ALVIS SPORTING 0-4 BROMSGROVE SPORTING: match report by The Mowdog...

Alvis Tanked By Romping Rouslers

Alvis Sporting 0 Bromsgrove Sporting 4

The battle of the Sportings was so one-sided that visiting goalie Jake Bedford thought he had better fall left to collect Lewis Ludford’s late, tame shot for Alvis, just to display a damp left leg in the dressing-room after the match had ended. Home ‘keeper Jack Hartopp was a good deal busier, making several decent saves and also watching a good number of other Bromsgrove efforts get deflected or simply pass by his goal-frame. Sadly, outplayed though Alvis were, some of the loss of possession by them was surely quite unforgivable and thoughtful skipper Steve Evans was obviously angry with some of his colleagues’ ineptitude. Alvis were only able to name two substitutes, whereas two of Bromsgrove’s replacements, Charlie Wilson and Danny Lennon not only contributed strongly to their team’s victory, but also scored goals. Also on the Rouslers’ bench was usual starter Sam Wills but main striker Chris Conway wasn’t even present, along with skipper Scott Smith. The 0-4 victory should have been even more emphatic and the referee often seemed more lenient with the Alvis tackling than he was with Bromsgrove’s. 

Simon Fitter and Steve Evans toss to see who gets to eat Southam Lee's saveloy...

Early promise by Bromsgrove saw Sean Brain threaten inside the home penalty-box, following a left-wing centre, then Reece Hewitt was fouled 25 yards out but skipper Simon Fitter lifted his free-kick shot disappointingly and well over the crossbar. Will Tibbetts then ought to have at least got his shot on target, when smart footwork by Aaron Daniels slipped him in at inside-right; Hartopp then lost the ball after sliding at the winger’s feet, allowing Tibbetts to shoot left-footed at an unguarded net from a slight angle but his effort was pulled past the near post. Suddenly though, Tibbetts’ neat through-pass to inside-right let in Daniels and his strength and trickery at an angle on the right, left Alvis central defender Aaron Cheshire floundering on the turf and the forward steadied himself and foxed the motionless Hartopp, side-footing a left-footer to the ‘keeper’s right and into the net. The goalie’s expression looked like that of a stooge whose watch had been removed by a magician’s sleight of hand. This strike caused a Bromsgrove supporter to guffaw loudly and cynically, which seemed to amuse his companions. 

0-1 and Daniels has struck...

Evans heroically headed two Bromsgrove corners clear then Brain picked up a loose ball in the penalty-area after the solid Lewis Clarke had challenged for a header from a left-wing centre. The speedy forward’s left-footer from 12 yards struck the base of the left upright and Clarke’s spooned rebound effort from even closer was palmed aside by the leaping Hartopp and Alvis survived. Brain was released by Tibbetts at inside-right but his shot was weak to Hartopp then Brain returned the compliment but with Daniels making a run to his right, the winger clipped an 18 yard effort at goal, only for the ball to bounce off the top of the horizontal beam. Clarke passed to Hewitt on the left flank and the strong runner cut across the edge of the penalty-area past two or three poor challenges, only for his well-struck shot to rise over the left side of the crossbar, with the laughing-man again bellowing his approval.

A rugby ball finds its way onto the pitch...

Note the beach ball the players have resorted to...

Bromsgrove right-back Chris Duggan was looking to pass the ball forward at every opportunity, hitting Daniels and Brain frequently, for the Rouslers’ attack lacked height, yet thus far, so little had been seen of Alvis as an attacking outfit, bar a couple of smart long Evans passes and some hopeful running by Ross Knight. However, eventually a Rousler clearance did strike Ludford’s body and rebounded to the yawning Bedford and Ludford was winded, presumably. The laughing man then took exception to the linesman near him, over some ‘shirt-tugging’ and the official took the baiting in good part, even replying smartly, causing more vociferous and disproportionate bellowing from the fellow on the rail. Brain flicked on a header for Daniels to test Hartopp from 20 yards but the effort lacked any pace then Bromsgrove were awarded a free-kick, unusually, right-side, not too far inside the byeline and touchline; Fitter planted the ball on Brain’s head (not a joke) but Hartopp collected the unchallenged 5 yard far post downward header comfortably on his goal-line. Tibbetts was not getting past his marker with any regularity on the Bromsgrove right and despite the huge territorial and creative advantage won by the visitors, they still couldn’t find a second goal. 

Steve Evans looks to get his team going forward.
For a moment or two...

Daniels moved onto Duggan’s accurate pass and burst past Paolo Razza, who, along with Evans, remains from Alvis’ title-winning team, although Rob Whaling wasn’t present, but Hartopp raced from goal to deny the dangerous Daniels 15 yards out. The break arrived, the evening remained mild, Alvis replaced Knight with Alex Mills in attack and it became very quiet where I stood, for the Rousler fans, including the laughing-man, had congregated at the opposite end of the ground to watch their team’s goals from a closer proximity. 

The bus hasn't arrived yet...

Straight from the kick-off, Daniels simply ran at the home defence, which they Sportingly allowed him to but after reaching the left byeline, the striker’s pass across goal was slashed high over the crossbar from close range by the supporting Bromsgrove workhorse, Ryan Mahon. Tibbetts, who had been hurt in the opening half, was soon replaced by Danny Lennon and in truth, the substitute looked extremely lively, immediately moving onto a Bedford punt and poking a low shot from the left to Hartopp. He was then pushed in the penalty-box but the referee simply reacted by bending one knee, leaning and pointing an arm, like he was counting out a boxer, something he did with regularity throughout the match. Brain made a smart run into the 18 yard box but Hartopp reached the ball first then a couple of attacks by the visitors involved a good number of passes and controlled possession but to their coaches’ frustration, no end product emerged at all. Finally, Lennon’s persistence fed Hewitt for a run inside from the left but as he looked to shoot, Clarke thumped the ball high over the crossbar from 19 yards.

View of Bedford...

Bromsgrove looked creative again but over-played it and lost possession but Alvis were so woeful in their offensive ball-retention that the guests were quick to reclaim the ball. Chris Sockett, having success from left-back, made a surging run to the byeline but his cross was too far for Brain and then a home player took a throw on the far side of the field by raising his back leg like he was gliding on ice: the officials failed to notice. Dexter Robinson replaced Jordan Hiscox for the hosts but Alvis surrendered possession again, Lennon ran at inside-left and although Daniels was free in the middle, the striker understandably shot for goal, only to be denied at the near upright by Hartopp’s right knee. Again Alvis gave away the ball and this time Brain took possession, made good ground, cut inside from the left and drove in a rising shot, which Hartopp saved superbly, turning the ball away to his left for a corner. A short corner was taken, Sockett’s cross was cleared straight to Hewitt and he drove a rising 22 yarder past the helpless Hartopp and high into the right side of the net to increase the Rouslers’ lead.

0-2 and Hewitt has scored...

The slight Bromsgrove tension had been released, Clarke was replaced by the more creative Charlie Wilson for the visitors and he was soon to make his mark, moving to the near post to glance a great header from Daniels’ fine left-wing centre goalwards, only for Hartopp to fly left and at full stretch catch the ball stylishly: yes, catch the ball… Soon, the ball fell right from Daniels’ aerial challenge at 20 yards to Brain, who cut inside and shot low from the edge of the penalty-area; Hartopp fell left but failed to hold the shot and there was Wilson, following up alertly, to slide the rebound into the left corner of the net. 

Wilson has added Bromsgrove's third goal...

Jozsef Jakab replaced the troublesome Daniels, whose pace had been telling, then Lennon cut in from the left-flank but shot at Hartopp, who was covering the near post and then a quick Fitter free-kick freed Lennon on the left side again but again Hartopp blocked the near post shot safely. Brain also cut inside from the left flank, his shot took a slight deflection and the corner was taken short on the right. The Alvis defenders seemed mesmerised by Lennon, who had roved inside and even Hartopp was forlorn as the striker’s shovelled left-footer from 18 yards curled inside the left post to complete the scoring.

0-4: Lennon...

And then Bedford dampened his knees, saving a neatly set-up shot by Ludford, albeit one which lacked any pace and it only remained for a Fitter pass to feed Brain on the left-flank, he cut inside again, his shot took a slight deflection again and another corner was won. In the dying seconds, from the resulting flag-kick, Lennon had a shot deflected for yet another corner and the referee kindly put an end to the one-sided encounter. Hewitt, Lennon, Wilson and Brain impressed at times, offensively, for the visitors but Brain was unfortunate not to find the net. Central defenders Fitter and the solid, dependable Craig Jones looked strong and the full-backs were full of running. Alvis were obviously served well by Evans and Hartopp, and Cheshire, who took a nasty knock after the break, gave his all, as did his other defensive colleagues. 

It was strange to see Lee from Southam as the barman, eating his bag of chips and eyeing a remarkably juicy-looking saveloy, which was nestling like a potent reptile in the greasy paper. Also it was good to spot other Southam representatives at their own ground, but apart from the Alvis and Bromsgrove contingents, including the very decent Tankman Dave Taylor, I chatted also to the Coventry United guests, but how Alvis could have done with the trio snapped up by United from them on this night: Tommy Maguire, Leon Kelly and Patrick Suffo… Life, eh?

Teams:

Alvis:  Jack Hartopp, Jordan Hiscox, Oli Basham; Steve Evans (Capt), Aaron Cheshire, Paolo Razza; Ellis Layfield, Dean Kimberlin, Ross Knight, Lewis Ludford, Anthony Hatton.

Subs: Dexter Robinson, Alex Mills.

Bromsgrove:  Jake Bedford, Chris Duggan, Chris Sockett; Simon Fitter (Capt), Craig Jones, Lewis Clarke; WillTibbetts, Reece Hewitt, Sean Brain, Aaron Daniels, Ryan Mahon.

Subs: Peter Christmas, Sam Wills, Charlie Wilson, Jozsef Jakab, Danny Lennon.