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?……