HAWKES MILL SPORTS 0-3 AEI RUGBY: FULL ACTUAL, FACTUAL REPORT BY THE MOWDOG...

Hawkes Downed By Rugby Resilience

Hawkes Mill Sports 0-3 AEI Rugby

Until wide-man Kane Finney slipped in an opening goal for the title-chasing guests immediately prior to the break, this encounter had been tight, with Sports looking tough opponents, relying on the long throws of mountainous central defender Kyle Walker (is he on loan from Spurs, or what?) and the nuisance of tall, lean strikers Phil Evans and Charlie Jones to cause Rugby’s central defensive partners of skipper Sean Castleton and Matt Izzard a real workout. They survived however and when Jim Smith plundered a second goal at the start of the second period, the result was rarely in doubt. Lively winger Gerard McGahey shoved in a third for AEI and the remaining time saw not a great deal from Hawkes but two Rugby shots struck uprights and home ‘keeper Tommy Hindmarsh saved well from Ollie Chater. Oddly, Hawkes substituted their other long-thrower, Steve Algar, after Walker had hobbled off injured, leaving no recourse to use that awkward tactic. Interestingly, the officials did not award a penalty early on to Hawkes, when Jones fell over Finney’s foot, which might well have changed the course of the game but AEI will point to Hindmarsh’s risky challenge on Smith later in the match too, which also went unpunished. 

CASTLETON & CURETON PREPARE TO TOSS...

So, AEI’s season moves on wearily to Thursday and a home match, albeit at Daventry’s Brown’s Lane, against Woodlands WMC and a victory will seal the league title.

TOMMY DISPLAYS A WICKETKEEPER'S GLOVES & PADS TO MAKE THE POINT THAT THE SOCCER SEASON SHOULD HAVE FINISHED WEEKS AGO...

LUBOMIR DREAMS OF YET ANOTHER CLEAN SHEET...

Izzard was beaten by the surface it seemed early on and Jones slipped a pass to Evans, but he could not test AEI ‘keeper Lubomir Sabol, who, despite the long-throw threats, was rarely troubled throughout the evening. McGahey’s fine footwork led to a bad foul by Walker but the impish winger kept his feet, only to be savaged by a combination of long chuckers, Walker again and Algar. Walker was cautioned, which meant he needed to show some care with future challenges during this important clash. James Farrow’s resulting free-kick from 27 yards dipped just a little late but the schemer was looking creative, partnered by the energetic and combative Luke Pritchard in the Rugby trenches. The hosts bellowed for a penalty when Jones appeared to be tripped by Finney inside the AEI penalty-box but not only did the visitors survive this, they also broke clear at inside-right, although Smith dragged a shot wide, with Lee Vince free on his right. 

KANE FINNEY COMBINES FOOTBALL AND A GAME OF TIG, AS HE ESCAPES AN OPPONENT'S CLUTCHES...

A huge left-side throw by Walker was cleared back to him and he displayed fleet of foot for a huge hulk of a Hawke and drifted outside Farrow, before delivering a fine cross, which edged past the far post. Home goalie Hindmarsh, who I last saw sharing goalkeeping duties with Rich ‘Mozza’ Morris at Coventry United, dived from goal to clutch a low centre by Vince but the stubborn nature of the up-for-it Hawkes led to a run on the right by Evans, although his low delivery flew right across the AEI penalty-box. A long right-side throw by Algar for the hosts was cleared back to him by the Rugby defence and the midfielder smacked a fine volley wide of the left upright from 26 yards. His next shot, also a first-time volley, after a corner by Sean Gaffney had been headed away, rattled into the body of a defender from 25 yards and Sports were asking questions of their high-flying opponents.

SEAN CASTLETON SHOWS THAT HE CAN PLAY THIS GAME IN HIS SLEEP...

Vince could get no power in a shot from inside-right as AEI attempted to rally but suddenly, Finney found himself running on goal at inside-left and his calm finish past Hindmarsh settled the nerves. As the half wore down, a short throw on the right, which fooled Rugby, saw Algar’s cross headed upwards but over the crossbar by Evans and the interval arrived with cooler air, in front of a decent crowd. Edwin Greaves, the new Brinklow manager had parked his car under some trees but after watching his manoeuvres, it’s probably a good thing that he’s not a driving instructor…

0-1 & THE ALL IMPORTANT STRIKE...

KANE: ABLE TO DO IT...

THE 5 MINUTE INTERVAL...

AEI: READY FOR HALF 2...

The second period opened so well for AEI and it was an attacking sortie by left defensive back Darren Wood who instigated the danger. His turn inside and low delivery was sliced horribly into the air and behind him by the beleaguered Walker, everybody watched in fascination as the ball dropped against the face of the crossbar and there was Smith to rattle in a shot from a couple of yards. However, Hindmarsh, like my daughter’s cat Cinders springing onto a conker on the carpet by the back window, sprang to parry the effort superbly, only for Smith to scramble the rebound over the goal-line. Hindmarsh would see that scenario repeat itself soon enough…

0-2 NOW...

SMITH HAS SCORED...

Evans nudged a header over the Rugby crossbar from another long Walker sling, before Algar fed Gaffney on the Hawkes’ left but Evans headed the midfielder’s cross over the target again and was subsequently substituted, with Corey Williams’ bustling style replacing the striker. Battling hard now, Sports managed to feed Luke Malin into the 18 yard box but he tumbled when challenged and the ball rolled well wide of the right upright. Vince then did remarkably well to keep in a long free-kick by Mitch Boe on the right byeline, although the home defence had given up on it, but Smith was unable to get a difficult header from his colleague’s lobbed cross on target. The third goal was again a tragedy for Walker, who was left injured and for Hindmarsh who again made a cat-like leap to save an effort at goal, only for the rebound to be jabbed past him by the attacker.

This time a right-flank throw by Farrow was flicked on by Finney, Smith found himself running at goal but Hindmarsh ran out and spooned the ball forward to avoid a clash with Smith as the ball bounced. Unfortunately for Walker, Finney challenged for the loose ball, which ricocheted to McGahey, 20 yards out and central, leaving the rock Walker lying hurt. McGahey fed the ball to the lurker, Vince, left-side and his fine cross was headed down at point-blank range by the winger, who had moved into the goalmouth but Hindmarsh leapt at McGahey as the header was made and blocked it but again the ball fell to the opponent, who snaffled a goal.

McGAHEY GOES TO THANK VINCE FOR THE ASSIST, WALKER LIES HURT & AEI ARE 0-3 AHEAD...

Walker hobbled off the field to be replaced by Jason Toye, who settled in at left-back, leaving Dan Tierney to move into the centre of defence with some real success. Wood was replaced by Halim Halim for the visitors and he was soon in the action, showing neat feet to cut inside from the right and shoot from 19 yards, an effort which rolled agonisingly against Hindmarsh’s left post, across the 6 yard box and was popped into the net by the hovering McGahey, only for an offside flag to spoil his good cheer. Vince was replaced by Chater, who headed a McGahey cross down into Hindmarsh’s gloves, Algar was taken out for the introduction of Hawke John Kariuki, who didn’t sing at all, meaning no more long throws for the guests to bat away. 

GERARD McGAHEY: LIVELY ON THE FLANK...

A fine pass by Pritchard from deep inside-left to inside-right, freed Chater but the advancing Hindmarsh did well to save the replacement’s shot, before kicking the loose ball against Toye’s legs to concede a corner, which saw Castleton rise and glance a header some yards wide of the far stick. Finally, a passing movement by the hosts brought a shot at goal. Louis Cureton, the home skipper, who never stopped attempting to create something for his team, fed Malin, whose one-two with Jones led to a shooting chance from 19 yards but the effort flew too high. 

It remained only for Boe to venture forward for AEI and slip a one-two pass for Halim to return the ball but Boe’s low shot struck the foot of the left upright, with Hindmarsh slithering on the turf. Smith was then played in at inside-left by the astute pass of McGahey but was nudged over by Hindmarsh, the referee awarded nothing and we saw the hilarious sight of Smith attempting to get up, scrambling on all fours like a gecko on a Dubrovnik rock, unable to win back the ball from Hawkes’ James Bryson and then the solid Rob McGrane. Dan O’Toole replaced the industrious Pritchard for the final moments and Rugby saw them out without further ado.

McGRANE HAS ESCAPED THE GECKO...

A win, that’s all AEI needed and just three more points against Woodlands will bring them the league title but only 48 hours of rest await them. Their central defenders were immense in this game and goalie Sabol would surely agree that he was given great protection by the pair. The pitch seemed quite small to me, which meant that the long throws by Sports could have been lethal but Castleton and Izzard came through unscathed. 

Me? Good to chat to ex-Coventry United midfielder Kiam Galdins, now of Alvis and seriously, I made nothing up, having simply written what I saw, backed up by video footage. Drove back to Solihull for chip-shop fish and chips, a rare treat these days but a 6.30 kick-off and a journey to the Coventry area sure messes up the food intake…

TEAMS:

HAWKES MILL SPORTS:

Tommy Hindmarsh, Rob McGrane, Dan Tierney, James Bryson, Kyle Walker, Louis Cureton (Capt), Steve Algar, Charlie Jones, Phil Evans, Luke Malin, Sean Gaffney.

SUBS:

Corey Williams, Jason Toye, John Kariuki.

AEI RUGBY:

Lubomir Sabol, Mitch Boe, Darren Wood, Kane Finney, Matt Izzard, Sean Castleton (Capt), James Farrow, Luke Pritchard, Jim Smith, Lee Vince, Gerard McGlahey.

SUBS:

Ollie Chater, Halim Halim, Dan O’Toole.