Sunday 28 September 2014

MICKLEOVER RBL 2-3 MICKLEOVER ROYALS: programme cover & LINK TO VIDEO CLIPS...


MICKLEOVER RBL 2-3 MICKLEOVER ROYALS: match report by The Mowdog...

Difficult Derby Day Deals Disorder and Discomfort
Mickleover RBL 2 Mickleover Royals 3

Hugs for the Legionaries...

Looks like Royal number 11 has had his head twisted round...

Royals began this derby game with several regulars missing for one reason or another and RBL were certainly up for it, utilising the aerial power of striker Daz Rushton and the considerable aerial strength of defender and skipper Karl Reynolds to frustrate their guests. Each team seemed to take it in turns to press, almost like in a Rugby League game, resulting in short periods of offense, generally originating from free-kicks and corners (all five goals stemmed from set-plays) but in truth, creative play was at a premium and whereas Rushton often caused the Royals’ defence some jitters, the visitors’ Steve O’Connell rarely dragged more than a passing yawn from the dominant Reynolds and despite his effort and running, Nashan Wilson was also mostly held in check by Scott Bednall. Indeed, Royals were totally unable to hold up the ball in attack, something that RBL often did better, occasionally bringing midfielder Sam Blount and fleet-footed right-winger Rob Selby into the action. Had it not been for two fine saves by Royals’ Ash Warner in the opening stages of the second-half, this result could have been quite different. The visitors netted twice late on and although RBL’s penalty offered some promise of a point at the death, the final two minutes were successfully negotiated by the fretting league-leaders and all three points were gained.
Hmm...

An early Danny Martin drive was blocked, as the guests began better and then Adam Birch combined with O’Connell but Birch’s near post effort was lifted behind the goal-frame. Peter Aliguma headed clear a couple of times as the hosts began to feature but the only shot was that from dead-ball expert Charles Salloway, whose 23 yard effort was off target. Shaun Roberts’ left flank corner for Royals was attacked at the near upright by Chris Martin but with home goalie Daz Keeling flapping his arms like a giant bat, the ball bounced wide. Rushton should have benefited from a weak Ash Lynch back-pass (Lynch was doomed to endure an eventful match) but his right-footer from 20 yards was off target, as Warner looked on in horror. A left-footer might just have brought a better reward for the RBL forward. Birch won the ball from Reynolds and fed O’Connell but the big striker’s shot was wayward from 15 yards then he lob-headed Roberts’ corner from 16 yards, an effort which dropped over the roof of the RBL net. Then the visitors scored, after a right-wing corner by Danny Martin had been cleared for a second flag-kick; this time, the in-swinger was bundled home by Lynch from a couple of yards, after the near post posse had failed to connect with the Royals skipper’s well-delivered ball. 
0-1 to Royals...

The ball in the air? How unusual...

Immediately, the Legion responded and won a corner of their own on the right; Salloway curled it across and there was Rushton to head powerfully and downwards into the Royals’ net from about 5 yards, near the front post. Two defenders failed to mark the striker with any real care and parity had been secured straight away by the scrapping hosts.
Rushton has equalised for RBL...

After Aliguma had sliced a clearance vertically, like he was firing up a rocket on November 5th to concede a corner as Ben Stockley threatened, the big Royals defender then made an offensive run, after O’Connell had been dispossessed and raced forward to push a pass for Birch to move onto at inside-left but Keeling advanced to smother the winger’s effort. The hosts survived two more corners and the play moved to the other end again, where Rob Lowrie, who had allowed the ball to run beneath his boot twice to concede throws already, shielded the ball well but Salloway couldn’t keep his clipped delivery down as he moved onto his colleague’s feed. Stockley won a corner on the RBL left but this time Rushton’s soaring header, amongst poor defensive marking again, drifted well over the Royals’ crossbar. A final chance of the half fell to the visitors, when persistence on the right by the busy Wilson led to a cross and a head-down, as O’Connell challenged Reynolds, which fell for Ryan Thompson, whose major contribution for Royals had been in defence if the truth be told, but he lifted his shot above the right angle of bar and post from a really good position.
Lynch gets a grip...

Half-time arrived, the substitutes ran about a bit, players’ mobile phones and cigarettes were interestingly visible, then the second period began with a wasteful shot by O’Connell and murmurings were heard about perhaps changing the game for Royals by utilising their substitutes. Sam Blount, constantly blunting the Royals midfield with his effort and strength, suddenly ran forward and threaded a pass for Lowrie at inside-right but he was unable to turn the ball onto the target as Warner raced out, with the ‘keeper doing really well not to trip the RBL winger. A clash between Lynch and Rushton, which looked as though both players had slid into each other, left the RBL man writhing like a hunted snake in Needwood Forest but despite a firm talking-to by the lenient referee, Lynch escaped a caution and Rushton rushed to his feet and carried on like a miracle cure had been administered by a witch doctor. It’s what we all do…   
 
The Incredible Leaping Man...

Rushton is apparently in pain, Lynch is spoken to and the others discuss which pub they're drinking in tonight...

The resulting free-kick led to a flying header at the Royals’ goal, which was well saved by the flying Warner, who turned the ball away to his left, but he was called upon again from the subsequent corner, which eventually fell at a Legionary’s feet and the goalie was forced to drop left to make a reaction save on his goal-line. Again, set-pieces were causing some real marking problems for the visitors and Aliguma, Jordan Simpson and Lynch simply could not stop the hosts from threatening at these situations. Rushton, following another set-piece attack by RBL, completely miscued a volley from a good position then Aliguma barged into Blount like he was in a dodgem car and didn’t like the bloke in the car in front very much. Aliguma was cautioned but Salloway’s 24 yard free-kick was clipped over the crossbar. Then it was Royals’ turn to spend a short while in the RBL defensive zone, almost as if it had been agreed; Keeling did well to tip on a Danny Martin corner, as Wilson leapt like a salmon but still RBL seemed to get to the ball first in the majority of cases in midfield, the forwards often held up the ball up better and the midfielders often supported the attackers better than their guests.

Finally, Roberts broke onto the ball through the centre and passed through inside-right for Wilson to run onto but the striker was off balance as he attempted to pass across the penalty-box and the hosts cleared with ease. O’Connell and Wilson then challenged for a high Aliguma cross from the Royals’ right but the latter’s shot on the turn was blocked to Birch, left side, 8 yards out and the wide-man’s shot was saved by the outstretched boot of Keeling and a corner was conceded. This flag-kick came to nought but soon, a deep free-kick on the left by Danny Martin was beautifully swung across the penalty-area and although the tall people couldn’t get to it, Wilson did, at the far stick and his header beat the helpless Keeling. 
Wilson has scored for Royals...

Almost immediately, Birch won possession and released Wilson at inside-left but the goalscorer attempted to screw an awkward right-footed shot and messed up big-time, seeing his effort roll badly wide of the near upright, with the words of his coaching staff ringing around the ground: “LEFT foot!” O’Connell won a headed duel but his corkscrewed effort spiralled way too high then Kirk Francis replaced the hard-working forward. Decent passing for once by Royals led to a Wilson centre being deflected behind for a corner, Matt Richards replaced the tireless Birch for Royals and Wilson’s far post header from Roberts’ delivery was saved by Keeling this time. RBL then enjoyed their next agreed offensive period and Lynch and Simpson were forced to hack ball away several times from crosses. Joe Brockley replaced Roberts for the guests and Danny James replaced Lowrie for the home team but with a good chance from a free-kick, left-side, James’ delivery was way off line.

A fine run by Francis was halted by Bednall’s splendid tackle but the right-side corner would lead to another Royals goal. Reynolds headed the ball clear and Brockley, some 30 yards out, back to goal, shovelled a fine pass wide again to corner-taker Danny Martin and the skipper’s first-time left-foot centre fell beautifully for Chris Martin, all alone in the middle but he miscued the ball to the right from 7 yards, leaving the predatory Francis totally onside to gleefully ram the ball into the RBL net. His celebration involved a run, lots of hugging and some loud noises.
Hugs and Francis enjoys his moment...

Still happy...

Thomson inexplicably failed to try to head a fine Simpson free-kick, as it zoomed towards him, but all the hosts could manage in response was a long ball forward for Rushton to head towards Stockley, who drove badly off target. However, with a couple of minutes to play, another break by RBL led to the tricky Selby cutting inside from the right and it just had to be Lynch who felled him; Lynch’s back-pass had nearly caused an earlier goal, he had scored one, had nearly been cautioned for the challenge with Rushton, had not been close enough to Rushton when RBL had equalised and now he had conceded a penalty… Perhaps he wished he’d been playing bowls instead… Stockley tucked a low spot-kick to the right side of goal, as Warner fell the opposite way.
Francis and Wilson: threats near the end...

Stockley has netted his penalty...

Danny Martin, displeased by the award of the penalty, had been booked and it only remained for Royals to break and some neat skill by Richards ended with a strange cross-field delivery, backwards and a perfect pass to an opponent but Aliguma broke up the play and passed right for Wilson and he HAD to square the ball for Francis but as the substitute entered the penalty-box, the ball struck his arm and he lost control. The victory was Royals’ and they confirmed their position at the top of the league but in all honesty they had been given a tough match by their neighbours and Warner had kept them in the game at a vital time. Bednall and Reynolds were excellent for the hosts, Selby was certainly elusive on occasions and Rushton was aerially strong but although Danny Martin’s left foot was a worthy extremity for Royals, Wilson worked hard with little service and Warner did well in goals, the introduction of Francis certainly added the dimension of ‘danger’ for the ailing visitors. And they had Lynch, the lynchpin of the team…
Legion defeated...

Time for a pint...

I saw the bowlers through a window eating their high teas in the clubhouse and smiled to myself as drove home to a sausage casserole, NOT eggs and chips as usual… It’s what I sometimes do…

Teams:

RBL:  Daz Keeling, Dave Coe, Charles Salloway; Karl Reynolds (Capt), Scott Bednall, Stuart Poynter; Rob Selby, Sam Blount, Ben Stockley, Daz Rushton, Rob Lowrie.

Subs: Danny James, Michael Meehan, Ross Lloyd, Jacob Yeomans.

Royals:  Ash Warner, Chris Martin, Ash Lynch; Jordan Simpson, Peter Aliguma, Danny Martin (Capt); Ryan Thompson, Shaun Roberts, Nashan Wilson, Steve O’Connell, Adam Birch.

Subs: Oli Buxton, Joe Brockley, Matt Richards, Sam Bartram, Kirk Francis.





MICKLEOVER RBL 2-3 MICKLEOVER ROYALS: general images...

The AWAY dugout @ Mickleover RBL...
The Bodging commandeers a plastic chair but he wasn't too bothered about the bowls match nearby...

RBL practise their 'milling around' tactic to confuse the Royals...

Not the tea-hut, but the payment hut...

The smart HOME dugout...

Royals' 'keeper Ash Warner locates a leg somewhere beneath him...

The noisy Royals warm up @ the British Legion...

Looks like the tree-house has been mistakenly built on the ground...

Now THAT is such a cool roller...

RBL Antiques Ltd...

40 Shades of Rust: number 5...

A net view @ RBL...

A romantic evening can be spent watching RBL by booking the 'Love Couch'...

Ends, edges and encroaching 'ENTS'...

Decent view and such a temptation to drop things on the folks below...

Smart set up @ Mickleover RBL...

You can find the club on the Web, quite clearly...

The incumbent scuttled away when it realised it would feature on my Blog...

Richards and Brockley: hair by appointment to the Queen...

Lining up and pretending to like each other...

The unbeaten Royals take a bow...

The RBL Argiopes, or yellow and black garden spiders, take the field...


Wednesday 24 September 2014

AFC BRIDGNORTH 3-1 SHAWBURY UNITED: programme cover & LINK TO VIDEO CLIPS...


AFC BRIDGNORTH 3-1 SHAWBURY: match report by The Mowdog...

Danks For That…
AFC Bridgnorth 3 Shawbury 1

A well-mannered method of meeting...

Shawbury huddle...

Bridgnorth refrain from hugging at all...

This was a confusing game to watch, for after a bright start, Bridgnorth became embroiled in a physical first-half battle against the wind and with the persistent rain in their faces, whilst working up the Crown Meadow slope. Shawbury disappointed before the break, rarely causing home ‘keeper Chris Crook more work than merely shepherding the ball around, but home striker Mark Danks was lively and forced visiting goalie Matty Evans into the first of several fine saves he made during the contest. Indeed, Danks’ two goals directly before half-time owed more to good fortune than slick shooting, yet when the forward struck really good shots later on, Evans would make some fine blocks. Shawbury fought back however, after some Bridgnorth pressure in the opening period of the second-half and falling further behind to a splendid Kev Buxton goal, but it was bearded striker Tom Rogers’ deliveries from the right flank which caused some real consternation for the home defenders. Bridgnorth were worthy winners however on a wet, dull, Danks night…
The toss...

A 25 yard shot from home midfielder Glynn Coney flew only just wide of the right upright and then from Danks’ flick-on, strike-partner Tom Whitney drove too high from 19 yards. A crude challenge from beefy Shawbury skipper Stu Ellis on Danks earned him a caution but soon, Bridgnorth caused more problems for their guests from a corner. Andy Hartlebury, the skipper, rose and headed the ball towards the right post, where Danks stole in and Evans took evasive action to knock the ball away, leading to a clipped effort by Whitney from 17 yards, which dropped past the left upright. Crook kicked a low clearance straight to Ellis, 35 yards out and the Shawbury man turned to volley a smart effort straight back to the ‘keeper then Bridgnorth survived a bit of chaos in their own penalty-box after Crook had conceded a corner and finally a Shawbury offensive header bounced off a team-mate for a goal-kick.

Bridgnorth were attempting to pass the ball, which wasn’t easy on the undulating pitch, which in places looked like a grassy no-man’s-land at the Somme, but neat play led to an angled left-footer from inside-right by Danks, which Evans leapt right to turn away spectacularly. An off-the-ball incident followed, involving Coney who,I was later reliably informed, might just have been fortunate to escape with only a caution, as lots of men’s deep voices shouted things at each other and also at the main official, like: “Excuse me, good fellow, perhaps that chipper chap wearing 11 just lost control of a boot there, and maybe ought to take the remainder of the evening orf… Yes?” Coney remained on the field. I didn’t see it. Gods, am I turning into Arsene Wenger? Oui?

Accusations...

Enter Jason Pike. He was working as a postman when I watched Bridgnorth Town a few times a while ago and I presume he still is and with the air still shivering with male anger, he aimed a little kick at an opponent, before becoming far more involved in the proceedings. Neat passing between the elusive Danks and the spearhead Whitney resulted in an overlap on the right by Simon Gregory and his cross was headed down by Whitney for the rampaging Coney to strike first-time from 20 yards and the powerful shot rose only just too high. After Crook fly-kicked the ball against his own defensive colleague and was lucky that the ball flew back into his midriff, another Whitney header to Danks led to a pass for Pike to run onto but he shot well wide of the left post from 24 yards. Pike then tripped the compact and speedy right-sided Shawbury attacker Steve Hole (should he have been playing in the hole behind the strikers?) and the busy Bridgnorth midfielder was shown a yellow card as the rain fell and the night cooled.

Danks struck a fine volleyed pass left to Coney but Gregory headed the ensuing cross well wide of the far stick, although Gregory has to be honoured for the way he sprinted impressively back to his position each time he was involved in an attack. And then Pike struck, with an intuitive through-pass at inside-left for Danks and he ran with his marker alongside marker Tom Lappin into the penalty-box but although his low shot ought to have been simple for Evans to collect, the ball took a ridiculous jump in front of the ‘keeper, as if a mole had nodded it on and the shot bounced rather abjectly over the falling Evans’ body and into the empty net. Danks clipped a 20 yard free-kick over the Shawbury crossbar, before benefitting from another fine Pike feed, a gem from his postbag, whereupon visiting defender Adam Groom slipped on the treacherous turf and allowed Danks to run into the penalty-area, right side, but his shot appeared to be scuffed, which of course again caused an impossible problem for the advancing Evans and the ball rolled harmlessly into the net. 
The interval reached, the players stroll off for a pee, a cuppa and no doubt a rollicking...

The interval had been reached and I scratched my head at the scoreline, for the majority of the half had been untidy, uninteresting and unimaginative, bar a few passing movements by the hosts. Little had been seen of Shawbury’s offense, even with the elements at their backs and the slope in their favour but Bridgnorth began the second period well in the ascendancy and looked very lively indeed. Neat build-up play between Danks and fluent midfielder Karl Griffiths led to a rising 12 yard drive by Gregory flying off target, then after a bad foul by Shawbury’s Clayton Johnson, Pike’s free-kick led to a fine piece of shielding by Danks and another appearance by Gregory, whose low shot rolled some yards wide of the left upright from a favourable 10 yards. With the hosts really looking dangerous, Danks ran to the left byeline smoothly, passed a low delivery to the edge of the 18 yard box and there was the hard-working and keen, impish and effective Buxton to rifle a fine left-footer over the shaken Evans and into the roof of the net. A great strike.
AFC Bridgnorth celebrate their third goal by Buxton...

Whitney and Danks combined again for the latter to drive well over the bar from distance then a melee ensued in the Shawbury penalty-box and Griffiths managed to poke a low 8 yard shot, which nearly went through the falling Evans’ legs but in fact struck them and somehow the visitors survived again. Excellent defensive play by Pike set up Danks on the break for AFC, but his low feed from the right was too far in front of Whitney and then Coney and Pike exchanged passes well but the former smashed his shot way off target. And then, completely against all the odds, Rogers, now playing on the right, with Hole in search of a better ‘ole on the left, crossed wastefully straight into Crook’s arms, waist-high but the ‘keeper inexplicably dropped the ball, like a crook spilling his bag of swag and there was Lester Alderson to pounce and slip the ball into the Bridgnorth net from 6 yards. 

Rogers had triggered (geddit?) the response for the guests and he again received the ball wide-right but before home left-back Phil Hurdley could get at him, the bearded striker had crossed the ball onto the top of the crossbar; Hole retrieved the ball and passed inside for Alderson at 18 yards but the midfielder’s strike flew over the crossbar. A great Buxton pass for Danks at inside-right led to an angled shot and a fine save by Evans’ legs as the goalie advanced and with the game opening out more, Hartlebury glanced the corner some yards past the right post with a soaring header. Shawbury responded and Jordy Kennedy latched onto a panicky clearance right of centre and shot low from 8 yards but although Crook was out of position, the dependable Hartlebury did really well to kick the ball off the goal-line at his own left upright. Fine play by Griffiths and Buxton set up Danks for a ripping 25 harder, which Evans leapt to tip over his crossbar and Pike’s corner was nodded off target again by Gregory, who sprinted back to defence like a spirited dog returning a tennis ball to its owner.

Then the game, which had inexplicably begun late anyway, was held up for a while after Whitney and Shawbury’s Lappin clashed heads, leaving them both immobile on the grass and needing urgent attention. The AFC physio’ had moaned about the rain to me before the game, concerned that she would probably slip over when she raced onto the pitch, but she kept her feet magnificently. Both injured players were bandaged around their heads and they were led to their dugouts like infantrymen rescued from World War 1 shell-holes. Owen Lloyd replaced Lappin, Anwar Olugbon replaced Whitney. Shawbury chose to introduce Kev Renshaw and Dale Williams in the places of Johnson and Kennedy, as the game lost its cut and thrust for a time but after Lewis Ayres replaced Coney for the hosts, the in-form Shawbury central defender Adam Groom cleared Buxton’s fine centre brilliantly. Pike’s subsequent corner was headed well wide of the far post by Olugbon from 15 yards. A Danks slapped shot was deflected wide as Bridgnorth raised their game again, then he hammered a cross too hard across goal and Olugbon was unable to benefit. Finally, good Evans staked his claim to challenge Danks for the game’s Most Valuable Player, for Olugbon raced clear at inside-left and unleashed a powerful drive, which Evans did so well to parry away, only for Ayres to fire the rebound at a gaping goal but the ‘keeper recovered superbly to block that too…
The injured are recovered from the battlefield...

An exciting finish then and the players could not be faulted for their efforts and attempts to pass the ball on what became a tough surface. Pike, Buxton and Griffiths emerged to run the midfield trenches and Danks was always a threat, despite several ‘unwise’ passes around the edge of the Shawbury penalty-box. Defenders Hartlebury and Josh Bradburn played stoutly for the hosts but so did Groom for the visitors. Hole and Rogers were often influential for Shawbury but I guess that Evans would have to be thanked for keeping the scoreline respectable. 

I drove home for a lump of cheese and a bowl of Weetabix. Well, it’s what I do…

Teams:

AFC Bridgnorth:  Chris Crook, Simon Gregory, Phil Hurdley; Jason Pike, Josh Bradburn, Andy Hartlebury (Capt); Karl Griffiths, Kev Buxton, Mark Danks, Tom Whitney, Glynn Coney.

Subs: Lewis Ayres, Anwar Olugbon, Alex Hall, Mike Evans, Mark Clyde. 

Shawbury:  Matty Evans, Jaton Vernon, Jake Jones; Tom Lappin, Adam Groom, Jordy Kennedy; Steve Hole, Lester Alderson, Tom Rogers, Stu Ellis (Capt), Clayton Johnson.

Subs: Ken Renshaw, Dale Williams, Connor Courtney, Owen Lloyd, Dave Howarth.

   



AFC BRIDGNORTH 3-1 SHAWBURY: general images...

The Bodging finds himself on the bench @ Bridgnorth...

The 'new' sign...

Neat view @ Innage Road...


Massed crowds bustle to gain access to the game...

VIP seat...

Alien lands and wonders at the wilderness which surrounds him...

The breeze swept the rain towards the terrace, so not the best place to stand, unless you didn't have a shower in the morning...

Spooky ghosts of the now defunct Bridgnorth Town are captured racing across the pitch...

The replacements seem happy that they will be able to shelter in their dugout from the rain...


A giant matchstick has been planted into the turf...

No doubt which dugout the hosts are going to use then...
Specsavers might be an option...