Birmingham Senior Cup: Dudley Defeat Nuneaton at the Oval

Back at the Oval last night to photograph Nuneaton Town against Dudley Town in the 1st round of the Birmingham FA Senior Challenge Cup.

After an 11-match unbeaten run in the league, this one always had a slightly different feel — a chance to rotate the squad, give minutes to players who’ve been waiting patiently, and capture the ebb and flow of a proper cup tie under the lights.

From the start, there was an energy about the game. Nuneaton looked sharp, pushing forward, but unable to capitalise on a number of opportunities. Just before the break it was Dudley who made the breakthrough. Kyle Moseley tucked away the opener, leaving the hosts trailing 0–1 at half-time.

The reaction after the restart was exactly what you want as a photographer — intensity, emotion, and a goal to capture. On 53 minutes, Charlie Jones levelled things up, sparking a surge of noise and belief around the Oval.

Charlie Jones scores Nuneaton Town’s equaliser with a diving header at the back post.

But football has its way of twisting the script. On 74 minutes, Dudley hit on the counter, and Jordan Davies struck to make it 1–2. Chasing the game, Nuneaton left space, and Davies added another late on to seal a 1–3 away win.

From a Nuneaton point of view, the result stings, but the bigger picture remains positive. With league form still unbeaten and still in the FA Vase, the senior cup provided valuable minutes for the squad.