HIGHGATE UNITED 3-1 PERSHORE TOWN: MATCH REPORT & IMAGES...

HIGHGATE TRIUMPHANT OVER THREE-THIRDS AGAINST THE TOILING PERSIANS

HIGHGATE UNITED 3-1 PERSHORE TOWN

I guess the result was just about right in the end although Town will doubtless feel disgruntled about a late penalty awarded to Highgate which left them deflated and defeated by a two-goal margin. Three 35 minute periods were played on Highgate’s number two pitch and naturally a lot of players were used by both managers, Mr Pulisciano and Mr Townsend and so really, the result seemed inconsequential in the grand scheme of pre-season things, although the players most certainly wouldn’t have felt that way.

WHAT, NO HIGHGATE CAPTAIN?

AARON ARRIVES AT LAST...

There were standout performances by ‘Gate’s Dale Edwards, George Curry and Josh Hawker in particular, whilst Pershore’s leader Shaun Griffiths was as powerful as ever. Steve Roche though was close to scoring on three occasions for Town and indeed Martin Crawford, playing against his old club, smacked a great cross-shot goal at the start of the second period. Visiting ‘keeper Chris Rich did well too although the equaliser conceded wouldn’t have pleased him but he did strike the right angle of bar and post with a huge punt towards the Highgate goal early in the encounter. 

PERSHORE BREAK...

TACKLES FLY IN...

So many changes, so many players I have no names for but Quentin Townsend was kind enough to send me a list of his participants and Ash Pulisciano and ‘Gate player Trev Edwards have helped me out with their team’s identities, as far as possible. Thanks to them but apologies for any mistakes in identity in my report below…

TREVOR HAS A WORD...

HARD SURFACE, BUT AT LEAST SOMEONE HAS CUT THE GRASS...

As always it seems, ‘Gate’s Marco Adaggio loved to take responsibility for controlling attacks, willing to accept supplies with his broad back to defenders and bringing others into supporting play but he was only really offered one good goalscoring opportunity which he rapped too high, following a long pass in period two. His overall contribution was strong however and never casual. The early chances for Highgate came after a strong Pershore start but Curry shot wide, as did Dale Edwards and Aaron Brown’s low free-kick was easy for a falling Rich to grab. Dale Edwards cut inside from a short corner but his low effort was blocked by James Walker and even that rare goalscorer Trev Edwards taxed Rich (taxed the rich?) with a low angled drive which the gloveman smuggled well past a post. The ‘keeper then did well to flick away Hawker’s fine resulting corner.

The early pressure by Town had come from a couple of free-kicks, for tackles were not in short supply during the evening and Roche drove a 25 yard free-kick against the left upright, before a long Rich punt bounced on the sun-dried surface, surprised home custodian Brendon Bunn and clipped the top of the right angle of bar and post. Dean Waldron had also volleyed too high for the Persians but unfortunately for their manager both Ben Lane (hamstring) and left-flanker Chris Priest were hurt during that opening third of the match and thus changes were forced. Roche had a chance to shoot again but Bunn blocked well and Aaron Xavier’s 25 yard free-kick curled just past the left upright, as the Persians countered Highgate’s possession game. 

The movement of Isaac Jagroop and Aaron Brown and the outlets of full-backs Nathan Pulisciano and Trev Edwards would stretch Town at times but Dale Edwards’ sheer energy in attack with his clever feet and his industry in defence were so evident. Hawker was running the offence though and he was meddling in everything, getting a lot of playing time because he goes on holiday this week and I guess his manager wanted to give him as much game time as possible. Curry favoured spectators with some deft footwork even in a crowded midfield and his measured passing often belied the uneven surface he was attempting it upon… 

The second third opened with ‘Gate looking ill at ease from so many changes but Town nagged at them and a loose piece of control by a replacement United defender allowed ex-Gateman Crawford to fire a superb cross-shot into the top left corner of the net and open the scoring. Crawford was lively alongside Ty Smith on occasions but after Adaggio’s miss, Ricardo Richards’ strength and presence brightened up and stabilised the home offense. A low Richards shot, saved by Rich was followed by the ‘keeper’s advance to save at the feet of the chasing Adaggio but following a great free-kick by Pershore’s Robbie Agar which fizzed over his colleagues’ heads, the powerful Richards struck. Strangely, his rising drive, following a weak Town clearance and a feed by Hawker seemed to be saveable but Rich was unable to prevent the 17 yarder from entering goal just beneath the crossbar.

0-1...

GOAL FOR CRAWFORD...

LOOKS LIKE HE WANTS MORE...

1-1...

RICHARDS HAS NETTED...

Rich made amends however with a fine save from a replacement’s near post header following a left-side flag-kick then he caught a 20 yard effort from another substitute. The third period then began with the hosts in the ascendancy and in truth Curry, Dale Edwards and Hawker ran the show, despite a couple of breaks by the Persians and yet those breaks could easily have been costly for the home crew. After a low Richards shot had been saved, Persian Roche laid a chance on a plate for Smith, but he elected to try to flick a right-footer as the ball was passed from his left and in truth he miscued his effort wide, although a covering defender was on hand too.

THE PERSIANS' REARGUARD, PERIOD 2...

Hawker drove too high, before Dale Edwards beat a couple of defenders, couldn’t quite manage to complete a one-two with Richards but Beattie’s left-foot clearance ran straight to the big striker and he slammed a 15 yarder off the goalie’s fingers high into the right side of the net. 2-1 and the game was effectively decided… 

2-1...

RICHARDS, RED SHORTS, NOW HAS A BRACE OF GOALS...

More fine play by Edwards saw Beattie make a great last ditch challenge on Richards, Curry fed Richards again but the subsequent shot flew into the side-netting and Dale Edwards fired a cross-shot well wide with Richards in a good position for a pass…

Roche capitalised upon an error for Town but shot straight at Bunn, a substitute wasted a quick free-kick opportunity for the Persians but as the match reached its embers, another clever, intuitive hot Curry pass found Richards, who went down under Beattie’s challenge and the referee pointed to the penalty-spot. The energetic Jagroop wanted to take it, Richards, despite calls for him to execute it and attempt to complete a hat-trick, unselfishly said it was fine though and Jagroop rolled his spot-kick to Rich’s left, who had dived the other way…   

TREVOR FINDS IT AMUSING THAT A PERSIAN RECKONS THE WEATHER IS MORE FITTING TO CROWN GREEN BOWLING...

TREVOR HAS SHAVED, GELLED HIS HAIR & POSED FOR THE CAMERA THROUGHOUT THIS ENCOUNTER...
IT'S WHAT HE DOES...

THE FLOORED RICHARDS...

THE PAINED PERSIANS...

THE RECOVERING RICHARDS...

THE NOSE-BLOWING GOALSCORER, ISAAC JAGROOP...

So a good workout I reckon for both sets of players on a hard pitch which must have been as literally  blistering as the heat on such a balmy summer’s evening… Both managers, plus the spying Smudger Smith from Bromsgrove Sporting would have learned some stuff about their squads and they will move on to the next ‘friendly’ with ideas forming in their minds no doubt…