Eager Wellies Denied, As The Romans Take Their Chances…
Alcester Town 2-0 Wellington FC…
The Mowdog’s thoughts…
A really good welcome from the Alcester staff, a decent chat with the Wellington support staff, the new Stratford Road floodlights and the renovated club room set the scene for an enjoyable afternoon at Alcester.
The game was interesting and often entertaining, a Red Kite provided the half-time entertainment, the dramatic skies looked like artwork and although Wellington contributed hugely to the encounter, ultimately they were unable to beat home goalie Sam Hart. The guests passed the ball with confidence and accuracy throughout the match and had skipper Henry Hancocks converted an early chance, the outcome of the clash would likely have been very different.
Subsequently, not many real goalscoring opportunities were created, despite the awarding of a good number of offensive set-pieces. In the home defence, Cam Crook was responsible for some fine challenges, gloveman Hart blocked a couple of shots well enough, his handling was good and his kicking effective. Too many Wellie attacks were blotted out inside the Alcester 18 yard box, which was disappointing for a creative team which showed good promise.
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| HART PUNCHES CLEAR IN TRAFFIC... |
The hosts were more clinical, had more goal attempts but less possession overall.
Before the break and the appearance of a Red Kite…
A fine release pass by the busy Wellington midfielder Reece Lincoln towards the right, allowed the impressive Ewan Champion to deliver a low centre across the face of the home goal. Home defender Joel Bell had been drawn into the middle which allowed Hancocks some space although in fairness, home winger Dan Jarvis did try to trail the visiting skipper. Hancocks had an open net but as the ball seemed to be rolling perfectly for a left-boot tap-in, he leaned left and scooped an awkward right-footer well over the crossbar.
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| CHAMPION'S LOW CENTRE FINDS HANCOCKS... |
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| ...BUT THE SKIPPER LIFTS HIS SHOT OVER THE TARGET... |
Crook nodded a looping header onto the roof of the FC net, before a smart piece of hold-up play by home skipper Jake Wicketts (his age on his shirt, maybe?), set up the opening goal. Centrally, he had attracted a group of three Wellies but as left-sided defender Josh Bryden advanced towards him too, Wicketts slipped the ball right towards Jarvis, chased by Hancocks but after advancing visiting goalminder Aiden Bryant was neatly avoided, Jarvis’ low shot rolled across the 6-yard box and just about crossed the goal-line off the far, left upright, as Hancocks hacked the ball clear in desperation…
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| SMART ASSIST BY WICKETTS... |
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| ...JARVIS ROUNDS BRYANT... |
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| ...& SCORES OFF AN UPRIGHT... |
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| ...AS HANCOCKS ATTEMPTS TO CLEAR... |
The influential Beau Bird drove an effort into the home side-netting and a clever looking shot from downtown by Wicketts at inside-left left dropped dangerously onto the roof of the FC net.
The half had been well contested but immediately after the break, Alcester might have increased their lead, before in truth, Wellington dominated the affair, perhaps leaving themselves a little vulnerable to the counter-attacking of the Roman legions…
After the interval…
A leaning header from a set-piece by Roman, Ash Bunn was clawed aside by the falling Bryant who excelled himself by diving at the feet of Crook to make a brave save from the rebound. The ‘keeper advanced to snatch a loose ball through the centre moments later but his team recovered from a shaky second period start and home goaltender Hart got down well to block Beau Bird’s low centre, although the always prominent Fin Davies’ rebound shot on the turn flew wayward.
Wicketts’ replacement James Lev (I think) drove a shot into Bryden’s belly, then Lev got clear on a break, only to see his low shot roll against the inside of the right stick and across the goalmouth. The industrious George Davis drove too high for the Romans, before the match was settled just moments after Wellington had threatened to regain parity.
From a free-kick, Bird’s header deflected off Crook’s face, it appeared, only for the very effective Curt Driscoll to poke a shot goal wards which was blocked by Hart. The rebound fell for Bird whose 18 yarder was superbly charged down by the bravery of Crook. The rebound from that set the Romans attacking and midfielder Liam O’Donnell passed the ball wide left to the lurking Lev.
The striker ran on, chased by the covering substitute Jerry Allen-Ezequiel, for central defender Seb Brockbank had been supporting his team’s free-kick at the other end and was still rushing back. As Lev ran into the left side of the penalty-box, he did well to keep control as the ball appeared to bobble but then unleashed a rising left-footer from quite an angle and arrowed into the near top corner of the net, over the outstretched gloves of the surprised Bryant. It looked spectacular, certainly…
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| FASTENING ONTO O'DONNELL'S ASSIST... |
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| ...LEV SHOOTS FROM AN ANGLE... |
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| ...& HIS POWERFUL DRIVE FLIES INTO THE ROOF OF THE NET... |
Still Wellington pushed on but couldn’t make their approach work count, as first Lincoln shot well but was denied by Hart’s falling catch and then Driscoll (wearing the skipper’s armband after the withdrawal of Hancocks) was again denied by Hart’s legs…
The final words…
Bell was binned as a sinner for the Romans, as was Davies late on for the guests, both for complaints made to the main official but this was never an unpleasant game and it was so well contested. After the recess, the probing play of Bird, Driscoll and Lincoln was admirable for the visitors, whilst Davies was efficient and inventive in midfield. Certainly Champion was smart and clever on the ball, although central striker Caden Allport lacked support, as did Sam Griffiths, whose movement was regularly sensible, with such a gliding running action. The waves of possession and progression by the visitors were not rewarded but the style was satisfying to spectate, especially from such a young outfit…
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| ABOVE & BELOW: WELLINGTON'S DAVIES IN ACTION... |
Crook was strong for the Romans, the midfield of O’Donnell, Henry Gibson and the lively Woody Hawkett moved the ball with purpose on occasions, although, like the Wellie forwards, strikers Wicketts and Josh Bowen, were not often provided with the kinds of service they might have relished.
George Davis was as ebullient as always, Jarvis made a few decent runs but in Crook and Hart particularly, the Romans proved to be rather solid in defence...
IMAGES FROM THE ACTION AT STRATFORD ROAD...
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| DAVIS, IN THE BACKGROUND, IS SIN-BINNED... |
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| FALLEN BODIES... |
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| 2-0 TO THE ROMANS... |
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| "DON'T WEEP, GEORGE, TRUMP DOESN'T MEAN IT, HONESTLY..." |
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| DRISCOLL WATCHES AS BELL IS SIN-BINNED... |
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| BELL HAS AN EARLY WORD WITH THE REF... |
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| PUT YOUR HANDS UP IF YOU KNOW WHERE THE RED KITE IS... |
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| A SMILE FROM NUMBER 21... |
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| ...BUT MORE OF A SCOWL THIS TIME... |
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| PERSPECTIVE... |
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| 1-0 TO THE ROMANS... |
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| CROOK: A STRONG GAME FOR THE ROMANS... |
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| WAITING... |
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| WICKETTS HITCHES A LIFT... |
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| HANCOCKS SEEMS TO BE LOOKING FOR THE LOST COIN... |
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| AH, THE MANAGER SMILES! |
