul went off four minutes later to give Jack Keating a taste of the action.
Casuals’ John Turner picked up a booking in the 90th minute for a heavy challenge on Ian Rowlands who required treatment in order to finish the game.
The fan near us asked the nearby assistant how long was left and the helpful official told us that the referee had signalled two minutes of added time – sufficient for the man with the radio to tell us that ‘Defoe sent off’ and ‘Liverpool 1-0 down’.
I thought Casuals gave the league leaders a good test and the visitors held an in promtu team meeting sat on the pitch after the full-time whistle.
On the way home, we stopped off at The Mere (which puts the ‘mere’ into ‘Ellesmere’) – a highlight for Junior ‘iwf’ with the opportunity to see and photograph an assortment of swans and ducks. I think it was the highlight of her day.
Ellesmere Rangers (sky blue / navy blue / navy blue): 1. Andy Mulliner, 2. Ian Rowlands, 3. Andy Reeve, 4. Andy Ford (capt), 5. Craig Fear, 6. Carl Harris, 7. Nathon Leonard, 8. Eddie Hope, 9. Danny Barton, 10. Kenny Paul, 11. Scott Graham. Subs: 12. Jack Keating (for Paul, 75), 14. Chris Cattrall (for Reeve, 65), 16. Gaz Meredith (for Barton, 75), GK. Sam Jones.
Wolverhampton Casuals (green and black stripes / green / green): 1. Steve Booth, 2. John Turner, 3. Luke Tudor, 4. Matt Turner, 5. Jon Clarke, 6. Nick Jones, 7. Mark Walpe, 8. David Walpe, 9. Mark Webb, 10. Anton Daley, 11. Adam Edmunds. Subs: 12. Tom Chew (for Mark Walpe, 68), 14. Matt Hard, 15. Dennis Robinson, 16. Michael Allen.
Referee: Dell Hill.
Assistants: DC Plant and B Polak.
Goals:
0-1 Luke Tudor (13)
1-1 Danny Barton (51 pen)
2-1 Danny Barton (29)
3-1 Danny Barton (67)
