CHELMSLEY TOWN 0-4 ALVIS SPORTING: light-hearted report by THE MOWDOG...

Chelmsley’s Hopes Dashed By Bad Omen & Doused By April Showers, As The Tankmen Stay On Track…

Chelmsley Town 0-4 Alvis Sporting

‘Fate is taken from your hands,

When the mean Grey Heron lands…’

So goes an old English saying and Chelmsley were defeated by 0-4 on their home patch, after a grey heron landed on a rooftop behind the parking-lot. They must have wondered whether it was their day when Alvis swept into an early lead but in truth the hosts were inept in attack for much of the afternoon, for Sam Murphy and Michael Quirke held firm for Sporting, protecting ‘keeper Ash Hooker so well that he was rarely stretched at all. The visitors took another chance early in the second period, with the home defence caught cold by Tommi Maguire’s fine cross and Shane Brassington’s near post header and although the hosts began to dominate the affair, their offense seemed cursed by the presence of the heron. Two late, clinical and devastating strikes by the guests added insult to injury for Town, who simply couldn’t find the net, despite some pressure asserted. A penalty shout against Brassington went unheeded and the second-half weather was vile at times, with squally showers and a drop in temperature to 6 degrees, so that it wasn’t to be for Chelmsley. Central defender Jamie Sawyer was excellent during this match for Town alongside his partner, the most vocal, the angriest on view, skipper Ross Casey, a real character, who reminded me at times of TV’s Alf Garnett from ’Til Death Us Do Part’. 

THE TOSS BETWEEN TWO PROMOTION RIVALS...

An early catch by Alvis ‘keeper Hooker was followed by a right-side Town corner, which was headed clear by Murphy, although Chris Lloyd lashed a 22 yard drive straight back but wide of the left upright. Incredibly though, with Sporting looking more comfortable on the ball and Kiam Galdins busy in midfield, the visitors struck… 

As the old English saying goes:

‘When the Grey Heron begins to dance

And a shot is offered, take that chance…’

And the visitors did just that, for left-sider Ben Cranage moved onto a Galdins pass, ran threateningly and the ball ricocheted off a defender for playmaker Dean Kimberlin to square for the initiator, Galdins. He simply stroked a 25 yard left-booter past the struggling goalie James Kelly, who was beaten low to his right.

MILLS CHALLENGES FOR CHELMSLEY...

GALDINS HAS SCORED...

0-1...

Ricky Cutting opened up his frame to side-foot a lob from inside-left but too high and after Lloyd’s next shot was saved easily by Hooker, Galdins’ release looped off a defender beyond the far stick, where Maguire awaited his chance to practise his volleying but although well hit, his effort flew wide of that upright. Kieran Fitzgerald, a menacing figure in the Chelmsley midfield, shot at Hooker and as Town settled a little more, a bout of head-tennis ended with Mitch Thompson nodding upwards but too high, as the hosts pressed. Galdins, always looking like he would affect the game, played a decent one-two with Ricky Cutting just inside the penalty-box for Alvis but although home defender Karl Douglas challenged, the lines-person on at that end waved a flag for a foul by Galdins, who looked as perplexed as anyone.

DOUGLAS ON THE BALL v ALVIS...

ELLIS WONDERS WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON...

An old English saying goes: 

‘When a boot is used for scything hard,

Thou wilt be dealt a yellow card…’

And so it proved, when Fitzgerald’s agricultural lunge on busy Tankman Stefen McGrath left the Alvis player furrowed. Fitz was cautioned. Standing home ‘keeper James Kelly completely misjudged a deep Alvis free-kick from the left, his gloves merely pushing the ball on and he was fortunate that the ball bounced past his left upright, although the lines-person was again wagging her flag, although again it was difficult to spot any infringement. Kimberlin and Brassington combined to set up Cranage for a shot for Sporting but his effort sailed too high, then Casey was harassed by Brassington’s run on the left-flank and rather rashly attempted to ‘scythe hard’, ploughing Brassington to the ground and receiving the inevitable yellow card, which he vehemently disputed… No change there. Kelly didn’t field the ensuing Maguire free-kick carefully but after dropping the ball, was able to retrieve it. 

FITZGERALD BOOKED...

THE REF IS ON CASEY'S CASE...

Casey’s rather awkward back-pass across his 18 yard box from the left-back position forced Kelly to slice the ball away for a throw and in truth, Chelmsley were not doing themselves justice at this point. Sawyer made a superb tackle to halt Cutting’s run at inside-left and the subsequent left-side throw saw Maguire waltz past two defenders but shoot wide of the near post, before Brassington’s next run ended with a loss of possession, a rough tackle and a booking. A late free-kick by Town was cleared by the hard-working Alvis central defence but Fitzgerald’s 19 yard first-time shot rose into the cooling afternoon air and dropped onto the pitch behind the main one. 

BRASSINGTON GETS HIS YELLOW CARD...

Certainly home forward Jon Mills, solid as a middleweight boxer and strong as a bear, was being well tussled by Quirke and Murphy, with McGrath and right-back Adam Day supporting but despite some attempted possession by Nick Ellis and Mitch Thompson, little was going right for the hosts, despite some overlapping runs by Liam Norris and some speedy rushes by Rob Ellis. 

The old English saying says:

‘When the rain is drenching where you are,

Go forth and sit inside your car…’

And that’s what some people did during the interval, even switching their engines on to gain some warmth… I walked round the pitch to find a better position, away from the harmful fumes… 

Alvis delivered the proverbial hammer blow after the interval, when Galdins played a quick one-two with Kimberlin then fed the ball wide right to Maguire, whose accurate near post centre was met by Brassington. He left defenders in his wake to head the ball firmly into the top corner of the net, leaving Kelly clawing the spring air. 0-2 and Chelmsley were forced into retaliatory action. 

HANDS UP, IF YOU'RE 2-0 UP...

BRASSINGTON HAS HEADED GOAL 2 FOR ALVIS...

...& HIS FRIENDS SEEM PLEASED...

At last the hosts pushed forward with some resolution, using the physical Fitzgerald and sidekick Nick Ellis to good effect but neither Thompson nor Lloyd were able to provide the sort of finish necessary. Mills was still being well marked by the defensive Tankmen and following an altercation between the two 6s, Kimberlin and Nick Ellis, Town were awarded a free-kick 19 yards from goal. Thompson struck a low shot, which deflected off Quirke’s leg, but Hooker fell left to grab the ball near his left upright. Fitzgerald then went close to scoring for Town, fastening onto Rob Ellis’ pass and getting past Quirke at inside-right into the 18 yard box but his low angled shot was deflected across the face of goal by Hooker’s outstretched foot. 

Ryan Conlon replaced Norris for Chelmsley and when Nick Ellis was fouled, his reaction displeased the official, who decided a caution was necessary. Ellis didn’t and wanted to slink off but the referee wanted him to remain where he was, hence the arrival of skipper Casey, who bawled at his colleague: “Goodness, young friend, do stay where you are, there’s a good chap…” Actually, the words used included several expletives but the meaning was similar…

CASEY HAS A BELLOW...

"NO, I'M NOT HAPPY, REF..."
NICK ELLIS WON'T LOOK.

CASEY HAS ANOTHER BELLOW...

The Alvis manager, Damian Cassidy was becoming a little irritated by the inability of his defenders to clear the ball properly at times and somehow, the encounter had become one of how long it would be before Town grabbed a goal back. The weather was horrible, with a dark grey cloud rasping rain down and the temperature dropped too but a moment of contention arrived, following a Fitzgerald free-kick. The still impressive Sawyer fought near the left post to get in a shot under pressure and when he did, the ball struck Brassington, as the Tankman fell. Whether it was chest, or upper arm, shouts for a penalty went unheeded and Alvis breathed again. A break by Brassington on the Sporting left saw him cut inside but Cranage’s shot rose way too high and the warning was there…

AS THE RAIN FALLS, BRASSINGTON HAS POSSESSION, WHILST CASEY APPEARS TO BE WEARING ICE-SKATES...

Lloyd sliced a poor shot way off target, which left Alvis’ Maguire frowning and incredulous, for as the old English saying goes:

‘When your gunfire goes astray,

You are bound to lose the day…’

And after Cranage cut inside from the left and beat two defenders, his shot being pulled wide of the near post, the hosts replaced Fitzgerald with Tom Ellis to make three Ellises on the field. Maguire’s 25 yard free-kick dropped just too late but Sawyer shot straight at Hooker for Town, before Kimberlin, who had taken a knock earlier, was replaced by Tankman Oli Basham and a low Lloyd shot was picked up easily by Hooker. Brassington was adjudged to have fouled an opponent as he broke forth, although Cranage shot into the net, before Cranage was replaced by Ryan Isherwood. 

An old English saying says: 

‘It’s quite unwise to make the mistake,

Of being caught out on the break…’

And Chelmsley were, when Alvis won a right-wing flag-kick. Cutting had fed the ball in to Isherwood, whose shot was brilliantly blocked for a right-flank corner by the continually excellent Sawyer and although Maguire’s delivery was headed back to him by Sawyer, the tricky winger’s second cross struck defender Douglas and Maguire had the quickness of thought to volley a left-footer into the penalty-box, where Day remained, just onside, back to goal. Day simply back-headed the ball and Kelly was beaten as it dropped behind him into the empty net. 

MAGUIRE: ALONE AGAIN, NATURALLY...

GOAL FOR DAY, TODAY...

As an old English saying goes:

‘When the omen Heron has just flown, 

So your chances have been blown…’

And so they were. Brassington again broke left, watched by Casey but Cutting had supported well, as Sawyer desperately tried to get back and cover but Brassington passed to Cutting, who calmly slipped a low shot between the unfortunate Kelly’s feet and into the empty Chelmsley net. 0-4 and Alvis were dreaming…

GOAL FOR CUTTING...

HUG FROM MAGUIRE...
ARE THEY RELATED?

LET'S ROLL IN THE GRASS...

"WE DON'T CARE IF IT'S RAINING,
WE MAKE OUR OWN SUNSHINE..."

Still Chelmsley forced themselves forward but with Alex Webley on, I think for Nick Ellis, Mills was soon seemingly cautioned as frustration began to increase for Town. Charlie Cook made a late appearance for Alvis but there was to be no reward for Chelmsley, not even a consolation, for as the old English saying goes:

‘When the Grey Heron has taken flight,

You won’t score if you play all night…’

And so it would be for Town… 

SAWYER & COOK...

END...

CUTTING & MAGUIRE,
ALVIS GOING HIGHER...

MAGUIRE DISPLAYS HIS ABILITY TO SHAKE HANDS WITHOUT LOOKING...

A QUIRKY KIND OF DAY...

Alvis won the game with strikes early in each half, then after withstanding a defensive examination, tanked in two devastating late goals to leave Chelmsley feeling hard done by. All in all though, if truth be told, Alvis deserved the victory. Sawyer was so good for Town, Quirke likewise for the guests but Brassington’s elusiveness was a factor for Sporting, as was Maguire’s ability to deliver from the flanks. Galdins, quieter in the second period, had featured well in the opening period and Kimberlin’s influence was always prevalent. However, for a misfiring team, as the old English saying says:

‘When the April showers begin to squall,

Your success is sure to stall…’

And for Chelmsley, so it came to pass…

Me? Back to Shirley for a cottage pie… 

It’s what I do… 

TEAMS:

CHELMSLEY TOWN:

James Kelly, Liam Norris, Karl Douglas, James Sawyer, Ross Casey (Capt), Nick Ellis, Rob Ellis, Kieran Fitzgerald, Jon Mills, Chris Lloyd, Mitch Thompson.

SUBS:

Tom Ellis, Ryan Conlon, Lee Harris, Alex Webley, Aaron Keen. 

ALVIS SPORTING:

Ash Hooker, Stefen McGrath, Adam Day, Michael Quirke (Capt), Sam Murphy, Dean Kimberlin, Tommi Maguire, Kiam Galdins, Shane Brassington, Rickie Cutting, Ben Cranage.

SUBS:

Dildale Linton, Charlie Cook, Oli Basham, Ryan Isherwood, Aaron Cooke.