Josh's Ams Dram Puts Ramblers On The Wrong Trail....!

And so to the DRM Aggregate Arena in Oakengates in Telford for a North West Counties Division One South fixture between Telford Town FC and Sandbach United FC.

The home team was established in 1950 as Old Wellingtonians by former pupils of Wellington Grammar School. However it changed name to Wellington Amateurs FC when the Head Master discovered that the club had started accepting players who were not former pupils....

After 31 years in the Wellington League the Ams joined the Shropshire County League Division One in 1981, which they won in their first season. The Premier Division was championed in 1983 and 1989 and Wellington moved up to the West Midlands (Regional) League Division Two in 2007, which they bested in their first campaign.

Division One champions three times in four years Welly was eventually admitted to the Premier Division in 2012 after undertaking ground improvements. Relegated in bottom place in 2018 to Division One, the division was renamed the Premier Division for the 2024/25 season.

In February 2024 the team was taken over by former Hednesford Town owner Hayden Dando and rebranded as Telford Town FC. Town won the Premier League last season with 23 wins, 4 draws and 1 defeat, scoring 94 goals and conceding only 15 - and this brought about promotion to the North West Counties Division One South. The Ams have started with a 2-2 draw at Foley Meir, a 3-0 home win against Haughmond and an Alsager away victory - 1-0 - to lie third.

Sandbach Albion, formerly known as Hays Junior FC, was founded in 1994. Sandbach Ramblers Youth Football Club was reformed in 1995 to provide access for schoolboy football for the youth of Sandbach and the surrounding area.

Sandbach United was established in 2004 when Sandbach Ramblers and Sandbach Albion joined forces in their quest to improve football facilities in Sandbach. The club badge reflects the union, featuring R and A in its design.

 

United originally competed in the Staffordshire County Senior League, before moving to the Cheshire League in 2011 where they were promoted to the Premier Division in 2014. The Ramblers were accepted into the North West Counties in 2016 and have consistently placed upper half, with three consecutive failed play off attempts - last season culminating in a 5-4 defeat at Stafford Town. This time a 1-0 home defeat to New Mills before beating Shawbury United 2-1, again at home, they sit 11th of 19.

Numberplates today are BE10VED and K11ODD and a BJS Removal Van 'Setting The Canterbury Pace'.... 

It's a sunny, breezy afternoon as I set off past the soon to be closed George and Dragon. Then the M6 at Juniper Farm followed by Jenga motorway bridge graffiti.

Overtaking Han's Hands and plenty of trailer advertising, including BadRhino, we are held up by a 'stranded vehicle'. We turn off to the A5, Watling Street, and bypass Gailey Pottery and White Pump Farm. The return journey is via Eccleshall and Buttercup and Daisies With Love.

Then it's beyond Weston-under-Lizard, Crackleybank and into Telford and Wrekin, with its hedgehog friendly new builds. That brings us to Oakengates, the Coalport Tavern and the DRM Aggregate Arena on School Grove - although the advertising hoarding inside is for DRM Aggreate 🙄

£6 in and there is a crowd of 135, including several Ramblers' fans. We sit in the Wednesday Crew Stand, opposite the Army & Spud covered terrace and the Dave Gregory Clubhouse.

The ground is bordered on three sides by residential housing and minimal parking. The near end bookends a small industrial estate, including Torton Bodies: the far end is cordoned off.

The Ams are in all red, the Ramblers in change yellow with blue lines.

A bone dry pitch and a capricious wind make for an inauspicious spectacle. However, in the first five minutes, Ams' centre forward Josh Hesson, with a super turn, creates a chance smartly held by United's keeper Craig Ellison.

Then an even better opportunity sees Hesson shoot just wide. For Sandbach Joe Bevan has a shot saved by Jack Boswell on 17 minutes.

Finally the deadlock is broken on 32 from a Kyle Jordan long throw. Town's Jack Howse nips in to head over a floundering Ellison and Telford lead 1-0.

It stays that way until the break, but not before Hesson is sinbinned for dissent a minute from the interval....

As expected the Ramblers, with a man advantage, and prompted by Stanley Tatters, launch an all out assault on the Ams' goal at the start of the second period. However a tremendous rearguard action means United create only one meaningful chance - Bevan denied superbly by Boswell.

Restored to 11 men Telford turn the screws. On the hour there is a fine double save from Ellison, but he is beaten on 69 by a magical individual goal from Hesson, beating three defenders in the penalty area and then slotting home.

After a double miss the Ams wrap up the points 3-0 with nine minutes to go; a messy corner arrives at Harry Dear's feet and he stabs home. Telford stay third but Sandbach drop to 14th, albeit with a game in hand.