Express & Star

Charlie Adam strike: Five great West Midlands goals

The Easter weekend has seen a plethora of top class screamers, not least Charlie Adam's 66-yard monster, Jermain Defoe's volley and Bobby Zamora's beauty against the Baggies.

Published

In honour, we've picked out five from the vaults to prove our teams have got what it takes to get the fans on their feet with a few netbusters of our own...

5. Darren Bradley - West Brom v Wolves

Way back in 1993, the then Albion midfielder's goal stood out among five scored at The Hawthorns in a thrilling Black Country derby against Wolves.

Albion ran out 3-2 winners, in no small part due to Bradley's 30-yard strike which almost burst the net in front of the Brummie Road End.

Netbuster rating: 8/10

4. Alex Rae - Wolves v Bolton

Wolves' former no-nonsense gritty Scots midfielder was more noted as a bite-yer-legs midfielder than a goalscorer. But his game did have a classy edge at times.

Not least the volley the former Rangers man smashed in against Bolton Wanderers in 2003. The first goal of Wolves' Premier League campaign that year, it lives long in the memory. As the ball was headed out, Rae's volley crashed in, in a not-too-dissimilar way to Defoe's cracker for Sunderland.

Netbuster rating: 8/10

3. Elliott Durrell - Hednesford Town v Bradford Park Avenue

Not a netbuster as such, but a goal that will have Hednesford Town fans talking for years... little Elliott Durrell's Maradona-esque wondergoal against Bradford Park Avenue became the toast of YouTube early last year. After conceding, the tricky Pitmen striker took the ball straight from kick-off, beat half-a-dozen defenders on a mazy run before slotting home.

Netbuster rating: 8.5/10

2. Chris Nicholl - Aston Villa v Everton

Long before his tenure as Walsall boss, Nicholl was already a legend in another part of the the West Midlands, this time as the goal many Villa fans regard as one of the club's greatest ever strikes. Nicholl collected the ball in the 1977 League Cup final replay against Everton at Old Trafford. He cut inside and from fully 40 yards out let fly a left-footed missile that brought the cup back to Villa Park.

Netbuster rating: 9/10

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1. Roger Boli - Walsall v Southend

On August 31, 1997, Saddlers fans witnessed one of the greatest goals that will ever be scored at Bescot. Back-peddling Boli kept his eye on a long ball in from the left. As he entered the penalty area, Boli took flight, somehow connecting flush with an overhead scissor-kick and sending the ball into the Southend net. Incredible.

Netbuster rating: 10/10

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