MIKES' MISS OUT TO TEN MAN HEANOR

BOLDMERE ST MICHAELS 1 V HEANOR TOWN 2
MIDLAND FOOTBALL LEAGUE PREMIER 8 AUGUST 2015 3PM
@ THE TREVOR BROWN MEMORIAL GROUND

THE TREVOR BROWN MEMORIAL GROUND HOME OF BOLDMERE ST MICHAELS FC

 [Check out the 'we all stand together' Facebook page for some pictures that are unused in the blog]
A feisty game saw 10 man MFL debut boys [following their geographical switch from the NCEL] Heanor Town take all three points on this opening day fixture in the West Midlands.  After a goal less first half the game exploded into life inside the first second half minute when Nick Hall gave The Lions the lead a penalty equaliser for Boldemere from Stephen Palmer looked to have got them back into the game until Andre Johnson gave Heanor the lead again.  In the closing stages the home side struck the post and had two efforts cleared off the line to deny them a share of the points.
As ever more on the game in a few paragraphs and the day started as so often at base station and football was definitely back for the 'big clubs' with a large police presence awaiting the visiting Barnsley supporters.  Cross Country trains to Birmingham are always a nervous venture with the lack of seats often available but thankfully the chosen service was a reconditioned 125 with seats waiting for boarding passengers.  Having smoothly arrived at New St there was a certain rounded feel that the train arrived at platform 12 and would become the 1212 departure onwards to Paignton.  A dash over for the local train service to Chester Rd having passed through Aston with Villa Park in view.  The elevated station allows you to depart onto the road it is named after and thankfully a beautiful sunny day greeted the blog.

FORMER CROSSROADS HOTEL ENTRANCE

There is a little middle aged humouring required for the next few paragraphs while looking at the planning for this visit I got onto thinking about the old TV soap Crossroads and unbelievably after a little research found that the hotel used for the external scenes and closing credits is a 20 minute walk away, admittedly in the opposite direction, and as a fan from the 70's and 80's I couldn't miss this opportunity.  So through Wylde Green which is a nice little shopping area with Atlantis fish and chip shop spotted for visit on the return journey and onwards to the current hotel humming the Crossroads theme tune all the way.

THE CLOSING CREDITS FOR CROSSROADS IN THE MID 1980S USED THIS SHOT

Upon arrival I managed to re visit old times with a shot of the famous car covered entrance which for the programme was emblazoned with a green cross roads sign on the now blank fascia and then a further picture of the lake scene used for the closing credits while the famous Tony Hatch theme tune did its thing.

WYLDE GREEN SHOPS WITH ATLANTIS FISH BAR IN THE BACK GROUND

The walk back took in a nice selection of chips, fish cakes and peas and then when I wen 50 yards further down the road I spotted the big 'M' but all was not lost as the sweet was gained from said establishment.  We were now back to our original arrival point Chester Road station and onward towards Boldmere St Michaels football ground.

CLUB CHAPLAIN REVD HUGH BAKER

First approach impressions were of a smart and tidy ground with to the side of the clubs car park a bowls club who were in match day action too so the car park gate was in busy operation today.  A neat brick built turnstile block allowed me to gain access and purchase todays programme, £1, which I must credit as a superb effort with some nice reading and clearly a good deal of effort has gone into its production.
It was a friendly greeting by the officials around the gate and I also managed to have a nice chat and welcome from the clubs and Birmingham County FA Chaplain Revd Hugh Baker.  Once again a good touch from a non league club and not just a figure head clearly a man who loves his non league football too.

BOOKER CHALLENGES AGBONLAHOR

Now the blog was inside we could clearly see our initial impression of a smart ground was correct, the ground looked very smart.  The pitch is railed off with neatly painted black and white posts and rails with hard standing all the way around to our immediate left is a very large club house building which contains a café to the front and the far end the changing rooms.  Having popped in on a few occasions for cold drinks on this hot day I also have to mention the ladies behind the bar who were friendly and welcoming.  The approach to the club house terrace is by a flight of stairs and the front of the clubs house has en extended roof to offer a good view from behind the top side of the goals here.  Moving around The Mikes have a stand of three rows that straddles the halfway line this is reached via a open terrace that is punctuated with picnic table seating offering a nice view this afternoon.  Behind the far goal is uncovered but it offers a slightly elevated view and to the rear a large tidy area which is behind a concrete slab fence.  Opposite the man stand are the two dugouts and with hard standing and to its rear the clubs internal car park, with in the far corner the bowls club already in action.  So a well apportioned ground, very tidy and cared for with a feel of being loved in a nice area of Birmingham.  The pitch is in good condition with a slope from the stand side towards the dug outs another nice touch is the club display the teams on a large blackboard attached to the clubhouse.
Having gained the teams I had covered Heanor Town on Tuesday in a friendly they had a few changes with Joe Naylor making his debut signed in the week from AFC Mansfield. 
Boldmere have Charisma Agbonlahor in their starting line up the brother of Gabby Agbonlahor the Aston Villa player.

MASS SCRAMBLE FOR THE WATER BOTTLE ON THIS HOT DAY!

 The first half was generally unmemorable but for a mass confrontation in front of the home dug outs 5 minutes before half time which resulted in a couple of bookings and a red card for the visitors Jamie Clarke.  The first half had also seen Heanor lose Adrian Hawes to what looked like a painful knee injury.

JAMIE CLARKE STARTS THE LONG WALK FOLLOWING HIS RED CARD

 So Heanor looked to be up against it with caution thrown into the pot from the Boldmere supporters who were not to confident of their team playing against ten men.  A half time substitution by Heanor saw the diminutive Jack Hawkins withdrawn and replaced by Jason Gregory.
Unbelievably within the first 30 seconds of the re start Heanor took the lead a neat flowing move was finished off by a sweeping shot from Nick Hall which Sean Butler in the home goal got a hand to but could not keep it out.
The game was continuing in a feisty manner with a fair spread of booking being called for by referee Watkin and he was in action to award Boldmere a penalty on 69 minutes, but before this could be taken the game had another lengthy stoppage with the far side assistant flagging for the referee to visit for a chat.

A MOMENTS DISCUSSION BEFORE ANOTHER DISMISSAL

 Proceeding the penalty Heanor felt very aggrieved that they had been on the receiving end of a 'harsh' offside decision the problem was that Heanor assistant manager Steve Huntington proceeded to berate the official from 50 yards away in the dug out and the language selected was choice and loud and clearly the assistant could not continue to ignore this and Heanor received their second invitation to leave the arena.

IF YOU COULD LEAVE THIS WAY PLEASE

Of course while all was sorted out Boldmere captain Palmer was waiting to take the penalty and when his time finally came he dispatched the kick away with conviction and power.

CAPTAIN FANTSTIC FIRES HOME THE PENALTY

Now it looked like a hang on job for the visitors but within 3 minutes they took the lead with the goal that in the end secured victory good work from Kieran Debrouwer set up substitute Andre Johnson who finished with some ease into the bottom left hand corner.

JOHNSON MAKES IT 2-1 TO HEANOR

How Boldmere came back Ryan Booker cleared off the line after Kieron Clarke had lobbed the ball goal wards on 82 minutes and then with 5 minutes to goal a crashing drive flew back off the left hand upright only for the follow up shot to be again cleared off the line.

As we went into injury time it looked as though The Mikes would equalise when Stuart Capaldi got in on the right edge of the box but Damien Clarke was on hand to pull off a three points securing save.

HEANOR TOWNS DEBROUWER GOES FOR THE NECK TRAP

After a poor first half the second half was an entertaining affair with a real tetchy edge to it with Heanor moving on to a home mid week game against Rocester who interestingly are Boldmere St Michaels opponents next week as they venture into the FA Cup.

A nice little friendly club here in the West Midlands well worth a visit for their friendly officials approach an a good programme, well done guys.
The journey back to Birmingham alerted the blog too problems with trains traveling through from the south of Birmingham and the train I was to go for would be delayed and thankfully we managed to get onto the delayed 5 o clock Scotland departure.  The journey back had the obligatory misbehaving young child alongside half a carriage load of Scunthorpe fans who joined us at Burton following their game at The Pirelli.  As ever the blog is normally planned to avoid large gatherings of Premier/Football League clubs and hence today a trip south to Birmingham a journey that comes fully recommended. 

THE TRANSPORT PICTURE IS THE THREE CARRIAGE 323 FROM CHESTER RD