MORETON RANGERS 4-4 OLD WOODSTOCK TOWN RESERVES: light-hearted match report by THE MOWDOG...

Old Woodstock Find Reserves Of Guts At Moreton…

Moreton Rangers 4-4 Old Woodstock Town Reserves

Ambitious Moreton, having won their opening two games with a goal difference of plus 17, found Town a tougher, more resilient prospect, despite their guests arriving quite late, warming up after a fashion and even going 4-1 behind during the second period. Visiting winger Rob Fotherby’s dangerous pace however, which had been a problem for the home defence throughout, began to torture it later in the match, Town’s midfield took a stranglehold and Fotherby equalised late on with a fine strike. Rangers’ striker Lee Brooks scored all four of his team’s goals with mean opportunism but although home defender Adam Shipman so nearly won the contest at the death, Woodstock did not deserve to lose, although their goals owed much to lax Moreton defending. Once the fox droppings and mole diggings had been sorted by their designated linesman, Rangers’ manager Gary Barnett, he of 30 goals for Fulham, he of 11 strikes for Huddersfield’s Terriers, he of leading Barry Town, for whom he scored 13 times, as player-boss into the Europa League 1st Round proper in 1996-7, he of being awarded Manager of the Season three times by the League of Wales, yet he who didn’t believe that I would actually cover this match on my blog, welcomed me to his ‘project’. I sincerely hope that his dream of Moreton playing at higher levels is realised. Old Woodstock attempted to play football, were superbly marshalled by skipper Akeem Williams and caused the hosts to back-pedal too often in midfield, although in fairness, despite the eight goals, neither goalkeeper was particularly busy otherwise.

"WELL, THERE I WAS IN THE TRENCHES AND WHEN WE WENT OVER THE TOP, THE HUN BEGAN FIRING..."

"DON'T GIMME NO CRAP.
IF YOU DO, I KNOW A HIT-MAN..."

Williams got a foot in the way early for Town, when home midfielder Joe Boote booted a pass forward for Brooks but a contentious moment arrived soon afterwards, when Town’s lively forward pair combined, with the innovative Dan New lifting the ball from the left corner of the penalty-box for Marley Joseph to move onto. His nudge took the ball into the side-netting as home ‘keeper James Carter advanced and took Joseph to the ground, like a Kansas City Chiefs guard would take out a Denver Broncos defensive-end. No penalty was awarded and Carter breathed a relieving sigh, for he would argue that his momentum caused the clash. Joseph might just disagree… Fotherby ran to win a right-side corner off home defender Kyle Ellery, which was punched away in traffic by Carter and it must have seemed clear to Rangers that Town were no mugs, no new lambs to the slaughter, for the midfielders Ben Proper and left-footer Kyle Pullen were no slouches and often appeared to be quicker onto loose balls than their counterparts, Paul Whitehouse (whose physicality ended in a caution), Ben Shurmer and Boote. Home skipper and right-back Sam Tyack, who welcomed me to the club, was in fine form for the hosts in that first period however, with some fine anticipation, several interceptions and runs along his flank.

A PROPER PASS.
BEN'S, THAT IS...

THE BALL MALFUNCTIONS OFF BROOKS' HEAD...

Quite suddenly though, much to the bemusement of the guests, Rangers took the lead and it stemmed from a Ben Shurmer shot, which deflected off Darnell Grant for Brooks to be tackled in front of goal by the alert Williams but the ball flew out to the offensive left. Tom Newbould’s subsequent cross from the flank saw Brooks out-jump Williams to glance a close range header high into the net, just inside the far post. 

BROOKS 1-0 WOODSTOCK...

The response by Town was to gain a corner, which Joseph curled towards and off the goal-frame at the near upright, before home forward Callum Peters cleared the ensuing danger. Shipman was spoken to by the referee after New broke forth into the inside-right channel, only for his low shot to take a defensive deflection for a corner, which Williams was close to converting in a goalmouth mess. When a poor pass on a break by Rangers’ Boote allowed Woodstock to break forward themselves, Fotherby fed New for a shot from 12 yards but a fine challenge by Tyack forced a wayward effort by the striker, who was winning a fair share of aerial ball, despite the sizes of Shipman and Joe Jarvis. Another good break, past Tyack on the Town left, by Fotherby, led to a pass inside to Oshane Tulloch but he was denied by Shipman’s excellent tackle. A long pass by the home team led to visiting ‘keeper Mark Thomas whacking the ball against the chasing Brooks but luckily for the flustered custodian, Williams retrieved the loose ball as it rolled across the 6 yard box. 

HOW LOVELY IS THAT?

THOMAS THE BOOT...

WHITEHOUSE KNOWS HE'S IN TROUBLE...

Incredibly, though, with Town still looking sharper in midfield, the hosts scored again, through Brooks again. Shipman headed Boote’s right-flank free-kick back across goal, Brooks and Williams jumped for it, Thomas stood on his goal-line, Brooks smacked the falling ball against the falling ‘keeper but was alert for a second time to poke the rebound into the net from 3 yards. 2-0 down and still Woodstock worked a late first-half opportunity and again it stemmed from the pace of Fotherby, on the left now. He benefited from his own linesman’s decision that the ball hadn’t crossed the touchline, won a corner and from this, the ball fell onto stout defender Darnell Grant’s right boot but his shot flew uncontrolled and too high. The interval was signalled, the kids raced onto the pitch to smash balls into the net, the dogs were exercised and Moreton’s ex-player, now a lifelong ‘season-ticket’ holder lit up another fag and opened another beer, as well as causing one young lad to impress his mum with a smudge of badger-crap on his footy shirt. It wasn’t The Bodging’s doing, I can assure you: he’s been bathed…

THE SKIPPER LOOKS FOR SUPPORT...

WHITEHOUSE, LEFT, IS FINALLY CAUTIONED...

BROOKS 2-0 WOODSTOCK...

A poor 20 yard free-kick shot by Shurmer opened the second period, whereby the ball trickled forward, possibly due to the lush turf affecting the hit and this was followed by a foul by Shipman and also a kicking away of the ball, resulting in a caution for the Ranger. Sadly, Town’s free-kick opportunity was also scorned, as Thomas Miller (NOT Thomas Muller, I hasten to add…), a half-time replacement for Tulloch, failed with his delivery too. Jarvis, looking increasingly strained, took a referee’s warning but from his misdemeanour, a free-kick was missed by all in the Rangers’ penalty-box. A wild push on Peters by Miller, who seemed annoyed, saw the replacement escape an obvious yellow card but quite unexpectedly, Town were gifted a goal. Jarvis was sloppy with a pass, Fotherby was onto it at inside-left like a flash and he stroked a comfortable low shot into the home net past the advancing Carter.

SHIPMAN, HIDDEN, IS CAUTIONED BUT SHURMER WEEPS IN SYMPATHY...

MILLER IS BECALMED, FOLLOWING HIS PUSH ON PETERS (9)...

PETERS FEELS HARD DONE BY...

BROOKS 2-1 WOODSTOCK:
GOAL BY FOTHERBY...

Immediately, another left-to-right cross evaded everyone but home left-back Ellery, who did well to get the ball clear. Town were threatening but yet again, Moreton’s Brooks provided a cushion, latching onto a fine centre from the right by his skipper, Tyack, then lifting the ball to graze the head of the distraught, advancing Thomas, whose hands remained down and the effort bounced gently into goal. Alfie Wilson replaced Jarvis, Whitehouse dropped into the back-four for Rangers and a curling Miller corner fizzed past the far post for the visitors. 

BROOKS 3-1 WOODSTOCK
& JARVIS (5) CELEBRATES WITH A SPOT OF MORRIS DANCING...

BROOKS IS DAMNED GLAD HE HASN'T GOT TO SHAKE SHURMER'S LEFT HAND...

Following a loss of possession to Peters by the otherwise trustworthy and effective Williams, Tyack was hacked down by Charlie Gillet, who sounds like a Victorian footpad, but the hosts somehow conjured a fourth goal from that right flank and when it finally fell to the left boot of Brooks, following efforts by the right boot of Boote, the in-form forward shot low from 16 yards past the falling Thomas, possibly off the right upright. 4-1, Rangers had finally begun to look more settled, especially in midfield, yet another comfort cushion had been provided and Town surely were beaten… Er, no.

PETERS HAS DISPOSSESSED WILLIAMS...

BROOKS 4-1 WOODSTOCK...

Manager Daz Kianzad replaced striker New, surprisingly, and suddenly after Brooks’ far post header hadn’t been successful, Gillet took possession of Tyack’s headed clearance at inside-left for the visitors and simply shot from 22 yards, whereupon the ball dipped over the spectacular leap of Carter, who had initially seemed well positioned to save it… Immediately, Williams somehow failed to head in a left-side centre and the hosts were looking rather shaken. More so, when a short corner routine on the Town right ended with Proper returning the ball to Miller, the substitute centred to the near post, where Joseph wanted it, Whitehouse and Carter hesitated and the striker rammed the ball into goal from a few yards out.

A PROPER DIAGONAL PASS.
BEN'S, THAT IS...

BROOKS 4-2 WOODSTOCK:
GILLET HAS SCORED...

BROOKS 4-3 WOODSTOCK:
JOSEPH HAS NETTED BUT SHURMER'S LEFT HAND IS ELSEWHERE NOW...

Incredibly, with Moreton’s lips trembling, fans looking on in disbelief and even the dogs motionless, Fotherby took possession of Joseph’s pass on the left, cut dangerously inside Tyack and curled a superb equaliser round the helpless Carter, to set off crazy celebrations…

BROOKS 4-4 WOODSTOCK:
FOTHERBY (CENTRE) BOOGIES...

It remained only for Thomas to claim a bouncing ball and Brooks to nod it from his grasp but get penalised, which was rather a soppy decision by the referee, surely, and then for Shipman to drop away from Boote’s left-side free-kick and nod the ball against Thomas’ hands and the upright from beyond the far stick. Game over, eight goals, handshakes and some people drove off to the pub, any pub, I believe, wondering how Town had failed to kill off a game they had led 4-1.

In truth, Williams and Grant had defended well for the visitors, as did Naveed Akram, Ben Proper’s proper midfield play, with diagonal passes and energy, well-supported by Pullen and the eager Joseph, had caused Moreton some consternation and had it not been for the heroic finishing of Brooks, the hosts might just have been clinically beaten. Shurmer, Boote and the speedy Newbould weren’t quite able to dominate for Rangers but Tyack and Shipman performed with some gusto at the back and spectators were certainly treated to some decent goals on the day…

It was also good to see no real anger and arguments aimed at the clubs’ officials who were designated as referee’s assistants. There is hope yet for us all…

The Lord of the Manor about these parts, right up until World War Two, was able to claim one shilling (5p) per year from all shop windows in Moreton, which faced the High Street. Maybe Gary Barnett should not only charge entrance to his team’s games, but also pretend to be the new Lord of the Manor and charge all businesses facing the High St maybe £100 per annum to enable ground improvements… See? I can be most helpful… 

I drove back along the Fosse Way, remembering there was a Roman villa at nearby Dorn, to Solihull, ate eggs and chips and attempted to dry my badger, still damp from his bath…

AND YOU THOUGHT I WAS JESTING...

...I WASN'T...

Yeah, people, it’s what I do…

TEAMS: 

MORETON RANGERS:

James Carter, Sam Tyack (Capt), Kyle Ellery, Paul Whitehouse, Joe Jarvis, Adam Shipman, Ben Shurmer, Joe Boote, Callum Peters, Lee Brooks, Tom Newbould.

SUBS:

Alfie Wilson, Martin Tomes.

OLD WOODSTOCK TOWN:

Mark Thomas, Naveed Akram, Charlie Gillet, Ben Proper, Akeem Williams, Darnell Grant, Rob Fotherby, Kyle Pullen, Dan New, Marley Joseph, Oshane Tulloch.

SUBS:

Thomas Miller, Daz Kianzad, Max Roberts.