FOLLY LANE 2-2 WHITNASH TOWN: light-hearted report by THE MOWDOG...

Wardle’s Heroics Fail To Prevent AEI Rugby’s Bell Being Rung…

Folly Lane 2-2 Whitnash Town

Lots of people crammed around the perimeter of Folly Lane’s recently mown pitch, on a May evening more suited to dog-walking than one on which a league championship match should be held and then eventually won by a team which was not actually playing. AEI Rugby benefited from this drawn game, remaining on top of the league, courtesy of their superior goal-difference to Folly Lane. The tense match swung in each team’s favour during the sunny early evening but Whitnash, playing against ten men for over 45 minutes, only really came alive during the closing quarter-hour, when they finally roused themselves to equalise but then squandered an added-time penalty to hand the honours to AEI. A few Rugby players stood in awe as the horrors of the evening unfolded, then raced off to their cars as Champions, texting colleagues and no doubt making sure of some quality drinking time at some fortunate pub or other. Shame really, for a replica trophy had been taken to the ground and AEI hadn’t been officially present to receive it. Sad too for the large attendance, which would have enjoyed the capers of the winners. The spectators included one groundhopper, his dog and the animal’s drinking bowl too, who badgered (sorry about that) me for the images of lists of starters on my camera. Another ‘hopper’ asked me which team was which… He also asked me if I was a ‘groundhopper’, to which I bit back, “Do I LOOK like one??? NO…” I felt better after that. He slunk away to harass someone else, probably about badges… 

I trust the names on the team sheets were correctly written by club officials but for any errors below, I apologise…

The shadowy figures from AEI Rugby creep up upon Folly Lane and Whitnash...

Folly Lane began well, as Whitnash’s sluggish opening set them on their heels and Rhys Deehan’s left foot looked smart for the hosts. An early shot by that extremity from 22 yards took a slight deflection for a corner but nothing came of it. Whitnash, looking to feed the experienced Josh Cole in attack, for Luke Cole was unable to play in this game, I believe through suspension, slowly began to show and with Ross Briscoe making inroads on the offensive right and midfielder Paul Wilkinson supporting with bright runs, the visitors began to look the more dangerous outfit. Briscoe nodded a right-side centre past the far upright, Cole drove a shot from distance too high, before Briscoe fed Cole at inside-right, but he was denied as he was about to shoot by a brilliant challenge from tall Folly Lane central defender Brett Davies. The ensuing right-flank corner by Craig Watkin was incredibly headed over the Folly crossbar by Cole from just 3 yards and one sensed that Whitnash would struggle to score.

Pause in play, so the lads study that fine tree...

Ross 'Mr Physical' Briscoe bursts forth...

Wilkinson nearly benefited from a Cole flick but home ‘keeper James Wardle reached the ball first, then a superb run on the right by Briscoe, all physical shrugs and facial frowns, in determined fashion against Davies, who was beaten, ended with Wilkingson and Cole in a heap in the 6 yard box and Wardle falling onto the ball. Suddenly, the lack of pace in the Whitnash defence was cruelly exposed by Dan Pidgeon at inside-right but he shot low against the base of the near post, despite being urged by the two guys from Southam United next to me to go for the far stick. A dangerous moment involving Briscoe ended with his low centre being too hard for Wilkinson or Cole to capitalise upon but soon, the opening goal arrived and this caused the first of several squabbles, also the first chorus of groans from the watching AEI players… Cole flicked the ball on from a long pass, Wilkinson raced onto the ball, maybe offside, although the linesman on the far side did have a strong sun in his eyes and although home skipper and goalie Wardle raced from goal and made a fine save at the midfielder’s feet, he was unable to stop Wilkinson’s second shot. Suddenly though, compact home defender Sam Madill ran towards the official on that side to berate him, “Are you sure, my fine fellow?’ he might have said… He did however push Wilkinson to the ground en route, like he was a bull in a china shop and really, he could have received cautions for both infringements. He received just one and the visitors were in the driving seat.

0-1 to Whitnash...

Final game of the season, hence the last post...

Referred pain for Briscoe; the physio' alleviates the muscle pain by breaking the striker's patella...

The quiet left-sided Whitnash attacker Ryan Billington combined with Briscoe again but the eventual cross from the right caught Cole offside at the far stick, which he was probably pleased about, for his gentle header bobbed sweetly into Wardle’s hands, like the ‘keeper was taking a patted balloon from a 6 year old. Cole and Billington threatened again but finally, Folly managed an attack on the right, when Kieran Fitzharris reached the byeline, only for keen, hardworking central striker Ryan Fivey to lean back and lift a 19 yard shot too high. Folly lost possession 30 yards from goal but with Wardle off his goal-line, Wilkinson drove his shot too high, then, quite out of the blue, the hosts equalised, AEI’s players danced like they were on a 1970s night-club disco floor and more trouble flared too, from a totally ridiculous source. Right-sided midfielder Brad Jones, brother of Coventry United forward, snappy dresser and all-round nice chap (he told me to write that) Jayden Rickhuss, got away and out-paced Watkin, before slotting a cross-shot beyond the reach of Whitnash goalie Neil Stacey. The ball nestled in the netting, it was retrieved by Pidgeon and I believe that he, having been jibed at earlier by visiting non-participant Luke Cole, projected the missile at the Whitnash man. The linesman saw it, alerted the referee and Pidgeon towed the line of dismissal, cowered, strode away and the AEI players’ joy at parity was tempered now that the folly of Folly Lane had offered their guests a one man advantage. Oops…

1-1 now...

Country dancing for Deehan and Jones.
Team-mates will dance beneath the canopy in a minute...

The interval reached, it seemed certain that Whitnash would now dominate the second period and pick off their hosts at will, for they had created more opportunities during the opening half but this would not prove to be the case. Briscoe’s adventurous play on the right stopped, Cole was rarely offered decent service and the lack of width was embarrassing at times, allowing Folly to defend more easily in what was to become little more than a narrow strip of action. Indeed, a foray on the left by Deehan, whose ability on the ball often shone, ended up with a penalty-kick, after an original lack of a tackle by Whitnash’s Martin Hutchcox. It almost looked like the felled Follyman had trodden on the ball but Hutchcox was penalised and Fitzharris, the squat home midfielder, fired his spot-kick to Stacey’s left and the hosts led. The AEI contingent texted like demons, became quiet and willed Whitnash to be more Whiplash, but the visitors looked a sorry bunch for quite a while and they were rarely able to break Folly down.

The Folly skipper (5) has to listen to the ref's warnings for a colleague...

There used to be cats, dogs, or foxes on the pitch...
But a coach?

The break...

The interval...

2-1 to Folly Lane...

Davies was replaced for Folly by Luke Seery and he made two or three timely defensive clearances, including two good ones aerially. Fine skills by Deehan led to a sliced shot at goal, Charlie Smith replaced Hutchcox and his troublesome ankle for the guests and Wardle caught a Cole header. Fivey shot wide for the hosts, Briscoe threatened at inside-left for the guests but struck his shot so high, that a couple of buzzards nearly got headers in and then, after the lone Folly Lane striker Fivey was fouled by the solid Scott, Fitzharris shot well wide from the resulting 35 yard free-kick. It wasn’t really obvious which team had lost a player and Whitnash’s desperation was harnessed by Folly Lane’s defensive aspirations and the game lumbered on. Henry Leaver and Billington were replaced by Whitnash’s Mike Ellis and Lewis Currell, not the ‘Alice In Wonderland’ chappie though, for there is one vowel different and Folly’s Jones was replaced by Sean Gaffney.

Raising the stakes...

Wardle was soon in action however, as a couple of left-side deliveries swung in dangerously and first he was forced to tip Watkin’s centre over the crossbar and then he flew high to make a spectacular catch in traffic, as Smith’s cross arrowed in. Whitnash had suddenly forced themselves out of a strange slumber and Cole managed a 17 yard shot on the turn, which Madill dived towards his own near post to head over his own goal-frame. Fivey was replaced by Andre Yerou for the hosts, Briscoe headed Watkin’s free-kick wide and Yerou fouled Cole to earn a caution. Ellis’ header was caught under his crossbar by Wardle, now busier, but soon, the AEI guys were jumping about like fleas in a World War One uniform, as the ascendant, if largely uninspiring visitors finally scored and the goal was a tragedy for the Folly defence. It looked like Wardle would deal with Briscoe’s head-on of Stacey’s huge boot forward but lively right-back Darren Hutchinson appeared to get in his way, the goalie lost possession and visiting skipper Scott smacked the rebound into the net.

Rhys Deehan displays why he plays football and not basketball...
Oops.

2-2 now and AEI Rugby are suitably pleased...

Now it was all Whitnash, as Briscoe began to exploit some space at inside-left. First though, he was booked for a heavy foul on Fitzharris. Cole nodded well wide from a deep centre, he was denied by the smothering Wardle at the near post, as a low right-flank centre was struck, then Briscoe was surely fouled by Hutchinson inside the 18 yard box but the referee was unmoved. Currell thought he WAS going to be in wonderland though, as he found space at inside-right, lobbed the advancing Wardle but then stood in amazement as the ‘keeper somehow leapt and batted the ball aside for a corner, like he was in a volleyball tournament. Scott and Watkin shot off target for the visitors, the AEI players chewed their fingernails and often dared not look but when Cole fell over from a tackle and the referee awarded Whitnash an added-time penalty, the Rugby lads visibly paled and obviously needed the bog.

Nobody seems to care as Fitzharris (11) gets an impromptu haircut...

Spot Mr Angry?

Can you see him NOW?

Watkin stepped forth to win the game for the guests against NINE men, for Fitzharris had lost his temper big time, possibly butting an opponent, but that is only what I was told on the night. People pulled people, trouble was in the air, some silly chaps ran onto the field but eventually, the referee managed to brandish a red card to the red faced Fitzharris and we settled to watch Watkin secure the league title for his team. He strode up to the ball, struck it low and left-booted but Wardle had guessed correctly, leapt left and saved the effort near his left upright and fastened his gloves onto the ball. The AEI strays bounced up and down like meerkats in a huddle and it remained only for Folly Lane to cause chaos in the disappointed Whitnash defence, gain a corner off Scott but deliver it straight into Stacey’s gloves. The referee blew for the end and the AEI lads raced to their vehicles…

Wardle wants to win it...

...but can't...

What a breathless end, all for no admission fee, but we saw drama, misses, excitement, fighting, two dismissals, a penalty scored, the most important of penalties missed and a replica trophy not given to anyone… The scene on the field was one of depressing and palpable disappointment. Credit to Folly Lane for surviving for so long with ten men, then nine for the closing moments but at least Whitnash finally got their act together, although the lack of width displayed at times was criminal. Cole and Briscoe were eager, if scoreless, Josh Blunsom worked hard in midfield but somehow, there was little real creativity, the kind that Deehan possessed for the hosts. Madill defended well for them but he and Briscoe were fortunate to remain on the field of play after one particular second-half spat with each other. 

My 98th game of the season and what an encounter to end with…

I drove home for crumpets. It’s what I do…