HIGHGATE UNITED 0-2 ALVECHURCH: light-hearted report by THE MOWDOG...

‘Church Finally Lynch Gate…

Highgate United 0-2 Alvechurch

Hereford FC beat Walsall Wood 2-1 during the same evening and so it was imperative for ‘Church to claim the three points at Tythe Barn Lane too. United lost the services of skipper Trevor Edwards and also James Loney before the game even started, meaning late changes to the team-sheet, which also included Karl Edwards replacing Sam Williams on the ‘Church bench too, it appeared. He would arrive with a bang and a wallop and have a decisive effect on the very late stages of this intriguing match. ‘Gate, through the pace of Connor Mooney, the grit of Lei Brown and the passing of James Cosgrove really added pressure at times to the league leaders’ defence in the opening half, without unduly worrying   Matt the duty Sargeant between the visiting sticks. Alvechurch had struggled somewhat, with final passes errant too often, despite the efforts of the excellent Ryan Winwood in midfield, plus sidekick and skipper Dave Bellis. Little was going right for James Spray and Jordan Nadat in the attack but as the game wore on, ‘Church turned a virtual screw, United were pushed back and it seemed only a matter of time before goals were scored. When they did arrive, after several near misses, the right result was achieved, for ‘Gate were dominated by their guests during that second period, leaving defenders Joe Cole and Scott Turner pushed hard at times.  

UNCLE SPRAY ENCOURAGES HIS 10 NEPHEWS...

WITH TWO HURT IN THE WARM-UP, 'GATE HUG LESS TIGHTLY...

HIGHGATE SKIPPER LEI BROWN HATES HAVING TO APPROACH MATCH OFFICIALS, EVEN FOR THE TOSS...

Nadat was pulled back by a defender as he escaped onto a long kick by ‘keeper Sargeant, unseen by the officials but I have to admit that I’m glad it wasn’t me running the line on the dugout-side of the ‘Gate pitch. The youngish chap there took some real jibes from both sets of coaches and was later so harassed that he signalled a ‘Church player offside from a goal-kick by his own team… Not good. Both Alvechurch full-backs were impressive in defence and on offense and it was left-back Danny Ashton’s determination which saw him rap a 22 yard right-footer past the left angle of bar and post, after mugging a Highgate defender. A couple of times, the ‘Church defence was in a little disarray, as Highgate probed but Lei Brown was unable to get in a shot inside the penalty-box. Nadat’s header from a right-side centre at the other end came to nought but the striker was already becoming frustrated with the lack of service he was receiving, even though he also roved offside a couple of times, as he and Spray were unable to link up well enough.

NOW THERE'S A LOOK...

A fine releasing pass by Cosgrove for the lithe Mooney saw the forward rush towards the 18 yard box but his low drive was comfortably saved by Sargeant, then Nick Wright made an interception for the visitors and won a corner, which was rendered fruitless. Another messy moment in the ‘Church defence saw Jordan Murphy, resembling a cross between Emmanuel Petit and Fernando Torres, shoot unlike either of the professionals from 18 yards, for Sargeant simply bent slowly to collect the miscue. A Nadat run, really piercing, won a left-wing corner, before a flick-on by Spray freed Nadat wide right but after moving inside, his low effort flew into the side-netting. Nadat was freed again on the right side of the penalty-area but although he reached the ball first, Brad Catlow, the ‘Gate ‘keeper had rushed out to foil the striker and the ball cannoned between the two sets of boots for Catlow to grab. 

THE HAIR ON THE LINESMAN'S NECK STANDS UP...
HE'S NOT HAPPY THERE.

SPRING SUNSET IN TYTHE BARN LANE...

An error by Luke Paskin, who was tough at the back for ‘Church was nullified by his colleagues and this led to Nadat being held as he attempted to keep possession in centre-field; although the referee might have waited before whistling for the foul, for a ‘Church player had fastened onto the ball and was running into the heart of the home defence. Fine and strong control on the right by the powerful Nadat, a real pocket battleship if ever there was one, saw him shrug off attention, cut inside and fire low towards the near upright, a shot which Catlow clawed behind for a corner. Highgate had dealt with Alvechurch’s few corners very easily thus far but after Nadat nearly freed Spray, Alvechurch really might have opened the scoring. 

Josh Marsh’s left-flank centre was just right for Wright at the far post but Catlow sprang like a tabby at a sparrow to save on his goal-line, then scrabble on the ground to deny the ‘Churchman a rebound from a yard, whereby ‘Gate’s Cole (is that a toothpaste?) hacked the loose ball clear. Skipper Lei Brown, a little frustrated for ‘Gate, managed to harass Ashton into dispossession but on reaching the byeline and passing inside to the supporting Nathan Correy, he looked disgruntled as Correy failed to shoot at all. As the half wound down, Lei Brown flattened Bellis in midfield as they challenged for a header, skipper v skipper, before a long line of spectators headed away on a trek to the tea-bar, or the beer-bar for half-time refreshments, after the official’s whistle sounded for the interval.

UNUSUAL SHOT...

EVEN THE SKY WAS SUPPORTING ALVECHURCH...

The second period didn’t start well for the visitors, for the ball was hammered from 23 yards at their goal by Murphy, only for the effort to fly past the left angle of bar and upright. Whether ‘Church were being careful, maybe precise, it’s hard to say but they did look a little pedestrian in some of their build-ups, with the frustrated acceleration of Nadat, often growling like the engine of a Maserati, idling on the shoulders of defenders. Andy Parsons had steadied the ‘Church’s back-pews, alongside Paskin and the Greens began to dominate but it needed an injection and right-back Mike Wardle provided it with a really strong and incisive run. His pass to Nadat was flicked as a volley by the Lee Hendrie lookalike onto the right boot of Wright, 12 yards out but his volley flew a few yards wide of the left upright. A fine pass by Bellis from his own half saw Nadat finally break free centrally and this time Turner was unable to cope with the speed but Nadat’s final touch allowed Catlow just the space he needed to time his advance and snaffle to the ball. 

UNCLE JAMES SPRAY...

The power had been cranked up however, Highgate were reeling a little and replaced Correy with Danny Rolfe, who at least looked lively on breaking occasions for the hosts, on their left-flank. A downward header by Spray from a right-side corner was back-headed from in front of goal by Nadat, who was signalled offside anyway, but that scenario would virtually repeat itself soon afterwards… March was replaced by April, sorry, Jack Cresswell, for the visitors, Nadat was signalled offside from Sargeant’s goal-kick and the pallid cheeks of the referee’s assistant wore a pinkish glow, before Wright drove well wide of the home goal from distance. Winwood's fine rising drive from 20 yards, following Spray’s industry, was brilliantly tipped over the crossbar by the springing Catlow and ‘Church were getting closer. Their fans were frustrated as the chances came and went but their good humour wasn’t affected…

JORDAN NADAT HAS A LITTLE SULK...
RARE, SURELY?

Spray battled to the left byeline but Catlow swooped onto his pass, then fine play by Wardle on the right yet again led to a neat right-side centre by Wright, which Spray jumped for and nodded against the crossbar, Nadat volleyed the rebound from 5 yards but a magnificent block by Turner saved Highgate and eventually the ball flew off Bellis for a goal-kick. A goal was imminent. Nadat raced to the right byeline but lost control near the right upright, as Catlow dropped on the ball, Spray’s slightly miscued low 12 yard shot bobbled horribly near Catlow and he struggled to save it as he fell and the ball bounced off him, over him but just past the right post. Highgate were under the cosh, but managed a Rolfe break on their left but Lei Brown’s low centre was smacked clear by Paskin.

THE BODGING TAKES UP HIS POST AT HIGHGATE...

Ashton won the ball from Rolfe but just couldn’t find Nadat with his pass but finally, from a strangely won corner, a strange goal was scored, strangely by Nadat… Spray, now dominating affairs in the space behind the sharp Nadat, playing at his own pace, in his own time, won the header in a crowd, Catlow pawed the ball across the goal-line but Nadat was there, maybe onside, maybe not quite but his nudge saw the ball bundled in from 4 centimetres and the goalscorer was suddenly Cristiano Ronaldo, as witnessed by the video clip…   

AT LAST...

...0-1...

...COURTESY OF...

"ME!"

"I'M JORDAN NADAT..."

HE TAUGHT RONALDO HOW TO CELEBRATE...

Nadat and Spray combined superbly for ‘Church but Spray was denied by a combination of Cole and Cosgrove, then Edwards replaced the hard-working Wright. Amazingly, Sargeant’s punt was headed on by Spray, Nadat slipped the ball into his kind uncle’s path, like a caring nephew should and the subsequent low drive from 16 yards was saved diving right by Catlow, only for the sneaky Edwards to slide the ball into the empty net from an angle. 0-2, game over and in my excitement, I called Spray ‘Hasty’ on the video clip… James Hasty was a Kansas City Chiefs running-back… But where did that come from at Highgate? Weird…

LATE DRAMA...

EDWARDS THE PREDATOR HAS ADDED GOAL 2...

GAME OVER, REALLY...

A couple of shots by Highgate were cold comfort for them: Aaron Brown, who never flagged for his team in midfield shot at Sargeant from 23 yards and Lei Brown drove a cross-shot from left to right, which didn’t bother Sarje at all… It remained only for Nadat to take on Rolfe, Cole and Nathan Pulisciano, the busy United left-back, leave them all beaten but then partially slice his 12 yard shot well wide of the left stick. A fan reckoned that was why he’s not playing for Barcelona… Interesting comment on the night Suarez netted twice at the Nou Camp v Athletico Madrid, for whom Jordan Murphy lookalike Torres not only scored but was also dismissed. Mark Smith made a late appearance for the guests, which was good because his tall frame and long beard wouldn’t stand in front of me on the touchline any longer…

JAMES 'HASTY' SPRAY TAKES A BREAK...

NADAT: ON TARGET AGAIN...

NADAT RUNS THROUGH THE 'GATE...

The game over, Alvechurch had Hereford on their minds… I overheard one of their officials mention Nadat ‘bundling the ball in’, to which I added: “It was a skilled bundling though…”

Highgate were well beaten in the end, but ‘Church march on, leaving me to think about James ‘Hasty’ Spray, who reminds me of the Roman sea-god Poseidon. Unflustered, unhurried, he simply does what he does. He was asked questions in the second-half for sure and he supplied the answers.

It’s what he does…   

TEAMS:

HIGHGATE UNITED:

Brad Catlow, Joe Cole, Nathan Pulisciano, Karl King, Scott Turner, Aaron Brown, Nathan Correy, James Cosgrove, Brendan Murphy, Conor Mooney, Lei Brown (Capt).

SUBS:

Dale Taylor, Danny Rolfe, Trev Edwards, Declan Attenborough,

Brad Frain.

ALVECHURCH:

Matt Sargeant, Mike Wardle, Danny Ashton, Dave Bellis (Capt), Andy Parsons, Luke Paskin, Nick Wright, Ryan Winwood, Jordan Nadat, James ‘Hasty’ Spray, Josh March.

SUBS:

Mark Smith, Jack Cresswell, Nathan Waite, Karl Edwards, Paul Evans(gk).