CHELMSLEY TOWN 0-12 BROMSGROVE SPORTING: MATCH REPORT & IMAGES...

CLINICAL ROUSLERS NET A DOZEN

CHELMSLEY TOWN 0-12 BROMSGROVE SPORTING

The odd thing about this encounter at Pack Meadow, on Coleshill Town’s 3G pitch was that so few saves were actually made by the three goalminders who took part. There was no Jason Cowley for Sporting nor Reece Hewitt, two regular goalscorers but their colleagues rapped home four in the first period then another eight before the end. Home goalie James Kelly made a falling save from Rousler Alfie Bloomer in the opening half but replacement Khaleem Hulbert was given little chance after the break as regular shots either ended up behind him in the net or narrowly missing the target. Rousler ‘keeper Reece Francis gathered a couple of bouncing shots by Chris Gummery but was fortunate in the first 45 minutes when home skipper Ross Casey trod on the ball when well placed then when Gummery set up Dan Egege for a drive from inside the penalty-box which struck the Bromsgrove crossbar.

CASEY & MEAKIN-RICHARDS TOSS...

After the break, a Kieran Fitzgerald free-kick for Town was nodded across goal, forcing Francis to back-pedal and leap to touch the ball against his crossbar whereby Duane Courtney headed it to safety but a whistle had blown anyway and the whole scenario was nullified. Apart from a dangerous centre by Adam Keeley which was well cleared by Rousler Luke Edwards, that was virtually it for Chelmsley who were totally outplayed by a fitter, quicker, slicker, more clinical Bromsgrove, whose passing was accurate, the running speedy and the movement quite stunning at times for such an early point in pre-season.

CHELMSLEY: QUICKLY 0-3 BEHIND...

Certainly Sam Wills was excellent during the first-half, showing calm assurance on the ball, spraying relaxed and accurate passes about and scoring sweetly with his right foot to add a third goal for his team. He also saw a clipped effort deflected by the head of home defender Stephen Sadler, following a strong run by Chris Lloyd. The Rouslers were generally impressive however, keeping possession and try as they might, Town’s players simply couldn’t get close enough to alleviate the problem. Lloyd and Jack Wilson looked a yard quicker than the Chelmsley lads, Keenan Meakin-Richards the Rousler skipper rarely had to break sweat in deep midfield and Wade Malley was an awkward chap to mark, so that he stole in to grab a brace of goals, one in each half, although his weak lob straight to Kelly prevented him notching a trio. Luke Edwards in defence was solid and glanced a headed goal from a Robbie Bunn centre but I was really impressed by the lean, tall Ben Birch’s total commitment alongside Edwards, using his undoubted ground ability and verbal encouragement throughout a fine opening period. 

GUMMERY UNDER PRESSURE...

Alfie Bloomer looked sprightly on the Sporting right on occasions but in truth, Chelmsley were outplayed generally before the interval, despite the frustrated Gummery’s experience and effort as a lone striker. Egege was lively but too often the Town midfielders were chasing the ball, not often even getting close enough to Bromsgrove’s players to win possession back. 

GUMMERY: NEXT TO NO SERVICE...

The second period saw some early challenges going in from Chelmsley’s players but soon enough the goals began raining on a balmy, insect-infested July evening in Packington Lane. Two-goal Chris Conway the Rousler Legend and all-round decent fellow was the pivot in attack, Liam Spink and Josh Quaynor supported him well and both netted twice too but Malley worked the left-flank smartly with help from Josefu Ward and the smooth controlling Ahmed Ali, moving like his roller-skate wheels had been well oiled, generally engineered the Roulsers’ second period rumpus. John Pykett added the right-flank width, as well as a goal, in front of the excellent Jordan Jones whose composure, pace and commitment from right-back were spot on.

SAM WILLS (RIGHT): CLEVER FIRST PERIOD...

Craig Jones, the Bearded Boxer from Bromsgrove, had suffered a pre-match injury but as he’s as tough as old boots, he played his part, although in fairness there was little to tax him. Duane Courtney was also given little trouble by the Chelmsley forwards but just like in the first-half, the hosts were unable to get very much possession, despite the experience of Fitzgerald, the effort of Tom Ellis and the annoyance of the pass-starved Kieran Briscoe.

EDWARDS: PHYSICAL...

Hulbert saved low from Spink, Malley took a pass from Ali and drove a low centre across the 6 yard box, Quaynor drove over the crossbar from 22 yards and surely Pykett was fouled inside the penalty-box for a penalty? Pykett also netted from Conway’s miscue but was flagged offside, Quaynor curled another decent effort off target and Conway struck a low effort just wide of the left upright. The other efforts at goal? Well, er, they all went in… As I referred to above, none of the three ‘keepers made an outstanding save at all.  

WILSON, BIRCH & EDWARDS: STRONG...

PYKETT WANTS A SPOT-KICK BUT WHY IS THE 'KEEPER ALSO WEARING GREEN?

However, back to ‘There’s only one Chrissie Conway…’ He was unselfish, laid on goals for others and showed not only some deft inside-of-penalty-area footwork but also an injection of pace too on occasions. After a tough time with injury, fair play to him, for his two strikes were netted in nonchalant manner and he really seemed to enjoy the evening’s outing. 

REECE FRANCIS: STAGE LIGHTS UPON HIM...

Chelmsley will only get better as they become fitter and more used to the systems they will subsequently be asked to implement and although one could feel sorry for them, being thrashed by 12 to 0, I reckon that to witness a team like Bromsgrove, down on it like Kool and the Gang so early in the pre-season period was a joy at times, regardless of the scoreline. 

All applause must go to Smudger and his coaching staff, for preparing such a smart crew so well and so quickly…  

WILLS: NOT SHY OF DEFENSIVE DUTIES...

THE GOALS: 

Kelly saved a Bunn effort but Malley shot in the rebound following a left-side corner for 0-1 then the hardworking Bunn’s deep right-flank cross was glanced past Kelly by the head of Edwards. Wills got clear at inside-right to nudge a neat finish past Kelly for 0-3 and a wonderful pass from his own half by the visionary Wills saw the ball soar over a defender and although Kelly smothered Lloyd’s first angled attempt, the bearded Rousler converted the rebound. 

0-1...

MALLEY THE SCORER: ORANGE BOOTS, FLOWING LOCKS...

0-2...

EDWARDS IS MOBBED...

0-3...

WILLS THE SCORER BUT WITH HIS RIGHT FOOT?

0-4...

GOAL FOR LLOYD...

...BUT WHAT A PASS BY WILLS...

0-4 at the break then but once Conway had fed Pykett on the right flank to shoot low and too easily into the far corner of the net past Hulbert for 0-5, the floodgates opened. 

PYKETT HUGS CONWAY...

CONWAY ON THE SCORESHEET...

Fine work on the right by Jordan Jones led to Conway’s first shot being blocked by Kelly but the legend casually lifted the rebound into goal. A speedy turn onto Ali’s back header allowed Malley to flick home a goal off the foot of the right upright from 10 yards for goal 7 and then fine Conway work on the left side of the 18 yard box led to an unselfish feed for Quaynor to tap in. Spink’s 20 yard shot took a cruel deflection off a defender to loop over the unfortunate Hulbert and then the 10th goal came as a result of fine work again on the left side of the penalty-box by Conway whose pass to the 18 yard line was lashed deep into the net by Quaynor.

MALLEY'S SECOND GOAL...

CONWAY THE SCHEMER...

THE DEFENDER LOOKS TOTALLY PIGGED OFF...

...& STILL THEY GO IN...

CONWAY TAKES MORE PLAUDITS...

AHMED ALI PERFORMS A SERIOUS HANDSHAKE...

QUAYNOR & MALLEY MISS HANDS, WHILST CONWAY LIMBERS UP FOR MORRIS DANCING IN CHIPPING CAMPDEN NEXT SUNDAY...

THE FANS QUITE LIKE THIS...

The final two goals, 11 and 12 were too easy really, for first Spink dispossessed a fumbling defender and squared for Conway to shoot in comfortably from 12 yards, before Spink drove his second goal low from 20 yards, a drive I saw but missed filming because someone spoke to me and although I hurriedly pressed ‘Record’, the focus failed… Sorry mate, I’ll ignore people in future…

MALLEY: A BRACE OF GOALS AND 90 MINUTES...

SQUADS:

CHELMSLEY TOWN:

JAMES KELLY, SAM SADLER, HARRY SWEENEY, ROSS CASEY (CAPT), STEPHEN SADLER, NICK ELLIS, ADAM KEELEY, DAN EGEGE, CHRIS GUMMERY, JAMES TAYLOR, ALEX KNIGHT.

KHALEEM HULBERT, ROB ELLIS, GARETH PALMER, TOM ELLIS, NIAL BRENNAN, KIERAN FITZGERALD, JAMIE BARRETT, KIERAN BRISCOE, ANDREW EVANS, DAN McKIMM.

BROMSGROVE SPORTING:

REECE FRANCIS, ALFIE BLOOMER, CHRIS LLOYD, WADE MALLEY, LUKE EDWARDS, BEN BIRCH, AARON ROBERTS, KEENAN MEAKIN-RICHARDS (CAPT), JACK WILSON, SAM WILLS, ROBBIE BUNN.

JOSEFU WARD, JORDAN JONES, CRAIG JONES, DUANE COURTNEY, JOHN PYKETT, AHMED ALI, LIAM SPINK, CHRIS CONWAY, JOSH QUAYNOR.