Sat Nov 07, 2009 8:31 pm
A very enjoyable day out, the football seemed to take second place to the event. I loved the uniqueness of the ground, the pork bap, reading the programme and mixing with not only the Stourbridge fans but also the friendly and down to earth Stourbridge officials before the game. Isn't it a pity that all games cannot be like this. I realise that the league structure doesn't allow such experiences anymore and accept that the match day experience can never be like the early 70's when I first started watching Walsall.
The actual game, a rather casual performance by Walsall although dominant for long periods lacked the killer touch with numerous chances falling to Byfield, Jones and Deeney only to be scorned by a combination of weak finishing or over ambitious and elaborate moves. I quite enjoyed watching Stourbridges simple but effective tactics, quick one twos, balls played rather optimistically down the the wings and shooting on sight regardless of position and sometimes ignoring players in better positions. The agricultural Slater, a rather tough looking character certainly didn't mess about when it came to challenges and I suppose at his level it is very effective. The referee appeared to dismiss these tactics with an exaggerated wave often appearing forgiving to their players as if there was some sort of handicap system operating although Reece Weston did his usual tough guy idiotic act the first time one of their players was late on the ball and it was no surprise to see him booked after a couple of rather clumsy and spiteful tackles in revenge for their audacity of the Stourbridge left winger attempting to win the ball.
I thought we should have had a penalty early on when the dangerous Byfield skipped past three players only to be scythed down in the area. Jones obviously thought he was playing against inferior opposition and he showed on numerous occasions the ease at which he could beat any player infront of him both with skill and speed off the mark until he got a little bored in the second half and just hung around waiting for someone to give him the ball however, he still was the most outstanding player for me in the match. I thought Hughes was both calm and controlling but tends to get caught out on the odd occasion when he ventures forward, he was booked for dragging back one of their players during the second half when we had committed too many players forward in a particularily dominant 10 min period.
The last 15 minutes were a little nervous, I was spared the detail due to my position on the touch line, a few shots, a save by Clayton and a penalty appeal added to the tension but eventually the final whistle went and we were through for the first time in years.
Roll on the draw for the second round, it's just like the olden days, a few pints after the game with some Stourbridge mates, a bag of scatchings and highlights on TV after a few glasses of wine, bliss :D
