Wednesday 31 October 2018

RACING CLUB WARWICK 2-6 WESTFIELDS: REPORT & IMAGES...

Westfields Leave Racers In The Stalls

Racing Club Warwick 2-6 Westfields

This League Cup tie began fairly evenly then got away from Warwick before the interval as the Fields led 1-4. Two more goals soon after the break by the impressive and tricky Carlos Moreira completely shut the stable door on the Racers and they could only point to a spirited canter towards the end of the match, when replacement Josh Cole scored and indeed inspired some possession which subsequently proved scant consolation for the well beaten hosts. Slick passing, even from free-kicks and corners, neat support play and smart thought were all too much for the weakened Division 1 Warwick team, minus the recently departed Slevin, also Knight, Powell, Malley, Price and Billington. RCW were no match for their Premier Division guests, who were also missing players, including Gwynne, Hurrell, Miller and Josh Thomas who all started in Saturday’s 2-2 draw v Coventry United.  
0-1...

...& AN EARLY GOAL FOR COOPER...

Certainly Westfields looked good from the start, shunning the long-ball game and weaving passing patterns, although just prior to their opening goal, home forward Ben Mackey had forced ‘Fields’ goalie Ian Havard down to stop a low drive. The response was clinical however and when Ben Hayes clipped a neat pass towards the edge of the 18 yard box, Keanu Cooper shot past Charlie Bannister, just inside the left upright. Visiting right-back Alex Hainhault was then cautioned for a foul, before makeshift home left-back Josh Smith did well to pass out towards the right where Trea Bertie accelerated clear, apparently not offside and although his shot past the advancing Havard struck high against the right post, Mackey gobbled up a 15 yard rebound into the empty net to regain parity for the Racers.
COOPER SCORES...

MACKEY LEVELS FOR THE RACERS...

RCW CELEBRATE...

HAINHAULT IS CAUTIONED...

A fine pass by visiting skipper Craig Jones left Racer Smith wanting as Ben Hayes took the ball away on the right but Bannister raced forth to block the Fieldsman’s low angled shot. The deep lying and thoroughly effective Jamie Molyneux drove a low effort off a defender for a corner but at the other end, Mackey fed a decent pass left for Jack Jeys to latch onto but after rounding Havard, Jeys was foiled by the retreating Kane Kahaki, who blocked the forward’s conversion attempt at the base of the left upright. The second goal really took the stuffing from Warwick and again Jones was the architect, utilising the lethal dribbling skills of Moreira, who moved inside Marc Passey from the left byeline and assisted Molyneux, whose slow poked shot rolled past Bannister into the bottom left corner of goal. Jeys’ response, from another Mackey pass, struck Havard’s patella as the ‘keeper fell and really, another sliced Jeys effort apart, that was it for the stuttering RCW before the break.
1-2...

SCORER MOLYNEUX...

Westfields however scored twice more but also went close on a few occasions. A low Jones strike flew across the goalmouth, aided by a Bannister touch, a Molyneux shot was deflected wide and he drove another effort well off target, Ben Hayes shot wide and Moreira’s later effort flew past the left post. It would be central striker Mark Magee who took centre-stage however, for apart from having an angled drive from the left stopped by Bannister’s legs, he fired in a brace, as the RCW defenders seemed mesmerised and disjointed in their zones. First Magee took a Hainhault pass and cleverly switched the ball to his left boot before shooting low past the goalie, then following a right-flank corner, Jones fed the striker and he shot low into the left corner of goal from the right edge of the 6 yard box. 
1-3: MAGEE...

1-4: MAGEE AGAIN...

MAGEE ACCEPTS THE JOY...

LEAVER IS CAUTIONED...

FREE-KICK FOR WESTFIELDS...

Warwick simply couldn’t match the movement of the Fieldsmen and Moreira was causing havoc on the left touchline, leaving Passey far too exposed. Indeed, three Racers were cautioned before tea and biscuits were served at 8.30pm, Henry Leaver, Smith and Jeys, as too often the shadows chased were stopped by nefarious means. It had been tough to distinguish the numbers on the Westfields shirts yet again, light blue on claret in poor lighting and so apologies from me for a lack of identity sometimes on my video highlights commentary. 
STRIKING A COMFORTABLE POSE...

One would normally expect a team 1-4 behind at half-time to limit the damage, even in a cup-tie at home but Warwick weren’t really given that chance, for after a Jones shot had been blocked by Warwick’s defence, Moreira rapped in two fine goals and RCW, now minus the hurt Luke Cole but with Josh Cole relieving him for the second period, collapsed further, like a sadly deflating inflated Santa Claus on someone’s doorstep on January 4th. Winger Moreira exchanged passes with Magee at the edge of the penalty-area, drove towards the penalty-spot and slipped a clever shot inside the right stick, as Bannister advanced. The quality of Magee’s return pass though was sublime and the RCW defenders were left helpless like fallen cones in a training session.
1-5 & MOREIRA STRIKES...

Moreira’s second goal soon afterwards came courtesy of a strong midfield run by Molyneux, whose pass from a deep central position was played splendidly into the path of the anticipating Moreira, rushing inside from the left, who reached the ball a second before the advancing Bannister to steer home a superb finish. 
1-6...

GOALIE DOWN...

MOREIRA THE SCORER...

The job done, Westfields kept possession as much as possible and used two replacements, although only four more attempts at goal were worthy of mention. A Jones free-kick from 25 yards at inside-right curled wide of the left post, a Magee drive struck both home skipper Scott Turner and also Passey on its way into Bannister’s grateful grasp, a fine 27 yard shot by Kahaki flew past the left upright and Molyneux drove a free-kick into a Warwick defensive wall. As the match wore on, RCW managed at least to regain some sort of control and pride, mainly urged on by Josh Cole but little was created in truth. Mackey was well annoyed with his left-booter on the turn from 17 yards which went past the left post (“Fiddle…” he yelled…), Leaver sliced a shot wide of the right upright, Smith shot way too high and Jeys had a close range finish disallowed, following a free-kick.
JOHNSON GETS A YELLOW CARD FOR A FOUL ON MOLYNEUX...

PAINFUL...

Josh Cole did score though, after a smart one-two with Bertie from just outside the 18 yard box. Bertie took the midfielder’s pass cleverly and Cole ran onto the ball to clip a rising shot beyond Havard’s right hand from 14 yards deep into the net. Bookings for Racers Turner and Chris Johnson made five altogether and that list could have been longer… 
2-6...


JOSH COLE, LEFT, THE SCORER...

I was impressed by Westfields, simply that. The defence, without tall, stout fellows, coped admirably, with Sam Rawlings, Kahaki, Sam Plane and Hainhault very competent on the night. And I guess that RCW will take that defeat on the chin and should they be fortunate enough to gain promotion soon, they will know what kind of performances to aspire to, for ‘Fields played with zeal, with zest, with know-how and without the humping of free-kicks and clearances. They arrived at Townsend Meadow to play. And play they did.
THEY KNOW IT'S ALL OVER...

The Racers’ skipper Scott Turner wore a head band before the match even started and I reckon whatever headaches he might have had prior to this match, surely they would have deteriorated into a migraine by 9.35pm when his team trotted off, unsaddled, unbridled and broken…
...IT IS FOR RCW NOW...

TEAMS:

RACING CLUB WARWICK:
CHARLIE BANNISTER, MARC PASSEY, JOE SMITH, SEAN CASTLETON, SCOTT TURNER (CAPT), HENRY LEAVER, LUKE COLE, CHRIS JOHNSON, BEN MACKEY, TREY BERTIE, JACK JEYS.
SUBS:
JOSH COLE, CALLUM MASPERS, MADUNDO SEMAHIMBO, RILEY DAVEILE, NEIL STACEY.

WESTFIELDS:
IAN HAVARD, ALEX HAINHAULT, SAM PLANE, KANE KAHAKI, SAM RAWLINGS, CARLOS MOREIRA, CRAIG JONES (CAPT), KEANU COOPER, MARK MAGEE, JAMIE MOLYNEUX, BEN HAYES.
SUBS:
GEORGE HAYES, LEWIS FLETCHER, KIERON BLACKBURN.




RACING CLUB WARWICK 2-6 WESTFIELDS: THE VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS...


7.35pm & A DESERTED GRANDSTAND...

A REAL HALLOWE'EN SETTING...

JEYS PREPARES TO START THE GAME IN ISOLATION...

WITH THE RACERS MAYBE SHORT OF PLAYERS, THE BODGING WAS HOPING TO GET ON THE BENCH...

Tuesday 30 October 2018

THE WRECK OF THE BALTIC NEAR MOUSEHOLE IN 1907 & THE RESCUE: A NEW POEM...

Once There Were Three Boats In Mount’s Bay…

The Baltic ran aground,
Was blown by a harsh south-easterly gale
Upon St Clement’s Island, near Mousehole in Mount’s Bay;
The Thames vessel, a barge with sail  
Carried cement from Ireland for Newlyn and its new harbour construction,
But it lay askew, its course astray
So that a lifeboat rescue was essential
And Penzance would receive an S.O.S. instruction…

The Elizabeth and Blanche 
Was hauled onto harbour mud abundant 
But stuck fast and was not launched into the stormy bay;
The pull and sail vessel, its oars redundant,
Tarried lame and helpless, its crew forlorn and frustrated;
They stood askance in disarray
So that the lifeboat’s rescue was abandoned
And the Mousehole fishermen’s ingenuity was duly demonstrated…

The Lady White, a crabber,
Was lifted out of the wind battered quay,
Over the protective winter baulks and into the wild bay;
The small vessel, lowered into the swell
Parried the lash of high seas, taking on a gale’s indignation;
It bore the tumult and the affray,
So that it became a lifeboat, the rescue performed
And lives saved in a drama which brought it fame and admiration…  

Pete Ray
October 2018
THE BALTIC AGROUND ON ST CLEMENT'S ISLAND...

The Penzance lifeboat did indeed become stuck in the low-tide mud on 1st November 1907 and although the Mousehole winter baulks had closed the harbour entrance, somehow a crabber was lifted over the top of them and into the sea to effect the rescue.

The Elizabeth and Blanche was later covered by tarpaulin from 1908 until the Penlee Lifeboat Station was built to enable an easier and more effective slipway launch.

The Lady White has also been called The White Lady.

The Baltic was eventually abandoned as a hulk in a creek in Essex.

The Elizabeth and Blanche might well have been named after two famous Newlyn fisherfolk, Betsy Lanyon and Blanche Courtney, although it is odd that Queen Elizabeth I’s personal attendant was one Blanche Parry…

 
THE ELIZABETH AND BLANCHE II LIFEBOAT...
 



MEDAL AWARDED TO WILLIAM HENRY HARVEY FOR BRAVERY IN THE RESCUE.
INSCRIBED: 'BALTIC WRECK, MOUSEHOLE, CORNWALL'

ON MOUSEHOLE'S HARBOUR WALL...

THE SAME LIFEBOAT LATER AT PENLEE...


Monday 29 October 2018

THE AFC BINLEY MANAGER EDWIN GREAVES REPORTS ON HIS TEAM'S 3-1 WIN v CRICK ATHLETIC...

"Crick Athletic got the game underway but it wasn't long before we took the lead.

In the 5th minute an Andy Godfrey free-kick was headed back across goal for Tyler Morgan to finish from close range: 1-0.

In the 9th minute Ebenezer Fasoranti went on a run and just pulled his shot wide.

Sean Ryder also had a good opportunity but was denied by the goalkeeper's legs.

In the 19th minute Tyler Morgan almost doubled our lead when his shot hit the crossbar and rebounded clear.

In the 27th minute a pass from Sean Ryder set Tyler Morgan free and he finished well: 2-0.

In the 33rd minute Crick had their first good opportunity but their number 7 nodded over from a corner with a free header.

Crick began to be more of a threat going forward and only some last ditch tackles from Liam Roach and Sebastian Kassar denied them clear cut opportunities, however they almost scored when their number 8 had a great chance but shot over from inside the area."

Half-time: AFC Binley 2-0 Crick Athletic... 

"The 2nd half started with us almost scoring straight away but Andy Godfrey was denied by a post.

Crick got the goal they deserved in the 51st minute when a shot from the edge of the box from the number 14 gave Ryan Oldham no chance: 2-1.

In the 57th minute a Tatenda Bako cross found Tyler Morgan who turned and shot giving the Crick goalkeeper no chance to complete his hat-trick: 3-1.

In the 76th minute, 2nd half substitute Kyle Metcalfe cleared off the line to stop Crick from narrowing our lead.

More chances were squandered by us with Fabian Spence missing a couple of headers from Andy Godfrey's set-pieces."

Full-time: AFC Binley 3-1 Crick Athletic...

In Summing Up This Game:

"We got off to the best possible start in this game by scoring an early goal.

We continued to create opportunities throughout the game but passed up more than we scored.

We deserved the 3 points today and I was happy with the way the lads went about getting the result.

Crick played some good football and also had some very good opportunities and we were lucky not to concede more than the one goal that we did.

We are now at the half-way point in our season and we need to push on with hopefully some more consistency in our performances.

Best of luck to Crick for the remainder of their season."

Edwin Greaves 
AFC Binley Manager 

Sunday 28 October 2018

SHAMIR ALAM, THE GNP SPORTS MANAGER, WRITES ABOUT HIS TEAM'S 6-0 WIN v HAMPTON...

Your defence must have tightened v Hampton... 

"A lot of focus, time and hard work has gone into our organisation without the ball and stripping defending back down to basics. The defensive unit deserves the clean sheet and I thought 'keeper Wardle was very good at starting some great counter attacks. Bryson was back to his last year's best, Beach and Jason defended well but it was just a shame we didn’t use their width more often. Rhys had a good controlled game. The challenge for the defensive unit now is whether it can maintain the good individual and unit performance next week."

How did Prinzel slot into the team?

"Rob is a very good footballer and played well; his control of passes and intelligence are what we need if we are to control games and it’s something I want us to do. The sharper Rob gets and the more he gets used to the boys at training and in matches, the better he will perform. Corey, tactically, was spot on with his ability to stop counter attacks and build possession. Both aspects of his game were very good yesterday, he chipped in with two assists and this was one of his better performances this year." 

Were Hampton any threat? 

"Hampton have some good individual players and let’s not forget that 2-3 weeks ago they caused us so many issues. It didn’t really matter who we faced yesterday for the boys and management team were ready to put things right after a disappointing result last week and so everyone deserves credit. 

Hammond, Charlie Cook and Gifford got another chance in the side, yet I don’t think any of them played anywhere close to what they can do last week. However, with a good week of training behind all three of them, they played with confidence in both attack and defence. Charlie and Hammond were awarded with their goals and Gifford's work off the ball was summed up when he lost possession on one occasion, chased the player from the centre of the park to left-back won it again and that attack led to a goal." 


More goals for Rawlings, which must have pleased you... 

"I’m running out of words to describe Tommy; he’s had a good pre-season behind him, he’s working hard in training and he deserves all the praise he is getting. 19 goals in 11 Games and he’s the 3rd highest goalscorer in all 4 divisions and that’s only beacuse the other two strikers have played more games than him. Me and Tommy have both said that we won’t be setting him any targets this year and it’s working. My area of improvement for him however is to get more goals using his left foot and trusting it, and if he can do that then it will help the team massively."

Your man of the match?

"Really tough one this week, as I was really pleased with Wardle's speed to create attacks, Jason showed he can be versatile and was in the wars, Prinzel made a difference in the centre and Gifford's changing of his game plus hard work was worthy. Skipper Bryson was a monster at the back and was more like he had been last season but for his 3 goals and 2 assists, it’s only fair that Tommy Rawlings is awarded the M.O.M." 

Next up?

"Bolehall Swifts, who caused us all kinds of issues at their place a few weeks ago. We need to graft at training, get used to another week of our new formation and try to be brave on the ball and play with confidence, plus have fun next Saturday." 

Boldmere dropped points, so this was a good day for GNP I guess?

"We are just focusing on one game at a time, it’s going to be so hard to catch Boldmere because let’s be honest, they should win their next 3 league games by the end of November which will take them to 37 points and they are then only 10 wins from promotion. What a great position to be in by the start of December, when they can start the countdown! So we will just focus on us... 

We then have the problem of Northfield who are the form side in the league, played 6 and won 6. They are going to be on 34 points by the end of November, as I can’t see them losing the next 3 games and again what a great position to be in by the start of December, knowing that you only have to win 11 games to go up..." 

Yours in football...
SHAM THE SHAM AND FOUR OF HIS LATEST SIGNINGS...

Shamir Alam, Manager, GNP Sports...