BARTESTREE 0-1 COVENTRY PLUMBING: INDEPENDENT MATCH REPORT...

Out Of Sorts Plumbers Wrench The Points From Bartestree

Bartestree 0-1 Coventry Plumbing

I need to write about the football, not the spectators, nor the officials, nor the tension which prevailed at Bartestree before, during and after this important Midland League 3 encounter. A draw for AFC Solihull at FC Shush and a defeat at Coventrians for league leaders Inkberrow on the day rendered Plumbing’s slim victory in this match and Alcester’s more emphatic win at WLV Sport rather pertinent, for both the Plumbers and the Romans are now realistically pushing for the top spots in the division, with games in hand too. A single goal won this contest for the guests, scored by recent signing Jason Evans, who has now netted three times in under one and a half matches for his new club, two of them against AFC Solihull last weekend.

PLUMBER POWELL WEARS THE SKIPPER'S ARMBAND & HEADBAND, JUST SO WE KNOW WHO HE IS...

Other than that, Bartestree, minus their two main goalscorers and coming off a disappointing Challenge Vase Final loss to Central Ajax on Tuesday, would rue their bad fortune, for they certainly did not deserve to lose this game. Despite rarely testing visiting ‘keeper Paul Lawrence, the hosts managed enough offense to concern George Swain and Matty Wyatt in the middle of the Plumbing defence. Most of the problems were created by home skipper Darren Andrews and in turn the service was carried out in the main by wide player Nick Weaver and especially the deft footed winger Levi Ellis, both of whom caused Coventry’s full-backs James Keller and Darren Hutchinson some anxious moments. The guests were often insipid in attack, where Connoll Farrell was involved in a fine tussle with excellent Treeman Lewis Clarke, whilst Kyle King was rarely able to threaten the home defence.

I THINK THAT'S CLARKE DEMONSTRATING HOW MARSTON SHOULD KICK OFF...

KELLER: "HANG ON, WE'VE ONLY JUST BEGUN..."
REF: "THE CARPENTERS SANG THAT. WHAT'S YOUR NAME?"

Only Liam Doyle was able to free himself a few times but goal chances for the visitors were few and Evans’ strike was so out of character with the remainder of this mistake riddled match that it deserves special mention, notwithstanding ‘Tree’s doubtless disappointment at some static and loose defence in the build-up. The first-half goal was a left-wing construction and began from a clearance along the left flank by Hutchinson towards tenacious skipper Jordan Powell and then King who held up the ball and freed it to Farrell. The striker’s lifted pass sent Doyle running and his low centre from near the byeline was converted smartly past home goalie Jason Davies by a jubilant Evans from close range. ‘Just like that’ was a good description of the game winning strike.

0-1...

EVANS CELEBRATES ON AIR GUITAR, WHILST FARRELL PLAYS RHYTHM ON HIS SHIN PADS...
LIAM DOYLE CAN'T SING THOUGH.

Otherwise, Doyle had driven too high from inside-left in the opening moments but to be fair, home defenders Toby Wildig and Jack Pitcher held firm and Clarke was excellent at right-back, both defensively and offensively. He rapped a long shot wide for ‘Tree, Weaver wove a path to the left byeline but Wyatt did well to defend a tricky situation, a miscued Ellis shot following Luke Marston’s and Mark Langford’s good work was pushed round a post by Lawrence and Marston lifted a half-volley too high. Andrews was mightily unfortunate when he broke at inside-left and the uneven surface caused the ball to bobble awkwardly and by the time he was able to recover it, he could only poke his angled shot into the side-netting as Keller challenged.

ANDREWS INTO THE SIDE-NETTING...

Marston was adjudged offside on one occasion, which brings the writer to mention the officials and the spectators, which I really didn’t want to do. I need to though… A smart coach took Plumbing’s players, staff and an assortment of fans, including children and second team players to Bartestree on an away-day and that coach was parked behind the small grandstand, which thus rather weirdly looked like the seating area was actually the motor coach opened out. The support was vocal and no doubt welcomed by the players. The foul language and verbal abuse aimed mainly at the officials was usually unpleasant however, despite the number of kids about. The home dugout was even concerned that a linesman was being intimidated. I doubt that… The referee failed to cover himself in glory either, cautioning Keller for his first challenge, allowing others to escape punishment for similar challenges, then booking the astounded Doyle after seeing home left-back Jack Shemwell writhing on the ground behind the byeline. The defender subsequently returned to fitness quickly. 

KING IS ABOUT TO START THE SECOND PERIOD...

The interval reached, the players set off on an orienteering hike to receive their dressing-room refreshments and several spectators retreated to refill pint glasses, etc. 

The second period was decent for The Tree, albeit failing to really trouble Lawrence in the Coventry goal. Replacement Austin ‘Ozzie’ Thomas cleverly slipped Langford in at inside-right but with only Lawrence to beat, the midfielder pulled his low shot beyond the far upright. That was Bartestree’s best opportunity to regain parity. Another substitute, Dale Richards rapped a disputed free-kick into the Coventry defensive wall, whereupon Plumber Rhys Lyons cleared. Lyons was making his debut and steadied the defence at right-back, indeed he cleared a low Richards shot from in front of his own goal-line later in the period. A dangerous Wildig centre dropped past the right upright and a few moments of panicky defending by Coventry littered the latter stages of the match but in truth, the guests might have increased their lead but for poor control, poor deliveries and surely an error by the ‘intimidated’ linesman.

OOPS...

CLOSE MARKING BY WILDIG ON KING...

King got clear but failed to control the ball and Pitcher did enough to baulk the Plumbing frontman, Doyle won possession on the right but his centre went too far, Farrell drove too high and clipped a couple of crosses out of play, before Hutchinson shot low for Davies to pick up. Then when Plumbers’ replacement Joe Gardner clipped a pass forward, Farrell ran past Pitcher and got clear, the linesman flagged for offside, Farrell lobbed Davies into the net (well, not Davies but the ball) and the referee cautioned the Plumbing striker for carrying on playing after the whistle had blown. That disallowed goal might have been costly for Coventry, had ‘Tree conjured a late equaliser. That caution might have been even more costly, for Farrell stood in the way of a ‘Tree free-kick in the closing moments, an offense he could easily have been second-yellowed for, resulting in a ban… 

FARRELL LOBS IN...

The referee continued his search for an inconsistency medal, awarding fouls for tackles which seemed acceptable to many and allowing other similar challenges to go unpunished. The eminently decent Treeman Ali Neale was booked for a scythe on Powell and home replacement John Davies was also cautioned for a rough foul. Neale had won possession well for his team, dispossessing Plumbers at will, whereas Powell was a real powerhouse for Coventry, that head-wrapping making him look and play like a Freaky Blinder… Josh Bennai had been replaced for the guests at the break by the busy Joe Tobin, Evans was mildly influential but Lyons certainly added more stealth and calm to the Plumbing defence.

HIGH BOOT BY THOMAS BUT NO CAUTION...

THE REF HAS STOPPED THE GAME AGAIN BUT HE BLENDED IN WELL WITH BARTESTREE'S KIT, BAR THE WHITE BITS & IT MUST HAVE BEEN TOUGH FOR BOTH TEAMS TO DEAL WITH...

Andrews was effective for ‘Tree, Marston, Langford and Weaver really battled well, but Clarke and Ellis were often outstanding with their contributions, whilst Pitcher and Wildig were both strong at the back, forming a formidable pairing. All in all, Plumbing scrapped for three points with a blunt attack, although their central defenders and Powell generally denied the home offense without leaving Lawrence too exposed.

HORROR, AS THE REFEREE SPEAKS ABOUT BREXIT...

This result could well prove crucial in the title fight and one wonders how the game between Alcester and Plumbing will pan out on 9th April… 

THE PLUMBING WORK IS DONE...

One not to miss, I reckon…  

          

TEAMS:

BARTESTREE:

JASON DAVIES, LEWIS CLARKE, JACK SHEMWELL, TOBY WILDIG, JACK PITCHER, ALI NEALE, MARK LANGFORD, DARREN ANDREWS (CAPT), LUKE MARSTON, NICK WEAVER, LEVI ELLIS.

SUBS:

AUSTIN THOMAS, JOHN DAVIES, DALE RICHARDS. 

COVENTRY PLUMBING:

PAUL LAWRENCE, JAMES KELLER, DARREN HUTCHINSON, JOSH BENNAI, GEORGE SWAIN, MATTY WYATT, LIAM DOYLE, JASON EVANS, CONNOLL FARRELL, JORDAN POWELL (CAPT), KYLE KING.

SUBS:

KYLE JAYNES, FRANCIS OFFOETE, RHYS LYONS, JOE GARDNER, JOE TOBIN.