WOLVERHAMPTON SPORTING COMMUNITY 1-2 STOURPORT SWIFTS: FULL REPORT & MORE IMAGES...

The Swifts Survive The Weather And The Wolves…

Wolverhampton Sporting Community 1-2 Stourport Swifts

So I checked the shelter to my right through the entrance at Pride Park, having parked across the lane, as directed by a sign on a grass verge. It wasn’t raining. The angle from the extreme edge of this ‘grandstand’ meant that the thin supporting poles for the roof would affect the video clips when darkness fell and almost certainly cause a loss of clarity and focus. Thus I chose to walk across to the other side of the ground, near a container, where I was soon joined by some hardy spectators. It was lucky that the rain had held off. A wind blew from my right which meant that commentary would be tough, as the gale would be a-howling and a-growling as I spoke but hey, it’s what I do… And at least it wasn’t raining. 

ABOUT TO BEGIN...

By around 3.20pm though, the blustery wind was chucking buckets of showery rain at the players and officials and as it worsened, I realised that I now was alone on that side of the pitch. To retreat then would be pathetic, I reckoned, as the lower sections of my jeans were already like they were wet towels after a tide had come in too quickly on Mawgan Porth's beach. The scene was this: my small hand-held camera is made for a right-hander to use, although I am left-handed. I attempted to hold it still, keep the lens clear of rain and thus held my umbrella with my left hand across my body to give me a little protection. It wasn’t easy for the players, it wasn’t easy for the officials and it was certainly awkward, uncomfortable and wet for me. But I had paid for the privilege. That was when I realised how much of a mug I was…

DOWNING: TRICKY AND A SMART FINISH...

DANKS IN TROUBLE...

...AND AN EARLY CAUTION...

However, I spent the second period in a corner of one of the shelters and at least I remained dry, although filming was tougher, especially at the far end, where the diggers had been and the mud prevailed.

SLEVIN, SECOND LEFT: REALLY EFFECTIVE FOR STOURPORT...

GASSAMA: IN AGONY...

The game was a well contested affair and to be honest, Stourport deserved the three points, despite the efforts of the Wolves, who forced Swifts’ goalie Dom Richards into three important saves. However, the visitors carried more threat and at times moved the ball accurately on a slick pitch in difficult conditions. It seemed that Swifts benefited from the combinations involving their forwards, where Mark Danks, Jack Downing and the hard working Nick MacPherson were ably supported by the inventive Drew Canavan, whose second-half strike effectively settled the outcome of the contest. Downing had opened the scoring against the elements for Stourport but in stark contrast, home striker Taylor Allen was often short of support, despite the fact that he played really well, deserving his headed goal during the second period which offered WSC a chance to gain a late point. It wasn’t to be, however…

WOLVES' ARBER AND ALLEN; SWIFTS' FULLOWAY, TIMMINS & THE BUSY LAYTON...

Wolves created but few chances during the opening half and it was their skipper Jack Barnes who threatened mostly. He defended stoutly too, making some fine interceptions as the Swifts forced the pace on occasions. Barnes’ three first period headers were dangerous, the first passing wide of the right stick, the second being beaten behind by Richards for a corner which the ‘keeper then fielded smartly and the third was actually blocked in front of the goal-line by a combination of colleague Declan Arber and a Stourport defender’s midriff. Gabriel Danko had earlier played a one-two with Allen and found himself free at inside-left 10 yards out but his right-booter was well stopped by Richards, falling left. A 23 yard effort by Dom Dell flew wide from 25 yards and really, that completed Wolves’ first-half offensive play.

NOT A GOOD VIEW FOR THE CAMERA, HENCE SOME DIFFICULTY FILMING THE FAR END...

Stourport had seen an early looping header by their skipper Matt Fulloway, who was powerful for his team, held by home goalie Connor Hopkins. The custodian then tackled Canavan well just beyond his 18 yard box to save the day, following a swift Swifts break. Danks fired in a couple of shots and the first of them was a fine left-footer from 22 yards, inside-right channel which flew just too high but the second drive was well off target after he had cut inside from the left flank. Downing slid to shove a Canavan assist wide of the right upright just prior to the interval but he was the scorer of the opening goal, just after the weather had begun to turn nasty. Danks passed through inside-right, Downing beat a defender and scored with a low shot just inside the left upright, to his joy. 

0-1...

Danks had received a yellow card for a sliding challenge early in the contest, although one or two folks were murmuring the dismissal word which would have been harsh, surely… And the break arrived with a brighter sky and once again it wasn’t raining. Too late for me though…

2ND HALF...

A fine second-half start by the guests would subsequently steer them to victory and after a right-side centre by Canavan had been tipped away by Hopkins, Canavan it was, whose right-side delivery dropped into the net via the far upright. 0-2 would prove too much for the hosts to claw back, despite the efforts of Allen, Dell and midfielder Abdul Hamid Chouchane. Replacement Arber battled hard in attack too, substituting for Toura Gassama, whose freak injury during the first period had seen him helped away. Fair play to Fulloway though, for he had helped to support his opponent Gassama to the touchline.

0-2...

Canavan would see a low shot held by Hopkins, then another effort deflected for a corner and a hard-hit shot by him cannoned off Barnes’ head for another flag-kick, before he struck a shot wide. Downing flicked a shot goalwards but was denied by Hopkins, following a pass by his server Danks and Dan Hanson’s rebound drive was superbly blocked by the alert Barnes. Downing lifted a far post shot wide from Canavan’s pass and drove another effort across the face of goal. Danks saw an effort blocked, a Downing centre bounced off MacPherson but over the target and a Chris Collins delivery was glanced by the head of either Joe Billingham or Canavan at the near post but wide of the mark. 

ALLEN: DID WELL...

The hosts tried so hard to get back into the contest and did so following a fine save by Richards. A strong run by the enterprising Allen on the left saw his low near post centre met by Arber but Richards threw himself down like he was trapping a ferret before it rushed up his trouser leg and saved superbly. Soon though, another sortie by Allen, again on the left, resulted in a clearance by Swifts but visiting left-back Matt Hanson was mugged by Danko and his excellent right-wing centre was met by Allen at the left stick, who planted a downward header past Richards. However, try as they did, the hosts couldn’t really threaten Stourport again, despite one downward header by Barnes, which Richards fell upon and then took his time in rising from the grass.

1-2...

WOLVES' FINE DUO BARNES AND ALLEN. SWIFTS' JOE HANSON LOOKS ON...

Maybe Danko’s slightly withdrawn role didn’t help Allen to capitalise on the wide-man’s service but perhaps the winger was under orders to help cover the danger provided by Danks’ runs anyway. The home full-backs Luke Delaney and the tall Ben Douglas were always willing to get forward but Swifts attacked with more venom and control, generally. Much of that was down to Canavan for sure but the engine that is Kirk Layton was in full service on the day, proving so effective and his sidekick Martin Slevin proved again what a neat playmaker he can be, switching play and being a nuisance to the opposition. James Timmins defended well alongside the solid Fulloway and the Hansons at full-back, including the third one, substitute Jim, all played their parts.

HASSLE...

THE LECTURE...

Kyle Burke was cautioned near the end for Wolves and credit goes to Stefan Cameron for his efforts in defence, next to his rampant skipper Barnes. 

THE HUB OF ANGER AND FRUSTRATION AT PRIDE PARK...

STOURPORT DEFENDING...

More rain fell. The parking area in the field opposite the ground was puddled, the journey back to Solihull was unpleasant due to the weather and the darkness and the wheel-splash but at least I wasn’t doing a buffeted impression of Mary Poppins on the sideline, whilst actually paying for the pleasure. Only 80 video clips to sort, make them into a movie, take screenshots, crop images and this report to do then… 

GAME OVER...

It’s not raining though…  

TEAMS:

WOLVERHAMPTON SPORTING COMMUNITY:

CONNOR HOPKINS, LUKE DELANEY, BEN DOUGLAS, STEFAN CAMERON, JAK BARNES (CAPT), KYLE BURKE, GABRIEL DANKO, ABDUL HAMID CHOUCHANE, TAYLOR ALLEN, DOM DELL, TOURA GASSAMA.

SUBS:

DECLAN ARBER, SAM REUBEN, SAM TONKS, NICKY DODD.

STOURPORT SWIFTS:

DOM RICHARDS, JOE HANSON, MATT HANSON, KIRK LAYTON, JAMES TIMMINS, MATT FULLOWAY (CAPT), MARTIN SLEVIN, MARK DANKS, NICK MACPHERSON, DREW CANAVAN, JACK DOWNING.

SUBS:

JIM HANSON, JOE BILLINGHAM, CALLUM DEVLIN, CHRIS CONWAY, CALLUM GRANT.