BROMYARD TOWN 5-3 TIPTON TOWN: light-hearted match report by THE MOWDOG...

Late Summer Goal Glut Brings Hope To Languishing Opponents

Bromyard Town 5-3 Tipton Town

There was enough evidence displayed at Delahay Meadow, which sounds like a TV sequel to ‘Lark Rise To Candleford’, on this last day in September, to perhaps urge both struggling teams that better times lie ahead. Even the local church bells rang to summon up some decent creativity, thoughtful passing, lots of individual talent and eight goals, as well as a number of near misses. The evening had autumn written all over it, with a pale and orange sunset too, but sadly a meagre crowd attended, suggesting that the Manchester teams’ exploits in Europe were more of a draw on TV, than people risking a cool evening watching Tipton at Bromyard. Bromyard looked the stronger outfit, with striker Josh Weatherby a constant pain to the guests, scoring twice and missing several other opportunities, but with Aston Garner, Dan Scheppel, Luke Molloy and the tricky Dan Polan constantly knocking the ball about confidently, Tipton were often too stretched and trailed 3-0 soon enough. Oddly, they fought back to 3-2, then conceded twice more before the break, as Bromyard’s quick releases sent Polan and Weatherby scurrying goalwards rather often. Tipton solidified after the interval, even scored a third goal themselves but it was mainly due to some sterling defending by visitors Robbie Duffield, Jordan McGovern and Chris Horton, as well as some wayward finishing by Weatherby, that only one strike counted during that second period.

SANGHA SAYS: "GOSH YOU'RE TALL..."
I KNOW THE FEELING, RAVI...

Bromyard is apparently famous for stairs, well, apples and pears anyway, also hops… Irishman Terence MacSwiney was held and was even married in the World War 1 internment camp in Bromyard but Tipton has a truly terrible claim to fame. Tipton was bombed harshly during World War 2, but an anti-aircraft shell caused the most awful of own-goals, when fired from the hills of Rowley Regis. It dropped into the chimney of the Boat Inn near Tipton, exploded and fatally injured a dozen people at a wedding function. The bride was among those fatally injured, the bridegroom lost both legs. 

This energetic game was frenetic from the start and tall Tipton playmaker Damion Jarrett soon fired a decent 23 yard shot, which curled past the upper reaches of the right post, as the guests attempted to work the ball towards skipper Ravi Sangha, their central striker. Following some busy midfield stuff between the teams, Bromyard suddenly dispossessed Tipton’s Lee Blake and Hayward fed Polan, who passed to Weatherby at inside-left; the visitors’ defence was ripped, frowning looks went towards the linesman, Weatherby rounded the outrushing goalie Brad Dodd at 18 yards and his low angled left-footer rolled into the net at the near post, with Duffield unable to keep the ball out.

1-0...

WEATHERBY THE SCORER...

A mistimed jump by a Tipton defender soon freed Weatherby at inside-right but this time his angled shot was deflected over the crossbar for a corner, from which home defender Darren Critcher headed off target. Another left-side attack by Bromyard, well on top by this time, led to a wasted corner but soon it was 2-0 and the strike was clever, cultured and cute. Dan Scheppel, one of the home playmakers, received a low pass from the right, exchanged passes 20 yards out with Weatherby and instead of panicking, measured a superb chip over Dodd’s leaping body from 18 yards and the ball dropped perfectly into the net. 2-0 became 3-0 immediately, when Gunter, inside his own half of the field, passed short to Polan, who made ground centrally, as Gunter supported, surging forwards alone on the right. Polan fed Molloy on the left, his low shot was saved diving left by Dodd but there was Gunter to convert the rebound with ease, for no Tipton player had tracked back to cover the goalscorer’s long run.

2-0...

3-0...

SANGHA LOOKS DEPRESSED...

Incredibly, with such ascendancy, it seemed indicative of a team so low in the league, that the concession of a free-kick 22 yards from their own goal would alter the balance of the game. Jarrett took the free-kick from inside-right and although ‘keeper Marc Wright had lined up a four-man defensive wall, Jarrett’s drive flew between Scheppel and Molloy in the human construction to beat Wright low to his left. The goalie grumbled loudly. Constantly too…

3-1...

Dodd did really well to turn an angled drive from the right by Polan over his crossbar, following Weatherby’s pass but it was from another Bromyard attack that the visitors surprisingly reduced the arrears further. Jamie Fox clipped his clearance to Jarrett, left of centre, who in turn clipped a fine pass to right-sided attacker Gregg Grey and the winger did well to get in a shot from 19 yards, which again beat Wright at his near post. Wright grumbled again. More loudly too…

3-2...

At 3-2, a challenge by home defender Dale Goddard on Sangha on the edge of the Bromyard penalty-box was allowed to stand by the officials and crucially, the hosts broke forward again, won a free-kick on the right, which was taken quickly for Polan to fire in an angled cross-shot and although the diving Dodd saved the ball, diving right, there was Scheppel to turn the rebound over the goal-line before Duffield could intervene. 4-2 for Bromyard then, and we were nowhere near the break…  

4-2...

Better approach play by Tipton on their left ended with a decent low drive from Jarrett, yet again the main Tipton shooter and then he misfired a half-volley, after Bromyard had cleared a deep free-kick by the guests. Weatherby was able to wiggle, smuggle and wriggle clear on the right but Dodd knocked away his angled shot and Duffield made a desperate clearance with Gunter and Molloy lurking with some intent. The three-goal cushion was finally restored however when, who else but Weatherby, got clear, where else but at inside-right and his low angled drive, what else, ended up just inside the far stick and Dodd had been beaten again.

5-2...

A DAFT FIRST-HALF...

As the half waned, Bromyard drove wide, Wright fell to save a shot by Tipton’s Jarrett and Polan cut inside from the left but bounced a shot past the near post and a 7-goal half was whistled to an end. Certainly Tipton needed tightening in defence but with the Bromyard midfielders and forwards all very mobile and short, this would be a tall order, oddly… The bells rang out, Tipton replaced Tom Bennett with forward Jaspal Bhandal and Polan showed good feet at the start of the second period for Bromyard, before driving a shot too high. Duffield received a caution for hauling down Weatherby, before Bromyard erred in defence but although Jarrett’s shot wasn't difficult to save, Wright lost the ball as he fell left and was forced to grab it again quickly. Smart work by Weatherby led him to the edge of the penalty-box, where he was met by the advancing, unabashed Dodd and in truth, the referee wasn’t impressed, as Weatherby was smashed to the turf by the ‘keeper. Gunter set up Hayward for a shot, which rose too high and then the former was replaced by Tom Ward, who slotted in at left-back for the hosts, releasing Dan Colburn to cause a good deal of trouble on the right-wing.

THE ONE MOMENT I COULDN'T HEAR MARC WRIGHT BELLOWING...

BELLOW AND BOOT...

Sangha, often ploughing a lonely furrow in the Tipton attack suddenly broke on the left and his low delivery was whacked by Grey but the effort was superbly blocked by Goddard, only for Shane Grainger to balloon the rebound wastefully over the home crossbar. Hayward was cautioned for a sliding challenge, after Duffield cleared a dangerous situation for the visitors and Wright ran out towards his right corner-flag to concede a corner at the feet of an opponent. Jarrett’s free-kick from 25 yards dropped over the home goal-frame, before a succession of left-side offensive throws by Tipton ended with a break by Bromyard, but Weatherby’s low angled left-footer rolled past the right stick. Wright was replaced as the goalkeeper for the home team, Connor Thomasson replaced Hayward and Tipton missed a great chance to score. Fine work by Sangha on the right-flank, allowed him to send a low centre onto the right boot of the unmarked Jarrett at the far post but the midfielder skied his effort badly.

HURT BUT NOT OUT.
BUT IS THAT INIESTA REFEREEING?

OOPS...

Bromyard then set about missing several opportunities to really batter their guests, when first, Thomasson was involved but Molloy shot too high, Dodd fell left to grab a low left-footer from Weatherby and Molloy nodded a Colburn cross back across goal, only for Horton to somehow clear right-footed from in front of his goal. Scheppel nodded Molloy’s right-side centre well over the bar, before McGovern was cautioned for a foul, then a Colburn cross was hacked away by Tipton and Weatherby drove his ensuing effort wide of the left upright. Marvin Whitter replaced Fox for the visitors, then they grabbed a lifeline, following more good foraging by Sangha, this time on the right flank. The skipper lifted a good left-boot centre onto Jarrett’s head at the far post, again criminally unmarked, and his downward effort beat the ‘keeper. 

NO PATS ON THE BACK FOR JARRETT...

5-3...

Colburn’s footwork on the Bromyard right was tricky at times and he was unapologetically bludgeoned down by McGovern, who escaped further punishment from the main official but Weatherby then met Molloy’s right-side corner with a glancing near post header, which also glanced off McGovern’s head for a corner on the opposite flank. The final action saw Weatherby, no doubt desperate for a hat-trick, fire over the crossbar and the entertainment was brought to a close.

THE REF GRABS A BALL AND HEAD-BUTTS A LINO...

PUNISHMENT FOR DEFEAT: HANDS ON HEADS...

Strength, effort, skill, ebullience, shots, saves, errors, excitement: all were evident on the night and the players really gave everything to provide a really decent encounter. Scheppel and Gunter provided the ammunition for Hayward, Molloy, Polan and Weatherby, which Tipton couldn't manage to counter for the ninety minutes but the visitors’ spirited attacks on the break might have snatched something with better finishing, although in truth, Bromyard doubtless deserved the victory. Polan’s dribbles and danger deserved a goal probably but Tipton’s Sangha was also probably deserving of a strike for his efforts. I left Delahay Meadow after some really pleasant conversation with the really nice Tipton contingent ringing in my ears and the journey back to Solihull was as pleasant as it was unpleasant travelling the other way earlier… Fruit cake and Rice Krispies were welcome.

It’s what I do…

DALE GODDARD (5): POWERFUL FOR BROMYARD...

TEAMS:

BROMYARD TOWN:

Marc Wright, Will Carey, Dan Colburn, Darren Critcher, Dale Goddard, Aston Gunter, Nathan Hayward, Dan Scheppel, Luke Molloy, Josh Weatherby, Dan Polan.

SUBS:

Adam Went, Connor Thomasson, Phil Birch, Rob Woodward, Tom Ward.

TIPTON TOWN:

Brad Dodd, Tom Bennett, Jamie Fox, Chris Horton, Robbie Duffield, Jordan McGovern, Gregg Grey, Shane Grainger, Ravi Sangha (Capt), Lee Blake, Damio Jarrett.

SUBS: 

Marvin Whitter, Jaspal Bhandal, Gurtej Singh-Dosanjh.