NUNEATON GRIFF 1-2 BROMSGROVE SPORTING: match report by THE MOWDOG...

The Pingles Tingles To Jakab’s Jolly Volley

Nuneaton Griff 1-2 Bromsgrove Sporting

Bromsgrove dominated much of this game, played in bright, cold sunshine at the Pingles Stadium but squandered opportunities, especially before the interval, going in only a goal ahead, courtesy of Sean Brain. Little was seen of the Griff forwards, with both Adam Russell and Aden Moore very quiet, as home defenders Corey Faulconbridge and the massive Liam Baginskis performed a rearguard battle, finding Sporting striker Chris Conway in ebullient mood, generally making himself a target for typical, long Bromsgrove balls and working the channels with real strength. The finishing was not good however and this allowed Griff to make a determined and stubborn fist of the second period, yet their equaliser was still a real surprise, after Sam Wills had seen his penalty saved for the visitors. Fortunately for Sporting, replacement Joe Jakab smacked home a great low volley to settle the affair and he very nearly volleyed another, as the visitors always looked the more lively and threatening team. Griff fought so hard, with Corey Faulconbridge especially competent in an overworked defence and goalie Alex Horton played his part in keeping his team in the contest for so long. Simon Fitter was back in the Sporting defensive-midfield position after his suspension for a sending-off in a game which was abandoned and in all other aspects didn’t even exist… Life, eh?

Baginskis climbs...

Conway was busy from the start for the guests, reaching the right byeline and crossing but although Ryan Mahon was unable to get in a header, the ball broke to Wills, 18 yards out. He waited to crash a volley goalwards but a defender nicked the ball away and Wills volleyed cold air, leaving Fitter to slam a 30 yard effort well over the crossbar as the ball ran loose. More attacking on the right by Conway ended with Wills being dispossessed then Conway won a throw on the right through sheer persistence, crossed again and although the ball was cleared by Nuneaton, panicking at such an early stage, Reece Hewitt knocked the ball forward off a defender for Brain, just 8 yards out, left side of goal but the speedy forward’s disappointing shot struck the side-netting. A couple of early fouls on Sporting players, an obstruction on Fitter then a pull-back on Conway resulted in pantomime decisions by the referee, who awarded free-kicks to Griff but, undaunted, the visitors attacked more and Brain ran well on the right, cut inside but with the supporting Mahon available, drove a low 18 yard effort straight at Horton.

Brain soon found himself free and running at inside-left, only for the slippery surface, or poor control, to result in the ball rolling out of play for a relieving Nuneaton goal-kick. Fine play once more by the eager Conway saw him veer right past Horton but after reaching the byeline, he cut inside onto his more trusty left boot and his delivery was blocked in front of goal by a defender, when really, Sporting should have capitalised with a goal. One soon came though and I believe it was Fitter’s long ball (yet again) which freed the scampering Brain through the centre and this time he poked the ball under the advancing Horton and Bromsgrove led.

0-1 and Brain (11) has scored for Sporting...

Sean Brain strolls for a quick drink...

Fitter was bolstering midfield for Sporting and yet the visitors had still not managed to look creative at all, more a team rushing forth onto long kicks, although utilising the work ethic of Conway too. Hewitt fed the ball right for Chris Duggan and the right-back’s centre looked to heading for Wills until Conway leapt like a tumbler in a circus ring to perform a bicycle-kick and sent the ball crashing onto the top of the crossbar, with Horton looking on. Wills then set up Conway for a shot at inside-right which the striker curled with his left foot from 17 yards but the ball’s trajectory took it beyond the far upright, with Horton in full flight. Baginskis held out a hand as a long Sporting pass was about to send Brain scampering clear and accepted a yellow card with relief, but Horton punched clear Fitter’s resulting free-kick. What of the Griff offense, I sense the reader wondering? Well, Connor Faulconbridge passed right to skipper Mark G Williams and his low centre was gathered by Bromsgrove goalie Jake Bedford. And, er, that was it thus far…

"Baginskis? And how do you spell that?"

Smart feet by Conway at inside-left, following harassment by Mahon, took him towards the byeline but his rising, angled shot cleared the crossbar, albeit not by much. Wills then followed home right-back Josh McEwan towards the defender’s corner-flag and McEwan (“I can’t kick the ball…”) sprawled forwards onto the wet turf, so that the official awarded Nuneaton another free-kick; this was hilarious, for Wills hadn’t touched McEwan, proved by the fact that the full-back sniggered towards his own dugout afterwards, leaving Wills moaning vociferously… Brain fed Mahon for a dipping 25 yard volley, which Horton caught beneath his crossbar, as Sporting continued to attack, before a snap-shot from Griff was blocked by the Bromsgrove defence, a rare occurrence. Neat passing by Sporting, involving Dan Morris and Fitter, led to Brain cutting inside from the wing and Conway’s subsequent drive being blocked by a defender. A fine pass along the left touchline by Wills sent Conway towards the byeline again but this time his low centre was palmed out by Horton, with Brain’s boots hovering behind him at the far stick.

Brain studies aerial football...

After Hewitt was fouled, Fitter’s 26 yard free-kick dropped too late and well over the target, before Horton did really well to race from goal and deny Wills, who had chased Craig Jones’ long kick forward. Wills was then flagged offside as he ran onto another through-pass but check the video and see what YOU think of the decision! Wills moaned a lot more. Brain was brilliantly tackled by home defender Andy Evans then as the interval approached, Fitter’s quick free-kick was read by, er, nobody and the ball rolled aimlessly towards the right byeline. During the break I fielded lots of wayward shots from Bromsgrove’s replacements from behind the Pingles’ steeplechase water-jump area and then, with the daylight fading and the icy evening creeping in, Sporting continued their quest for a second goal. McEwan was replaced by Ben Scoffham for Griff and smoke drifted onto the pitch from an impromptu bonfire nearby. “Smoke mingles at the Pingles…” I thought…

Wills’ right-wing corner was rather uniquely punched over his crossbar by Horton but Fitter’s left-side flag-kick came to nought, before Brain was badly fouled and the referee played an advantage, until Hewitt looked to be free for a run at goal, whereby the official blew his whistle for the original foul, yet failed to caution the original offender. Made no sense to me, either… Hewitt drove a low shot at Horton, but Griff had by now become more resilient, sturdier and Sporting’s first-half ascendancy was beginning to appear more like desperation to finish their opponents off, underneath the arches. A left-flank cross by Nuneaton was headed by Russell for Bedford to catch, but Russell soon departed to be replaced by a fellow with no number on his shirt but who possessed a long throw. Joe Jakab then replaced Conway, which seemed an interesting decision, for the forward had been Griff’s main tormentor up to that point. He sat behind the dugout and contemplated his studs. As you do.

Weird light...

Conway dons spikes for a quick 1500 metres...

Inaccuracy, long balls, untidiness and irritation abounded and a feeling pervaded that one error by Sporting could easily offer Griff a point, all of which shrouded the stadium with doubt like the smoke tendrils had earlier. Then Baginskis leaned over Wills, the referee awarded a penalty and Wills stepped up to take it. Horton was hopping and skipping about like Amir Khan in a gymnasium a couple of yards off his goal-line, the official then whistled and Wills struck his left-footer to the ‘keeper’s right but Horton was alive to it and dived low to make a good save. Wills moaned even louder. The ensuing corner by Fitter was met brilliantly by the soaring Wills’ head but even that fine contact skimmed the crossbar from 3 yards and the Bromsgrove midfielder probably wished that his jinx (me) had gone to watch a game elsewhere. He moaned like a hungry wolf on the prairie… Fitter then hesitated with a clearance from a long left-side throw, the ball took a deflection and the hosts won back the ball on the left, and with the Sporting defence in disarray, the substitute’s centre was headed with lobbed effect at the far post by left-sided attacker Jack Colley and the ball dropped perfectly into the left corner of the net. Incredibly, Bromsgrove’s profligacy had bitten the players’ bums but Jakab soon had other ideas…

1-1: Colley, centre of picture...

Immediately, a cross from deep right by Fitter landed on the instep of Jakab’s left boot beyond the far upright and the ball fizzed low past Horton into the bottom right corner of the net for a wondrous winner. Cue pleasure and a cool celebration by Jakab.

Jakab, in the distance, walks near the Bromsgrove fans to hear nice words...
1-2 now.

Duggan then Brain struck low right-booters across the face of Horton’s goal, leaving the ‘keeper looking like he was struggling to cross a main road in Rome, then Wills was replaced by Liam Molesworth, wearing orange boots, easily spotted in the remaining rats’ tails of smoke. Duggan’s fine pass saw Molesworth cross for Jakab to hammer a higher volley from beyond the far post but wide, then Horton dived from goal stylishly to catch a low centre by Brain, following some neat passing by the guests. A fine dribble and ‘nutmeg’ by Molesworth led to Jakab’s header from Hewitt’s nod-back being caught easily by Horton, Brain was replaced by Will Tibbetts but despite the lack of offensive options for the beaten Griffmen, Sporting chose to waste time and keep the ball in corners.

Bromsgrove work the corners...

A deserved victory for the visitors, brave defence and pressing by the hosts but ‘making hard work of a victory’ has to be the abiding memory of this encounter. Corey Faulconbridge’s anticipation and general defending for Griff was good, Horton made good saves and Jai Stanley’s vision was evident but in truth, Bromsgrove’s Conway, Wills and Fitter were all too effective for Nuneaton to deal with.

Sunset over the arches...

I drove home for eggs and chips and to watch Barcelona struggle against Getafe. Suarez? Is he not stiff and unathletic? Would Matthieu be more at home at Birmingham City… Don’t get me started…

Teams: 

Nuneaton Griff:  Alex Horton, Josh McEwan, Andy Evans; Mark G Williams (Capt), Liam Baginskis, Corey Faulconbridge; Connor Faulconbridge, Jai Stanley, Adam Russell, Aden Moore, Jack Colley. 

Subs: Charlie Reardon, Josh Willis, Ben Scoffham.

Bromsgrove Sporting:  Jake Bedford, Chris Duggan, Dan Morris; Simon Fitter, Scott Smith (Capt), Craig Jones; Ryan Mahon, Reece Hewitt, Chris Conway, Sam Wills, Sean Brain.

Subs: Jack Wilson, Charlie Wilson, Will Tibbetts, Liam Molesworth, Jozsef Jakab.