Back Row (left to right): Liam Norris, Thomas Ellis, James Kelly, James Sawyer, Alex Knight, Jemuel Mills, Adam Keeley, Lee Harris
Front Row: Ross Casey, Stephen Sadler, Robert Ellis, Nicholas Ellis, Gary Turner, Karl Douglas, Tonn Adcock

Back Row (left to right): Kieran Fitzgerald, Adam Keeley, Alex Knight, James Kelly, Chris Gumery, James Sawyer, Connor Leek
Front Row: Ross Casey, Liam Norris, Nicholas Ellis, Gary Turner, Mitchell Thompson, Karl Douglas, Dominic Reece

PLAYER STATS - click here

PLAYERS
Adcock, Tonn 
Carlin, Alex 
Casey, Ross 
Charlton, Daniel 
Clements, Jordan 
Conlon, Ryan 
Douglas, Karl 
Ellis, Nicholas 
Ellis, Robert 
Ellis, Thomas 
Ellis, William 
Elwell, Daniel 
Fitzgerald, Kieran 
Flanagan, John 
Ford, George 
Gordon, Jason 
Gumery, Chris 
Harris, Lee 
Jones, Andrew 
Keeley, Adam 
Keeley, Liam 
Kelly, James 
Knight, Alex 
Kuwana, Munotida 
Leek, Connor 
Mills, Jemuel 
Norris, Liam 
Parsons, Stuart 
Reece, Dominic 
Sadler, Sam 
Sadler, Stephen 
Sawyer, James 
Thompson, Mitchell 
Turner, Gary 
Ward, James 
Weller, Lyndon 
Williams, Kaine 
Yonwin, Lee 

Source: John Poole

Leicester Road visited the new 3G pitch at Pack Meadow for the first time to take on newly promoted Chelmsley Town as they sought to consolidate their good start to the season.
There were grey skies overhead and rain in the air as the two teams kicked off and the ball was zipping around on the artificial turf making the first touch all important. For Leicester Road Joshua Smith was replacing Nick Hawkins and Jack Harrison replaced Luke Kingsley-Smith as the only changes from the team that had beaten Stafford Town on Tuesday. The game started slowly as both teams probed for the first opening of the game but it was 15 minutes before a snapshot from a Chelmsley forward sailed wide of Will Highlands post, and the hosts went close again soon after from a corner. Will Highland was called into action on 18 minutes when he made a fine save from the Chelmsley Number 9 and the same player missed a golden opportunity soon after to give Chelmsley the lead. The visitors were gradually getting used to the 3G pitch and Sam Munton and Tom McGlinchey provided Joe Lyne with an opportunity that went narrowly wide. Matty Stenson took the ball past the keeper on the half hour but couldn't squeeze the ball in from a tight angle and from the follow up Callum Earls shot narrowly over. As the half time break approached it was Leicester Road on top and Theo Brown went close to giving the visitors the lead. The game at this stage had everything but a goal and the referee was allowing both teams to provide an entertaining spectacle.
H/T Chelmsley Town FC 0 – 0 LRFC
Rain welcomed the players out for the second half and for Leicester Road Callum O'Sullivan replaced Jack Harrison as the visitors looked to press home their advantage from before the break. The home keeper was in action after 56 minutes when a fine save kept the teams level. It wasn't all one way traffic though and on the hour Chelmsley were unlucky when a shot rebounded off the visitors post. It was clear that the first goal was going to be all important and on 62 minutes Leicester Road got that goal when Matty Stenson picked up the ball and from 30 yards unleashed a shot that deflected off a Chelmsley foot and past the stricken keeper. Chelmsley Town 0- 1 LRFC
With their tails up, the visitors continued to press and after a cross from the right had been narrowly missed, it was Stenson again who brought out a fine save from the keeper and as the rebound came out Callum O'Sullivan narrowly missed the opportunity to make it 2-0. On 75 minutes the home keeper was again in action making a point blank save and Sam Munton's follow up effort came back off the inside of the post and out to safety.
As the game entered the last ten minutes Chelmsley looked to get something from the game and a couple of efforts sailed high and wide. At the other end and with time ticking away it was Matty Stenson who picked the ball up in midfield and as the Chelmsley defence back pedalled he threaded a super ball through for Tom McGlinchey to advance on the keeper and slip the ball past him to make sure of the three points from a strong display from the visitors.
F/T Chelmsley Town FC 0 – 2 LRFC

Source: Redditch Standard

FECKENHAM exited the Smedley Crooke Memorial Charity Cup as they were beaten 6-3 at Chelmsley Town on Tuesday.
Jack Brimmell bagged a brace and Daniel Williams also struck for the Millers, who experienced better fortunes on Saturday when they defeated visitors Sutton United 5-0 in the Les James Challenge Cup.
Millers boss Aaron Blackwood handed a debut to 21-year-old keeper Josh Goddard but the action was all at the other end as the hosts dominated.
Umit Eminoglu released George Tolley to open the scoring with a superb low drive and it was 2-0 when Ben Cox and Brimmell combined to set up Tolley to curl home.
The goal of the game arrived just before the break when a fine move ended with Brimmell pulling the ball back for Cox to hammer home on the volley.
In the second half, Williams scored in a one-on-one before 18-year-old Tolley completed his second hat-trick of the season when he forced the Sutton keeper into a mistake before converting into an empty net.

Source: Stickyplams blog

Murphy and I avoid the shoe rack and tip on Saturday morning. I spend the majority of it in the kitchen listening to the Danny Baker Show and Fighting Talk, whilst knocking up a chilli. Bournemouth v Tottenham are kicking off on Five Live as we head off to Wolverhampton.

We avoid the M6 Toll and stick to the A5 and A460. It's like a scene from Emmerdale Farm as cows are herded up a country lane, with a tractor in tow, full of manure, before we take a right hand turn into the ground.

Wolverhampton is a city with a population of 250,000 people. It was once famous for mining coal, iron ore and limestone. The first set of automatic traffic lights were trialled in the city in 1927. Celebrity folk born in Wolverhampton include: England football coach Don Howe and the singer Beverley Knight. It is also home to the following bands: Slade, Cornershop, The Mighty Lemon Drops and Babylon Zoo.

I leave Ms Moon to put some 'lippy' on and listen to 'Gambers' spinning the hits from 1988. The pictures I've seen of Brinsford Stadium, on the Net, don't do it justice. It's without doubt the coolest ground we've been to this season. 'Rock the Casbah' by The Clash is booming out the PA as I admire the tree-lined surroundings and immaculate playing surface. Coffee and Bailey's is on offer at £1.60 a cup.

I get chinwagging to a guy sat in the stands. He's played for and watched this team for over 50 years. I clock Ms Moon chatting to the young ref who must be 6' 4" -  she can't arf pick em.  We stroll across to the far side and position ourselves to the right of the home dugout.

The DJ is still churning out the toons - 'Lip Up Fatty' by Bad Manners is the pick of the bunch. Chelmsley Town are the visitors. Watford striker Troy Deeney was born in Chelmsley Heath and played for their youth team before being picked up by Walsall. He was subject to a £25 million bid by Leicester in the summer.

Chelmsley kick down the slope, they have more energy and ideas than Casuals - 6 jacket is outstanding. A home team sub sucks on a cigar adjacent to the dugout - he strokes his beard as he exhales. He's reminiscent of a young Fidel Castro. The visitors open the scoring just before the break.

The music from the PA doesn't reach the dizzy heights of pre-match, although we're treated to Wonderwall by Oasis. I strike up a conversation with a lovely guy called 'Daz' who knows the local scene like the back of his hand - he has years of experience in men's and women's football in the Black Country. Daz is confident of victory despite a poor show in the first half.

The game is littered with petty fouls and yellow cards. The poor old Ref has little option but to brandish cards with the 'Match Observer' and his sharpening pencil in the stand. Casuals restore parity with a goal by 10 jacket. The game looks to be petering out, with another extra-time beckoning. With seconds remaining Casuals centre half seizes upon a loose ball to fire home the winner.

Daz is ecstatic, he fist pumps the chilly fresh air. The guy just loves the game. There's no bad-mouthing officials, or querying decisions. He's totally immersed in the beautiful game. Unlike a couple of visiting supporters who at the end of the game hurl abuse at Ms Moon's 'toyboy' - calling him a 'pencil-necked p***k.' Oh deary me.

Source: Adj The Groundhopper

Yesterday I was visited by Pasty Sam and my intended target was Loughborough but sadly his train turned up to late and with it to much we aborted the plan near the Nec. Fortunately for Sam, I had a back up at Coleshill Town’s ground where tenants Chelmsley were playing. 

The visitors were one from bottom of the Midland Division one Stafford who usually play well when I see them and they did today. The game was fairly poor and quite tetchy with frequent arguments breaking out . Stafford in the red took the lead on 24 minutes, Dodd turning and firing into the bottom right.

Stafford remained on top and applied heavy pressure but it was not to be as Chelmsley got lucky with a shot that flew in the top corner.

Source: Bromsgrove Standard (Craig Gibbons)

A SIGN of a good team that still picks up another valuable three points despite being slightly below par and a bizarre end to the match in added time, writes Phil Baker.
A lovely sunny but cool day in the Warwickshire countryside saw the home side kick off on their artificial 3G pitch and were immediately in action with Liam Norris hitting a useful 20-yard drive but going straight into the arms of away ‘keeper Jon Brown.
Then just a minute later, Liam Spink put over a cross from the right to the near post that Luke Shorthouse glanced goalwards to the top left hand corner producing an outstanding one-hand save from James Kelly between the sticks for Chelmsley.
However, the Rouslers got their noses in front on the 14th minute with Reece Hewitt sending a well-aimed pass to Shorthouse down the left.
The lanky striker put a first-time cross into the box that Chris Lloyd collected, rounded two defenders before making a low shot into the right-hand corner of the net.
Gradually Sporting were getting used to bounce and feel of the pitch and Hewitt turned that to his advantage as he attempted to dance through the box only to be upended by Danny Charlton.
Referee Mr Groves pointed to the spot and a chance for Lloyd to double his tally.
However, Kelly guessed correctly, diving to the right and parrying the shot before collecting Lloyd’s attempt at burying the re-bound from close to the post.
After 22 minutes, Hewitt’s header was easily saved by Kelly then a few minutes later Shorthouse followed a long pass in to the box but had to be helped off the pitch after suffering an ankle injury in the process, to be substituted by Andy Nicol.
Chelmsley had a good chance on the 36th minute when striker Dan Elwell evaded a Danny Morris tackle then rounded a couple of defenders before forcing Brown into a low save.
With half-time looming and Bromsgrove seeking to extend their lead, Nicol was brought down in the box by Kelly earning himself a yellow card for the trouble.
This time Spink made no mistake with the spot kick sending the home ‘keeper the wrong way.
After the interval Chelmsley came out much brighter moving the ball around quickly taking advantage of the flat surface and got a deserved goal on 57 minutes when a quick break up field left Aaron Roberts with two strikers to deal with.
He dispossessed Garry Turner but the ball ran to Elwell who curled a delightful shot between Brown and the left-hand post.
Sporting had a couple of shots cleared of the line and Keenen Meakin-Richards was lucky not to put one into his own net on the 71st minute, when a Chelmsley shot re-bounded off him and had to be cleared off the line.
As the match moved into added time and it looked as if Sporting would have to settle for a one-goal advantage, Spink was involved in an altercation over a throw in.
Adam Keeley rather forcefully pushed the Bromsgrove player away, who then returned the compliment.
Cue for several players to join in a melee which after a few moments saw Spink get a red card and his opponent a yellow.
The referee was only a few yards from the incident so presumably he saw enough to justify sending Spink for an early shower rather than a caution.
What was then supposed to be a nervous five minutes for Sporting was just the opposite as a move upfield saw Nicol chip a cross into the box that substitute Tom Craine powerfully headed home giving him team their third goal.
Then after robbing the home side from the re-start Craine took the ball down the right before passing to Sam Wills just inside the box whose angled drive went just past Kelly for the away side’s fourth.
In the end, a comfortable win for the Bromsgrove outfit who thanks to other results going their way return to the top of the table.

Source: Worcester News

PERSHORE Town drew 2-2 against Chelmsley Town to extend their Midland League Division One unbeaten run to three matches.

The hosts went ahead after 20 minutes when Steve Webb’s pass put Jamie Clarke through to round the keeper and slot home.

Chris Whittaker’s over-hit cross hit the post as Pershore looked comfortable but slowly the visitors came back into the game.

They equalised with a fierce free-kick from outside the box by Steve Sadler after 33 minutes.

Town keeper Shaun Edwards made a few decent saves as Chelmsley looked stronger early in the second half.

They went ahead after 56 minutes when substitute Lee Yonwin beat the advancing Edwards.

Pershore pushed for an equaliser and Reece Jacobs headed over from six yards.

But Clarke completed his brace when another Webb ball was flicked on by Ben Lane for him to round the keeper and level.

Pershore moved out of the relegation zone to within two points of three teams ahead of Saturday’s trip to Racing Club Warwick (3pm).

Source: Walsall Chronicle

PELSALL VILLA 0 CHELMSLEY TOWN 0

Pelsall Villa and Chelmsley Town played out a goalless draw at The Bush in a lower end of the table clash.

With both teams coming into the match in need of three points to lift them clear of the relegation battle, it was unlikely to be a high scoring match.

Both sides shared the few chances created and with Villa reduced to 10 men on 70 minutes the momentum swung the way of the visitors.  The Villians could have won it late on with Ryan Wilkins shooting wide from a good chance but the points shared was a fair result.

Back Row (left to right): Jemuel Mills (hidden), Tonn Adcock, Karl Douglas, Ross Casey, Jason Gibbons (Secretary), Steve Solomon (Manager), James Kelly, Kieran Fitzgerald, Robert Ellis, James Ward, Lee Harris, Aaron Keen, Alexander Webley (part hidden), James Sawyer
Front Row: Christopher Lloyd, Nicholas Ellis, Liam Norris, Stephen Sadler, Thomas Ells, Sam Sadler

PLAYER STATS - click here

PLAYERS
Adcock, Tonn 
Blaxland, Craig 
Casey, Ross 
Conlon, Ryan 
Douglas, Karl 
Ellis, Nicholas 
Ellis, Robert 
Ellis, Thomas 
Ellis, William 
Fitzgerald, Keiron 
Gasper, Matthew 
Gouldstone, Andrew 
Harris, Lee 
Hempenstall, Shane 
Keen, Aaron 
Kelly, James 
Lloyd, Chris
Mills, Jem 
Moss, Jack 
Norris, Liam 
Richardson, Dyllan 
Sadler, Sam 
Sadler, Stephen 
Sawyer, James 
Solomon, Owen 
Thompson, Mitchell 
Toon, Ben 
Ward, James 
Webley, Alexander

A top of the table clash beckons me today as I head east of Birmingham to watch Chelmsley Town host Droitwich Spa at their ground in the village of Marston Green. It's in the Midlands Football League, 2nd Division. It will be another new ground for me.

The weather is promising,cold but with no rain likely to fall for a change.

This match has been on my radar and I have been encouraged to go as 1/ it will be a new ground for me 2/ Droitwich are a local team to me and have been doing well this season and 3/ the Communications Manager of Droitwich Spa, Ben Lloyd, has been in touch with me, as he has come across this Blog and has said he has enjoyed reading about my travels. He also said that it would be good if I could take photos for the club at this match.

I journey to Birmingham on the train and after a spot of shopping and some lunch, take the London Euston bound train from New Street station to get to Marston Green. When we are approaching the platform I can see the tower blocks of Chelmsley Wood in the near distance gleaming in the sunshine. 

Although Marston Green is classed as a village, it does boast a population of 5,000 and is basically part of the commuter belt for Birmingham, Solihull and probably London. While making the 20 minute walk to the ground, I can see several houses that have a cottage like look and gives an impression of a village atmosphere. There is countryside close by as well and with the sunshine and daffodils  in bloom by the roadside there is definitely a hint of Spring in the air.

I soon find the ground just to the left on the Coleshill Road, make my way through the small car park and turn right towards the club house, which is behind one end of the pitch.
  
This end has an entrance door, through the netting, (see above) through which the players go on to the pitch from the changing rooms. 

I find several Droitwich supporters in the club house and chat to Ben Lloyd before heading out to view the proceedings. It looks like that at least half of the spectators are from Droitwich today. The club have experienced an upturn in fortunes this season under the guidance of joint managers, Wayne Oliver and (ex-Worcester City player) Mark Owen.There has been talk of promotion in the Worcester News and the possibility of ground sharing with another local club, as Droitwich don't have the right facilities in place if they do finish in the top two.

Chelmsley Town club have been going since 1927 and are just behind Droitwich in the table, in 3rd place, while Rostance Edwards sit in top spot. Droitwich have also been unbeaten in their last 21 matches!

The players troop on to the pitch, with Chelmsley in light blue shirts and black shorts and shirts. Droitwich Spa are in their away strip today of white shirts, red shorts and socks.

It's a game with not much quality football on show to be honest, competitive though with both sides not giving each other an inch, which you expect in a match of this nature.

Droitwich Spa go close after 23 minutes when a free-kick is dinked in and their No.9, James Lemon, is just wide with his effort.

Chelmsley go even closer on the half hour when they have a shot from the right that clips the cross bar.

It's still goalless at the interval and it's a difficult call to predict who the likely winners might be today.

At half time I go in to the club house for a much needed cup of tea. It's a pretty good facility for a club of this size and both the bar and tea bar are doing a good trade.

Also apart from the main pitch, there is another at the back of it and a smaller one on the right side of it. On the other side the ground is bordered by housing.

So the second-half gets under way and it's the home team who come to the fore.

After 56 minutes Chelmsley are awarded a penalty when they have a player brought down in the area. Their No.11 , Mitchell Thompson, duly dispatches a shot to the Droitwich's keepers left and they quickly proceed to press home their advantage in the very next minute.

Their No.9, the burly Kieron Fitzgerald, attacks down the left of the visitor's area, draws the tackle from the Droitwich captain , Mike Seeley (as shown below) and skips past on his right before bearing down on goal and squeezes in the ball through the narrow angle and in to the net, despite the keeper being in close proximity. Very good goal!

For a big guy, Fitzgerald is very nimble on his feet. So now the Saltmen have a mountain to climb to get back in this match.

Despite stepping up their efforts Chelmsley hold firm, well marshalled in defence by the silver haired Ross Casey.

Near the end of full time, Chelmsley nearly add to their tally when their top scorer, Chris Lloyd first blazes over the bar and then has another shot saved at the near post.

In injury time though, Droitwich's top scorer, James Lemon scores with a shot from the left but it's come too late to save their unbeaten record.

I think the best team has definitely won today but I am sure that Droitwich can play better than this. This win sees Chelmsley hop over Droitwich in to 2nd place. It's going to be an interesting last few weeks of the season, with Chelmsley, Droitwich, Rostance Edwards and Alvis Sporting all in the running to win the Division 2 title. Alvis have several games in hand and an unbeaten league record but have the pressure of playing at least twice every week before the finish.

Match entertainment: 5/10
Match attendance: 75
Match entrance fee: Free
Match programme: None available