Shropshire County League

Premier Division

Saturday 29th April 2023

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.03

Shrewsbury Up & Comers 4 Ercall Colts Evolution 3, attendance 26

3’ 0-1

5’ 1-1

31’ 2-1 (pen)

51’ 2-2

62’ 2-3

71’ 3-3

75’ 4-3

@ Shrewsbury College of Arts & Technology

London Road

Shrewsbury

SY2 6PR

No Admission or Programme.

I got lucky with this one. The Referee from my morning game was listed as also doing this match (as Linesman) so I was able to confirm that the game was going ahead okay. However, I never thought to confirm the location, so turned up at the ground listed on the F.A. Full Time website, where Shrewsbury Up & Comers are shown to have played all their home games so far this season, but found a cricket match in progress. I was told that the football ‘always move to London Road once the cricket start’ and that was where the game would be. It’s only half a mile away, but the problem was, I had already done a game at S.C.A.T. before, as I had seen Shrewsbury Town U18 play there back in 1997.

Having driven past here dozens of times over the years, I was well aware of the layout, so had no problem in knowing if this was being played on a different pitch to the one I had seen a game on already. When I came before, the match was on the pitch that runs lengthways away from the old changing room building. Both remain, but the building looks as if it is no longer used. Today’s game was being played on a pitch beyond the hedge, running widthways to the former, so I was okay. There was even a game taking place on the 3G pitch as well, which has been installed in the intervening years, where Wellington Amateurs Development were hosting Ercall Colts Revolution in a Shropshire County League cup match, which also wasn’t shown as being played here on the F.A. Full Time website!

As for the match, I wasn’t expecting too much, as it was another mid-table game, as 6th hosted 8th. It turned out to be a cracker though. Ercall were ahead within three minutes, coolly lobbing the ‘keeper when put through, but their lead only lasted a couple of minutes. Up & Comers went ahead from the penalty spot just after the half hour mark, following a trip by the ‘keeper and it was still 2-1 at halftime. By the hour mark Ercall had turned things round to lead 2-3, but Up & Comers levelled it up at 3-3 with twenty minutes left. They then went 4-3 up just four minutes later and Ercall had their ‘keeper sin binned for arguing about a ‘foul’ during the build up to the goal. Up & Comers could have added a fifth in stoppage time, but the penalty was well saved by the ‘keeper.

Even on the results section of F.A. Full Time, neither game are being shown as having been played here. Very poor.

Shropshire County League

Premier Division

Saturday 29th April 2023

Kick Off 12.00 Actual 12.09

Prees United 3 Wrockwardine Wood 1, attendance 23

35’ 1-0

39’ 1-1

53’ 2-1

68’ 3-1

@ Prees Cricket and Recreation Club

Brades Road

Prees

SY13 2DX

No Admission or Programme.

I had assumed this was an early kick off due to it being played at a ground shared with cricket, but it was in fact due to the social club hosting a wedding reception later on. Anyway, the noon kick off had been confirmed via Twitter, so it was an early start for the 194 mile drive to the north Shropshire village of Prees, just south of Whitchurch. There are two pitches here, either side of the cricket square, with the main pitch furthest from the car park. There are dugouts here and an old bandstand that acts as cover, as well as training lights (they were used during a 19.15 kick off on Tuesday evening).

Although there was nothing riding on the game, as both were comfortably mid table (5th v 7th), it was keenly contested and at times had a nasty under current, which threatened to boil over a number of times. It was a dull opening half hour, before the visitors had a header disallowed for offside, followed almost immediately by Prees having one chalked off for a foul on the ‘keeper. Within minutes Prees did open the scoring though, tapping in from 6 yards from a ball pulled back from the left. The visitors soon levelled, shooting into the bottom corner from 20 yards.

Prees went ahead early in the second half, clipping the ball into the far corner after being played clear and their third goal arrived with just over twenty minutes left, heading in at the near post from a long throw in. Deep into stoppage time the visitors missed a penalty, which was well saved by the ‘keeper.

There were six hoppers present, planning to head off to four different games in the afternoon, although the late kick off and subsequent later than expected finish, meant revised plans for some. I had plenty of time to get to my intended match. It also helped that the Referee was actually running the line at my second game, so it certainly wouldn’t be starting until he got there. What could possibly go wrong?……