CHARLTON ROVERS 5-0 TAVERNERS FC: REPORT & IMAGES...

Taverners’ Eleven Finally Run Down By Persistent Rovers

Charlton Rovers 5-0 Taverners FC

As I wandered away from the soccer pitch at Charlton Kings, close to a 3G hockey pitch, I heard a guy from Taverners FC remarking that taking Rovers’ numbers 7 and 10 from the game could have meant a somewhat different outcome. This was interesting, for certainly Ryan Caddock and Josh Swales were instrumental in the victory for the hosts but in truth, once the first goal had been conceded by the guests just after the interval, the Rovers effectively became steamrollers and the Taverners were penned back and punished by a very offensive Charlton outfit, conducted by skipper Scott Green in midfield, anchored by the belligerent Jim Callinan in the trenches and led in attack by the wily Oli Bues and the effervescent James Schembri. The visitors were unable to counter the home team’s eventual dominance and were soundly beaten in the end, despite missing two chances of their own, through Nick Rieger and then leading scorer Dean Neale. 

Swales though was very effective in the ‘number 10’ role for Rovers and he added some fiery moments to his creative talents too, going dangerously close to a second caution later in the game. Caddock was embroiled in a fine tussle with Taverners’ left defenceman Josh Taylor and the winger might have netted a hat-trick on the day with better finishing. Only eleven players were available to the Tavs in actuality and as the song on Carly Pearce’s new and first album, released on Friday 13th states, ‘Every Little Thing’ went wrong after the half-time break for the visitors.

CADDOCK, LEFT, LOOKS SHATTERED ALREADY...

During a frustrating opening period, in a game which was never violent, the surly official cautioned three home players, Schembri, Swales and Scott Green but with Swales being the recipient of a few heavy Tavs challenges too, it was a surprise that although the referee didn’t appear to consider any of those collisions worthy even of a free-kick, he had still felt the need to ‘book’ three home players. Despite Swales almost getting to the point when he might ‘Catch Fire’ with another ‘Careless’ challenge, he managed to smile off the annoyance and set about ‘Doin’ It Right’ from then on. The other nine track titles from Carly Pearce’s album will be hiding in the report below. ‘Dare Ya’ to find them… 

HUNT (9): A LONELY BATTLE IN ATTACK...

TAVERNERS' TOP SCORER NEALE...

Shaun Poole and Ryan Woodman were steely at the back for the visitors but their team was threatened early on by Rovers, when first a long feed by Aiden Laker led to a neat byeline pass inside by the elusive Schembri and although Caddock’s 12 yard shot beat goalkeeper Jer Ward, right-back Jack Bonser did really well to hack the effort off his own goal-line. Soon Poole made a superb tackle on the dangerous Swales but then a couple of bad tackles left the nippy Rovers forward clutching his legs in pain. Bues, already looking decent in the home attack with some good movement, mostly towards the left, suddenly got in a low drive which Ward warded off with his boots, before Schembri clashed with Woodman and received a yellow card and finally a Swales corner caused a bit of a melee in the Tavs’ goalmouth.

BUES TAKES ON WILKINS...

THE REFEREE SHOWS SWALES A DADDY-LONG-LEGS HE HAS FOUND ON HIS SOCK...

CAUTION FOR SCHEMBRI...

More punishment was meted out to Swales but soon the striker was cautioned for his complaints and his gesticulated reactions, along with Captain Scott Green. All the visitors had managed to muster thus far were an Ash Hunt shot straight to home ‘keeper Dan Greenhouse, a cross by Neale, a shot too high from 25 yards by gutsy midfielder Josh Blunt and a really good opportunity which was missed by Rieger. The outlet pass from defence for the guests was generally aimed towards Neale and he managed to get free on the right on this occasion and crossed to Rieger who looked sure to score from 8 yards out but Greenhouse reacted well to the striker’s shot, diving to parry it away.

THE REFEREE IS ABOUT TO PUNISH SWALES FOR PULLING A LEG OFF HIS DADDY-LONG-LEGS...

"LOOK, THERE'S ANOTHER DADDY-LONG-LEGS, REF..."

THE ROVERS' COACH GETS A TALKING-TO FROM THE HEADMASTER...

Swales felt he was baulked by Poole but the defender had probably simply stood his ground well, then Swales curled a 25 yard free-kick from inside-left round the nearer upright, before Callinan nearly got his head to a Swales corner which Ward managed to fist clear. Another Ward punch led to a Swales shot striking the defending Woodman, who fell to the ground clutching his face. Charlton claimed that Woodman had used his hands not his nose but the official disagreed. The interval arrived, the coaches chose to ‘Hide the Wine’ during their pep talks and the players took the opportunity to bring ‘Color’ back to their cheeks… 

"YOUR BOOTS DON'T MATCH YOUR WARDROBE, SWALESY..."

TAVS TAKE A BREAK...

ROVERS DISCUSS THEIR FINISHING...

The slope of the pitch favoured Rovers after the rest and soon after a second 25 yard free-kick from inside-left by Swales had been lifted wastefully too high, a subsequent attack brought the opening goal and spectators wondered at how the hosts had huffed and puffed so often during the first period. Schembri’s low centre of gravity allowed him to turn Poole near the right byeline and the forward’s low left-footer beat Ward from an angle and suddenly, the Tavs began to waver.

1-0...

SCHEMBRI THE SCORER...

Bues fastened onto a fine pass from midfield, I think by Swales but his nudge past the advancing Ward saw the ball strike the inside of the right post and rebound to safety, before the eager striker looked threatening at the left post as the ball maybe struck Bonser’s arm from a right-flank delivery. A fine and mazy run by the ever more dangerous Caddock ended with a low shot wide of the target and the winger then shrugged off a challenge by Taylor and drove an angled shot into the side-netting. However, it wasn’t long before goal two was scored and thus relieved the tension for Rovers.

"YOU WERE OFFSIDE ANYWAY, MATE..."

A free-kick at inside-right by Swales was nodded down towards the left side of their own 6 yard box by the Tavs’ defence and there was Caddock to lash a low drive into the bottom left corner of the net.

2-0: CADDOCK...

YES SIR, HE CAN BOOGIE...

Bues almost got his head to a fine Caddock centre, Swales fed his skipper for a 20 yard volley but Scott Green’s shot was off target, then Owain McFarlane replaced the ever so useful Schembri for the hosts. McFarlane would make an instant impact, first volleying a Swales pass too high from an angle but then breaking free at inside-right onto another Swales pass but although his low shot beat Ward and Bues looked to allow the effort to roll into goal, the ball ruffled the uncut grass milling around the left upright and stopped, forcing the alert Bues to shove it over the goal-line.

3-0...

BUES THIS TIME...

Bues, desperately wanting to celebrate by removing his shirt but fearing a caution, did so after being replaced by Jai Maisey. Yeah, Bues really did appear to ‘Feel Somethin’’…

DISORIENTATED, BUES WALKS INTO THE TREES...

Caddock could find no power in a shot from 8 yards, the freed Neale skied a good chance at the opposite end for Tavs, Taylor was booked in a clash with Swales, who no doubt felt relieved not to have been punished further too, then Swales’ next free-kick caused a melee in the Tavs’ 6 yard box, before Ward fell left to save a Swales shot comfortably. A superb run on the right by the now rampant Caddock ended with a centre which smacked too hard against Swales’ forehead, Scott Green drove way too high from distance and busy, vociferous Tavs’ midfielder Joe Wilkins was rightly cautioned for an irritated tackle on McFarlane, whose control and swift turns were causing real consternation for the guests.

A fine Bonser challenge denied the running Maisey, a left-side Caddock corner was superbly met by McFarlane’s head but the ball clipped the roof of the net and then the hosts scuttled into a 4-0 lead. Another Caddock corner from the left was punched clear by Ward but only as far as Swales on the right edge of the penalty-box and this time the playmaking forward’s curling left-booter flew into the far corner of the net. A deserved goal, without doubt.  

4-0...

SWALES CELEBRATES, AS LUIS SONE CLUTCHES HIS POHNE...

SWALES: FINE PERFORMANCE...

An angled left-side free-kick by Caddock dropped onto the roof of the net, a remarkable long and stumbling run by Callinan ended with his low shot from 15 yards being well saved by Ward, before a fine right-flank, far post free-kick by Swales was headed back across goal by Scott Green but somehow Caddock’s leg turned the ball over the crossbar from close range, to his frustration. Finally though, following a caution for Tavs’ Hunt, the hosts netted a fifth goal in the final seconds of the match.

CADDOCK: FREE-KICK ONTO THE ROOF OF THE NET...

Another right-wing free-kick by the excellent Swales was nudged across the face of goal from the left post by the stretching Ben Williams, who proved to be a tough defender for Charlton but was also comfortable on the ball and there was the deserving McFarlane to bundle a goal from one yard.

McFARLANE, 12: NETTED THE LAST GOAL...

So, a resounding win for Rovers, during which defenders Williams and Andy Gallagher were rarely troubled in truth, leaving Laker to jet (Laker, jet?) along the right touchline regularly and Tom Green to support the impressive Bues and his fellow attackers on the left. The hard-working Callinan and Scott Green were so effective, allowing Caddock and Swales to create and shoot, plus freeing up Bues and Schembri to cause problems for the Tavs’ defence. In fairness, the visitors competed really well, although they would surely be disappointed to concede five times after reaching the break with parity.

HANDSHAKES ALL ROUND...

Missing Sean Cooke and Luis Sone from the starting line-up, Charlton still look like possible contenders in this league, especially with their form after the interval and ‘Everybody Gonna Talk’ about them after this victory, for sure. The speech bubble which floated above Swales’ head, enabling his pass-suppliers to spot him in the attacking hole, read ‘You Know Where To Find Me’, whereas the inimitable and unshakeable Taverners’ defender Shaun Poole would doubtless be mumbling “…‘If My Name Was Whiskey’, you would surely miss me…” as he left the pitch.  

THE LINESMAN'S BEARD IS BEING FLAGGED UP...

Me? I thought: 

“…after the terrible delay getting through Cheltenham on the way to the match, ‘I Need A Ride Home’ which is simple and fast…” 

I found a good route eventually and I’m certain I could smell ‘Honeysuckle’ as I drove… 

OK, perhaps not…

TEAMS:

CHARLTON ROVERS:

DAN GREENHOUSE, AIDEN LAKER, ANDY GALLAGHER, BEN WILLIAMS, TOM GREEN, SCOTT GREEN (CAPT), JIM CALLINAN, RYAN CADDOCK, OLI BUES, JOSH SWALES, JAMES SCHEMBRI.

SUBS:

JAMES COULTHARD, LUIS SONE, OWAIN McFARLANE, JAI MAISEY.

TAVERNERS FC:

JER WARD, JACK BONSER, JOSH TAYLOR, LUKE BEDWELL (CAPT), SHAUN POOLE, RYAN WOODMAN, DEAN NEALE, JOSH BLUNT, ASH HUNT, NICK RIEGER, JOE WILKINS.

SUBS:

CRAIG HUGHES, ADAM TOWNSEND, MIKE THORNTON.