Saturday Review Division One Dynamo Kingswinford 0 Rowley College 2 If this report slightly amends Ed's headline it does so in a way that in no way reduces the Roy of the Rovers element or my open-mouthed astonishment at what Amateur football can deliver. Firstly I would like to pay tribute to Alun Inett who bowed out today having played for Rowley with distinction from Day One (Sept 7th 1991). To more recent entrants to the WMCFL he is probably known only as our keeper but for ten years Al was quite simply our most important outfield player (4 times player of the year). He was a frustrated centre forward who played most of his first 200 games as an immaculate centre half (the season he played upfront he topscored with 16 but we were almost relegated!). Aside from a short spell as a semi-pro with Tividale (scouted by Rowey's dad!) Al has been Rowley through and through and was pivotal to our side that won the cup in 2001 and the league in 2002. Sadly in the week that we clinched the title Al sustained a serious ankle injury playing for his Sunday team and despite rest, physio and operations he has never recovered sufficiently to play out again. However never one to complain, he has made the best of things and has played on and off since with distinction as our keeper, collecting a division 2 winner's medal last year. Nevertheless with a proper injury he has found it increasingly difficult to play and finally decided enough was enough: in his words "I've got twenty more years of football in my head but my ankle gave up five years ago!" Therefore the stage was set today for an emotional occasion and Al and I had agreed he would get the last fifteen minutes up front to round off a memorable career. we also had the coincidence that Rowley had reached 998 goals scored in their 412 game history. This gave a little to what otherwise was a classic mid table end of season game between two bare elevens. Actually it was a decent game with (as usual) nothing in it and it looked like 999 and 1000 would have to wait till next year. Enter Al eager and classy, if not entirely mobile and a story I couldn't have written. First a volley from a corner gave us the lead and he was mobbed by his team-mates. Not his first ever goal (his 40th) but his first fifteen minutes out since 2002 and better was to come! Cue last minute, Rowley corner, flick from Nic Hadley and Al sidefoots Rowley's 1000th goal to claim the bottle of fine Spanish wine I'd promised to the scorer! Of course winning's great but the smiles at the end of the game were worth more than that! Cheers Al! Gary Lamsdale adds: Well done to Rowley and especially to their retiring goal hero. Two bare elevens today and a definate 'end of season' feel to the game. They took their chances, well done Pete. Onto our last game next week against Amblecote. Injuries have robbed us of four key players, so you'd expect a home win. Renewal Solihull 1 Sheldon 2 Renewal still languish in tenth place and go into their last match with St Mary's needing at least a point to avoid the wooden spoon. As for Sheldon, it's been a steady improvement on last season. What's gone against them is that they were always lagging behind in matches played, giving the impression that they were not doing as well as they were. They have now sneaked into sixth and could go fifth if they beat Clarendon next Saturday. Division Two Selly Oak Methodist 1 Halesowen Zion 3 Horror of horrors, the goal-posts had been taken down when Selly Oak arrived this morning to play their crucial game that would have meant promotion to Division One. They quickly rushed over to Rowheath where City Church play and hastily rearranged the game at great expense. Halesowen's John Williams reports: A "championship winning performance" from the lads today, after turning up to Selly Park and finding the council had taken the goalposts down, we were moved to City Church's ground, which many of you will know is a little like playing on the side of a mountain! (last year Raddlebarn Road was more like the Sahara-Ed) The wind in our faces, we kicked off up the hill in the first half and spent most of our time in our half, restricting Selly Oak to a couple of half chances, one which was sliced onto the bar from the edge of the box. We did however find the net with a superb move, ending with a Tom Doran header at the back post. The second half was just as hard, the ball running away from us with the wind and down the slope. Tom eventually connected with the third in a series of long throws from Cocky, to take his tally to two. He has had a great season, but would probably admit (believe it or not) that he should have scored more in the second half of the season. Selly Oak got one back shortly after, as a free kick from just outside the box made it's way through to the back stick, where it was eventually put over the line. We were probably a little too relaxed at that point, knowing that in all probability a draw was enough for us. However we woke up enough to get another goal. A long throw found Ben Doran whose first effort found its way back to him for him to power a shot inside the far post at the second attempt. The lads have been outstanding this season, and have stepped up to the plate when the going has got tough, aswell as playing some quite scintillating stuff this year. At the final whistle, out came the champagne, (sprayed liberally by captain Grant Doran who had to spend a nervous ninety minutes on the sidelines with a hamstring injury) and the celebrations commenced. Whatever happens off the field over the next few weeks, the whole Zion squad can be assured that they've played like champions all season! Walsall Olympic 1 King's AFC 5 King's made no mistake this week with a sound 5-1 win away at Walsall Olympic. King's play Bilston next Saturday and need a point to return to Division One. Whilst I expect King's to win, it's not going to be straight-forward and I wouldn't put it past Bilston to wreck King's day. Brierley Hill 0 St Boniface 0 St Boniface secure tenth place in Division Two, which may turn out to mean more than people realise with the almost certainty of a third division next season. Brierley Hill could avoid last in the League but will need to beat St Boniface in one of those weird quirks in the fixture list that get thrown up through a combination of cancellations and luck. Friendly Matches With the burgeoning list of clubs applying to join WMCFL next season, we are seeing a number of them either playing each other, or taking on sides wanting to keep sharp as the fixtures peter out. Yesterday, we saw a couple of matches played (that I know of). Feel free to update me or even provide a report and I'll do what I can to include it on the site. Bilston Beacons 1 Champions Church 1 Shawn Devonport writes: This was our first match in quite a while before we start pre-season training but a well earned draw against a resilient Bilston team.
First half we were arguably the better team having numerous half chances and plenty of pressure with their keeper pulling off a few decent saves with our keeper not having much to deal with.
Second half Bilston attacked more with the wind and missed a very good chance with a one on one. They then had a corner and up popped Alfi to nod Bilston in front. We felt a little hard done by but showed good character to come back in to the game winning a penalty but Lee Ralph missed the kick and I some how managed to blaze over from three yards with shamefully probably the worst miss of my short career. But we continued to press and got our reward when a free kick from myself managed to find its way through to Dave Oakley who smashed it into the roof of the net. We had one good chance to win it with another free kick from a similar position found its way to Mark Goule who's attempt went over the bar.
Was a very good game and enjoyed the run out but against a Bilston team who may not set the world alight individually but are one of the most solid and hard working teams I've played against in our league, Alfie leading from the front as usual.
Anybody else looking for friendlies from the 10th May onwards email me at shawndevonport@hotmail.co.uk | 
