Albion Blind bounced back from their first defeat of the season with a resounding victory over league rivals Royal National College for the Blind on Saturday.
The Baggies began the weekend with an unexpected defeat to Merseyside Blind & V.I F.C, but soon turned the day in their favour with a 7-2 win at THEPOINT4 Outdoor Pitch.
Albion remain nine points ahead at the top of The National Blind Football League with four games left to play.
Merseyside began the day with a roaring start against the Baggies, testing goalkeeper Owen Locke, who was forced to make a good save to claw the ball out of the bottom corner. The North Westerners almost broke the deadlock again in the fourth minute, beating Locke but denied by the post.
It was soon Albion’s turn to respond, as Efe Shimwell cut inside the defence on his right foot, before unleashing a high effort which met the crossbar. Just prior to half-time, Shimwell again drove the visitors forward, slaloming through Merseyside’s defence – his strike rolled just past the post.
Slippery conditions continued to test both sides well into the second-half, but it was Merseyside who struck to rain on the Baggies’ unbeaten streak – Roy Turnham beat four Albion players and goalkeeper Locke to secure all three points for Merseyside.
Albion looked to bounce back in their second fixture, just a few hours later against RNC. Shimwell again struck the post in the early stages, but the Baggies weren’t made to wait for their first goal of the day, as the forward hit a free-kick through the goalkeeper’s legs.
Eesa Amjid came to the fore at the beginning of a late first-half flurry of goals. His central run beat two players before shifting onto his right foot and powering the ball past the goalkeeper.
Clearly inspired by Amjid’s effort, RNC’s Brandon Coleman replicated the same run to get one back for the home side.
The Baggies restored order shortly after, as Shimwell went on a mazy run, ending with a confident scoop into the top right corner. Coleman grabbed his second too, cutting in from the right to bring the tie within one goal just before half-time.
Shimwell notched his hat-trick 30 seconds into the second-half, as the Baggies began with plenty of zest and enthusiasm, before Amjid beat two defenders and slid a low drive into the bottom corner for a three-goal lead.
Forward Shimwell scored another early on, as he latched onto some loose play from RNC, putting the result beyond doubt with a neat finish. With just two minutes to go, Amjid shimmied past several defenders to round off a successful afternoon with a close-range finish.
Albion Blind are next in action on Saturday, March 15, 2025.
