BORROWASH VICS 3-0 ANSTEY NOMADS: light-hearted report by THE MOWDOG...

Borrowash Bonfire Slow To Burn…

Borrowash Victoria 3-0 Anstey Nomads

Slow preparations were being made for the evening bonfire and fireworks gig at the Anderson Electrical Arena and in truth, Vics’ performance reflected them. A sluggish, often careless opening half in which creativity was as rare as firm grass on such a muddy pitch, changed greatly after the interval and Borrowash were urged on by the sheer combative midfield efforts of Ryan Fuller-Nadin (did I get the name right, this time?) and the emerging, classy passing of Lewis Belgrave, who grew into this game like sunshine emerging from a cloudy day. Vics dominated but squandered several chances, despite facing a replacement goalkeeper. Young Nomad Miles Price was troubled with what appeared to be a shoulder injury, despite making a brilliant save from Vics’ Kye Hall in the first-half but the ‘keeper didn’t emerge for the second period. I believe that defender Olly Preston took the gloves but I apologise humbly if that is incorrect. He did well and only conceded two late goals, one a penalty, as Hall missed two one-on-ones and Vics failed to capitalise on a couple of desperate goalmouth melees. Strangely, home goalie Ash Warner made a fine stop from Nomad Joe Hartopp at 1-0, after which the result could have been quite different. 

Tossing...

Silence...

Motionless...

Respect...

Applause...

On a heavy surface, passed fit for play only after a pre-game assessment by the officials, the opening salvos were ugly in all honesty, with very little passing evident. Nomads attempted to however but with Adam Burton again defending for Vics with sensible conviction and sidekick Steve O’Connell alongside him performing calmly and impressively, actually threatening Warner proved difficult. Vics struggled offensively and both Kirk Francis and Louis Menson-Evans found possession scarce and Hall, often receiving the ball with his back to a defender, found turning on the mud rather tough. Alex Marshall did latch onto a Belgrave pass but although he buried his opportunity, he was deemed offside by a linesman. Solid visiting striker Ben Pellington suddenly found himself in a great position, 15 yards out on the right but somehow he hurried his release of the ball, which rolled harmlessly across the penalty-box for Vics to clear with ease.

Kirk finds a partner for the 3-legged race...

Warner kicks clear...

Francis was so close to getting a touch in front of goal to Alex Marshall’s head-down of skipper Danny Briscoe’s corner but Price fell upon the loose ball in the mire. The ball, which had sounded under-inflated from the start, was replaced as Anstey prepared to take a left-wing corner, which home defender Owen Brown chested away from the near post. Goal chances were rare and only a weak Marshall 25 yarder, which was way off target then a low cross by Hartopp for Nomads, which deflected off Burton for Warner to clutch, raised any eyebrows at all. Anstey really ought to have taken the lead though, when interplay between Hartopp and Nick Reeves allowed the latter to rattle a 12 yard drive low at goal, only for Warner to plunge left and turn the ball aside well. The despairing Menson-Evans picked up a right-side throw and moved across towards the middle but his shot crossed the touchline on the left flank for a Nomad throw, leaving him off-balance and frustrated.

Nomads on offense...

Brown and Burton cover Pellington (9)...

Price’s shoulder was causing some concern but after treatment, he leapt superbly to tip Hall’s excellent clipped shot over his crossbar. Brown’s left-side corner caused a real scramble in the Nomad goalmouth, for O’Connell barely touched the ball at the near post, Alex Marshall challenged at the far post, Nomad defender Sam Marshall and Price stopped the ball on the goal-line, Nick Reeves hooked the ball in the air and Francis’s downward header struck Menson-Evans and Preston a yard from goal. Menson-Evans reacted quickly though but his next swing at the ball was blocked by Preston again, Francis hacked at it, before Sam Marshall deflected Menson-Evans’ last kick behind for another left-flank flag-kick. Soon afterwards, Hall’s falling effort was cleared but the move ended with O’Connell’s long shot being deflected for a right-side corner, from which Hall rose to send a looping header onto the top of the visitors’ crossbar from 10 yards. The next left-flank corner for Vics brought a surprise opening goal however, when Brown cleverly flicked the ball goalwards from the near post area, despite facing away from the target and his effort drifted into the net, thus avoiding the need for another scramble in the 6 yard box.

A real tackle is allowed...

Kirk looks really impressed that the ref wants to clutch him tightly...

"In my MOUTH, not my eye..."

Louis says: "Grab my arm like you grabbed Kirk's and I swear I'll do time..."

Poor Vics concentration almost allowed an equaliser for Nomads straight away, however, as Hartopp did well on the right, cut inside to nutmeg O’Connell and only a brave save, advancing to the corner of his 6 yard box by Warner saw the ball deflect off him for a corner. This right-side flag-kick, taken by Stacey Coore, who slipped as he took it, was cleared by Alex Marshall’s header to Chris Rudkin at 18 yards, but a fine intervention by Burton saw the ball deflected over the home crossbar for another corner. The last moments of note in a fairly grim half both featured Price, who fumbled a Marshall shot then a Brown delivery but the ‘keeper managed to hold on in front of a lurking Menson-Evans each time. 

1-0 to Borrowash...

...& Owen Brown is the scorer...

As I mentioned, Price was replaced in goals by Preston at the interval, Pellington had been replaced too, so that Olly Smith and Harry Murtha had entered the fray. An early run on the Vics’ right by Francis onto Belgrave’s deflected pass, saw him do well to reach the byeline past a desperate Sam Marshall but as Menson-Evans waited to convert at the near post, Hall intervened, messed up the chance and the advantage was lost as Nomads cleared. A couple of strong Nomad tackles were allowed by the official, positive play by Brown saw his 22 yard shot drift wide, before a sortie by Anstey led to Warner rushing out to kick the ball away. Belgrave’s influence was strengthening however and he won the ball off Coore, played a one-two with Alex Marshall and Belgrave’s clever pass set up Hall for a break at inside-left, only for the striker to roll his left foot shot not only past the advancing ‘keeper but also the right upright.

Head over the ball and follow through...
Neat.

Atmospheric Borrowash...

Louis and Kirk admire the sunset...

Brown’s cross was batted away under pressure from Menson-Evans by the Nomad goalie but Murtha was well positioned to clear Francis’ low 15 yard shot off the goal-line. The ‘keeper beat a right-side corner out for a repeat flag-kick but Vics couldn’t convert from another near post melee, as Belgrave challenged and Menson-Evans kicked air, before Anstey, having survived a bit of an onslaught to be fair, so nearly regained parity. A long and low cross from the left found Hartopp just beyond the far stick but Warner slid down well to block the forward’s effort at the expense of a corner. 

Wow...

Sam Marshall clips a pass...

Kye explains to the referee how to get his hair to look like his own...

Menson-Evans then found himself freed at inside-left but his rising drive was well turned off target by the under-pressure goalkeeper. Hall was next to miss a chance, after Fuller-Nadin had smashed a 24 yarder over the Nomads’ crossbar following a corner but the smart pass by Alex Marshall was the best part of the move, as Hall used his right foot this time to stroke the ball past both the goalie and the right upright. Alex Marshall did create the third goal in the end, however and this time, Hall scooped the ball in from a few yards away, with Sam Marshall, who played well for Nomads and central defender Daz Russell wrong-footed.

Francis threatens Sam Marshall...

Alex Marshall, second left, moves to congratulate scorer Kye Hall...

At last: 2-0, courtesy of Kye Hall...

Kye hasn't ripped the net, exactly...

James Buck and Reece Horne replaced Francis and Fuller-Nadin for Vics, a low Belgrave shot was stopped by the ‘keeper, Alex Marshall’s header from Briscoe’s free-kick soared too high and then the visiting ‘keeper was adjudged to have hauled down Alex Marshall as he ran on goal and a penalty was awarded, even though no card at all was shown, which seemed odd. O’Connell stepped forth, for Menson-Evans had already been replaced by Cam Perrons and the tall defender’s spot-kick nestled in the bottom left corner of the net, although the ‘keeper dived the right way. It remained only for a superb sliding tackle by Perrons to halt a break by Nomad Smith and the game ended.

Fine second-half sky...

Penalty scored & 3-0...

Steve O'Connell enjoys the luv...

Not very nomadic marking...

Borrowash deserved the victory. Anstey, where legend tells us that the last wolf was killed in England (‘Anstige in Wolfdale’) suffered for the loss of their goalkeeper, no doubt. Defenders Simon Richmond, as well as Sam Marshall and Russell battled well but skipper Preston commanded his team really successfully. Anstey is noted for hosiery, boots and shoes, so the mud-clogged ones from this game will be easily replaced. They had no Derek Dougan in attack, who lived in Anstey when he played at Leicester, but they certainly competed well enough. Maybe they needed a Ned Ludd in their team, an Anstey guy who gave his name to the celebrated machine-wreckers, the Luddites… Good nickname for the Nomads, perhaps? The Luddites, or even The Machine Wreckers… I like those.

Gary Hamson munches his tea...

Kirk Francis finds a rare butterfly in the long grass...

Fair play to Belgrave for his growing influence in the Borrowash workhouse, credence to midfielder Fuller-Nadin, whose influence was enormous during this game but despite the fact that the normally laid-back, lugubrious Steve O’Connell refused to do a post-game interview because he was maybe too shy to do so, I must congratulate him on his general defensive performance alongside the rock-steady Burton… I’ll get him yet.

Owen Brown, about to be interviewed...

Me? Long drive back to Solihull and fish. Not eggs. Fish.

Not what I usually do…

TEAMS:  

BORROWASH VICS:

Ash Warner, Owen Brown, Danny Briscoe (Capt), Steve O’Connell, Adam Burton, Lewis Belgrave, Kirk Francis, Ryan Fuller-Nadin, Louis Menson-Evans, Kye Hall, Alex Marshall.

SUBS:

Reece Horne, James Buck, Cam Perrons. 

ANSTEY NOMADS:

Miles Price, Simon Richmond, Sam Marshall, Olly Preston (Capt), Daz Russell, Zak Harris, Chris Rudkin, Stacey Coore, Ben Pellington, Joe Hartopp, Nick Reeves.

SUBS:

Olly Smith, Harry Murtha, Joe May, Joe Harris.