Match 35. Highgate United v Boldmere St Michaels

Saturday 9^th April 2016 @3pm

Midland League Premier Division

HIGHGATE UNITED 0-1 BOLDMERE ST MICHAELS

The Coppice, Tythe Barn Lane, Shirley, Solihull B90 1PN

Admission: £6

Programme: £1.50 (24pp)

Attendance:  60

Refreshments: Bovril, £1.

With cheap Virgin Train tickets booked to Birmingham New Street a while ago, it was lunch in the City Centre then walked to Snow Hill for the local train to Whitlocks End.  The 400 yards or so from the station via Tythe Barn Lane to The Coppice is interspersed with the other non-league grounds of Wychall Wanderers, Leafield Athletic and Shirley Town.  After going through the entrance to The Coppice, the car park is immediately in front with 3 full size pitches on the left, the club building on the right and the ground entrance 50 yds further ahead.  The clubhouse has a snack bar inside and the only toilets available are also inside the club building.  After going through the ground entrance in one corner, the railed off pitch has cover down one complete side and on the other side of the pitch, a strange, small elevated hut between the 2 dugouts.  The covered side has 2 rows of yellow seats along half of the pitch and a hard standing area beyond, with about 30 metres at the end being out of bounds due to uneven standing.

The match was one that the home side had about 70% of the possession, dominating the game but their passing accuracy and shooting had a lot to be desired even allowing for the difficult pitch conditions, made worse at half time when a 15 minute hail shower caught out the attendees coming out of the clubhouse after half time.  Highgate had the ball in the net after just 10 minutes but was disallowed for an offside decision by the linesman, who was behind play and had a hint of guesswork before raising his flag.  Boldmere capitalised on this decision by taking the lead after 22 minutes.  The number 11 who I think was Joe Smith made a good run down the left beating the no10 home player who looked like a makeshift right back, before crossing to the far post for Harry Howard to shoot into the far bottom corner.

The second half was strewn with errors but both sides had chances to add to the score.  The local support spoke of Aston Villa woes and got frustrated at the lack of skill on the park, but were a friendly enough bunch.  On my return to Birmingham after the match, I got off at Moor Street, which was a shorter walk back to New Street going through the Bullring.