LICHFIELD SUCCUMB TO TWO FIRST HALF GOALS FROM HEATHER ST JOHNS

LICHFIELD CITY 1 V HEATHER ST JOHNS 2
MIDLANDS FOOTBALL LEAGUE 1 @ THE CITY GROUND 25 APRIL 2015 3PM

TODAYS LINE UP

[As usual a few more pictures are available on the 'we all stand together' Facebook page]
Two first half goals from the visitors settled this drab end of season affair despite a late rally from Lichfield following a Mark Rose header which reduced the arrears.
It hardly seems a week since last weeks hop to The Faw Trophy final at Llandudno but on the road we were again today to Lichfield home of Samuel Johnson, first English Dictionary, Darwens grandfather and current constituency MP Michael Fabricant famous for his head covering.  Quite a few of the candidates for the forthcoming election were in the city but Mr Fabricant was in the next door town of Burntwood so we were unable to capture a photo of him for the blog.
Todays journey was made by changing at Derby and Tamworth before arriving at Lichfield at around half past midday.  Having never departed at either Tamworth or Lichfield both stations were quite interesting in the they are at a higher and lower level with lower levels taking a roughly east west immediate direction.  You certainly need to get your head around how to access the platform you require, both stations are very much n a 1970's concrete build style.

LICHFIELD'S FAMOUS CATHEDRAL

A quick hour and an quarter around the city saw the blog take in a view of the house were afore mentioned Samuel Johnson was born and then then pretty surroundings of Lichfield's 3 spired cathedral.  There was a few minutes spare to have a quick look inside but sadly not long enough to go round the whole cathedral mainly due to the requirement for food and the now sharp showers that were hovering overhead.  The Acorn a Wetherspoons was busy when we came past so we opted to call back on the return of our center tour and it was still a task to get a table.  Sadly it was a un favored table by the main doors and when a few moments later fish and chips were somewhat launched at us it would appear the afternoon would take a down hill pattern.
Dinner eaten we took a pleasant walk to the ground and had a moment to take a look on nearby Hermes Rd at the HQ of The Central England COOP.

CITY GROUNDS ENTRANCE GATES LOOKING GOOD

Lichfield City are situated just off Eastern Ave down a cul de sac road and at the end the lane pulls off to the left into a car park that houses the club house and changing rooms.  the club houses is of a nice size and has the usual bar, pool table and wall mounted TV's.  To the side the main entrance is open as we arrive at 2.15pm with no sign of an official we pop in and take the obligatory pictures and do a circuit there is also time for a quick call on the officials changing room to get the teams.

LOOKING BACK TO THE CLUB HOUSE PAST THE TERRACED ATCOST STAND
AND FURTHER DOWN THE SEATED ATCOST STAND

LICHFIELD CITY JACKETS LOOKING GOOD

So the ground, to the right of the entrance the hard standing tarmac terracing goes all the way around the ground which is enclose via net green coated metal mesh fencing.  The right hand side touchline has two dugouts on it which are arched away from the pitch, behind the top goal is the continuing walk way and further outside is Eastern Avenue whistling by.  Coming back down the other touchline we have two stands one in each half.  Firstly in the top half an Atcost stand with a stepped terracing.  Above this diagonally behind the corner flag is a respectful memorial marble seat to 'Wappo',  Phillip Latham somebody who was clearly held close by Lichfield City FC.  Below the half way a further small Atcost stand which is seated.  We come back to the club house which outside looking onto the pitch is a covered terraced area something which we need to shield in the latter stages of the second half when the rain showers become heavier and more joined up in nature.
We hovered around the entrance and at 2.45 the 'gate' was finally manned and we bought two programmes and paid our admission money.  The club clearly don't operate a 'gate' until late and probably due to the late arrival of most people who seemed to turn up in the last 5 minutes.

Before the game starts its fair to say the pitch could probably have done with a cut and the surface, as everywhere was now, becoming hard and bobbly.
An early goal appeared to settle down Heather St Johns when after 12 minutes Ryan Caputo sent in a low drive from 18 yards that found the bottom left hand corner of the net.  Most of the remainder of the second half was a struggle for both sides who showed little in ideas of how to control the ball or the game for that matter.  For the sake of the game if it stopped tight and at 1-0 Lichfield had a chance to give us an entertaining second session.  Well that theory fell flat when on the stroke of half time Lichfield failed to clear their lines and from a lose ball Kiam Gadins lashed home a shot which home keeper, Ryan Moore, frustratingly got his hand to but could just not keep out of the net.

CITY KEEPER MOORE AT FULL STRETCH

HEATHER KEEPER SCOTT HANDLEY ALSO AT FULL STRETCH

The second half was instantly forgettable as a mode of entertainment the nearest anybody came to threatening, before the late deficit reduction, was 15 minutes from time when Mark Rose took too long to convert at the back stick and allowed Heather defender Grant Ryder the chance to block his effort. 

With 4 minutes remaining Lichfield reduced the arrears when Jordan Hunt provided the cross that Rose towered above everybody else to head home. 

ROSE GIVES CITY AT CHANCE AS HE MAKES IT 1-2 IN THE CLOSING MINUTES

The remaining minutes which included around 7 minutes of stoppage time were the most entertaining of the game as Lichfield saw the possibility of a point and Heather saw the prospect of losing all three .

HANDS ON APPROACH

Overall a poor end of season affair with little to espouse in the excitement stakes.
The usual quick dash back to Lichfield Trent Valley station with departure platform arrived at with about 3 minutes to spare, return connections at Tamworth and Derby were well made with seats obtained on all three trains, a result!
It was a long way from the excitement of Wales last week and this was a first visit for the blog to Lichfield City Fc with a visit to the lovely city center being a well recommended must.

A NEW LONDON MIDLAND 350 THAT DEPARTED US AT LICHFIELD EX EUSTON
BUT OUR MODE OF TRANSPORT FROM JUST 5 MINUTES AWAY AT TAMWORTH