Saturday 31 December 2016

LONG EATON UNITED 2-2 LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY: LINK TO 29 VIDEO CLIPS, INCLUDING ALL THE GOALS AND A MISSED PENALTY...

EXTERIOR...
CAN I SEE A BLUE ROOF?

NO CAR-PARK PUDDLES...
I FELT BLUE ABOUT THAT.

SMART BLUE ENTRANCE...

THE BODGING LOUNGES ON THE DIRECTORS' WALL...
THE SEATS ARE BLUE.


BLUE SEATING AREA AND AWAY DUGOUT, ALSO BLUE...

THE MAIN BLUE GRANDSTAND...

YET ANOTHER MAINLY BLUE SHELTER...

EVEN BLUE NETTING...

SO LONG EATON ARE WEARING, ER, ORANGE...

RATHER A LOOSE KIND OF STUDENT HUDDLE...

WE LIKES THIS...
IT'S BLUE.

EVEN THE PALE SUNDOWN APPEARS SLIGHTLY BLUE...

WHERE MY CHRISTMAS PRESENTS WERE HIDDEN AS A KID...

Mum’s Wardrobe At Christmas

It had hidden depths.
Was it mahogany?
Dark and foreboding, anyway.
Huge, heavy, hulking,
With a small key.
But I knew with certainty
Where some of my Christmas presents would be…

They were hidden beneath
A clothing miscellany.
Hands were fumbling, anyway.
Quiet, quick, quaking,
New annuals to spy.
But I savoured the opportunity
Then withdrew hastily, quite nervous and spry…

Pete Ray

SANDALS USELESS FOR KICKING FOOTBALLS...

PLASTIC RUGBY BALL: TOUGH TO DISGUISE IN THE WARDROBE...


It was always the same. 
The ‘Roy of the Rovers’ annual and the ‘Charles Buchan’s Football Annual’ would be bought by my parents some weeks before Christmas and I usually found them hidden in mum’s dark and huge wardrobe, when she had popped to the shops on Saturday mornings. 
I would check they were still there at every opportunity.
Never though, would I peek inside. Just touch and hold them, before replacing them beneath the material and clothing at the bottom of the wardrobe. 

And still I showed surprise when the wrapped books were opened on Christmas morning…

Thursday 29 December 2016

SUNDAY MORNING FOOTBALL AT PERRY HALL PLAYING FIELDS, BIRMINGHAM...

Perry Hall

Vast area, dull green.
And dark mud
Seemingly constant;
Damp, rutted, soft.
A turn-over for ankles
And after rain, pools appeared,
Which covered boots
To a shimmering sheen.

Vast acreage, dire, still.
And dingy huts
Surely condemned;
Damp, shuttered, drafty.
A hell-hole for protagonists
And after rain, puddles appeared,
Which dampened clothes
To a shivering chill.

Vast arena, draconian cage.
And dim light
Scathingly corrupt;
Damp, confined, icy.
A hiding-place for influenza
And after rain, leaks appeared,
Which splattered kit
To a communal rage.

Yet the unique sound
Of studs on wood,
A team in line-
And I understood
That I was part
Of a uniformed group,
Awaiting the call,
Like an army troop…
A glow of pride
Rifled through my chest,
As I moved in unison 
With the rest…
Maybe that was what
Conscripts could feel,
When marching where
Death’s bell would peal…
A belonging, a need
To be with others,
Where THEY go, YOU go…
In hell, your brothers.

The unique sound 
Of boots on mud,
A target in line
For a rifle’s thud…

Pete Ray




Sunday morning football at Perry Hall playing fields, Birmingham. It was always seemingly wet and dismal there. The changing rooms were disgraceful but there was something sociable about running out onto one of the far-flung pitches, often 200-300 metres from the shed…

Wednesday 28 December 2016

MY ONLY VISIT TO LONG EATON UNITED: A 0-2 DEFEAT IN 2010 TO TADCASTER ALBION...

It Was The Child With The Plastic Tubing In The Car-Park…

Tired brickwork and a looming power station appeared to the right of my route into Long Eaton, where I had planned to check out the town’s war memorial, which I knew would be positioned at the entrance to the parish church and so I peered above factories and kept an eye on the skyline until I noticed a spire. I spotted it in the street called Market Place. 

I turned off it and into a side-street, drawing up in a public car-park, which faced the rear yards of businesses, including one pub. A troop of children played nearby, wielding and brandishing lengths of black plastic tubing, striking walls and tarmac with threatening swings. Thinking of the safety of my car, I gulped. Their accompanying adults, I later realised, were in the pub, it seemed.

The two unforgettable side-streets I noticed off Market Place were splendidly called Regent Street and Oxford Street and the memorial was situated in front of the churchyard but it was currently surrounded by building materials, for it seemed that repair work was proceeding on the pavements around the base. The dismal looking church hovered above a similarly dismal and untidy graveyard, where a number of old gravestones rested against the walls of the rears of buildings in Market Place, which formed the perimeter of the consecrated ground. I began to hum the song ‘Lean On Me’ but I don’t know why.

At Grange Park, I left my car in a deep puddle, as most of the parking places had been commandeered by parents of youngsters training on the grassy areas outside the ground but I felt instantly welcomed upon my arrival and I was immediately impressed by the match programme. I was also introduced to the editor, who was also the photographer and general all-round decent person. We chatted, I drank a strong cup of tea, watched a glorious sunset but then I was subjected to the dreadful smoking of an elderly chap sitting in my grandstand row. I was shocked that this was even allowed in the seats and my eyes, breathing and resolve were all sorely tested. He was totally ignorant of my irritation but hey, I was visitor, he was a local…
PROGRAMME COVER: BUT IS AIDEN BRADY A YOUNG PAUL HOLLYWOOD???
BAKE OFF...

THE SQUADS...

One young lady became more agitated, vociferous and angry as the feisty second period unfolded: “What about the number 14 ref?” she demanded. “Shockin’. Shockin’…” she declared. A balding fellow who stood near the photographer on the touchline suddenly turned on me, after the Tadcaster goalie was adjudged to have fouled a Long Eaton player in the penalty-box. Although the referee had awarded a penalty, no further action had been taken and the ‘keeper had thus been able to save not only the spot-kick but also the rebound. The incensed chap bellowed at me, something about being a ‘coach’ and waved his arms about like a flailing skier attempting to keep his balance. Me? A coach? What had I done? I was simply taking pictures, talking into my Dictaphone and being just a fringe groundhopper… Did I look important? A coach? ME???

The game ended with the home contingent in abject mental disarray and the officials wondering whether they would reach the dressing-rooms and their Nottinghamshire homes safely. I said my farewell to the photographer and his wife then he apologised for the behaviour of ‘the bald bloke’. I was told that he intended to say he was sorry to me and thus over he walked, shook my hand and explained that the referee had a bunch of people with him to assess and coach, and mistakenly he had assumed I was an official. Little old me? He said, “I bet you wondered who the bald prat was!” I said, “Not really, but I wondered who the bald pillock was…” The photographer said, “This is the Chairman…”

Oh my god… Thanks for that…


The referee may have escaped but if he didn’t, the culprit was the child with the plastic tubing in the car-park… 

SMART, PRE-SUNSET...

INSIDE THE GRANDSTAND...

I WAS 6 THEN...

NEAT...

TRYING TO LOOK LIKE LYE TOWN...
(JOKING... REALLY!)

BETTER THAN A BROLLY...

VERY NEARLY SUNSET...
KYLE BRYANT??? WHO STARRED FOR COALVILLE AGAINST BARWELL LAST SATURDAY???


THE MATCH REPORT...

Long Eaton United 0 Tadcaster Albion 2

Att: 48

A strong first-half by the visitors was the foundation for a Tadcaster victory, despite a more raucous second-half by their hosts and a more vociferous second forty-five minutes by a number of United followers, who vented their anger at the referee. Home midfielder Gamble, already warned then cautioned, gambled once too often for the official’s liking and was dismissed but when Brewers’ ‘keeper Aaron Reid tripped Brady, who was moving away from goal, to concede a penalty, the custodian remained on the field, incensing the locals. Bryant struggled for Long Eaton before the break, Gordon replacing him at half-time, allowing the pace of Piliero to finally threaten the Tadcaster defence, which was redoubtable. Naturally, Aaron Reid saved the winger’s penalty and rebound effort to frustrate the home fans even more…

Moving the ball swiftly through Braithwaite and Whitehead, using the lively but lightweight Rice on the left flank, Tadcaster forced a number of early corners and it seemed that Long Eaton just couldn’t arrest possession of the ball. Home defender Murdock was battling manfully to keep the Brewers at bay but Long Eaton managed only a Gamble drive off target, following a punch from Aaron Reid and a Bryant shot which was so wayward that it hit a St George’s flag hanging from the perimeter rail. Gamble escaped a caution for his second heavy challenge then solid home goalie Baldwin made his first decent save. Lead-up play by left-back Jeff led to Whitehead’s drive from 19 yards, which Baldwin advanced and fortunately parried against colleague McGinty, to claim the loose ball with Braithwaite hovering. 

After twenty minutes or so, Brady must have been wondering when he could begin to affect the proceedings then finally, striker Mabon did chase one long ball but all in vain. When Mabon was pushed from behind by Brewers’ skipper Dawson, the forward appeared to slap the defender’s leg from his prone position. Amusing, yes, but both players were irritated and understandably cautioned. The free-kick was swung in, Aaron Reid caught the ball then Mabon clattered into him. This seemed a crazy decision, as he had just received a booking and it could have seen him sent from the field. Jeff was again the architect for Tadcaster, as Braithwaite’s quick feet took him into the penalty-box, left side, beating the errant Bryant but Baldwin did really well to get down to his left and palm aside an awkwardly bouncing 15 yard angled drive. Baldwin then managed to fingertip Tom Reid’s centre away, following a pass by the effervescent Rice.

A fine turn and run at goal by Whitehead ended with a powerful 18 yard effort but again the advancing Baldwin somehow reached the rising shot, palming it upwards towards goal and scuffling back to snatch at the ball and prevent it from entering the net. Whether it had already was anybody’s guess and presumably Baldwin’s sole knowledge. Bowles fired a fee-kick too high after Piliero had been bowled over but on 33 minutes, Tadcaster scored the elusive goal. Long Eaton disputed the award of a left-wing corner to Albion and they paid a price, Tom Reid’s delivery being met by a driving 4 yard header into the far corner of goal by Dawson. Bryant then hesitated in defence and was nearly caught in possession, following Tom Reid’s centre from the right and Gamble was finally and deservedly cautioned.

Dawson struck again in the 41st minute, after Murdock had headed a clearance away and a long ball forward by the visitors had caught the home defenders napping, allowing an 18 yard header by Whitehead, unchallenged. The advanced Baldwin again stretched and managed to claw the ball away for a right-wing corner, which was swung in by Jeff. McGinty’s attempt at a headed clearance skimmed straight onto Dawson’s head and the ball flashed into the roof of Baldwin’s net from 3 yards. As the half ended, James’ deep cross was not claimed by the pressured Baldwin but Whitehead was unable to capitalise. 

Bowles and Brady were to become more effective during the second period, Gordon’s athleticism would offer another option in attack but the threat of Rice and Braithwaite would remain for home skipper Whiley and Murdock to wrestle with. There had been little sign of the trouble to come.

Brewer Taylor sliced over his own crossbar and Long Eaton threatened with corners in the opening minutes of the second-half, with Piliero on the right causing consternation for Jeff. Brady beat a defender on the left but Gordon was unable to direct his header, Mabon headed a second Brady centre but Thompson cleared for the visitors, before a couple of corners brought no reward for the hosts. Brady and Piliero were proving to be dangerous on the flanks for Long Eaton, as Tadcaster looked to break. Two smart one-twos between Tom Reid and Whitehead ended with the former’s low right-wing centre eluding Rice and then Braithwaite drove too high from 22 yards. An advantage was then played by the referee after a foul by Gamble but the midfielder was subsequently booked again and of course thrown out of the game. 

Stewart replaced Tom Reid for the Brewers, a pair of one-twos between Braithwaite and Rice came to nothing, following a fine throw by Aaron Reid, before Long Eaton hit back with another sortie from Brady but Mabon’s awkward header lacked power at the near post and it drifted over the bar from close range. 
After a Rice shot rolled to Baldwin, replacement Stewart threw his weight around twice, using a ‘strong tackle’ and then a ‘shoulder charge’, angering the home supporters but he was allowed to retain possession. Thompson received a caution, Mabon was spending some time rolling on the ground, as a result of challenges, Whitehead was replaced by the speedy Storey and Brady was booked for telling the official he was ‘havin’ a laugh’. Farthing and Mabon did a little shoving, shouting became louder from the grandstand and one of the Long Eaton coaches was moved away by the officious referee, presumably ‘dismissed’? 

Braithwaite and Rice broke in lithe fashion again but Baldwin saved the latter’s effort, James was replaced by Qualter then the villain Stewart beat McGinty brilliantly, fed Braithwaite inside and the slim forward passed diagonally for Rice, left side of the penalty-box but his stroked effort was stopped by the collapsing Baldwin, not cleanly, down by his right upright.

Stewart’s clean header from a left-wing centre was hacked clear by Murdock from in front of his goal-line then Gordon fed Brady but his clip was volleyed too high by the stretching Bowles, by now far more involved for Long Eaton. A powerful run by Gordon at inside-right, for he had recently moved out wide, led to a pass for Brady, evading defenders and running right, inside the penalty-area, only to tumble over the challenging Aaron Reid’s arm, 15 yards from goal. Screaming for the ‘keeper to be dismissed, the home contingent lost reason and tempers. A caution maybe would have sufficed, to be fair… The goalie escaped, surprisingly. Piliero, quieter now he was playing more centrally, took the penalty-kick, Aaron Reid dived left, the ball seemed to strike an arm or his hip and it skidded behind him towards his right post. He rose quickly and as Piliero reached the loose ball at the upright, the custodian blocked the shot with his legs. This only served to make tempers even more frayed. 

A fine half-volley on the run by Braithwaite just cleared the crossbar, as Tadcaster responded, Whiley’s header appeared to strike the evasive Gordon on the Tadcaster goal-line, Gordon deflected Brady’s right-wing free-kick over the bar from 6 yards and just before Storey and Braithwaite set up Taylor for a wayward effort for the visitors, the ebullient Brady committed a bad challenge on a Tadcaster defender, somehow escaping a second booking.

Tadcaster won the game in the opening 40 minutes but credit must go to their passing game and the performances of Braithwaite, Rice and Aaron Reid in particular. Skipper Dawson struck twice, although he could have fallen foul of the referee again, for an unnecessary push on a Long Eaton defender, which he was only censured for. Brady needed to be involved for the hosts, Piliero too but the midfielders really only contributed after the break. In fact, Long Eaton could conceivably have taken a point from the game, although Tadcaster would have found that hard to swallow after forcing Baldwin into difficult saves before the break. 

The supporters went home grumbling, the referee possibly escaped from the car-park and I drove home for a lump of strong cheese and a poor night’s sleep. 

It’s what I do…  

WHERE IN THE WORLD..?

LONG EATON?
REALLY?

WE LIKES THIS...

LOOKS LIKE THE COVER OF THE LONG EATON PLAYERS' CALENDAR...
...SOOOO COOL...

AND AIDEN BRADY (CENTRE) IS A PLAYER I HAVE SEEN A NUMBER OF TIMES BUT THAT SEASON, BY SEPTEMBER 7th, HE WAS THE CLUB'S TOP SCORER WITH 6 FROM THE TOTAL OF 7 TEAM GOALS...


Tuesday 27 December 2016

COALVILLE TOWN 1-2 BARWELL: FULL MATCH REPORT...

Barwell Battle For Bragging Rights Over Cagey Coalville

Coalville Town 1-2 Barwell

Boxing Day arrived and the Canaries were due in Ravenland for a holiday bash of spunky, scything tackles and a relentless physical clash to prove local superiority, during a festive football feast full of frantic excitement. Only 240 onlookers bothered to turn up though on what became a bitterly cold afternoon and the fact that there was a Castle, a Torr and two Towers on view, made me think of the ancient Romans getting involved in a right old skirmish with the Britons at Ratae (Leicester). Sadly, the expected raucous combat failed to materialise, as Barwell mostly dominated a sometimes tedious encounter and I reckoned that it more resembled Roman Legionaries practising with their wooden Gladius swords so that nobody would really get hurt…
SEAN BOWLES IS FORCED TO APOLOGISE TO THE OFFICIALS THAT HIS DERBY HAT HAS BEEN LEFT IN THE DRESSING-ROOM...

The visitors moved the ball better than the Ravens were able to and it was disappointing that Nat Watson of Town was rarely a feature on the day, when his ball skills can be so worth watching. A push on a Raven defender early on, missed by the rather irritating referee, who too often appeared to react late to yells from players about having been fouled, then blow his whistle hurriedly, despite the fact that he seemed to be letting the game go on, allowed the gentlemanly Luke Barlone to run free on the right, after Lee Torr had slipped over. Although Owen Story made ground towards the near post, the ball ran on and past the far upright. A Nigel Julien shot was blocked following an Alex Tomkinson free-kick and then Barlone maybe kicked turf when his low shot trickled to home ‘keeper and skipper Sean Bowles.
BOWLES LOOKS DECIDEDLY SHAKY AFTER HIS FALL...

Bowles was in a derby, which is the American word for a bowler hat, which corresponds nicely with his name I guess but he was to depart the match early and hat-less to pay a visit to a local milliner no doubt, after advancing from goal to catch another Barwell cross, this time by the marauding Cleveland Taylor following a neat pass by impressive Canaries’ skipper Brady Hickey. Bowles was flicked acrobatically into the air as two players moved to challenge for the ball, the fall hurt the goalie, Hickey was incensed that a free-kick was awarded to Coalville and Barwell were thus thwarted. Then Ryan Robbins, now back in a Ravens’ shirt of course, raced clear on the left and evaded the rush of ‘keeper Liam Castle but could only shove a low centre across the penalty-box for Canary Joe Ballinger to boot away. Bowles soon departed… He was replaced by Charlie Hornby, who trains well… (Get it?)
YES, SEAN IS MISSING HIS HAT...

SO HORNBY REPLACES HIM...

WATSON, MISSING HOLMES, IS HOPING THE CLUB SIGNS SHERLOCK FROM MARINE NEXT WEEK...

Liam Castle remains from the Barwell team I saw do so well some years back, so it was good to see him still performing with real presence and he would be the one to preserve the Canaries’ victory late on. Hornby received a back-pass from Luke Foster but the new goalie’s awful left-boot slice offered the strongly built Barwell forward Callum Ball a chance near the right byeline but his touch deserted him and the ball rolled wide. Coalville had been totally inept up to this point and despite the promptings of Liam Walshe and Jack McMillan, their guests were stronger in midfield through the efforts of Tomkinson, Julien and Hickey. Steve Towers did manage a 27 yard shot, as did Robbins following strong rushes within moments of each other but both were woefully off target and Hickey then roared forth into the Coalville defensive zone but somehow didn’t score either. A right-side centre was nodded back inside from beyond the far stick by the towering Ball (Tower Ballroom?) but Hickey’s header flew straight into the grateful gloves of Hornby from a few yards out.
"HEY, LET'S FORGET THE GAME AND BOOGIE..."

"OK, MAYBE NOT..."

Hornby collected a 25 yard drive by the elusive Hickey, Foster lunged in on Barlone to suggest that the skirmish was about to become a rumble. Robbins was tripped, an advantage was played which didn’t materialise and the referee offered Barwell a free-kick for another offence. Weird. Robbins was clearly frustrated by the lack of offense engendered by his colleagues and he was soon flagged offside on the left but thrashed a shot at Castle anyway, who beat the ball away with aplomb. The referee cautioned the aghast Robbins… The official lectured a number of players for slight misdemeanours and this became really boring for players and frozen spectators alike, for he was giving an impression of indecisiveness, which none of us appreciated. Perhaps he was asking for more fight? OK, maybe not… 
RYAN ROBBINS LOOKS EXASPERATED...

...& HE LOOKS AGHAST NOW HE IS BEING CAUTIONED FOR HAVING A SHOT AT GOAL, AFTER THE REFEREE HAD BLOWN HIS WHISTLE...
THING IS, THERE ARE LOADS OF BALLS LYING ABOUT THESE DAYS TO BE ABLE GET ON WITH THE GAME INSTANTLY ANYWAY...

Half-time arrived and I wondered whether things might improve on the pitch. Surely Coalville would sort themselves out? And Robbins might have done just that following a Barwell corner which Watson headed away. Robbins raced off on the left but after cutting inside, his finish was disappointing and into the side-netting. Barwell capitalised upon the miss by taking a deserved lead on 54 minutes and Hickey was the scorer. More Barwell pressure led to a hurried Coalville kick away but Hickey controlled it 20 yards out and made a strong run into the penalty-box, Danny Jenno spotted the danger but was unable to prevent Hickey from clipping an astute low shot from inside-left beyond the advancing Hornby and just inside the far upright.
0-1...

SKIPPER HICKEY THE SCORER...

McMillan did manage a run and low shot which Castle tumbled to save easily but McMillan, like colleague Walshe, was substituted soon afterwards. Anton Brown and Rory Coleman replaced the midfield pair but Robbins soon miscued badly on the right side for Town then skewed a left-footer almost sideways, before Torr was cautioned for arguing about a throw-in decision, suggesting how physically tame the local derby was in actual fact…  The eager visiting left-back Eddie Nisevic, who had been lively was replaced by Liam Kay, once a Raven, now a Canary but strangely, after a Julien half-volley had cleared the Coalville crossbar, the hosts grabbed an unlikely equaliser in the 78th minute and the creator was the rapid, attacking home right-back Kyle Bryant, who did impress hugely throughout the match.

His run at inside-right led to a low drive which cannoned back off the base of the right upright but only into Coleman’s path and his rebound found the net to great delight from the Ravens’ fans behind the goal. Even the flags ruffled in the cold wind and the side-drum, er, quivered… Coleman had scored for Coalville, which was fitting somehow…
1-1: COLEMAN FOR COALVILLE...

Instantly Barwell struck back though, like a wounded bear at a baiting Old English Bulldog and Hickey was this time the provider with a fine left-flank corner. The flag-kick was won off Jenno who had blasted the ball to safety after Barlone’s excellent curling shot from inside-left had rapped against the Coalville crossbar. The move had been smooth, involving Julien and Kay, before Story had shoved the ball back to Barlone, 19 yards out, left corner of the penalty-box and his shot was rather fine. Barlone had already become angry with Nisevic, so it was good to see him joyful after the winning goal came from the ensuing corner in the 79th minute. Hickey’s delivery dropped at the far upright and somehow Story bundled the ball into the net.
STORY FALLS IN PLEASURE...

HE HAS BUNDLED IN THE WINNER...

...& THE CANARIES HAVE DOWNED THE RAVENS...

How he did that is another story… I recall seeing Owen Story plague Truro’s defence in a Brackley home game some years back and I wondered how his career would progress… 

Ryan Baldwin replaced Barlone and the replacement had been rather lively during the half-time warm-up and indeed had smacked some decent shots at the goal-frame (manager take note?) Then finally, Watson looked a threat for the Ravens but after moving inside silkily, his shot from 20 yards flew high and wide. Coalville pressed more at last and Brown and Coleman looked to be improving things for their team but after pressure on his defence, Story set off to complete a storybook finish, racing into the left side of the penalty-box with Ball to his right but the winger lifted a wasteful shot too high. A Barwell player kicked the ball away when a free-kick was awarded to Coalville but escaped the punishment Robbins had earlier received for a similar offence. Even if the referee hadn’t seen it, both linesmen couldn’t have missed it. Ah, inconsistency, the secret of being a paid official… Although offside, Brown headed badly wide for the Ravens as time waned, so he was probably relieved to see the raised flag but Castle brought the story to a close with a resounding save in added time and even then the referee ended the match in slightly controversial circumstances.

A clever pass by, I think, Watson freed Massiah McDonald centrally past Ballinger but Castle advanced to make a fine deflecting save from the striker’s flicked shot. Barwell cleared the resulting corner and Story suddenly ran clear at inside-right to complete the story once more but he was baulked by the commendably retreating and covering Watson near the 18 yard line. Story fell to the ground but amid calls for a penalty, even a free-kick, the referee was oddly moved to blow the final whistle… Hmm, convenient that.   

And so the Battle of Owen St turned out to be more of a dominoes game at the local pub but the affair wasn’t without its treats. Hickey was clever on the ball, Story was always likely cause a problem or two (but how well does Story read the game?). Barlone and Ball as a pair formed a real presence in attack and with Julien finding far too much space to mop up, unhurried in midfield and Tomkinson aiding Hickey so well, defenders Craig Stanley and Ballinger were rarely troubled, even by such a dangerous duo as Ravens McDonald and Robbins. Jenno and Foster in the home defence were harassed, Torr was unable to get forward as much as I am sure he would have liked but credit to Bryant for a fine performance for the hosts.

Me? Drove back to Solihull and cooked one of the great UK meals: mash with cold turkey, accompanied by powerful, wind-breaking, stonking pickled onions from Alrewas near Burton… Yes, really…

It is, after all, what I do…

TEAMS:

COALVILLE TOWN:
SEAN BOWLES (CAPT), KYLE BRYANT, LEE TORR, DANNY JENNO, LUKE FOSTER, LIAM WALSHE, JACK McMILLAN, STEVE TOWERS, MASSIAH MCDONALD, NAT WATSON, RYAN ROBBINS.
SUBS:
ALEX DEAN, ANTON BROWN, RORY COLEMAN, LUKASZ ROJEWSKI, CHARLIE HORNBY (GK).

BARWELL:
LIAM CASTLE, CLEVELAND TAYLOR, ED NISEVIC, CRAIG STANLEY, JOE BALLINGER, ALEX TOMKINSON, OEWN STORY, NIGEL JULIEN, LUKE BARLONE, BRADY HICKEY (CAPT), CALLUM BALL.
SUBS:
LIAM KAY, RYAN BALDWIN, SAM GROUSE, DECLAN TOWERS, MAX SMITH-VARNAM (GK).