March 2010

The above pictures are of Alyn Park - home of Cymru Alliance side Mold Alexandra - from the local derby at home to Buckley Town. As always this Flintshire derby was keenly contested - Buckley emerging with a 2-0 win.

As can be seen the set-up at Mold Alex is fairly basic with just one side providing cover and a stand with the rest open. It'd hard to believe they were part of the Welsh Premier in its 'League of Wales' early days and since the mid-1990's have fallen some way from the top-flight. They are sometimes better known for the professionals they have produced in the junior teams - Manchester United's Michael Owen to name one.

Recent years have seen them climb back up though - the hard work and dedication of the current committee and playing staff (none of the players are paid anything) has seen them into the top 8 ahead of bigger names in the league. Hopefully they will go on to secure their status in the division - to continue the derby tradition and as a reward for the hard work of everyone at the club.

February Update

With the weather starting to settle down allowing more football to be played - it has been an interesting few weeks. The above images are from recent trips to watch Tranmere Rovers and Gresford Athletic.

After the disappointment of the Oldham game I went to watch Tranmere at Prenton Park a fortnight later as they took on Leyton Orient in League 1. The Rovers put on a much better display with great strikes from Ian Thomas-Moore and Marvin Sordell giving them a precious 3 points in their battle to avoid the drop. A good run of form recently has seen them climb out of the relegation zone - all the more impressive given that it's the physio - Les Parry - leading the club.

Leyton Orient were slightly disappointing considering the experience they had in the likes of ex-Rover Sean Thornton (who got a 'warm' reception from the Prenton faithful) and journeyman Scott McGleish. Rovers played some good football going and were committed throughout and that was the difference despite Jonathan Tehoue's late consolation.

The trip to Clappers Lane - home of Gresford Athletic and the Cymru Alliance's bottom club - was with divisional rivals Buckley Town for a NEWFA Cup tie. This will probably be Gresford's last season in Welsh football's second tier for some time. Despite representing a fairly upmarket, leafy village the football club relies on the efforts of a very small band of followers to keep it going. The ground is basic even at Cymru Alliance level - tucked just behind the Village Hall - and on a bitterly cold February afternoon with a freezing wind the lack of cover is particularly noticeable.

The club are very hospitable and welcoming though - and I look forward to a return trip in the league next month when hopefully the temperature is slightly warmer. On this occasion Buckley ran out 3-0 winners and after an uncomfortable start, progressed smoothly to the next round.

Issue 139 of Welsh Football Magazine is out featuring my article on Elements Cefn Druids see - http://www.welsh-football.net/ for details. Issue 140 should be out in March for which I have written an article on the progress of the Wales Under-17 side of 2005.

Tranmere Rovers 0-1 Oldham Athletic

My last visit to Prenton Park earlier in the season saw a Tranmere Rovers team managed by John Barnes taken apart by a classy Charlton Athletic side.

A season of struggle was predicted for my local childhood club on the Wirral - with question marks over Barnes' long-term future at the helm. Unfortunately results and performances did not improve and with Rovers firmly in the League 1 relegation zone Barnes was axed in early October.

The appointment some three months earlier was a gamble which backfired as many on Merseyside feared it might. With nearly seven months of the season to go though there was plenty of time for a new man to salvage the season.

Few expected that man to be Rovers long-time physiotherapist Les Parry. Initially put in temporary charge following the dismissal of Barnes and his assistant Jason McAteer the physio has been handed the job to the end of the season.

It was an unconventional move but one which has done wonders for Scunthorpe United as Nigel Adkins made the transition from physio to manager at Glanford Park.

Having been at the club full-time since 1993 Parry knows his football and crucially - is a popular and respected figure amongst fans, players and management alike. Working alongside former Rovers players Shaun Garnett and Wayne Allison he has steadied the ship and earned Rovers enough points to give them a fighting chance of survival.

Thankfully Parry's move into the manager's chair hasn't put a stop to his humorous physio notes in the matchday programme - alongside the traditonally blander manager's notes.

Unfortunately the club has not been able to find an interim physio which has led to the unusual sight of the manager running on to the pitch to administer treatment to his players when required.

This home game against fellow relegation scrappers Oldham Athletic was understandably labelled a '6-pointer'. Under the leadership of Dave Penney the Latics look to have enough quality and experience to pull away from the drop zone sooner rather than later - and it showed in their victory over Rovers.

Tranmere were outmuscled in a number of areas throughout the game and though they kept Oldham at bay, they were undone by a set-piece just before half-time. Pawel Abbott rose highest in the penalty area to nod home from a corner.

In the second period youngsters like Ashton Taylor, Craig Curran, Terry Gornell and Aaron Cresswell, as well as the more experienced Ian Thomas-Moore gave plenty of effort but it wasn't enough.

The introduction as substitute of on-loan Watford youngster Marvin Sordell gave Rovers some guile and imagination going forward but service from the midfield areas was poor. Oldham had plenty of strength and experience in Reuben Hazell and Sean Gregan to cope while Deane Smalley was impressive.

For long stretches of the game Prenton Park was covered in fog which failed to hide the disappointing spectacle and scoreline that followed.

On this showing Tranmere's chances of avoiding the drop look touch-and-go but encouragingly the effort is there from most players. The return of influential forward Bas Savage from long-term injury could have a big say as we reach the business end of the season.

In the meantime Les Parry could really use an extra pair of hands in the physio's room at least to help ease some of the pressure and workload.

Man of the Match: Ash Taylor. The 19 year-old local lad from Bromborough is a tall, spindly centre-half with plenty of composure. This season has been a tough introduction to regular first-team football but the Welsh youth international appears to have taken it in his stride and looks destined for better things. Playing alongside the experienced Ian Goodison should help his development as he outshone more senior team-mates during this game.

Buckley Town 4-1 Llangollen Town

http://www.buckleytownfc.com/

See above for my match report on Buckley Town's 4-1 win against Llangollen Town in the Cymru Alliance. For long periods of the game Buckley's Globe Way ground was covered in fog as can be seen from the above photo's. However - it did not prevent Neil Wynne, Joey Desormeaux and an own goal giving the Bucks the points in their first home game for two months.

It will be less of a wait until the next home game as Buckley host Penryncoch at The Globe on Saturday. Admission - £4 adults, £1 for concessions and children under 10 free.

Airbus UK 2-3 Wrexham

With the snow and freezing temperatures over the last month causing postponement after postponement - from frozen to waterlogged pitches - many have been without their football fix since the festive season and in the case of Wrexham fans, well over a month.

The lack of games meant a trip to Broughton for this friendly between two familiar teams was a must. With Wrexham majorly under-achieving in the Blue Square Premier and Airbus going well in the Welsh Premier, it made for an intriguing clash. Wrexham did omit a few of their 'bigger name' players and much-heralded new signings but still brought a strong squad to the Airfield.

On a bitterly cold, damp evening it was the full-time professionals who made the early running. Matty Wolfenden headed home Wrexham's first goal nad not long after Wolfenden added a second to give the Dragons a 2-0 lead at half-time.

At the break the Airbus introduced ex-Wrexham midfielder Josh Johnson as a trialist on the right-hand side As the second period got underway the Trinidadian made an excellent impression, beating Wrexham's Sam Williamson on numerous occasions to provide good crosses. The flashes of pace and skill he displayed were similar to those during his time at the Racecourse but somehow he never could convince enough that he could earn a regular spot at the Racecourse.

Airbus upped their game considerably as Wrexham dropped off and were worth the two goals they pulled back through Niall Challinor and Tom Rowlands. A scrappy goal for James Owen - on trial from beleaguered neighbours Chester City - edged the win for Wrexham though in the second-half it was the Wingmakers who had played the better football.

While not quite the real thing, both Wrexham boss Dean Saunders and Airbus UK's Craig Harrison will have got something out of it - a fitness top-up at least.

For a friendly it was competitive and good value - with many fans just glad to be able to go and watch a game again.

Man of the Match: Luke Holden. The young wide player is on trial with Wrexham from Welsh Premier champions Rhyl. Recently returned from a loan spell at 'League 1' side Charlton Athletic, having played little football at The Valley, he did his hopes of a move to Wrexham no harm with his effort throughout the game. Showed the pace, skill, trickery and crossing ability so sorely lacking on Wrexham's left-hand side - and tried to make things happen all night, tracking back when required.

New Year Update

It's been a lean time for local football recently - with the weather causing numerous postponements and individual clubs a backlog of games to squeeze in between now and the end of the season. There could be more to follow too.

The likes of Buckley Town and Wrexham FC have not been in action since before Christmas due to frozen, and in some cases waterlogged pitches.

Though I have not been to many games recently, I have visited a few grounds / stadiums for the first time. A trip to London afforded the opportunity to visit Arsenal's impressive Emirates stadium and its musuem as well as what remains of their historic old ground Highbury.

Before Christmas I paid a visit to Plaskynaston Lane, home of Wrexham-based Welsh Premier side Elements Cefn Druids to see them play Carmarthen Town.

The 'Ancients' - the oldest club in Wales - are struggling at the wrong end of the table, and Plaskynaston will soon be no more. The Cefn Mawr based club - with Liverpool & Wales legend Ian Rush's son Jon on their books - are moving to a new home in Rhosymedre soon.

I have contributed an article about the Druids and their current struggles for Issue. 139 of Welsh Football Magazine - http://www.welsh-football.net/ - which should be published by the end of this month.

The pictures above make a neat contrast between a top-flight club in England and a top-flight club in Wales struggling for three-figure attendances.

I'm also still writing for 'A Different League' - http://www.adifferentleague.co.uk/ - looking forward to en axciting year of football. With the 2010 World Cup in South Africa on the horizon, I have been assigned to cover the New Zealand national side.

There's plenty to look forward to at all levels of football - provided there is a change in the weather.

Update

Due to the poor weather there has been a lack of action locally in recent weeks hence the blog being a bit quiet. At Buckley Town alone three successive games were postponed during November.

When the action did resume at Globe Way supporters were treated to 4-4 thriller against Bethesda Athletic. My match report of that game can be found on the club's website at http://www.buckleytownfc.com/ and also now in the club's matchday programme. Buckley's next scheduled fixture at The Globe is against Penryncoch in the Cymru Alliance, 2:30 PM kick-0ff on Saturday 12th December and admission is £4 for adults, £1 concessions, children under 10 are free. It's well worth a visit for some good football, a friendly atmosphere at a progressive club and ground.

My article on the progress of North-East Wales clubs towards their application for the FAW Domestic Licence appeared in Issue 137 of Welsh Football Magazine last month. Hopefully another piece I have written will appear in Issue 138 which should be out shortly before Christmas. The publication's website site is at- http://www.welsh-football.net/.

Lastly, I have also begun writing for a website called 'A Different League' which provides intelligent insight, commentary and information on Premiership and European football. My first article, about former Wrexham, Blackburn and current Olympiakos striker Matt Derbyshire has appeared in their 'England's Future Stars' section and can be found at - http://www.adifferentleague.co.uk/