ALVECHURCH 4-1 ROCESTER: full, light-hearted report by THE MOWDOG...

‘Church Rout Rocester With Late Goal Flurry…

Alvechurch 4-1 Rocester

It seemed that this game would be ‘one of those days’ for ‘Church, as a number of chances went begging through two-thirds of the contest, with the Romans stubbornly frustrating their hosts, although wasteful finishing was also evident. The guests were unable to manage Jordan Nadat however, whose pace, strength and guile stood out in the Alvechurch offense, ably supported by the enigmatic James Spray. Not only were ‘Church’s wide players, Josh March, playing in the correct month, and Leigh Downing both constantly threatening to Rocester’s full-backs James Frost and Matt Nutt, home left-back Zak Foster was dangerous too, displaying speed and clever footwork, as demonstrated by his assist for goal four. After Alvechurch’s relief at the opening goal, Rocester, offensively lame throughout the proceedings, gained a corner and scored from it on 81 minutes, only for ‘Church to fire a three-goal salvo late on to claim a deserved victory. Home midfielders Ryan Winwood and Sam Williams were unrelenting and ‘Church were often offensively very impressive during the match. Visiting skipper Tom Land, alongside Carl Allen in defence, really worked hard, not only to cope with Nadat and Spray but also to silence the jeers of the home fans, who reacted to his verbal bellows with venom. Fair play to him though, his respect for the ‘Church forwards was displayed at the final whistle.

LOOSE ALVECHURCH HUDDLE, SO MAYBE SOMEONE BROKE WIND...

ROCESTER DISPLAY THE ROMAN TORTOISE ATTACKING SCHEME...

HUDDLE FOR 'CHURCH BUT THE SKIPPER'S MISSING...
DID HE BREAK WIND? SURELY NOT...

TOSSING...

Rocester survived an early Alvechurch blast with more good fortune than excellence in defence, for following a free-kick, Nadat pulled away to the left, his low centre was pushed out by goalie Adam Binks but only to Downing, who could barely believe it as his ground strike struck the left upright. Spray retrieved the ball on the right and passed to Winwood, whose low shot struck Allen and Binks grabbed the loose ball like he’d found the best hidden Easter egg in a garden hunt.  Allen made another crucial interception at the near post from March’s low cross towards Nadat but the visitors enjoyed some relief and won a left-side corner off Danny Ashton but in the crowded penalty-box, the ball fell to Tom Carty, whose 12 yard shot flew 12 yards too high. Carty was hardly involved during a frustrating first-half for the Rocester attack, he was warned for his second foul and then later received a caution for a niggle at a home defender, as the ball was cleared.

MIDFIELD TRENCHES...

Alvechurch were unable to get in a shot when Spray’s leap beat Binks to a high Downing free-kick, then a booted clearance by the hosts led to Nadat racing centrally, tangling slightly with a defender and breaking free but the officials deemed that he had used foul means to achieve the freedom. He would not agree… Another March cross was hacked away by the guests then Nadat again served the overlapping Downing, left-flank and this time Williams moved unmarked onto the wide-player’s pass, 8 yards out but he sliced the ball horribly off target, past the right upright. The finishing was becoming more careless and when Nadat passed across the 18 yard line for Spray, the forward lifted his shot, Rugby-conversion style into the car-park. Tall home defender Mark Smith picked up an injury, possibly an achilles strain and although he attempted to carry on, he was soon replaced by Chris Field, who slotted in at right-back superbly and Ashton partnered skipper Dave Bellis in central defence.

MARK SMITH LIES HURT...

I had been asked by Binfield FC manager Roger Herridge to say “Hi…”to Bellis, by the way, but I wasn’t in a position to do so… Sorry Dave.

A Williams shot from 17 yards trundled past the left post, after a ‘Church corner had been cleared, Spray’s outside of right boot cross from the right was lobbed by Williams’ head to Binks, then Nadat was totally pigged off when Spray played a one-two with Downing and then threaded a pass to him, right-side. Nadat cut inside but shot past the near post, an effort he was obviously displeased with. Binks was harassed by Nadat, as he attempted to kick clear, the ball rebounded towards Rocester’s right and this time Spray blocked a clearance, demonstrating the willingness of the ‘Church forwards to hunt down any possible advantage. Carty received his yellow card but Nadat was even closer to a goal as the interval loomed. Neat March play in centre-field led to a killer angled pass by Downing to free Nadat at inside-left, his pace took him to a one-one with Binks but his low drive struck the foot of the near post.

A late caution for a ‘Church player, either Foster or Downing, ended the half and there was head-scratching, frowning and disbelief from the home players as they left the field, for Rocester had clung onto parity, although in truth, Binks hadn’t been worked enough. Rocester had survived and credit must go to Land and Allen for that but their forwards, David Hinds and Rob Ritchie-Smith had received virtually no service, Carty likewise, so that Field, Ashton and Bellis had rarely had their feathers ruffled.

The evening was not a cold one by this time, a trio of Rocester followers moved to stand to my right, another Rocester fan attempted to control his barking dogs and the banter began. The referee was totally hammered for ‘bias’ by the Rocester fans and the intensity of the evening was cranked up, as ‘Church continued to dominate but incredibly remained profligate.

SECOND-HALF TO START...

NADAT FLEXES HIS BICEPS...

After a wasted ‘Church free-kick, Nadat fed Spray for a shot, which was weak from 22 yards but then Nadat created havoc with two runs through the inside-right channel. First he was released by March’s long and astute pass, only for Binks to get down and block his near post drive from an angle, then Winwood’s long pass freed him again but Binks grabbed his low centre from the byeline. Alvechurch were hurrying, frustration was manifesting itself into irritation but still they ploughed forward. Nadat, as tough to shift off the ball as a New Zealand Rugby Union flanker, managed a shot from 17 yards but this time the ball fizzed off target. Land landed a yellow card for arguing about an incident, which completely angered the Rocester fans near me, before Nadat held up the ball and freed the tricky Foster into the penalty-box but the full-back’s near post drive flew wide, to his chagrin.

NADATTACK...

Liam Shaw replaced Hinds for Rocester, then the hosts grabbed what should really have been the deciding goal. Winwood fed Nadat, who ran at Land, the visiting fan to my right yelled “Left foot, left foot…” Land watched, Nadat turned inside onto his RIGHT foot, the ball bobbled to Spray and his 19 yard shot took a slight deflection off Allen and nestled in the left corner of the net past a helpless Binks.

GOAL FOR JAMES SPRAY...

ADAM BINKS: BEATEN AT LAST...

Spray was unable to get in a shot from 6 yards, after another Nadat rush to the right byeline, Spray nodded on a long clearance, Downing freed Nadat at inside-left but Binks dropped quickly to save at his near post and Liam Souter was replaced by Rocester, with the introduction of Jorge Eley. Downing flighted a left-side corner for March to steal a march on a defender and head well over the goal-frame, although he did appear to have leaned on his opponent, Binks beat the racing Nadat to a through-pass and Downing smashed a 20 yarder well wide, as the hosts rapped hard at their guests for a second goal. Rocester substitute Oliver Roome, who had replaced Ritchie-Smith, found room for a 24 yard volley,  which was wayward, shall I say, then amazingly, the Romans won a left-side corner.

MORE FRUSTRATION FOR NADAT...

The ball was curled in right-footed, Carty, who had rarely been a factor thus far, made a clever run towards the near post, leaving marker Winwood lost in the crowd and the forward nodded the ball downwards into the ‘Church net.  A shock? Certainly, but Carty enjoyed a few words with the Alvechurch fans in the grandstand after THAT…

1-1 & CARTY HAS EQUALISED...

ROMAN JOY, WITH 9 MINS REMAINING...

Unbelievably, after so much attacking without success, the hosts scored again, as the ball was chested down on the 18 yard line by Nadat for Spray to lash into the roof of the net from 20 yards, with the fan to my right wanting a hand-ball decision against Nadat in the assist. 2-1, the points almost won and suddenly the game opened up for Nadat…

2-1: SPRAY AGAIN...

BINKS DISTRAUGHT...

Karl Edwards replaced the lively Downing for ‘Church, who survived another corner but after the previous successful high delivery, this one was low and easily cleared towards Nadat, on the left touchline, half-way line. Audaciously he lifted the ball over James Frost’s head, leaving the defender frozen and chasing but Nadat was too quick and made ground to plant the ball past the advancing Binks. Sadly, the video clip loses focus for the run and shot but there’s enough there to please Nadat and his team’s fans.

3-1...

NADATLAST...

Connor Deards replaced the impressive March for ‘Church and there was time for Nadat to feed Foster on the left, who nutmegged a defender and squared the ball to Nadat. The striker, buoyed by his first goal, controlled the ball and smacked a low 12 yard effort into the right side of the net, with Binks almost certainly unsighted. 4-1 and game well and truly over, although Rocester did manage a late free-kick delivery which was awkward for ‘Church but a flailing Rocester boot caused an infringement.

4-1...

...NADAT AGAIN...

Rocester battled gamely but there was too much guile and pace in the home attack to survive the whole 90 minutes and certainly the ‘Church midfielders, their wide-men, the deceptive Spray, the offensive Foster and the quick, strong, inventive Nadat deservedly won the game for the hosts, eventually… 

TOM LAND'S BODY LANGUAGE SAYS IT ALL...

SPRAY: A PAIN TO MARK...

Nadat was obviously relishing his role and spoke in glowing terms afterwards about the professionalism of his club… Big game Monday, however: Hereford FC at home…

TOM LAND SPOTS THE END OF HIS BOOT...

JORDAN NADAT SHOWS HIS GOOD NATURE...

TEAMS:

ALVECHURCH:

Paul Evans, Danny Ashton,Zak Foster, Ryan Winwood, Dave Bellis (Capt), Mark Smith, Josh March, Sam Williams, Jordan Nadat,  James Spray, Leigh Downing.

SUBS:

Connor Deards, Chris Field, Nathan Waite, Karl Edwards, Matt Sargeant.

ROCESTER:

Adam Binks, James Frost, Matt Nutt, Tom Land (Capt), Liam Souter, Tom Carty, Tom Brown, David Hinds, Rob Ritchie-Smith, Callum Riddel.

SUBS:

Oliver Roome, Liam Shaw, Jorge Eley, Arron Kendrick, Callum Noone.