Sunday 7/7/24
Charity event in aid of the homeless, between fellow walking football players, who support Aston Villa and Birmingham City. The game was arranged By Club Member ALAN BALLIE.
One Sunday last month, when normally most of the lads would have been with their families, they gave up their time for this worthy cause.
Game started at a lively pace, with both teams probing. Birmingham started to show a bit more control in the initial stages resulting in a smartly taken goal from Mike Clements after being set up by MOM Warren Poole, with the Villa keeper being caught out by a slight deflection from Mikes strike. End to End was now the pattern of play. Villa seemed to settle down and came back strong with a good goal from Rofic Meir after fine work from John Sparkes. From the kick off Villa again pressing which resulted in a fine finish from Pat Duffin assisted by Clive Macey to put Villa 2-1 ahead after the ball struck the post and in off Birmingham keeper Alan Martins shoulder. Birmingham themselves had to reshape after this set back as H/T approached. Both keepers, Birmingham’s Alan Martin, and Villas Dave Taylor, kept busy with both making smart saves.
H/T Villa 2 Blues 1
Half time: An Inspiring team talk was given from Blues manager Alan Ballie and Assistant Tim (Mallet) Chase.
Second half kicked off with Birmingham now pressing higher up the pitch, putting pressure on the Villa back line held by Tony Fisher and Martin Barber. Likewise, when Villa pressed, Birmingham back line was being held firm by Roger Purchase and Steve Cash. It was now Birmingham again with some fine play involving Malcom Sutheran, Julian Fox and Paul Murtagh setting up Mike Clements with a fine strike to score from 20m past Dave Taylor to level 2-2. With Birmingham now in control some fine play again from Paul Murtagh gliding past Villa’s midfield to set up Warren Poole to score with a smart finish, putting blues back in the lead 3-2.
Villa now had to work hard to get back in the game and this happened with a lovely ball from Mark Evans to John Sparkes who finished with a fine strike to level 3-3.
Now with 9 mins left to play the game went from end to end. Birmingham played some neat football with Blues midfielder Julian Fox’s strike and Dave Taylor making a great save for a Birmingham corner. From the corner Tony Fisher and Rofic Meir blocking the cross and the ball dropping behind them, Paul Murtagh waiting and scored with a fine smart strike, Blues 4-3 up now. Villa now had to dig deep and work all over again and kept pressing the Blues back line, with seconds left Villa were awarded a free kick, Blues wall stood firm, but the ball fell to Clive Macey who set up Martin Barber to strike goalwards and Alan Martin got down to touch the ball, but it spun off and into the goal 4-4 now. Alan Ballie now on to enjoy his Player/Manager role. The game finished 4-4.
All the players went the bowls club after the match where Gill provided, as usual, a top-class service. The players from both teams had after match banter and a few cold beers.
NOTE: There was a chap selling tops and odd socks from a holdall, (magic bag), which was later found out to be Timmy (del boy) mallet
SUMMARY
Overall, what a success and lovely day was had, just goes to show how a Walking Football Club can be run.
Match Report by BRENDAN GLYNN (Referee).
Birmingham team: Alan Ballie, Malcom Sutheran, Roger Purchase, Paul Murtagh, Julian Fox, Warren Poole, Steve Cash, Mike Clements, Alan Martin, Rod Thompson.
Villa team: Dave Taylor, Pat Duffin, Clive Macey, John Sparke, Rofic Meir, Paul McGonagle, Tony Fisher, Martin Barber, Rod Babb.