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ST ANDREWS 1-0 BORROWASH VICTORIA: LINK TO 15 VIDEO CLIPS FROM CANAL STREET...

THE BUTTS CELEBRATE...

BORROWASH GET THE CANAL STREET BLUES...


CLICK THIS MESSAGE TO GO TO THE 15 VIDEO CLIPS, INCLUDING THE ST ANDREWS GOAL...

ST ANDREWS 1-0 BORROWASH VICTORIA: light-hearted match report by THE MOWDOG...

Earls Rewards Saints, As Vics Toil In the September Sunlight…

St Andrews 1-0 Borrowash Victoria

Vics foraged at Canal Street to the sound of church bells but failed miserably to cause home goalkeeper Shane Antcliffe any real stress, with strikers Alex Marshall and Kye Hall unable to find the wherewithal to look remotely like scoring. Wingers Adam Birch and Kirk Francis, who missed Vics’ best and a very clear opportunity, did offer a spattering of moments of attacking threat but the Drews’ defence was all-action and protected Antcliffe well. Paul Pallett and the brilliantly named Justin Peace were powerful and full-backs Ryan Hopkinson and goalscorer Callum Earls were fine supporting defenders. Despite some creativity from Ryan Fuller-Nadin, Vics were reliant mostly on long balls forward, usually by their fine central defensive pairing of skipper Jordan Simpson and side-kick Ash Lynch. The hosts were presented with more scoring opportunities than their guests but they were mostly off-target, although the goal-frame was struck and Birch hacked another effort from his goal-line. Vics’ goalie Wayne Smith did manage a couple of decent saves but despite the aerial abilities of Simpson and Lynch, Borrowash were often susceptible to high crosses. The game remained tense and close right until the end but in truth, Saints ought to have been two or three goals to the good by that time. The silence from nearby Leicester City’s stadium suggested that Arsenal were winning there and the bellringers continued to sound out a St Andrews’ victory. 

THE VICS' 'KEEPER WANTED TO CHUCK A COIN.
HE WASN'T ALLOWED...

It took me longer to reach Canal Street from the end of the M69 than it had taken for me to reach the end of the M69 from Solihull, due to the Leicester City v Arsenal snarls of traffic but when I arrived there, it seemed that St Andrews were expecting BArrowash Victoria, according to the match programme, which was probably written with Barrow Town in mind. I believe that the St Andrews club was born on the site of the demolished ‘Rifle Butt’ pub’, so I’m sad that the team is nicknamed either the Drews or the Saints, not The Butts… I’ll call them The Butts for this report. It’s what I do…

OOPS...

Home manager Andy Purple (it would have been brilliant if one of his ancestors had been called Violet…) was anxious and tetchy from the start, mostly concerning the referee, who took some real stick, despite the bells from the local church reminding us about profanity… An early free-kick by Vics, from Simpson, was flicked on by Marshall’s head but Hall was unable to get onto it, then soon, home striker Andy Fell fell, having hurt himself in the act of shooting straight at Vics’ Wayne Smith. The forward would be replaced during the opening period. A shot by Eric Shipley flew off target for the hosts but a fine run to the right byeline at the opposite end by Kye Hall, despite being fouled, came to nought and so the official brought play back for a Borrowash free-kick. Ash Foster’s set-piece was easily cleared by The Butts, however. Shay Brennan, a famous footballing name from the 1960s for Manchester United and Ireland, was warned for arguing with the referee but in truth, Borrowash had looked the more offensive in the opening stages, yet after Hall attempted to free Marshall, following a botched Butts free-kick, the move, typically, fizzled out and the hosts began to get on top. Hall struggled with a run by home right-back Hopkinson but the defender’s shot was too high, then The Butts kicked butt…

THE BUTTS BUTT OUT...

A SPECTATOR LOOKS EXHAUSTED BY THE GAME, THE WEATHER, OR PERHAPS THE CHURCH BELLS...

First, a free-kick on the right by Earls caused mayhem in the Vics’ penalty-box and the ball fell for Brennan to lash a close range effort onto the crossbar, but effective Butts midfielder Elliott Puttnam’s rebound try was smothered away by the guests. Then a foul from a more likely shooting position by Vics’ left-back Adrian Preston, offered Earls a chance to score and he took it. Smith lined up a defensive wall, Earls’ shot went over the barrier and bounced as the ‘keeper moved then dived left but the ball popped up over his flailing body to enter the right side of the net. Neither Smith, nor his coaches would be happy with that concession.

1-0: EARLS...

...RELIEF AND CELEBRATION...

Francis was caught offside, as the visitors attempted a response but Puttnam drove a low 24 yarder for The Butts, only for Lynch’s slight deflection to take the ball wide, which led to an Earls corner. From the third phase of this attack, Earls drove a shot high over the Vics’ goal-frame. After an Earls error, Birch was unable to create an opening for the guests, then Fell was replaced by Luay Bashir for the hosts and Borrowash squandered a great chance to equalise. Fuller-Nadin, so often pulling the midfield strings for the visitors, clipped a cute pass behind Hopkinson and Francis was in, one-on-one with home goalie Shane Antcliffe but the winger opened out his torso at inside-left, just 10 yards from goal and lifted his right-boot shot too high.

HOW TO CONTROL A BALL WHILST RIVER-DANCING...

Foster was the recipient of more Birch approach work but his low shot was weak from distance then he drove a 30 yard free-kick on the bounce, straight at Antcliffe. The award of the free-kick was argued about by The Butts coaches but it did seem that central defender Pallett had driven a truck onto Marshall’s back. Hall lofted a punt for Francis to chase but he only slid into the wire fencing beneath the byeline barrier, before The Butts reasserted themselves and Lynch did really well to block the ball at his near post from home skipper Danny Henfrey’s low right-side centre. Smith’s poor punch from Earls’ subsequent corner led to another Earls cross and a low drive at the left upright by Bashir, which was hacked away from the goal-line by Birch. The half ended with a superb challenge by Pallett on Francis, at the left byeline and the Vics’ winger was reacquainted with the fencing below the barrier. Maybe he sought an escape…   

FRANCIS HEADS FOR THE BYELINE...

...AND SLIDES INTO THE FENCING...

The second period opened with an attack on the Vics’ left, through Francis, whose low delivery towards the near post saw Hall slide in but be denied by the lunging Pallett and then Marshall, twice attempted shots the first of which was blocked and the second rolled tamely into the side-netting from a couple of yards out. The Butts respond with a couple of shots, which were blocked by Foster and Fuller-Nadin in turn, then Bashir fed Kitching for a shot, which struck Simpson in front of Smith to concede a left-wing corner. Earls’ flag-kick was headed over the crossbar by Peace, with an expression of war. Foster shot wastefully off target for the visitors then the ball was controlled by a Butt arm, if you will, and the official patted his own chest, then the ball bounced up to strike Hall’s arm and a free-kick was awarded against him, incidents which only highlighted the inconsistency of refereeing and also the hand-ball rules…

OUT FOR THE SECOND PERIOD, THE VICS LOOK HAPPY ENOUGH...

...EXCEPT KYE, WHO GIVES THE EYE:
A MEAN HOMBRE...

LYNCH-PIN OF THE BORROWASH DEFENCE...

Borrowash were awarded two free-kicks from around 28 yards, both of which were on Francis and both of which saw home defenders cautioned. Fuller-Nadin’s break and then feed to Francis led to a scything foul by Pallett but Foster’s set-piece shot flew too high and after Troy Carty had replaced Vics’ Birch, surprisingly, Foster’s second free-kick was blocked, after Peace had shovelled Francis down. As The Butts moved onto offense, Smith could get nowhere near an Earls corner, then his fly-kick smacked into Bashir’s back but to safety. Brennan and Henfrey were then replaced by Jake Wain (“Hay, Wain!” I wanted to call…) and Lewis Turland but Wain missed an instant opportunity to settle the affair. Earls’ left-flank corner was headed back across goal by the towering leap of Peace but from just 3 yards, the unmarked Wain could only nod the ball over the crossbar.

WHAT LYNCH DOES...

THE MOSTLY REDUNDANT SHANE ANTCLIFFE...

A fine centre from The Butts’ left by the ever more influential Puttnam caused Smith to tip the ball away from the top corner of his goal as he scampered left and he was lucky that Turland’s rebound effort struck him too. Kitching’s drive was deflected, sending Smith scuttling towards his right upright to prevent a corner and it seemed only a matter of time before the hosts increased their slender lead. Marshall, possibly hurt, was replaced by Louis Menson-Evans, Turland beat Preston to glance Wain’s left-side centre well wide and Joe Brockley replaced Vics’ Lynch, who had played so strongly, but might have been struggling for fitness too. The most amusing incident, which must have served to illustrate to Gary Hamson that his Vics would leave Aylestone empty-handed, came when Francis battled into the left side of the penalty-box, was left grounded and Foster’s low drive struck the lying winger’s head. He would need treatment…

OVERCROWDED DWELLINGS IN LEICESTERSHIRE...

Smith did well to get down and save from Turland’s low shot, after Foster appeared to be fouled in midfield but his loss of temper in the aftermath was only exacerbated by the fact that his intended kick at an opponent, like Borrowash’s shooting, missed. He ought to have been cautioned though. Pallett fed the ball right to Hopkinson, who drove a late shot too high, before The Butts got away on the right again and Smith blocked with his legs again from Turland again, who then crossed from that flank and Puttnam controlled the ball well before shooting from 19 yards through a crowd, only for Smith to fall left and save. It only remained for the surprisingly ineffective Hall to chest the ball, spin and volley smartly into Antcliffe’s midriff from 25 yards and the official whistled to accompany the bells. 

HALL, 10, VOLLEYED ONE LATE SHOT AT ANTCLIFFE...

Simpson and Lynch had defended so well for Vics and yet their colleagues had failed to deal with St Andrews’ crosses (St Andrews’ crosses???) with any competence, despite their hosts’ inability to punish the errors. Perhaps the guests needed more from their full-backs, Preston and Glen Fidler, who found supporting Francis and Birch nigh on impossible for much of the game and in all fairness, Hall and Marshall fed on morsels throughout. Kitching held midfield together for The Butts but Puttnam was often dangerous and Bashir was a willing replacement forward. 

And that was that. A deserved win for The Butts, who celebrated well. As butts do… And at the other St Andrews, Rotherham had beaten Birmingham; I was so not sad.

The journey home wasn’t a problem and I wondered about Andy Purple and my car’s registration plate, which reads HZY, hence Purple Hzy… I hear guitars, not bells now…    

TEAMS:

ST ANDREWS:

Shane Antcliffe, Ryan Hodkinson, Callum Earls, Justin Peace, Paul Pallett, Eric Shipley, Elliott Puttnam, Danny Henfrey (Capt), Andy Fell, Danny Kitching, Shay Brennan.

SUBS:

Jake Wain, James Orton, Luay Bashir, Lewis Turland, Chris Goodman.

BORROWASH VICTORIA:

Wayne Smith, Glen Fidler, Adrian Preston, Jordan Simpson (Capt), Ash Lynch, Ryan Fuller-Nadin, Adam Birch, Ash Foster, Alex Marshall, Kye Hall, Kirk Francis.

SUBS:

Joe Brockley, Louis Menson-Evans, Troy Carty, Carl Spencer.  

ST ANDREWS 1-0 BORROWASH VICTORIA: some general images...

ST ANDREWS' GRANDSTAND...

DESPITE LEICESTER'S FAMOUS FOXES, THE BODGING SEEMS AT EASE HERE...

THROUGH THE SIDE-NETTING...

THE TREES BEHIND THE GOAL ARE TURNING AUTUMNAL...

THE DUGOUTS, SOON TO BE OVERCROWDED...

THE SAINTS EXPOSED TO THE SUN...

THE FACILITIES...

THROUGH THE NET AGAIN...

NEATNESS PERSONIFIED...

FLAG AT HALF-MAST FOR BORROWASH...

DINKY GRANDSTAND...

THE BLUES FROM BIRMINGHAM'S ST ANDREWS LOST TO ROTHERHAM ON THE SAME DAY.
HOW LOVELY...

'TWEEN THE DUGOUTS...

ATMOSPHERIC SCENE...

CHESTERFIELD POLO-SHIRT ON ALEX MARSHALL'S BROTHER...
MUM TEXTS...

LOOKS LIKE THE BLUE SIGN HAS RAPPED THIS GUY ON THE SKULL...

"WE'RE BOTH ON THE BENCH BUT WE'RE BOTH LOVELY TOO..."

LOOKS LIKE THE GUY ON THE RIGHT IS ABOUT TO ARTIFICIALLY INSEMINATE A BELTED GALLOWAY COW...

THE SON OF THE FATHER...

CHUNKY SIMPSON WEARS YELLOW BOOTS AND MATCHING YELLOW ARM-BAND...
NICE.

SOMEONE HAS OBVIOUSLY BROKEN WIND: CHECK GARY HAMSON'S FACE...

DID I GET HIS GOOD SIDE?
I GUESS...

ASHBY IVANHOE 4-1 HOLWELL SPORTS: link to 17 video clips from the encounter...

ASHBY IN LATE SEPTEMBER...


CLICK THIS MESSAGE TO GO TO THE 17 VIDEO CLIPS from the game, INCLUDING ALL 5 GOALS...

ASHBY IVANHOE 4-1 HOLWELL SPORTS: light-hearted match report by THE MOWDOG...

Dodgy Generator Sees Holwell Fall To A Black Knight… 

Ashby Ivanhoe 4-1 Holwell Sports

As the referee tossed a coin, the players were totally immersed in Ashby darkness, as the floodlight generator spluttered and passed out, rather like a grandfather who’s just eaten his meal, smoked his pipe and supped a sherry in front of a roaring fire, then dozed off. The Knights went indoors, leaving Holwell passing balls in the gloom, whilst a torch-wielding crew of chaps, desperate not to have to reimburse spectators no doubt, worked to crank up the power, which they managed in time to start the match at around 20.10 hours. Then the belching smoky residue of fumes drifted with the breeze across one corner of the pitch and set us coughing through the first-half, during which Ashby looked the livelier outfit. Holwell’s brief resurgence with a goal direct from a second period corner was quietened by two more Ivanhoe goals and the locals went home happy not only with the result but also with the knowledge that the generator had lasted through yet another encounter. And I saw Julian Joachim play once more. Having seen him play regularly at Villa so many years ago and latch onto some through-passes on occasions, then use his undoubted pace to beat goalies one-on-one and thus cause the Holte End to chant: “Joachim for England…”, it was refreshing to see a player still keen to take part at this level and actually give his all. He was largely ineffective at Ashby’s arena but he was often so at Villa Park too, to be fair… However, Ashby’s two strikers looked more potent… 

LET THERE BE LIGHT...

Sir Walter Scott’s novel ‘Ivanhoe’ about Wilfred of Ivanhoe was set around Ashby Castle and it’s good that the football club has lauded the fictional character, although the town is surely more famous for United Biscuits and KP’s produce these days… Famous too for leather, cotton and glue, despite being surrounded by coalfields. Their guests from Holwell, once known as Holwell Works FC, had been left in the dark for a while but quick as you could say ‘Jack Robinson’ (who was, incidentally, on the Ashby bench) the hosts scored in the opening moments. A low, right-side centre by creative midfielder Luke Thorogood was nudged home at the near post by tall forward Kerr Horn and the visitors nearly gifted the hosts an immediate second goal when Danny Quinn, switched on all evening, unlike the floodlights, latched onto a poor back-pass, was forced wide past goalie Richard Stainsby but lost control on the right byeline.

1-0...

...THANKS TO THE JOY OF LIGHT AND THE SOUND OF A HORN...

A break by Ashby fizzled out when Horn was maybe a trifle slow in releasing the ball then Thorogood’s clipped free-kick drifted past the right upright but after Hodge made a fine save from Brad Smith’s flick, following a left-side cross, leaping left to turn the ball away, soon the hosts were 2-0 ahead and it was Quinn’s determination to reach the right byeline again, which drew a barge from Holwell’s Smith and a penalty was awarded, possibly harshly. Quinn’s stroked penalty-kick along the ground and very central rolled into the net but ‘keeper Stainsby had made steps to his right, resulting in a spin on his goal-line… And a goal.

STAINSBY: HE KICKED BALL & BUTT...

PENALTY AND BOOKING... OOPS...

2-0: QUINN...

MIGHTY STRIKE, QUINN...

Liam Chapman had appeared to be cautioned in the arguments which followed the award of the spot-kick but Sports moved forward themselves, only for Kieran Foster’s long shot to be collected on the bounce by Hodge. Stainsby saved his team from further embarrassment though, when Ivanhoe powered through the centre with the speedy and effective Scott Cordy causing the problems. The ball fell for Thorogood, whose low shot was superbly pushed aside by Stainsby, diving left and Quinn was denied by the goalie, who dived bravely at the bearded striker’s boots. Joachim had been quiet thus far and it was his forward partner Cameron Corkett who fired a shot well wide of the left post, as his team sought to get some kind of foothold in the game. Chapman provided a chink of light through the fumes though, with an excellent, left-footed, 27 yard free-kick, which smacked the underside of the Ashby crossbar before being hacked away by Ivanhoe. The hosts broke quickly right in retaliation but Quinn’s centre was too far ahead of his colleagues.

I RECALL THESE COACHES FROM ST JOHN'S PARK...

Horn’s decent left-flank centre was headed upwards by Quinn for Stansby to collect, home midfielder James Purslow, always available for his team, attempted a lob of Stainsby, which didn’t work and then Quinn really ought to have scored, when fed smartly by Purslow’s astute pass but he dragged a 10 yard left-footer wide of the right stick. Joachim did well to feed Corkett on the right for Holwell but after showing neat control, the slim forward sliced his centre across the goal-face and the chance went begging. Home left-sider Scott Reynolds was forced off the field with what looked like a hamstring problem and Chris Waldrum replaced him but the half ended with the hosts deservedly ahead.

STEVENSON (4): STRONG FOR SPORTS... 

WARNINGS FROM THE HEADMASTER...

I wondered whether the delay of the game had affected Holwell, left outside in the cold, whereas Ashby had retired to the warmth and brightness of their dressing-rooms but home central defenders Tom Rowell and skipper Sam Johnson, who had found time from his essaying, poetry and lexicography to play this game, were generally imperious, not allowing Joachim to affect the match with his undoubted pace. Impressive though, was visiting skipper Michael Stevenson and he would certainly continue to look a real stalwart after the interval too. Cordy and Thorogood were regularly creative for Ashby and Quinn looked to have formed a useful relationship with Horn. Looking at the team-sheets, I wondered whether the magnificently named Sports substitutes Cole Maule and Harrison Edgar Stannard (according to the league’s website) would be used but I was sad that squad members Ryan Kitt-Geraghy and Coctun Cropper were absent on the night…

STAINSBY EARNS A CAUTION...
AND LOOKS DEFLATED.
ACTUALLY HE WAS IRRITATED...

Horn began the second period with a good low centre from the right, which no team-mate was able to capitalise upon but Ashby might just have escaped punishment when a left-side centre by the visitors bounced up onto a home defender’s raised arms, before Smith’s sliced shot flew well wide from 19 yards. No penalty was awarded, ‘keeper Stainsby, whose annoyance had been evident throughout the contest, became more irritated but Cordy’s runs with the ball were causing his defenders some real alarm, even if the final delivery or pass was generally well defended by Stevenson and Co. When a left-side free-kick was glanced wide by Horn’s head, Stainsby incurred the official’s wrath and he was cautioned, before Matt Lowe was replaced by Sam Daws, early doors, meaning two Daws were now on the field of play and although the guests looked brighter, Smith’s next shot, a wild one, flew into the evergreens behind the ground.

Incredibly, from a right-flank corner, Holwell reduced the arrears and it was ‘Dead-Ball’ Chapman who did the trick, curling his fine flag-kick over the stretching Hodge and deep into the far corner of the home net.

2-1: CHAPMAN...

Ashby must then have felt a little pressured but when Cordy fed Quinn on the right and the striker delivered a really good cross, Horn rose but headed the ball over the crossbar. Right-back Ali Abdillahi roared forth for Ashby and Quinn drove too high, before two more Chapman corners looked dangerous in a strong response by the visitors. Hodge somehow batted the first of them over his own crossbar, like a falling volleyball player lifting the ball with difficulty over the net and the second was bravely headed away from the near post by a home defender. Brilliant play by Quinn on the attacking right led to a magnificent cross again and this time the ball was met by the head of the storming Purslow, whose effort scorched past the helpless Stainsby and bulged the net, terrifying a couple of spectators in the seats behind it. Holwell replaced Freddie Daws, who exited stage left and on came Maule, then Corkett could find no real power from close range and his chance was scorned. Stannard replaced Joachim and the visitors’ awful evening was wrecked totally with a really unfortunate own-goal. A left-side centre by Waldrum skidded onto the right boot of Foster and from there ricocheted onto the left upright, from whence the ball ricocheted into the right corner of the net. Oops…

QUINN THE PROVIDER IS HUGGED...

...AND...

...PURSLOW HAS NETTED: 3-1...

4-1 NOW...

...BUT NOBODY TO HUG, FOLLOWING THE OWN GOAL...

A sudden, splendid, screaming surge onto offense by Abdillahi saw him finally dispossessed but Thorogood recovered the ball, fed Horn on the right but with the goal gaping, Quinn shot badly wide of the near post. Fortunately for Quinn, the film of the miss was too out of focus to use! He owes me… The still fighting Corkett sent his best shot, a really decent 27 yarder, past the left angle of bar and post, before another low Waldrum cross was deflected by a defensive boot but  straight to Stainsby this time. Corbett was unable to profit from Stannard’s head-on but Ashby had killed the game by then, even using time-consuming substitutions: Robinson for Thorogood and Charlie Caines for Horn. The game ended late, obviously, but the points would be most welcome for the hosts and there was enough in the play of Holwell to suggest a good term for them too.

HORN IS SQUEEZED...

The Space Raiders, Horn and Quinn, had looked lively throughout, although they both missed acceptable opportunities and Cordy’s Skips through the visiting defence had been dangerous, suggesting that they had been major reasons behind Ashby taking home the biscuit. Howell’s Stevenson, ‘keeper Stainsby, forward Corkett and midfielder Smith were always evident but their team was deservedly beaten by these, the darkest of Knights… 

The generator might benefit from a bag of Hula Hoops in future, or an immediate application of Nik Naks, yet with Coalville having taken on a little more importance than Ashby (so I’m told…) I know which of the two towns I’d rather be left in the dark in…

Me? Drove home to eat toast and then Rice Krispies. It’s what you do when you’ve no nuts in the house… 

TEAMS:

ASHBY IVANHOE: 

Chris Hodge, Ali Abdillahi, Evan Cawley, James Purslow, Tom Rowell, Sam Johnson (Capt), Scott Cordy, Luke Thorogood, Danny Quinn, Kerr Horn, Scott Reynolds.

SUBS:

Jake Conkay, Jack Robinson, Charlie Caines, Chris Waldrum, Antonio Williams. 

HOLWELL SPORTS:

Richard Stainsby, Kieran Foster, Liam Chapman, Michael Stevenson (Capt), Mike Hallam, Chris Hibbitt, Cameron Corkett, Brad Smith, Julian Joachim, Freddie Daws, Matt Lowe.

SUBS:

Sam Daws, Cole Maule, Harry Stannard.