AFC BINLEY MANAGER EDWIN GREAVES WRITES ABOUT HIS TEAM'S 1-1 DRAW v POLONIA COVENTRY FC...

EDWIN GREAVES: THOUGHTFUL ON THE SIDELINE...

"Polonia started the game the better of the two sides and were quicker and sharper than us all over the pitch.


They got themselves into an early lead after 4 minutes and were always looking to move the ball around when allowed to.


Although we defended well we allowed Polonia too much time and space on the ball.


In the 2nd half we came out much sharper and got closer to Polonia all over the pitch.


We levelled the game in the 59th minute when an Andy Godfrey cross was dropped by the goalkeeper and Blake Kassar was there to put the ball in.


Both sides had opportunities to win the game but overall a draw was a fair result.

In summing up this game, Polonia were better in the 1st half and we were the better team in the 2nd half.


Against a good Polonia side we had to work hard and dig deep and once again the lads delivered. We still have to improve in some areas but I cannot fault the effort and work rate of my players.


To start the season with two games in four days and get 4 points against our name is a good start for us and is hopefully something we can build on.


We have a few days to regroup now and then we go again on Saturday."

Edwin Greaves 

Manager, AFC Binley... 

AFC BINLEY 1-1 POLONIA COVENTRY FC: INDEPENDENT MATCH REPORT...

Polonia Make Life Hard For Off Colour Binley

AFC Binley 1-1 Polonia Coventry FC

This turned out to be a strange evening at the John White Community Centre in Coventry, for the contest between Binley and Polonia was beset with awkwardness and communication problems from the very start. Polonia were playing their first ever fixture in the Coventry Alliance and their pleasant ‘secretary’ Karol was first seen grappling with the official team sheet and other documents customarily dealt out at this footballing level. All of the players were from Coventry’s Polish community and because the team sheet wasn’t completed until just prior to the kick-off, I decided to use the players’ numbers during my video clip commentaries, instead of attempting to write the names down and totally mispronounce them. 

LISEWSKI IS WATCHFUL...

The rather stern and often officious referee strode across to the pitch, some 150 metres or so from the changing-rooms and he quickly appointed a representative from each club to be linesmen. This can never be an ideal situation and indeed, the referee would overrule the Polish ‘assistant’ several times which increased the rather obvious tension out on the pitch. The referee then called the two team-captains to the middle of the pitch for the coin-toss but whether the Polish skipper Marcin Machowski failed to understand the instruction or in the heat of the pre-match chatter, failed to hear the official, he didn’t react to the calling. Maybe a stroll towards the Polonia sideline by the official would have avoided his three subsequent unfriendly sounding bellows for the skipper to approach but nevertheless the foundation had been laid for the visitors to feel somewhat alienated before the game had even begun.

THE LONG WALK.
DOESN'T DO TO BE SENT-OFF...

The situation worsened during the contest, causing frustration, angry responses and sometimes disbelief from the Polish lads, resulting in three of them being harshly cautioned during the proceedings: namely Machowski, Marcin Dziudziek and Michal Pietryka. Playing in the Poland national team’s colours, the guests were eager, speedy, enthusiastic and physical, being totally absorbed in the game and starting well enough to score a scrappy early goal. Their fast start had clearly surprised Binley, who in truth looked jaded from the outset, possibly due to having to play a match at 6pm following a day of hard work. Polonia, whose players had also probably worked all day, harassed AFC into mistakes but then displayed good anticipation, speed of thought and a tendency to make wing-rushes, usually orchestrated by their outstanding midfield playmaker Dawid Swierk, a guy who has previously played for Polish teams Rakow II and Legia II, according to Google.

LISEWSKI BITES INTO A GOAL-POST...

The early goal had stunned Binley and it took some time before they cranked themselves into any form at all but at least during the second period, driven on by midfielders Will Waddell and skipper Steven Young, more offense was seen from the hosts. Their eventual equaliser was hotly disputed by Polonia though, arguing that ‘keeper Marcin Lisewski had been fouled before Blake Kassar scrambled the ball into goal. The official also failed to award a possible penalty to Binley near the end of the opening half, when Young was hauled to the ground by defender Kuba Strzyzewski, with merely a free-kick just outside the penalty-box being awarded instead. A ‘proper’ linesman might just have been in line with the offence to advise the main official.

TEAM-BONDING...

A lively Polonia start, with forwards Kasjusz Piwowarczyk and Dawid Kieltyka looking dangerous, brought a first goal in English non-league football for Dominik Gliniecki. Swierk was involved, returning Piwowarczyk’s pass and lobbing him clear but the striker’s low drive was parried away by home goalie Jordan Campbell. Immediately a right-side centre by Kieltyka was headed out by Simon Lightowler, only for Gliniecki to shoot low through a crowd of players and beat Campbell, who was no doubt unsighted by colleague Andy Godfrey.

0-1...

FIRST EVER ALLIANCE GOAL FOR POLONIA...

...GLINIECKI THE SCORER...

Shocked, Binley found a response difficult as their opponents rushed at them time and again, not always successfully. Swierk drove a shot too high after Campbell’s kick away appeared to strike a defender, Dziudziek moved forward but shot past a post and after home forwards Kassar and Tyler Morgan were unable to connect, Piwowarczyk cut inside dangerously but shot weakly at Campbell. Kassar did well for AFC to slip a pass for Morgan to run onto but the forward hadn’t spotted the idea and Polonia cleared easily, then soon a couple of disputed free-kick decisions riled the guests. Both were awarded for challenges at the offensive inside-left channel, both were delivered by Waddell and both were punched away well by Lisewski.

LISEWSKI: NOT TOO MUCH TO DO OVERALL...

Still looking decidedly vulnerable in the middle of defence, Binley were pleased to see Swierk’s shot fly straight to Campbell and another by the schemer rise over the crossbar from an angle, before two corners caused AFC some real problems. Following the second flag-kick, two shots by Gliniecki were blocked, the second by a Polonia player as the home defence looked as tight as a loose end. Strzyzewski, whose long throws looked a decent weapon, then manhandled Young to the ground and from behind the goal it really seemed that the offence was committed inside the 18 yard box but I might have been mistaken. The free-kick was clipped in from the left corner of the penalty-box by Waddell and this time Lisewski punched the ball over his goal-frame.

BLAKE KASSAR: WORKED HARD BUT LACKED SUPPORT...

As the interval approached, Dziudziek cut inside and shot at Campbell, before Kassar for once found space inside the Polonia 18 yard box, following a pass by Kyle Metcalf but he drove a shot straight at Lisewski and finally, on another fast break at the opposite end, Piwowarczyk failed to pass to Gliniecki to his right and Binley gratefully cleared the ball to safety. 

COMMUNICATION PROBLEMS...

A RUM JUMP BY MORGAN...

AWAITING A FREE-KICK BY WADDELL...

LISEWSKI HANDLES WELL...

GAWRONSKI TRIES TO COMMUNICATE...

Having enjoyed the benefit of both the cold breeze and the slope in their favour during the opening period, Polonia had probably recognised their need for a holding central striker and Lukasz Sliwakowski replaced the ailing Strzyzewski at the interval to fill that position. Lightowler defended a tricky Polonia attack well but after Machowski had received his booking for a foul on the sprightly Waddell, Godfrey clipped a disappointing 18 yard free-kick 3 yards wide of the right upright. Lisewski got two gloved fists to a deep free-kick by Aaron Laming but when a low right-side centre found Kassar at the near post, his miscue rolled miserably wide.

MORGAN (10): A QUIET GAME...

The equaliser was a messy affair, for when Godfrey’s right-wing centre arrived, Kassar leapt with Lisewski and on another day, a free-kick might have been given to the defending team but the official played on and as the ‘keeper dropped to try and grab the loose ball, defender Tomasz Gawronski fell on top of him and Kassar hacked the ball over the goal-line. A goal was given, despite the heated protests by the Polonia players which, given the rather robust and military bearing of the referee, wouldn’t have been well received.

MACHOWSKI IS CAUTIONED...

KASSAR (9) HAS EQUALISED FOR BINLEY...

Sliwakowski shot at Campbell, Piwowarczyk was replaced by Kamil Cwanek, Lightowler did really well to head a dangerous Polonia cross away and Sliwakowski was really annoyed with himself when he was freed on the left side of the penalty-area by Gliniecki but his right-foot shot was wasteful and in truth a left-footer had been necessary. Binley then made two substitutions: Prince Kanderiin for the hurt Waddell and Kris Bedder for the largely ineffective Morgan and straight away Bedder might have secured three points for his AFC team, nodding a difficult chance wide from an unchallenged position when Campbell’s long kick found him lurking. Midfielder Metcalf was then dispossessed three times within thirty seconds just outside his own penalty-box and this resulted in a verbal battle between himself and his ‘keeper Campbell, who wasn’t pleased at all, then the visitors finished strongly enough to have perhaps deserved a victory but the heroic interventions of Laming saved his team.

COMMUNICATION PROBLEMS FOR DZIUDZIEK...

...& HE IS CAUTIONED...

SLIWAKOWSKI HAS MISSED A GOOD CHANCE FOR POLONIA...

First he deflected a Cwanek shot past a post, then from Kieltyka’s cross, Laming, with his arms firmly held behind him, managed to chest aside a flying volleyed effort by the impressive Swierk. In the dying moments Swierk lifted a fine free-kick over Binley’s defensive wall but Campbell reacted well to tip the ball over his crossbar for an unproductive corner, after which the game ended.     

Binley often looked disjointed and rarely were they able to offer Morgan and Kassar any useful service and indeed, several times the two forwards were spotted very close together. Young got stronger as the game wore on but Travis Smallwood and Metcalf were generally busier defending than being freed up to create offensive plays, meaning a great deal was expected of Waddell and Young. Laming and Ben Ryder certainly tightened up the home defence somewhat as the game wore on but Lightowler did well to make two or three important interceptions for his team. Binley did rather well to earn a point on the night.

Polonia were clearly so wound up for this game, perhaps too wound up on occasions but their speedy wingers, Piwowarczyk and especially Kieltyka were constant thorns in the home defence, with Dziudziek and Gliniecki providing the midfield ammunition. However, with Machowski commanding his troops and the excellent Swierk clever in midfield, this team will surely cause a few upsets in Division 3 this season… 

TEAMS:

AFC BINLEY:

JORDAN CAMPBELL, ANDY GODFREY, SIMON LIGHTOWLER, STEVEN YOUNG (CAPT), AARON LAMING, BEN RYDER, TRAVIS SMALLWOOD, WILL WADDELL, BLAKE KASSAR, TYLER MORGAN, KYLE METCALF.

SUBS:

PRINCE KANDERIIN, CURTIS SMALLWOOD, KRIS BEDDER.

POLONIA COVENTRY FC:

MARCIN LISEWSKI, TOMASZ GAWRONSKI, BLAZEJ MROZINSKI, MAREK DZIUDZIEK, DAWID SWIERK, DAWID KIELTYKA, MARCIN MACHOWSKI (CAPT), KASJUSZ PIWOWARCZYK, DOMINIK GLINIECKI, MICHAL PIETRYKA.

SUBS:

LUKASZ SLIWAKOWSKI, MICHAL OLEJNICZAK, MARCIN COMBLIK, KAMIL CWANEK, SZYMON TROJANOWSKI.

  

AFC BINLEY 1-1 POLONIA COVENTRY FC: LINK TO THE MATCH HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE...

THE PERFECT WARM-UP WOULD BE TO DRIBBLE FOOTBALLS TO THAT FAR-FLUNG PITCH IN THE DISTANCE...

THE BODGING LOOKS RATHER UNCOMFORTABLE.
NOT A SURPRISE CONSIDERING HOW THE EVENING UNFOLDED...

LAST MINUTE INSTRUCTIONS FROM EDWIN 'STARR' GREAVES FOR AFC BINLEY...

POLONIA ARE READY...

MACHOWSKI & YOUNG ARE READY TO TOSS A COIN...

AH, THE GOOD OLD PARKS-FOOTBALL NETS...

EDWIN'S WIFE APPEARS TO HAVE WASHED HIS JEANS JUST ONE TIME TOO MANY...

CLICK THIS MESSAGE TO GO TO THE MATCH HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE...

BIRMINGHAM TIGERS 1-2 GNP SPORTS: MATCH REPORT & IMAGES...

Opportunistic Wanless Leaves Tigers Winless In the League

Birmingham Tigers 1-2 GNP Sports

A brace of goals, assisted by Nathan Stoute and scored by right-back Sam Wanless won this scrappy game for GNP Sports in Yardley, played in very warm sunshine on a hard pitch, covered by grass which might have been shorter. And yet, had home replacement Yaser Ammora not squandered a simple chance just after the guests had taken a 1-2 lead, GNP would have been forced to accept the unacceptable: a draw. The fact that Ammora wore number 13 did not go unnoticed…

THE TWO EIGHTS TOSS...

Tigers lost ‘keeper Nihad Ibisevic during the first period because of a groin problem and he was replaced by Mohammed Sharif but the hosts also lost Munjed Ali during the half and he was relieved by Mohammed Ali. The injuries, the substitutions, the drinks break and the habit of the referee to take time over warnings and the awarding of free-kicks did not help to create a flowing game. Indeed, the encounter was bitty and untidy, it lacked cohesion and often the passing was really poor. The shooting was wayward too and GNP were the main culprits, failing to hit the target much of the time. Certainly GNP deserved to win the match but Birmingham were tigerish and in right-sided attacker Mohammed Nageeb they possessed a tricky and elusive customer and in central striker Abdullah Kenewa, they fielded a willing forward and he would be rewarded with a goal. Their standout performer though was skipper and midfielder Ishak Ibisevic, whose all-round display did not deserve to be on a losing team.

THE BRUM TIGERS...

Visiting skipper Matt Compton was in ebullient mood and was clearly unimpressed by his team’s often careless play and his annoyance boiled over later in the game and he took a well deserved caution for a very unpleasant challenge on a Tiger in the closing stages. Charlie Cook was simply unable to add to his three league goals from the previous two GNP league games, despite a number of shots but at times it seemed that Stoute was slightly too deep-lying and Cook lacked a strong target-partner who could hold up the ball and bring him into the play from his wider position. 

THE COACHES GET INVOLVED...

Younes Touaiti sliced an early byeline cross from Stoute over his own goal-frame, Tigers then lost possession leaving Nihad Ibisevic out of his goal and Sports’ Carum Samra drove his shot over the target but when the relaxed Stoute lofted a pass inside the full-back Younes Touaiti for Wanless to latch onto, the GNP defender made ground towards the right byeline and somehow squeezed a shot past the ‘keeper and the ball rolled inside the far upright, leaving the gloveman frustrated and kneeling like he was unable to fix a leaking pipe beneath his sink.

0-1...

WANLESS FOR GNP...

...& HE GETS A STOUTE HUG FROM HIS 'ASSISTANT'...

Incredibly, with their first real attack, the hosts stunned GNP with a soft equaliser and it was the ability of Nageeb which created the goal and the switched-on attitude of Kenewa which allowed the centre-forward to convert his chance. A centre from the right was simply side-footed inside the right post but GNP goalie Paul Lawrence appeared wrong-footed and he sank to the grass like a wilting rose.

1-1...

KENEWA & NAGEEB, WHO SCORED AND CREATED THE EQUALISER...
KENEWA SAYS: "GET AWAY, I WANT NO HUGGIN', MAN..."

The Tigers only managed a couple of shots from then until the break, both struck low from the right side of the penalty-box and both of which rolled wide of the left post, first from the escaping Kenewa and then from the lively Nageeb. Otherwise, the remainder of the first-half saw only a succession of GNP misses. Corey Jack Brookes appeared to be felled for a possible penalty claim which was brushed aside by the officious referee, Cook nodded a right-side cross straight at the ‘keeper’s midriff but Nihad Ibisevic did very well to block a drive near the edge of his own 18 yard box from Samra, after the home defence had become a wreck following a set-piece by GNP. Samra’s follow-up shot was superbly blocked by the sliding Abdelah Touaiti, albeit possibly with an arm but then Stoute finally slammed the loose ball wildly off target.

DRINKS BREAK...

...BUT NIHAD IS STRUGGLING WITH A GROIN...

THE COACH LAYS INTO HIS TEAM...

THE TIGERS ARE ATTRACTED TO THE WATER...

Two excellent one-twos between Cook and Samra saw Cook’s subsequent low shot go disappointingly wide from 10 yards, the otherwise effective Samra shot way too high as the match really became sketchy and irritable, before Cook’s first free-kick attempt soared a good way over the goal-frame. Mohammed Sharif, now in goals for Tigers, made a meal of saving a low Samra shot and then Cook’s second free-kick attempt struck the home defensive wall slightly on its way over the crossbar and his third free-kick shot bounced waist-high past the left upright. Aaron Donaldson, having switched from right to left for GNP, rapped a fine effort goalwards from the wing, catching the ‘keeper out of his ground but the ball fizzed into the side-netting and as the half thankfully drew to a close, a short Cook corner on the left to Curtis Breeze led to a centre and a glancing Donaldson header but the effort drifted wide of the far stick. 

COOK & ABDELAH TOUAITI...

NIHAD RETIRES TO THE SHADY AREA...

KENEWA LURKS BEHIND A DEFENDER...

The game had progressed without any real excitement or entertainment and one elderly spectator had resorted to picking berries from the ground’s surrounding bushes, pausing to ask me at the break whether it was still 1-1… Hmm, that just about summed it up really. Breeze, who had been faced by the skilful Nageeb during the first period was withdrawn by GNP at the break for the introduction of the beefy Arron Cheshire and Tiger Ammora replaced Abdelah Touaiti at the interval too. 

THE BERRY HUNTER...

...BUT DID ABDULLAH EAT ONE?

The Tigers actually began the second-half strongly, as GNP’s Cheshire slotted in at centre-back alongside Manjinder Dhaliwal and thus allowing Manjinder Dhesi to cover the dangerous Nageeb. So what did Nageeb do? He moved across to the left… A long throw by fearsome Tigers’ central defender Junayd Sharif allowed Ammora’s low delivery from the right to be struck by Nageeb but his shot was too high, before a 22 yard Ishak Ibisevic free-kick dipped just over Lawrence’s crossbar. From thence, GNP were more offensive but it was some time before the home team’s stubborn resistance was worn down.

STOUTE KNOWS WHAT'S COMING...

...WAIT FOR IT...

YEP, A YELLOW CARD...

A long punt by Lawrence bounced over a defender and Cook stole in but was unable to head the falling ball strongly enough to worry the ‘keeper, Brookes won possession and strode forward and after being egged on to shoot by the coaching staff, his 21 yard effort flew wide of the left post, before Donaldson aimed a 25 yard free-kick but drove it well over the target. Another Cook shot bounced wide from distance, Stoute received a caution, possibly for being over-zealous on the home goalie, Cheshire headed a Compton free-kick well off target and it seemed by then that the Tigers’ defence would not be breached. However, Wanless would soon take his second chance…

Stoute calmly fed a pass right to Wanless and he smashed in a shot from 25 yards, a few strides away from the right corner of the penalty-box, the ball appeared to nudge the chest of Junayd Sharif and spin slightly, before soaring spectacularly and high into the right corner of the net, leaving Mohammed Sharif grasping only floating chaff from the long grass behind the goal.

1-2...

...& AGAIN WANLESS IS THE SCORER...

In response, the Tigers were influenced hugely by Ishak Ibisevic and his shot from 18 yards was just too high following a corner, then Lawrence got into a mess on the left-side of his 6 yard box near the byeline and Ibisevic won the ball, before passing it to the totally unmarked Ammora, 6 yards out but the replacement was unable to strike the ball properly and his miscue trickled towards the goal-line where the grateful Lawrence picked it up. An unpleasant clash between Ibisevic and Stoute led to a booking for the Tiger but Stoute was probably right to leave the scene quickly, for he’d already seen yellow and he had yanked at the Birmingham playmaker in the scuffle.

ANOTHER BORING WARNING...

ISHAK IS ABOUT TO RECEIVE HIS CAUTION...

A fine falling volley by Ibisevic flew straight at Lawrence from 18 yards, before the by now incredibly hyped up Compton was booked and GNP replacement Aadil Patel’s low shot was saved by the goalie. Then, following a strong run and a pass by Patel, Stoute fell as he entered the penalty-box, tripping on an opponent’s heel but obviously no penalty was forthcoming and Stoute must have wondered whether the official would suggest he had dived and thus show him a second yellow card. He didn’t. Following an error by the hard working Tiger Younes Abdulqader, who had scored the home team’s only goal in the 1-6 defeat to FC Stratford recently, Cook latched onto the ball and fired in a low 15 yard drive which the ‘keeper saved with a boot and after Arrandeep Konkon replaced Stoute for GNP, Compton decided to waste time in possession near a corner-quadrant and quite soon the game ended… 

WATCH THE BALL, GROWL A LOT, SHOVE YOUR ARSE OUT & HOPE THE REFEREE BLOWS FOR FULL-TIME...
HE DIDN'T.

HANDS ON HIPS, CHARLIE COOK CAN'T BELIEVE HIS LATEST SHOT HAS DRIFTED SO FAR OFF TARGET...

The Tigers battled so hard, GNP made life difficult for themselves and although the home players were so disappointed at the end of the game, they knew that GNP had surely deserved to win what had proved to be a really messy match. Bilal Arad had performed well in the home midfield, Junayd Sharif had been a beast in the Tigers’ defence and although quieter during the second period, the slim and lean Nageeb was a clever footballer. Ibisevic emerged as a strong player for Birmingham and Kenewa was always available in attack, never shirking.

GNP needed Compton’s competitiveness, for the creativity from his team was lacking, Dhesi and Dhaliwal kept calm for their team in defence, Cook was never afraid to shoot, despite the fact that he suffered an off-day in truth, Samra was often very influential and Stoute breezed through the match, perhaps suggesting that he might be such a useful playmaking midfielder sat in front of his defence. He liked time on the ball but in that more advanced role in this match, he was too often harried and hurried. Brooks was unable to find midfield space but worked hard, although in the end it will be Wanless who is remembered, netting twice and remaining steady in his team’s defensive unit. 

I was grateful to the Tigers for the fine welcome and I really hope that things improve for them during the season… GNP? Nine players to come back into the frame for selection apparently and this could be a fascinating first season for them in the Midland League Division 3…  

TEAMS:

BIRMINGHAM TIGERS:

NIHAD IBISEVIC, MOHAMMED NAGEEB, YOUNES TOUAITI, ABDELAH TOUAITI, JUNAYD SHARIF, BILAL ARAD, MURJED ALI, ISHAK IBISEVIC (CAPT), ABDULLAH KENEWA, MOHAMMED TOUAITI, YOUNES ABDULQADER.

SUBS:

MOHAMMED SHARIF, YASER AMMORA, MOHAMMED ALI, ASHLEY RAWLINS.

GNP SPORTS:

PAUL LAWRENCE, SAM WANLESS, CURTIS BREEZE, MANJINDER DHESI, MANJINDER DHALIWAL, NATHAN STOUTE, AARON DONALDSON, MATT COMPTON (CAPT), CHARLIE COOK, COREY JACK BROOKES, CARUM SAMRA.

SUBS:

ARRANDEEP KONKON, AADIL PATEL, ARRON CHESHIRE.