BEWDLEY TOWN 1-0 HAUGHMOND: match report by The Mowdog...

Riverside Haughmond Denied By Bumptious Bewdley

Bewdley Town 1 Haughmond 0

This game was fought hard but Bewdley probably deserved to win it, if only for a number of smart passing moves, which led to some profligate finishing by the often neat James Baldwin, who caused bearded Haughmond skipper Tom Hewitt so much hassle during the afternoon, that it was like watching a little brother irritating an older sibling. Baldwin deserved his eventual caution; Hewitt thought so too… The visitors’ use of long throws by the vaguely Fellaini-lookalike, Carl Rogers, one of three players named Rogers in the Haughmond team (they possessed two Williamses as well), was necessarily excessive, for their own passing game was not evident on the day. Carl actually might have scrambled a point late on, in truth, but after home midfielder Tyler Richards had been dismissed, possibly for having healthy red cheeks, the giant Haughmond man’s close-range drive was brilliantly saved by home ‘keeper Rob Dalloway. A first-half strike by home midfielder Dan Hickman won the game for Town and Bewdley generally did well to cope with the aerial threat of their tall guests, especially in the latter stages, with home skipper Rich Costello in fine form, well supported in defence by Dan Flowers. 

The toss...

Strange that this game was played beneath a wooded hill, with the sun lowering above it during the afternoon, for Haughmond Hill is reputed to have been involved in the 1403 Battle of Shrewsbury and it was a ‘bosky’ hill, meaning wooded. Shakespeare is said to have been referring to Haughmond Hill in Act 5, Scene 1 of Henry IV Part 1: 

“How bloodily the sun begins to peer

Above yon bosky hill?

The day looks pale

At his distemperature.”

And of course, the day paled for Haughmond beneath the bosky Bewdley hill and ‘dis temperature’ was rather more pleasant…

The kick-off...

Jones held a low, angled effort by Russ Godfrey of Bewdley at his near post in the early stages, then stirling work on the Town left by the free-running Baldwin led to Godfrey nudging a pass back for lean winger Tom Bishop, who threaded a pass back for Godfrey to turn his marker at 8 yards and shoot low for goal, an effort which Jones fell right to beat away, like it was a hot burning ember from a spitting bonfire. the smaller lines-person signalled a foul when Bewdley challenged aerially for a high ball at the right post, after which both ‘keeper and defender Hewitt needed attention. Carl Rogers loped over to the left and launched a long throw for the visitors, which saw Steve Rogers have a shot blocked by one of many defensive legs then an astute pass by Dan Williams fed the run at inside-left by Tom Groves for Haughmond but his shot rose too high from 17 yards.

Ballet is important in today's training schedule...

Carl Rogers, whose ancestors hurled missiles at the enemy during the Battle of Shrewsbury, 1403...

Jones hesitated when a low ball rolled towards him and Baldwin was onto it like a flash, only for the ‘keeper to recover and turn the forward’s rising drive from an angle, left of goal, over his crossbar, spectacularly. Hewitt’s glanced header from the Bewdley corner looped dangerously towards his far upright but Haughmond survived. A one-two between Bishop and Baldwin (a firm of undertakers, perhaps?) led to the former finding no power in a shot which rolled to Jones. Another Carl Rogers chuck resulted in Adam Davies’ shot being deflected for a left-wing corner for the visitors, before a strong and decent run through midfield by Hickman ended with a pass left for Baldwin, whose clipped 20 harder was plucked from the air by the alert Jones. An error by Haughmond sent Baldwin running centrally but he was unable to control the bouncing ball and ended up nodding it forwards, which caused no trouble for the guests and then, finally, the diminutive but strong, quick-running Haughmond striker Louis Irvine ran clear at inside-right but he was brilliantly marshalled by the covering Costello and Flowers nodded away from the second phase of attack. Carl Rogers then passed to right-back Dean Richards, whose fine left-footed and deep cross fell onto the head of Steve Rogers, right in front of the Town goal but his glanced effort bounced apologetically against the left upright and away. A chance squandered.

Discus training comes in handy too...

Walkin' like Fellaini...

Baldwin fed Bishop, left-side and he cut inside but shot weakly past the near upright, before a low free-kick by lively home left-back Aaron Stubbins was swiped at by George Williams’ errant boot and the ball sliced upwards and over his own goal-frame from 15 yards out. Finally, Bishop’s ability to dribble with the ball brought a reward for his team and his pass from the left found Hickman, right side of the penalty-box, from whence his hard shot beat Jones and cannoned off a defender’s heel into the net.

Celebrations: 1-0...

A fine run to the left byeline by Baldwin, who was generally dangerous during the first period, led to a good cross to the far stick but Bishop headed it down and past the upright from a couple of yards only. Hewitt held onto Baldwin as he chased a long boot forward and received a caution but contrary to the opinion of some home fans, the tall, dribbling wide-man Daryl Rogers had not been cautioned during the first-half for not accepting any blame when Dalloway ran into HIM… The interval had been reached, Bewdley had been the better passing team, whilst Haughmond looked like a steam traction engine which hadn’t quite managed to fire up as yet.

There's a whole lotta leanin' goin' on...

There's some bloke pole-dancing in the dugout...

George Durrell replaced Adam Davies at the break for the guests (why didn’t they withdraw a Rogers or a Williams to make the match report less of a pain to write?) but quite soon, Baldwin’s early promise looked to have brought a reward, as he ran onto Stubbins’ pass at inside-left. Unfortunately he not only lobbed the advancing Jones but also the crossbar. A strong Bishop run was stopped by Haughmond’s defence, in which Hewitt was enormous, Baldwin’s weak header from Stubbins’ delivery was caught by Jones and after Flowers had defended the often complaining Steve Rogers well, George Williams rose to head the subsequent corner over the crossbar. A break at inside-right by the bothersome Baldwin, onside this time, for he was too often flagged offside by the taller lines-person, eventually ended up with Richards getting a shot off at 18 yards but it was strangely struck and lifted upwards, forcing Jones to be safe not sorry and tip it over his crossbar. Bishop leaned like a priest at a Confirmation but his near post header from the ensuing corner rose well off target and then he made a fine run past Durrell to the left byeline and after the ball was knocked out to 18 yards, Richards steamed in but sliced a bad shot well off target.

Bishop in full flight, minus his vestments...

Irvine lost possession and fouled Baldwin, earning a caution in the process and then neat play by Bewdley sent Baldwin to the left byeline, Jones couldn’t claim the high centre first-time as Godfrey lurked like a fox in my garden but the goalie managed to reclaim the ball. Irvine disappointingly fired a free-kick from 20 yards into the shins of the Town wall then Daryl Rogers chased into the penalty-box, was thwarted by Dalloway but caught the ‘keeper with an accidental boot and then fouled a defender, which earned him a caution. Neat play by Godfrey again fed Baldwin at inside-right but the forward, getting frustrated, chose a shot with the outside of his right shoe, which was poor and then he lifted another shot wastefully too high from the energetic Richards’ right byeline service and it seemed that Bewdley’s inability to claim a second goal might just open a door for Haughmond. Both number 14s appeared as substitutes: Will Woodhouse for Hickman and Nick Ellerby for Haughmond’s Tom Groves. 

The fallen 'keeper, the inquisition and we have another Shakespearean tragedy...

"You've got until Monday to get your homework in, or you'll be in detention..."

The lines-person practises her dismissal action behind the referee's back...

And then Richards was dismissed. He was shocked as he walked away; the referee had consulted a lines-person, Richards reckoned he had been fouled and had been hard done by. I saw nothing at all to be able to comment upon. Carl Rogers then could have equalised for the visitors, when a left-wing corner was headed back across goal to him but his 5 yard drive was superbly turned over the crossbar by Dalloway as the ‘keeper threw himself at the ball. The next corner was headed tamely past the left upright by Carl Rogers, who looked like he would rather have been fighting in the Battle of Shrewsbury than attempting to gain parity in Bewdley.

Richards is dismissed to make the sandwiches...

Another pass forward by Stubbins freed Baldwin again, at inside-left this time, but as he closed in on goal and Hewitt slid at him, the forward dragged a really inaccurate effort well wide of the opposite upright. Baldwin was finally cautioned, to the relief of Hewitt, for his constant niggling and arguing then Costello saved his team by rushing out at a shooter and blocking a hard shot, which left him hurt and he was replaced for the final moments by Ashley Stubbins (No!!!! 2x Stubbins now…) Bewdley survived Carl Rogers’ throw and saw the game out with ten fighting men. 

This was never a great game at all but one of effort. Lots of it. Costello, Flowers, Hewitt and George Williams did good things and the Bewdley midfield, with Rob Orme always available, was often trying to be creative, and despite Baldwin’s careless finishing he, along with Godfrey, was a threat. 

I walked along the river to my car, recalling a painting of Victorian Bewdley in Birmigham Museum and Art Gallery; for Bewdley was an inland port then, more important than Birmingham, until that is, the canals were dug in Brum. I used to feature that painting in sessions for schools in the Museum… How things could have been so different for the town… I looked at the bosky, drove home for eggs and chips and watched Barcelona beat Bilbao, not bothering about Villa’s win at Liverpool… 

It’s what I do…

Teams: 

Bewdley: Rob Dalloway, Simon Rudd, Aaron Stubbins; Rich Costello (Capt), Dan Flowers, Tyler Richards; Rob Orme, James Baldwin, Russ Godfrey, Dan Hickman, Tom Bishop.

Subs:  Ash Stubbins, Will Woodhouse, Alex Kilgour.

Haughmond:  Sam Jones, Dean Richards, George Williams; Tom Hewitt (Capt), Carl Rogers, Dan Williams; Tom Groves, Steve Rogers, Louis Irvine, Adam Davies, Daryl Rogers.

Subs: George Durrell, Nick Ellerby, Mark Jenks, Mark Appleby, Ed Ashlin.