SHIPSTON EXCELSIOR 0-8 GNP SPORTS: MATCH REPORT & IMAGES...

GNP Sports Fire 8 As Disappointing Shipston Fail To Ignite

Shipston Excelsior 0-8 GNP Sports

A clinical performance on a heavy pitch by GNP strengthened their lead at the top of Midland League 3 but in truth, dominant though their visitors were, Shipston rarely offered any real resistance, as their guests missed a number of opportunities, including two shots against the goal-frame and three efforts hacked from their goal-line. One in particular was totally spectacular, as Excelsior’s best performer, Tom Ford soared like a high-jumper, Fosbury-Flop like, arching his back to nod a header from GNP replacement Ryan Price over his own goal-frame. It was truly a fine save by a player who is compact, not tall, yet obviously gymnastic when necessary… Braces by striker Tom Rawlings and defender James Bryson, who had the pleasure of marking Dele Adebola’s elbows seven days before, were added to by goals from Charlie Cook, Joss Holford, Price and a deflected effort by the influential visiting skipper Leigh Phillips, who often lit up the proceedings.

TWO IMPRESSIVE SKIPPERS, ON THE DAY...

Shipston ‘keeper Marcus Ireland must have wondered how he wasn’t offered any opportunities to make a few flying saves and render his afternoon just a bit more acceptable but even that consolation was denied the gloveman. Manager Steve Hedderman was so disappointed when he spoke to me after the match, not by the defeat as such but by the disappointing showing by his players who had apparently been looking forward so much to this encounter for a number of days. He pointed to sloppiness, a lack of aptitude and thought his players were like ‘rabbits in headlights’ on occasions. Errors were rife, for sure but the inability to deal with the wide-play of Phillips and the lively, strong and clever Scott Hammond was one of the main problems which remained unaddressed by ‘The Shredder’s’ men. 

"HE'S BUSY TOSSIN', SO LET'S TALK ABOUT HIM..."

CHARLIE COOK'S 2018 IMAGE...

JAKE HARRIS FIGHTS A BOGEY...

Apologies to GNP’s Callum Rai, for I read the team-sheet as Callum Raj. A bad error therefore on my video footage but in fairness, I didn’t write the names down on the original forms… (Just jesting…)

THE MONKEY FARMERS WAIT TO KICK OFF, BUT THE REFEREE WANTS TO KNOW WHERE COOK HAS HAD HIS HAIR COIFFURED...

EARLY GNP CORNER...

Two early GNP corners set the tone for the match and Ireland was forced to fumble the first Holford flag-kick over the crossbeam but home midfielder Joe Godson did well to nod the second set-piece away. Unfortunately, misfortune for Shipston and then an error led to the concession of a very embarrassing opening goal and Rawlings was the recipient. A clipped pass towards the 6 yard box from the right by Corey Jack Brookes was going to be taken comfortably by Ireland, surely but with Rawlings hovering, defender Sam Grey ran across Ireland and distracted the goalie, leading to a misfield as he attempted to collect the ball and Rawlings reacted like a cat’s irritated claw and poked the loose ball across the face of goal from an acute angle and just inside the far stick.

ALREADY LOOKING AGHAST AROUND THE SHIPSTON DUGOUT...

HOLFORD: STRUCK THE CROSSBAR AND SCORED FROM DISTANCE...

THE BACK TRIO IN SKY BLUE: LARGELY UNTROUBLED...

0-1...

SCORER RAWLINGS CHECKS HIS PHONE IN CELEBRATION...

THE POACHER...

Strangely, immediately following the concession of the opener, the hosts fashioned their best and in all honesty, their only real chance of scoring. Speedy right-back Craig Robins fed Godson on the right and his low centre was rattled goalwards from 10 yards by Ford but ‘keeper Paul Lawrence reacted well enough to turn the effort over the crossbar. Cook’s ability to slip out to the flanks was the catalyst for goal two and the striker’s left-side, right boot cross saw the begoggled Matt Partridge misjudge the flight, the ball dropped over him onto Rawlings’ chest and he flicked a neat and confident right-foot shot on the volley beyond Ireland and high into the left side of the net. The strike was almost languid in its confidence, for the centre was actually more designed for a left-foot shot…

0-2...

CASUAL FINISH BY RAWLINGS...

Shipston managed a low shot by Neil Wilson which was cleared but soon, the Sports were back on offense and after Cook had looked astonished at being flagged offside, that incident was quickly forgotten when the forward rapped his team into a 0-3 lead. Phillips fed Rawlings on the right and he fooled defender Kevin Hemmings to gain space and shove a low cross directly onto the left boot of Cook, who had pulled away from the harassed Partridge and the striker with the new interesting haircut fired a close range shot which gave Ireland no chance whatsoever.

COOK FOR 0-3...

A right-side corner by the effective Holford appeared to flick off Cook’s knee and wide of the near post, Wilson sliced another shot well wide for the hosts, before good feet by Hammond won GNP a 28 yard free-kick. Holford crashed his set-piece against the crossbar and then moments later a fine low shot by the same player fizzed wide of the left upright and cannoned towards the right corner-flag off the goal-frame’s metal stanchion, following another neat rush by the emerging Hammond. A jog for Ireland to collect the ball thus ensued… Cook and Phillips combined well but Rawlings’ clipped effort from the right byeline drifted across the goal-face, before a third wasteful effort by Wilson for the Monkey Farmers was followed by a fourth, although at least Lawrence had to bend down to pick that one up, like he was collecting a free newspaper from the hall carpet.

And then some real pressure by GNP forced two goal-line clearances by the hosts, only for Bryson to punish them, close to the interval. As Rai challenged for a right-side corner, the ball appeared to bounce down off a defender but Wayne Barton hacked the ball upwards and away, as if he was performing an ‘up and under’ like Rugby League’s Hunslet used to do when Eddie Waring commentated on Grandstand during the 1960s. From the next phase of attack, a brilliant block by Harris from Hammond’s shot led to a retrieval by GNP, a cross from inside-right by Phillips and a downward header by Nathan Stoute, playing on the right side of Sports’ defensive three but his effort was hacked clear from the goal-line by Grey. However, the fourth wave of attack was more direct, for the ball had been cleared as far as Bryson, 24 yards out and he measured a fine curling right footer from left of centre and the ball, to Ireland’s chagrin, dropped just under the right angle of bar and post and nestled killingly inside the netting.

0-4...

SPECTACULAR FINISH BY BRYSON...

A header by Godson flew over the right angle of bar and post from a right-wing corner for Shipston but the half ended then, with the hosts looking very sorry for themselves. Mistakes and loose marking had been severely punished by the league leaders but with Scott Lindley as gritty as usual in the boiler room for the Sports, licence to attack was generously offered to Brookes, Hammond, Holford and Phillips. And of course they did…

COOK LIKES TO KEEP HIS HANDS, ER, WARM...

A right-flank Phillips centre was brilliantly dive-headed clear by Grey, just as Rawlings was poised to volley a shot, like his trigger had been cocked. Stoute and the hard working home skipper Harris took a warning from the referee but a couple of quick goals merely added to the depressing afternoon for Excelsior. A Holford free-kick slapped against Ireland’s gloved palms, before a pass inside from the right by Phillips to Holford led to a low right-footer by the midfielder from 18 yards beating Ireland into the bottom left corner of the net. 

0-5...

HOLFORD FROM 20 YARDS...

Another Holford effort was comfortably saved by Ireland then Lindley slipped a pass for Rawlings to dummy on the right and Phillips drove a hard, low delivery from an angle into the danger-area, where it deflected cruelly off Barton’s foot past Ireland and GNP led 0-6. Surely that was an own-goal? GNP Manager Shamir Alam has decided Phillips should claim it… Rawlings is not pleased, I believe… 

OWN GOAL BY BARTON?

...OR A GOAL FOR PHILLIPS?
0-6 ANYWAY...

Cook nearly capitalised upon another defensive error when Ireland kicked Barton’s back-pass against Grey, leaving Cook to slip a low angled shot across the face of goal from a decent position. Three replacements then took the field: Rich Moss and Shaye Eden for the hosts, who took the places of Wilson and Godson, plus Luke Swinnerton for GNP, who relieved Holford. Hammond was cautioned for a trip, Alex Welsby replaced Grey for Shipston, after Hammond’s left-wing cross had been well defended by Grey and also Ireland, who ‘tackled’ the lurking Rawlings. Cook half-volleyed a great chance from Rawlings’ accurate right-side delivery well over the target from 12 yards, before Nick Shurmer cleared a GNP corner, only for Stoute to fire a shot into the side-netting from distance.

DAMP, MUDDY BUT GLAD THEY PLAYED AT ALL, I GUESS...

WORDS FOR THE SKIPPERS...

Price replaced Hammond for the visitors, Rawlings was unable to turn a Stoute cross goalwards, Ireland flapped at a right-side flag-kick then Price was fouled, offering the guests a 22 yard free-kick opportunity. Phillips passed the ball left for Rawlings to strike from 24 yards and the ball dipped over Ireland’s dive, struck the underside of the crossbar, bounced up but only onto Price’s head for an easy goal.

HAMMOND & FORD...

0-7...

HEADER BY PRICE...

Brookes nodded a right-wing corner way off target for the visitors, Welsby was booked for Shipston, Sam Wanless replaced Brookes soon afterwards and a Price shot took a deflection as GNP continued to ask questions. Rawlings then crossed from the right, Phillips challenged the ‘keeper and the ball fell for Price to surely head into the empty net but suddenly Ford appeared on the goal-line to leap and make an astonishing clearance with his mud-splattered forehead, over the crossbar. Cook set up Rawlings for a shot which was pulled wide from 8 yards, in the inside-right channel but the hosts erred again from a badly defended left-flank corner. 

THE NEW FORD TORTOISE...

Hemmings didn’t follow a near post run by Bryson, who nodded the ball past a statuesque Ireland and the game finally petered out into severe depression for the Shipston staff. 

0-8: BRYSON...

0-8 BEHIND & PARTRIDGE WISHES HE'D BROUGHT HIS PILOT'S HELMET ALONG AS WELL AS HIS FLYING GOGGLES, FOR A SORTIE OVER THE SOMME TRENCHES SEEMS LIKE A BETTER OPTION... 

A malaise had certainly spread through the home ranks during the match and really, even damage-limitation was beyond the Monkey Farmers, as they rode their luck to prevent an even greater defeat. Certainly they did not perform as they could, or even should have. GNP simply rolled on to another impressive victory and Phillips must take a good deal of credit for that, leading his team so well. Hammond was so tricky with those left-side runs and Cook and Rawlings were never easy to contain either. Rai, Stoute and Bryson were simply comfortable in the visiting defence. Truthfully, Partridge and Grey battled hard for Shipston in the rearguard, despite errors made but the covering midfielders were too often too stretched to add support. Harris and especially Ford were so wholehearted for the hosts though, of that there can be no doubt. 

HANDSHAKES...

Tears from the Shipston Secretary because of the lack-lustre home showing, dovetailed with the Manager’s sheer misery and apologies were made to me, for they felt that their team had not competed like they were capable of. I had been so brilliantly welcomed by both…

ALL OVER...

IRELAND: PROBABLY WISHING HE WAS ACTUALLY THERE, IN IRELAND...

I was impressed by the club…

THE SECRETARY/PHYSIO' RUSHES ON TO HELP...

TEAMS:

SHIPSTON EXCELSIOR:

MARCUS IRELAND, CRAIG ROBINS, MATT PARTRIDGE, SAM GREY, TOM FORD, KEVIN HEMMINGS, NICK SHURMER, WAYNE BARTON, JAKE HARRIS (CAPT), NEIL WILSON, JOE GODSON.

SUBS:

RICH MOSS, ED CASWELL, ALEX SEYS, ALEX WELSBY, SHAYE EDEN.

GNP SPORTS:

PAUL LAWRENCE, NATHAN STOUTE, JAMES BRYSON, COREY JACK BROOKES, CALLUM RAI, SCOTT LINDLEY, SCOTT HAMMOND, JOSS HOLFORD, CHARLIE COOK, TOM RAWLINGS, LEIGH PHILLIPS (CAPT).

SUBS:

SAM WANLESS, LUKE SWINNERTON, CONNOLL FARRELL, MATT COMPTON, RYAN PRICE.