ROMULUS FLYING HIGH AFTER 4 -0 WIN

ROMULUS 4 WOLVERHAMPTON SPORTING COMMUNITY 0
MIDLAND FOOTBALL LEAGUE PREMIER @ CASTLE VALE STADIUM
10 NOVEMBER 2018 --- 3PM
This local derby between two teams at the wrong end of the table was settled in favour of the home side, Romulus, by a brace in either half and further aided by the sending off of Michael Townsend for the visitors moment before half time after receiving two yellow cards in two minutes.

LEWIS COMMINS OPENS THE SCORING FOR ROMULUS

'Weather there's a lot of it about' somebody once said and this week the rain out west had done
enough to put me off travelling to the back of beyond in Wales for a FAW Cup game and so after floundering around on Saturday morning taking into account Northern Rail strikes, EMT not going beyond Leicester that I opted for a first visit to Birmingham this season.  There had been a desperate need to save 4g grounds until the bad weather but having passed the Castle Vale Stadium on quite a few occasions on the way into the second city on the train it had been on the to do list for a little while.
Departing from base station it was the thoughts of a mate who said 'you do know Leeds are at West Brom today'?  By the time I departed the just after mid-day service I certainly did of course, the country length service comes through Leess an hour before my setting off point and the life of a canned sardine was experienced by many experienced on the way to New St.  Around an hour later a quick dash to Priory Queensway for a 67 National Express WM which was boarded with a minute to spare for the twenty minute meander around the gyratory and highly confusing roads of a very busy traffic city.

TOLKEINS SPITFIRE ROUNDABOUT

Alighting just short of the Castle Vale estate with the purpose of taking a quick look at The Jaguar car hanging onto the side of the experience building of said car company there was a chance to take a
look at the main reason for early departure The Sentinel otherwise known as the Spitfire roundabout.  Here in lies this areas massive influence on history as Castle Vale estate was built on the former Castle Bromwich Aerodrome which was active in both World Wars and saw the first flight from Birmingham in 1900.  The Spitfire was built close by and of course took off from the Aerodrome during missions and today is remembered at the centre of the busy roundabout that sits at the entrance to the estate.  The three aircraft are seen in varying states of flight and were designed by the great nephew of J R R Tolkein.  Just down the road is the impressive Fort Dunlop former home of the tyre company of the same name who built up the largest tyre factory in Europe since closure its recent development has seen the area become a leisure experience!

KNIGHT OF THE VALE

Frustratingly the weather was of the much variety now and the rain was starting to deposit sharply as the estate was entered and another notable site the Knight of the Vale statue is excellent with knight riding on charger flying out of the castle and signifying a new future for this once troubled area.  The aviation history is well to the fore with many street names taking on famous names of design and piloting, the three major roads were formed from the former runways.  
Castle Vale was originally an overspill estate to the north east of Birmingham and at one stage had 34 tower blocks as social isolation grew in the 1970's and 80's which eventually saw a major effort to re develop in the early 90's and after over a decade of hard work the whole feel on this wet afternoon around its streets and the small shopping centre, Reed Sq, looked impressive.

CASTLE VALE STADIUM STAND

The spirited walk around had become more of a dash now towards the Castle Vale Stadium as the rain got faster and heavier the whole transport theme became more obvious with the flight path to the nearby Birmingham International Airport being overhead, the railway line behind the far goal and this was overviewed by the motorway to its rear.
The ground is I guess a typical community stadium but has brought Romulus 'home' to a base after sharing at nearby Sutton Coldfield Town recently, it would appear Castle Vale Town, Birmingham Schools and a variety of other clubs use the facilities which are accessed by a long driveway off the Farnborough Road.  Its standard fayre with tarmac walkways all the way around alongside green coated wire fencing with floodlights set back well from the pitch.  The star of the show is a smart stand which again is situated a little back from the pitch to the rear is a lofted function room with bar and by the entrance a snack hatch which did the trick on the day with a couple of chip cobs sampled during my stay.  Programme at £2 was gained with admission and had an impressive cover although its content was basic, by the time kick off had arrived thankfully the wet stuff had stopped coming down and there would be no need to base myself in the stand for the duration.

EARLY CLEARANCE FROM WSC

Wolverhampton Sporting Community [WSC] were struggling away in second bottom place and Romulus not much higher as their fight goes on to re gain step 4 status.
The action started early enough with Romulus taking a seventh minute lead when Lewis Commins fired home sharply from 10 yards the ball unfortunately for WSC keeper Reece Jeavons going through his legs.  The visitors did show mid way through the half and it was Toura Cassama who shot across the face of goal and wide from a good position.  Romulus were clearly in the ascendancy but failing to convert some good chances however on 38 minutes the lead was doubled when a right hand side long throw was flicked on put back into Commins who got his and the home sides second despite the valiant efforts of Jeavons between the sticks.

NIALL ROWE CLIMBE HIGHEST TO CELEBRATE COMMINS SECOND GOAL

WSC saw their task made harder with probably the quickest sending off for two yellows I have seen for a long while on 42 minutes for dissent and then two minutes later and Michael Townsend was on his way to watch the second half the wrong side of the barrier.
The second period was one way traffic and again if Romulus had their shooting boots on it would have been a game of double figures, the frustrating part of their play on all their corners they appeared to look to play them short and often lose possession it always amazes me it would appear the ball would be more dangerous in the penalty box.

WATCH OUT CAMERAMAN

The goal tally though was doubled in the second half within seven minutes of the restart Luke Keen, on loan from Redditch United, scored the goal of the game with a sweet and clinical finish from 14 yards out which gave Jeavons no chance.  It was all over with twenty minutes remaining when Ben Ashby floated in a free kick for the eloquently named Chad Degville-Cross to head home.

WSC IN CONTROL

More goals should have come but WSC were hanging on stoically and in fairness to them with a player down for the whole half their deficit was only the same as the first 45 minutes.
All was dry but dark now as a walk back to Reed Square saw a departure on the 1720 back to the city and by a bit of sharp walking New St was left just over forty minutes later with arrival back at base station around 7pm a seat was gained thanks to Leeds United still being in battle with West Brom in their late kick off.
A postscript saw Romulus advertise for a new manager with the current management team headed up by Dale Belford staying in post until this has been achieved.