Pelsall’s promotion pride

A dramatic final round of play-off clashes saw Pennell’s men edge out Shropshire champions Wem in a low-scoring affair at Walsall CC while Walmley were beaten by Astwood Bank, a sequence of results that left Wem and Pelsall celebrating promotion. Pennell has led the side to three titles but believes this summer’s effort tops the left. “This is the achievement that gives me the most amount of pride,” said Pennell.

“We know how tough it is to win the Staffs League but to get through the play-offs as well, that’s a fantastic effort and by far the best achievement.

“The Birmingham League is a bit of a closed shop now, so for a club the size of Pelsall to be able to begin next season as one of the 24 best clubs in the area is fantastic.

“The lads are a tight-knit bunch on and off the pitch. We do a lot of things together to raise money and we also have a good following with a lot of former players still coming down to watch us. That shows what sort of club it is. There must have 70 to 80 people there supporting us Saturday.

“We know it’s going to be tough next season, but it’s a challenge we have to embrace. We will be playing against some very good players, but some of these Pelsall lads aren’t too bad either.

“There are quite a few of them in their early 20s and it’s a chance for them to show what they can do and to make a name for themselves.”

Saturday’s promotion-clinching victory proved to be a tense affair but, not for the first time this season, the Pelsall bowlers delivered when it mattered. After being bowled out for just 122, with Wem clinching the two points they needed to go up along the way, Pelsall responded superbly with Jonathan Moore leading from the front.

Moore produced a brilliant spell that saw him pick up 5-22 from 13 overs, while Tom Boyd took 3-53, as Wem fell for 114.

“I felt if we could get up to around 120, then we would be in the game if we bowled well,” added Pennell.

“And that was the case again. We have bowled well all year and I think that’s why we won the league. The bowlers have got us out of jail in a few games.”

With victory sealed, it was then a case of waiting for the Astwood Bank-Walmley clash to finish.

“We were all sitting out on the pitch in a big circle, having a drink,” added Pennell. “Everyone was checking their phones constantly for the score on playcricket and it was getting pretty nervy.

“Ryan Brown knows one of the Astwood Bank lads and he talked him through the final few deliveries as they knocked off the runs to win.

“Fair play to Astwood Bank because they would have known that we had won and that they couldn’t go up but they still went on to win the game.”