Melboune Dynamo Of No Use To Rolls Royce Engine
Derby Rolls Royce
Leisure 3 Melbourne Dynamo 0
Dynamo’s own pitch looked like summer, with the cricket
outfield being mown by a friendly chap in the sunshine near Ticknall’s
churchyard but it seemed that the end of season footballers had momentarily
forgotten what their nickname ‘Dynamo’ actually suggested and they too had
relaxed into summer mode. Mary, Queen of Scots was not incarcerated in
Melbourne Castle, apparently due to its state of disrepair and in truth, the
league leaders’ creativity was also in some state of disrepair on this
important evening, when the visitors handed the initiative to Rolls Royce, who
now need a single point from their visit to Newhall United on Saturday to pip
Dynamo to the championship. With defender Peter Aliguma as imperious as a
Seraph, skipper Ash Foster as infectious as a Spirit and striker Sean Gordon as
inventive as a Phantom, the hosts lived up to their Rolls Royce labels.
Melbourne made a few chances but were well beaten on the day, as the sun beat
down and the languid referee dozed through much of the match.
The bowing Carl Allsop (4) shows respect... |
Early skirmishes led to a long throw on the right by Rolls
Royce and when Owen Brown’s launched sling was nudged on by the head of
visiting skipper Carl Allsop, home left-back Kieran Lynch bent forward like an
eerie Wraith, shrugging off the attentions of the taller Matt Brian, who had
been ball-watching and tucked a neat header just inside the far post. As I
videoed, I had thought the scorer was wearing 9, so I apologise to Kieran but a
shocked Melbourne never really recovered from that early blow.
Kieran Lynch's unique goal celebration: he runs back to his position... This could catch on... |
On a rare foray forward, a left-side centre by Dynamo was
stretched for by tall striker Michael Tristram, who had chatted to me before
the game but he couldn’t quite reach the flight and his bare touch skidded
wide. Allsop cleared away a Foster corner but Davy Hamson’s rebound effort rose
too high from 23 yards then Gordon somehow blocked an attempted 24 yard
clearance by Melbourne and the ball ricocheted goalwards, missing the left
upright by a few yards. Brandon Gwinnett’s effort for Rolls Royce was off
target, after Dynamo ‘keeper Finn O’Brien, who was often too hurried with his
fly-kicking, had punched away a Foster corner but the visitors, being pushed
back by the eager Royce passing attempts, did manage another header by Tristram
from a long left-side throw. The ball was missed by Brian and his marker and
bounced up for Tristram but Lynch, very alert, nodded the ball behind at the
right post.
Peter falls out with Michael. The referee continues to look bemused... |
Foster clipped a deep left-side free-kick from 26 yards,
which bounced past the right stick for the hosts, Aliguma headed a Melbourne
corner away but Tim Adcock picked up the loose ball and showed neat skills to
set up a shot from 18 yards, which flew straight to goalie Rob Woodard. The
speedy Gordon threatened in the penalty-box and from the retrieval of the ball
after that attack, Foster got in a low shot, which visiting defender Matt Jones
did well to hack clear from the goal-line, as O’Brien scrambled on the turf.
Alex Marshall poked a pass through inside-right for the Royce but a defender
managed to deny Hamson, although the rather gloomy linesman awarded nothing and
the dreaming referee awarded a goal-kick, when just about every other person
there knew it was corner. The lively Gwinnett raced onto the ball and fired off
target from 23 yards and the half ended with me scratching my head and not only
because of the flies I had encountered at Staunton Harold Reservoir, as I was
eating my malt loaf earlier; I was surprised at Melbourne’s lack of bite and
the ease by which Rolls Royce had risen to the ascendancy.
Jumping: an art form in the non-league game... |
The ground-hoppers continued their pow-wows on the side-line
even after the break, deciding which matches were still outstanding in Cheshire
and the West Riding and thus missed a good proportion of the proceedings they
had ostensibly travelled to watch. I shivered a little in the shade and the
four and a half-minute interval soon passed, the second-half opening with
surely more exerted influence by the guests? Er, no, actually. Foster rolled a
low shot at O’Brien for Rolls Royce, then fine work by the elusive Gordon,
whose tussle with the stubborn Jones was a highlight of the game for me, led to
a wild Troy Black shot, which flew into the beautiful tree behind the goal-frame.
Woodard was forced into a slight error for the hosts and the visitors nearly
capitalised, when substitute Karl Munton, (if the numbers on the team-sheets
were correct) who had replaced Jak Ward, fastened onto the ball, right-side of
the penalty-box and although his low pass inside was miscued and bounced off
Foster’s boot, the outspoken Brian fired an instant low effort from 10 yards,
which clipped the outside of the left post.
A fine clearance by the tough Jordan Simpson for the home
team led indirectly to Foster’s smart, simple pass inside a defender from the
half-way line for Marshall on the left flank; he crossed short and low to
Gordon, who tricked Jones like a Silver Ghost easing past an ordinary vehicle
on the M42 and slotted a neat finish past the helpless O’Brien from 10 yards,
inside-left channel. 2-0 and really, Melbourne didn’t appear to have the power
to regain a foothold in the game.
2-0 and Sean Gordon has netted... |
Seems happy enough... |
O’Brien raced from goal to beat the ever dangerous Gordon to
a through-pass, Lynch’s right-flank corner curled just past the far upright and
Tristram was relieved of his duties by Dynamo, so he could have a fag on the
sideline and I believe it was Lee Bull who replaced him. A low Ryan Gray
free-kick curled past the right upright for the visitors but it lacked real
threat and then Dave Brough was sent into the fray (good band ‘The Fray’, as is
‘Safetysuit’) to replace Tom Ballard and from a right-wing cross, Bull skied a
shot. A late challenge by combative Royce midfielder Black, earned him a
yellow, which are two smart colours together and he was soon replaced by I
believe, Dylan Place, who left his place on the bench. Dylan Place sounds like
a shrine to the famous singer. A brilliant run by Gordon, forcing his way to
the left byeline, leaving Allsop on the seat of his pants, was wrecked by a
magnificent tackle by the covering James King for the guests and Gordon’s two
unmarked colleagues in front of goal were left frustrated.
Peter points out that he remembered something from last year... Great image... |
Then demonstrates that he really hasn't forgotten last year... |
Hamson moved inside from the right and drove a shot off
target and still the visitors were looking tired, unable to raise their game
and allowing the hosts to dictate much of the play, with Foster really busy,
Gwinnett battling and defenders Aliguma and Simpson mostly steady. Then, a
simple long throw from the left by the Royce was glanced on by Aliguma, the
bounce beat the jump of Allsop and there was Marshall at the far post to nod
the ball easily into the top right corner of the net from a yard or two. 3-0
and a beating for the Dynamo was almost complete.
Alex Marshall's header: 3-0 to The Royce... |
Aliguma made a powerful run from defence for the hosts and
passed smartly right for the lurking Hamson, who bore down on goal at
inside-right, only for his angled effort to be well saved by the outstretched
right leg of O’Brien; the ball was retrieved by Gordon on the left and he
passed inside for his supporting skipper, but Foster had to hit the ball first
time as a tackle came in and his 22 yarder rose too high. Paul Mora, I think,
replaced the impressive Gordon for the Royce, before from a deep Melbourne
free-kick, Brian’s header across goal led to a melee and a 10 yard shot by
Bull, which was brilliantly kept out by Aliguma, stretching out his right boot
at his right post, with Woodard probably beaten. Hamson was replaced by Nathan
Daley, to whom I spoke pre-game as he strolled to the pitch in his hooded coat,
before Brian fed Brough, whose weak shot to Woodard saw the ‘keeper fall, so
that he could display a little dirt on otherwise pristine knees. Melbourne
stuck at it, Munton’s cross was headed down to Brough by Bull, so all three replacements
were involved but Brough’s stumbling low shot was cleared keenly and well by
Brown, as Danny Guild attempted to convert for the guests near the left
upright.
A right-side centre from the Royce found Foster about 16
yards out but at an angle and his driven delivery was remarkably hacked over
his own crossbar by Jones, although the referee awarded a goal-kick. Total
consternation and correction by the Royce players saw that a corner was awarded
instead, which was cleared but Gwinnett did manage to scream a shot from 24
yards, inside-right, some yards wide of the left post, as the hosts retained
their command until the end.
Job nearly done... One point on Saturday and the title goes to Rolls Royce... |
For Rolls Royce, every Silver Cloud has a lining and for
Melbourne, sadly, Rolls Royce left them “…wishing on a star…” for the league
title is now up for grabs for Royce when they rolls into Newhall on Saturday…
As I drove home, I reflected on the fact that upon my request a programme was
available on the day and I presumed neither Melbourne’s ‘keeper, nor their
number 10, who really gave the referee some friendly but stern banter after the
game, which the official took like kitchen-roll soaking up the blood from a
rare steak, would call any sons Brian; for they would be Brian O’Brien and
Brian Brian, which would make reporting on future games even more confusing...
I drove home to Solihull through Melbourne, ate crusty bread
and jam and prepared my thoughts for Newhall on Saturday… It’s what I do…
Teams:
Rolls Royce:
Rob Woodard, Owen Brown, Kieran Lynch; Jordan Simpson, Peter Aliguma,
Brandon Gwinnett; Troy Black, Ash Foster (Capt), Davy Hamson, Sean Gordon, Alex
Marshall.
Subs: Dylan Place, Nathan Daley, Paul Mora.
Melbourne:
Finn O’Brien, James King, Jak Ward; Carl Allsop (Capt), Matt Jones, Tom
Ballard; Tim Adcock, Ryan Gray, Michael Tristram, Matt Brian, Danny Guild.
Subs: Karl Munton, Dave Brough, Lee Bull.
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