ALCESTER TOWN 2-2 STUDLEY: THE MATCH REPORT...

Studley Guerillas Stemmed By Roman Wall

Alcester Town 2-2 Studley

This was a game of few real goalscoring chances, despite the fact that four goals were scored. Indeed, the stolid and stubborn Romans netted with their only two efforts on goal before the interval, both early on, leaving Studley shocked and shaking their heads, wondering just how they could be dominating a match with a 0-2 deficit to overturn. It was like they had handed a two-goal start to their hosts, just to see whether their own offensive play could snatch victory from the gloom of an embarrassing defeat. They regained parity through a pair of smart Danny Carter finishes, courtesy of the two most dangerous forwards on view, Dale Edwards and Sean Cooke. However, Studley were unable to capitalise upon a plethora of crosses which offered the home central defenders, The Alliterations: Michael Mannion, Karl King and Dan Dineen all the heading and clearing practice they needed for the next three pre-seasons, never mind just this one…

DUGMORE EXPLAINS TO MORTON WHERE HIS BARBER IS SITUATED...

It was humid, a few spots of rain even dropped on a couple of umbrellas after the interval and four ex-Romans had returned to Alcester where they had gained promotion to League 2 last term. Calm goalie Luis Sone, commanding skipper Luke Dugmore, no-nonsense midfielder Lewis Marston and defender Danny Janes, whose mouth gets more exercise than his legs these days, all made the Studley team for the return to Stratford Road. There were three players with Edwards for a surname in the visiting line-up too: Matty, Dave and the winger I know well, Dale. Ex-Racing Club Warwick skipper Alex Price was on the bench for the Romans, along with Wade Malley, also a Racer last term but Tez Morton, the Alcester skipper has remained at the club to do what he does. He is unrecognisable in his civilian clothes, you know…  

BROWN PREPARES TO START THE GAME...

Certainly the guests were quicker and more mobile, whilst some of their dribbling was smart, usually from the feet of Dale Edwards, Cooke and definitely right-back Jordan Jones, who looked a really strong player, especially as a supporting attacker. The wide players swapped flanks regularly and although Carter nabbed two goals, there did appear to be a lack of bodies on offense on a number of occasions and those defensive clearances by Alcester were too often uncontested. Marston might have been the one to be allowed forward to add his height and goalscoring presence in the 18 yard box but that didn’t happen and subsequently so many crosses, free-kicks, plus an abundance of corners went begging.

CORRIGAN & DALE EDWARDS: OFTEN SEEN IN THE SAME VICINITY...

LOOK! DANNY JANES' MOUTH IS MOVING...
NO CHANGE THERE.

After Carter had nodded a Dale Edwards free-kick past the left upright in the opening minute for Studley, I was just using my dictaphone as a long boot forward by the Romans dropped over the head of I think Matty Edwards and Malley stole clear. I started my camera rolling but Sone seemed taken by surprise too and was thus left totally beaten by the striker’s demonstrative finish. There had been some hesitancy in the Studley defence, certainly. Incredibly, from nothing, the Romans added a second goal and it stemmed from the calmness of Sone, who had attempted pass the ball, left-booted to Matty Edwards but he succeeded only in conceding a throw to Alcester. The marauding and lustily physical Niall Gilbride jumped for a header at the near stick, the ball dropped behind him into something of a melee, Dugmore took a shove, Sone couldn’t affect the scramble but Gilbride simply weighed in with a sweeping, falling shot from 6 yards and the ball flew high into the net. 

1-0: MALLEY FOR THE ROMANS...

2-0: GILBRIDE (LEFT) THIS TIME...

The response from Studley was some clever footwork by Jones, Cooke, Dale Edwards, Josh Westwood and Dugmore but any kind of clinical threat was lacking. Twice central defender Dave Edwards was unable to find a telling finish in the 6 yard box, Dugmore saw one shot deflected and another drift well wide, whilst Carter nodded well wide of the right stick, curled a 23 yard effort just over the right angle of crossbar and upright, then forced a corner with an attempted low overhead shot. The best attempt at goal though was by Cooke, who was picked out by Dugmore’s fine pass to inside-right and the forward’s rising drive from 16 yards was beaten away by home goalie Conal Dowling, whose kicking was really strong throughout.

YEAH, SERGEANT DUGMORE IN A FIRST WORLD WAR TRENCH WOULD BE USEFUL TO THE TROOPS...

KK & DD, BUT WHERE'S MM?

So, much offense had been constructed by Studley but much stout and effective defending by Alcester had destroyed most of it, so much so that Dowling was able to watch it all happen in front of him, with little alarm. Gilbride was tough, so damned tough and he will be a pain for League 2 midfielders to contend with during this coming season. 

MALLEY & MATTY EDWARDS...

2ND HALF TO BEGIN AND GUESS WHAT?
JANES IS TALKING...

Substitutions inevitably disrupted the game after the interval and in truth the match became ragged, especially when Dugmore was relieved of his duties. Still Studley struggled to serve those telling deliveries from wide however and both goals were created by invention from deep. First Dale Edwards didn’t make a long dribble but instead fed a high pass forwards between Mannion and King for Carter to break onto at inside-left. The striker finished with aplomb past the helpless Dowling. The second goal arrived after the hosts had squandered possession near the half-way line. Cooke was onto the ball in a flash and made ground inside from the right-flank. He spotted Carter’s short diagonal run towards the right edge of the 6 yard box and released a perfect assist for his colleague to rap the equaliser past Dowling with a rising drive. 

CARTER HAS SCORED FOR STUDLEY...

2-2: CARTER AGAIN...

Other than that, Dale Edwards so nearly scored with a measured shot from close range which deflected away off King’s legs but his final seconds free-kick found its way into Dowling’s midriff as the final whistle blew. Replacement Robbie Agar shoved a low effort wide from 23 yards after Dowling had advanced to hack the ball clear but those few chances apart, the Roman wall held firm. 

GODS, JANES IS TALKING AGAIN...

On offense the hosts were denied twice by Sone, who first stopped the bullish Jake Brown’s near post stab from Malley’s assist with his right boot and then he turned a decent Malley free-kick from 19 yards safely over his crossbeam. Malley launched a free-kick from the right beyond the far stick too and a couple of wayward efforts by Dineen and replacement number 15 were the only other Alcester efforts worth mentioning. Sone was rushed at a couple of times and his kicks were blocked but in all honesty, Janes and Dave Edwards were largely untroubled.

REMEMBER HOW KIDS DRAW THE SUN WITH SPIKES STICKING FROM IT?

So, a useful workout for both squads and from what was on offer, it seemed that Alcester’s physical strength will be very much to the fore this season, added to by the willingness of striker Malley. Studley look to be an attacking, exciting group, with Westwood’s promptings, Dugmore’s controlling play, Dale Edwards’ skilled runs and Cooke’s tricky running all supporting Carter’s undoubted finishing ability. More support for Carter in the opposition’s penalty-box is likely something the management team will address…  

SQUADS:

ALCESTER TOWN:

CONAL DOWLING, MIKEY CORRIGAN, SAM HAWKER, MICHAEL MANNION, KARL KING, DAN DINEEN, WADE MALLEY, NIALL GILBRIDE, JAKE BROWN, LOUIS FOSTER, TEZ MORTON (CAPT), JAMIE VADASZ, DAVE GOLDSBY, RYAN DREW, ALEX PRICE, MANI SINGH, DYLAN CORRIGAN.

STUDLEY:

LUIS SONE, JORDAN JONES, MATTY EDWARDS, LEWIS MARSTON, DAVE EDWARDS, DANNY JANES, JOSH WESTWOOD, LUKE DUGMORE (CAPT), DAN CARTER, SEAN COOKE, DALE EDWARDS, TYREECE RODWAY, JAMES WRIGHT, ROBBIE AGAR, STEVE ROCHE, SIMON FITTER, ROB BARRATT.