WOLSTANTON CLAIM THE TITLE WITH STOPAGE TIME WINNER

WOLSTANTON UTD 2 EASTWOOD HANLEY 1
STAFFORSDSHIRE SENIOR LEAGUE PREMIER @ BRADWELL COMM CENTRE
28 APRIL 2018 --- 2.30PM

CAPTAIN CHRIS BROAD SEALS THE TITLE FOR WOLSTANTON UTD

A dramatic late winner from Chris Broad in the fifth minute of stoppage time saw Wolstanton claim the Staffordshire Senior League title after a tremendous battle with Eastwood Hanley.  Starting the day needing five points Wolstanton were pushed all the way by the visitors and the scenes of joy when the winner nestled in the back of the net were only surpassed by the news that Foley Meir had only managed a draw against Ball Haye Green meaning the Bradwell based club could not be overtaken.
Once again rain had been on the menu all week and there was the usual anxious Friday of more downpours to consider and with a selection of possibilities a drier Saturday gave way to a trip to the Potteries.  With Newcastle Town on the cards I also took a look at the Staffs Senior League and this mouth watering fixture featuring first v fourth sprung up and having not caught up with the visitors since a pre season visit a few years back it would be a great opportunity to take in a new club.

BRADWELL COMMUNITY CENTRE GROUND HOME OF WOLSTANTON UTD

Thankfully Stephen the Wolstanton secretary was straight back with the news that there was no pitch problems and the decision was made first change in Derby for the one carriage bus on rails service heading towards Crewe, departure just short at Longport after passing through Stoke.  There was a fair few Port Vale fans departing at the station which is the nearest to their Burslem home as the drifted away towards Vale Park this barmy fan went in the opposite direction firstly for a quick walk around the area and Wolstanton as a village which seemed to offer a nice selection of shops and services.  The village is situated to the north of Newcastle Under Lyme and it was time now to head a little further north into Bradwell a community that houses the clubs home games on the site of a former school.

A GUARD OF HONOUR FOR REFEREE CRAWFORD IN HIS LAST GAME

There is a certain love for Stoke with its former industrial glories have mainly disappeared but with its redundant pit sites gradually being developed there is still the chance to see some of the pottery kilns many now with weeds growing at various heights from, I guess, the protected buildings statute.  Taking out the large cities I reckon Stoke and the towns that make up the area have some of the most interesting collection of former 'impressive' buildings I include in this Longton Town Hall which always impresses me as you come into Stoke on the train from Derby.

A RESPECT TEAM PHOTO

Having popped into the ground to do a quick circuit I was approached politely for the admission and received a nice welcome, no programmes today but the club do normally issue anyway my raffle came to nothing but for £2 this turned out to be a real value for money game.  Thanks to Stephen for the teams and there was time to enter his cabin to buy a snack and tea which also serves as his base.
The ground then has a small amount of hard standing to the left as you walk in with a double cycle shelter stand which is adorned with the club badge to the rear.  Two dugouts on the near side are used by the home team and unusually because there aren't many of these left the away dugout is to the far side of the pitch which has a steep bank behind them.  The whole pitch perimeter is railed off save for an entry point in one corner but the overall feel is of a smart well kept arena looked after by the volunteers here.

EARLY EASTWOOD HANLEY ACTION

It was a special day, although I guess one he didn't want, for referee Ross Crawford who was retiring from senior officiating today and after a fair few decades I believe, the current players of both sides formed a guard of honour to welcome him onto the pitch for his final appointment.
So to the action its was a first half dominated by good endeavour from both sides with the pace of Eastwood up front a constant threat but overall it was a box to box affair that always kept you interested and maybe with a little better finishing would have produced goals but we turned round without any.

WOLSTANTON ON THE ATTACK BUT EASTWOOD KEEPER IS IN CONTROL

Within nine minutes of the restart Wolstanton breathed a sigh of relief when they took the lead a great cross from Ashley Leese set up Jamie Kempson who converted at the back post.  Eastwood though were not going to give in after putting so much into the game so far Sol Soumare struck a post before he forced a great save out of home keeper Douglas Hughes.

ALL IS CALM ON THE HOME BENCH

With seven minutes remaining despair for the home side when Eastwood, who had been pushing the home side back, equalised a powerful back post header from Mark Smallcross.

SECOND HALF PRESSURE FROM WOLSTANTON WITH THE EASTWOOD KEEPER DOMINANT AGAIN

The Stant now had to get themselves back into the game and fast with Eastwood providing excellent resistance it was looking unlikely, after a few lengthy second half stoppages we entered the fifth minute of time added on and the drama was complete when captain Broad powered home his header to create wild celebrations and moments later the three points.  I guess these were nothing compared to those that occurred behind a closed dressing room door when the result was confirmed for Foley Meir and Wolstanton had the title in their grasp.

WINNING GOAL AND ULTIMATELY TITLE CELEBRATIONS

A moments contemplation had been given to a mad dash back to Longport station for the 4.30pm by hovering at the gate but thankfully I decided against this and witnessed a dramatic finale.  So having referred to the map there was time to disappear towards the Bradwell shopping precinct which was mainly strewn with kids on bikes and scooters but also home to The Bradwell Fryer and you know the blog can rarely turn a chippy down.  As the rain poured now it was almost, and I mean almost, like being on the sea front eating your chips under an umbrella.  Anyway dreaming over a quick call to the Coop for return journey provisions found me soon back at the station with a small collection of Port Vale fans and their opponents Carlisle supporters who all boarded the one carriage special with a few Stoke City fans returning from the early kick off in Liverpool.  With an internal chuckle I don't begrudge them their Premier League and Football League experiences but once again today I had found a step 7 game and two clubs that had more than made for an enjoyable afternoon this time in the Potteries.

GETTING TO KNOW YOU

With a sharp connection in Derby which disembarked Rams fans coming back from Wolves it was all standing with a further collection of Sheffield Wednesday fans coming back from Birmingham, with base arrived at just after 7pm this had been a well recommended visit.