BROMSGROVE SPORTING 3-0 PILKINGTON XXX: light-hearted report by THE MOWDOG...

Profligate Pilks Stutter As Rousing Rouslers Triumph…

Bromsgrove Sporting 3-0 Pilkington XXX

Despite missing a few very acceptable opportunities themselves, Pilks lost out to a strong Sporting unit, which capitalised upon an early strike and then added two killer blows after the interval. A record crowd of 674 watched an often low key contest, although in fairness, that was probably due to both teams’ admirable attempts to pass the ball on the wet and fairly heavy surface, which led to some spooky quietness around the stadium on occasions. Reece Hewitt’s goal and assist proved his value in this league, Will Tibbetts, back at Bromsgrove, used his speed to fluster the Pilks defence and Jack Wilson’s confidence, power and support for midfield was evident for all to see. Luke Dugmore was busy in the trenches, as was his later replacement, Nathan Walker. Pilks were well served by midfielder Brett Fellows, although he missed a great chance to equalise before the break and striker Dale Kenny looked lively later in the match. The calm defending of Matt Powell is always good watch at this level but the visitors will look back at this game and wonder how they remained scoreless, as the Rouslers marched on to place more pressure upon league leaders, The Cagemen from Coventry United.

Wills and McCalla toss...

XXX huddle...

Two minutes in and before Sporting skipper Sam Wills’ dad had finished wishing me a happy new year, Brain scuttled along the right flank and crossed accurately onto the near post boot of striker Kyle Turner, leaving XXX goalie Reece Francis floundering as the ball nestled neatly into the far corner of the net. Pilks were certainly shocked to be a goal down so soon but they, like Bromsgrove, proceeded to use possession to create offense. An error though almost let in Sean Brain, who was beaten to the ball by the slithering Francis. 

1-0 to Bromsgrove...

Turner has netted...

A long jinking run by Hewitt from deep, whereby several Pilks seemed unwilling to tackle him and didn’t, whereas Hewitt appeared to expect to be challenged and wasn’t, ended with no shot at all. The visitors managed a couple of attacks soon afterwards but home goalie Chris Jay merely bent forwards, like he was picking up a kitten to pick up soft shots by the energetic Fellows and then Connor Leek (who couldn’t possibly be a plumber, could he?). Pilks’ central striker Kenny nearly burst between two home defenders on the right side of the penalty-box, but was unable to claim a penalty and the chance was lost. Patient Sporting play ended with a wayward effort by the quick thinking Brain, then a free-kick was cleared by Pilks, only for Brain to be flagged offside when a defender lobbed the ball forward for the hosts. 

Caged Jay...

Francis receives some early treatment...

Wills decided to take a short, right-wing corner but passed the ball to an opponent, Wilson rampaged forward for Bromsgrove but his strikers failed to capitalise then Liam Spink did well to reach the right byeline for the hosts but his cross was flicked aside by the reactive Francis. Dugmore then burst into an offensive position and found the XXX defence opening up before him but his low shot from 18 yards struck the inside of the left upright and then Francis did well to block another shot from the same player, following some Sporting recycling on the right by the nippy Brain. A quick free-kick by the Rouslers led to Francis beating Tibbetts to the ball and Spink was cautioned for roughness, before a long Jay boot led to a weak shot across the goalmouth, left to right, by Brain. 

Pilks were beginning to look more adventurous and a low ball scurried across the Sporting penalty-area, preceding a left-side corner, which Jay punched away, being baulked, so that it looked like he had fallen over the back of a sofa, trying to reach a floating balloon on Christmas Day. The humour increased as the second cross from Fellows flew in from the left, for home central defender Aaron Roberts, filling in for Craig Jones, completely miscued the ball and forced Jay to swoop at the feet of Kenny and save with his colourful footwear. As the half waned to a wet and soggy end, another Brain release rolled across the XXX penalty-box and then Pilks squandered their best opportunity thus far. Fine play out on the left by Kenny saw him reach the byeline, beating Roberts, and pass accurately towards the supporting and completely unmarked Fellows, who shoved the inside of his right shoe at the ball to convert from 6 yards but his first-time effort flew past the left post instead, almost scraping it. The Sporting fans thought he was a jolly good Fellows but he held his head in abject dismay with muddy hands. Another couple of efforts by Brain, one deflected, one well wide, following service from first Hewitt, then Wilson, ended the half with the Rouslers clinging to that early lead. 

Kenny threatens...

Fellows suffers...

The Smudge Dog barks orders...

The Rousler fans who had become sodden at the open end of the ground, added to the swell under cover at the interval, some stood directly behind the surrounding wall, still getting wet and I realised that any video coverage would now be severely limited, so I moved to stand just below the seats of the main structure, where I managed a decent, if colder view. 

Sam Wills: he uses BOTH boots...

Fellows attempted a chip in the opening moments of the second period but no height was gained and Jay gathered the ball around his waist, before a deep Leek delivery dropped beyond the goal-frame from the left flank. Any hopes that the enterprising passing of Pilks would bring a reward were dashed by another Bromsgrove goal and this strike was clinical, calm and cold. From defence, the ball was fed left to Hewitt by Jake Willcox, then Hewitt shoved the ball to Brain on the left touchline and ran inside onto Brain’s return pass, leaving Powell helpless and Hewitt entered the penalty-box to curl a swift and confident finish past the advancing Francis and just inside the base of the right upright, with McCalla holding off. I liked that one…

Hewitt and assistant...

2-0...

A pat on the back for Hewitt...

Before Kenny saw a shot deflected, Chad Barrett was replaced by Daniel Daise for the guests and then Paul ‘DJ Smudge Dog’ Smith made some changes of his own, withdrawing Dugmore and the rather displeased Brain and releasing Nathan Walker and Connor Collins onto the field. Strangely, the third goal stemmed from yet another quiet, slow moving attack and the ball found its way to Hewitt on the left-wing, who looked as casual in possession as a lounging cast member in West Side Story. And then he made a jerky movement towards the byeline, past Craig Oldfield and somehow hooked his left boot under the ball, which rose, soared, swerved a little, then fell onto of all people, Tibbetts’ head, as he staggered, stumbled and sprawled just inside the far post, so that the ball rolled into the net. Visiting left-back Jake Wicketts was stumped, bowled over and caught out by the winger’s strike. I liked that one too. I had suggested a headed goal to Mr Tibbetts before the game, for he has done this before when I have been present and yet Sam Wills prays for me to go elsewhere because he can never seem to find the net these days in my presence. 

The net hauls in scorer Tibbetts...

Tibbetts wonders whether the goal is on video...
No worries, mate.

Josh Allen-Noble (I believe…), who was wearing 17, not 13, as the team-sheet suggested, replaced Leek, which meant there was now a Leek in the dugout. Wills proved what I have written above by lifting a 27 yard free-kick shot over the goal-frame, the spectators and the roof of the stand behind the goal, then Daise drove a shot at Jay’s midriff. Jay then moved along the end-line towards his left flank, to deflect a cross but the rebound was pumped across goal, only for Jack McGinn to miscue in front of goal and the ball bounced helplessly up onto his thigh. Luke Corbett replaced Turner for the Rouslers, Ron Adeji replaced Craig Oldfield for the guests, before Walker squared the ball to Wills, whose right-booter from 25 yards appeared to and sounded like it slapped against the outside of the right stick. Francis did well to get down to a dangerous byeline cross from the Rousler left, before Tibbetts, at the left post, fell like sack of onions to bundle a right side centre into the XXX net but his effort was disallowed, either for the use of a hand, or possibly a wagging offside flag. 

Cool Hewitt...

Kenny exploded with a 22 yard effort which skimmed the Bromsgrove crossbar, then neat Sporting play ended with a low Corbett drive just past the left upright at the other end. Fellows’ free-kick flew off a colleague for a goal-kick, more neat passing by the hosts ended with Collins’ shot being saved by Francis, only for Corbett to be flagged offside as he rammed the rebound against the face of the crossbar. Bromsgrove cleared a Fellows cross at the foot of their near post, before a long run by Kenny, who had to turn back inside from the left byeline, ended with a 22 yard drive, which Jay opened his wings to leap for, tipping it away for a right-side corner. A very late Fellows free-kick on the XXX right was headed upwards at the near post by Adeji and the contest ended.

Powell power...

Hewitt’s ball skills, defender Jake Willcox’s steadiness and Wilson’s forceful left-back play were all evident for the hosts, with Wills’ sensible changes of direction in the play always laudable. Powell remained in control and thoughtful at the back for Pilks, calming skipper Kieran McCalla down on occasions. Fellows and Kenny were the pick of the Pilks however and they will surely rue a 3-0 defeat, which could so easily have been so different. Credit to both teams for the attempts to pass the ball calmly but sometimes the stadium was so quiet that it seemed most people were hung over and unable to make noise. 

Matt Powell has since taken up rugby...

Me? Cafe Saffron in Knowle for a chicken Desi… 

That’s what I do…  

TEAMS:

BROMSGROVE SPORTING:

Chris Jay, Liam Spink, Jack Wilson, Luke Dugmore, Aaron Roberts, Jake Willcox, Sean Brain, Reece Hewitt, Kyle Turner, Sam Wills (Capt), Will Tibbetts.

SUBS:

Brendan Kelly, Luke Corbett, Nathan Walker, Connor Collins, Dale Edwards.

PILKINGTON XXX:

Reece Francis, Keith Draper, Jake Wicketts, Matt Powell, Kieran McCalla (Capt), Jack McGinn, Craig Oldfield, Brett Fellows, Dale Kenny, Chad Barratt, Connor Leek.

SUBS:

Phil Chesters, Matt Stirzaker, Ron Adeji, Dan Daise, Josh Allen-Noble.