NEWENT TOWN 1-4 FAIRFORD TOWN: THE MATCH REPORT...

Fairford Pass Their Way To Comfortable Victory

Newent Town 1-4 Fairford Town

The headline may well be misleading, for Newent too passed the ball effectively on occasions and their individuals Dean Corbett, Luke Hawkins, Harrison Jones and George Watkins all stuck to their tasks of creating and combining, rather than spending the afternoon watching long balls from defence sailing over their heads. Credit to Newent then, but certainly Fairford looked the more likely to score goals, borne out by the statistics of the number of goal chances eked out by their playmakers. Charlie Bailey nabbed a predatory brace, Dan Bailey rapped a fine opener in the early moments of the match and right-back John Watson lifted a speculative delivery from downtown on the right flank over the ‘keeper’s head. All those goals were netted before the break, three of them in the final eight minutes or so, leaving Newent with far too much to do after the interval, when inevitably, substitutions would disrupt any opportunity to negotiate a comeback.

"NO, YOU WILL NOT USE MY FLAG TO WIPE THE SNOT FROM YOUR NOSE..."

Many thanks to Paul Henderson and Jody Bevan for providing me with the names and corresponding numbers of their squad players but Jody surely got his revenge on me by telling Callum Preece to shove shirt 14 on, not 15, which meant that he was called Ellis Dunton during my video commentary and Ellis Dunton was referred to as Callum Preece… Thanks for that… At least I was able to change the names on the screenshot and image captions… Sorry to both players but you have my permission to retaliate and disable the manager’s Zimmer frame… Please.

BALLET DANCER SANCHEZ GRANGE PREPARES TO SPIN...

Newent were restricted to two main goal attempts before half-time, first when their robust and extremely useful striker Jordan Cooper lurked in the 6 yard box as Sanchez Grange’s low centre flew by and then Josh Higgs fired off target near to the interval. The game had drifted from the hosts by then, for Danny Gudger had freed skipper Dan Bailey at inside-right early on and the midfielder’s subsequent low drive arrowed into the bottom left corner of the net. Both goalkeepers were Fairford’s in fact and Harrison Ellis was the beaten custodian on this occasion, but he would play for Fairford after the break and Gavin Jones would be between the uprights for Newent. Dan Bailey nearly added a second goal when Ellis raced out of his penalty-box to kick clear but the playmaker was unable to get his shot anywhere near the target. (It wasn’t me who laughed in the background, Dan, but one of your followers, I believe… However, I’m not one to cause trouble, just ask Jody…) 

GEORGE WATKINS ADMIRES THE BUTTERFLY HE HAS JUST CAUGHT, WHILST DAN BAILEY CELEBRATES HIS GOAL BY SINGING A DUET WITH THE REF...

HAWKINS & SCHOLES...

The impressive Harvey Scholes, whose quick feet were so effective, drove wide and saw another effort deflected to Ellis, before Gudger received a Dan Bailey pass but with Ellis advancing and under pressure he nudged a 17 yard poke wide of the right post. Sam Cairns nodded a Watson centre straight into Ellis’ gloves, whilst Ben Saunders, bolstering the guests’ back-line with the unflustered Robbie James, looped a header from beyond the left stick towards the far post, where Watkins did really well to head away from his goal-line. Soon afterwards, Higgs was forced to keep out another Saunders header at the same upright, although the Fairford defender headed the rebound over the goal-frame.

"SORRY REF, I'M A NICE BLOKE, REALLY..."

Preece, yes Preece, not Dunton, saw a deflected shot go to Ellis but importantly, Preece’s right-booted left-side centre was audaciously flicked on at the near post by Charlie Bailey and the ball bobbed upwards then under the crossbar, leaving Ellis flummoxed… An assist for Preece, not Dunton… At 0-2, with the end of the half nigh, Dan Bailey became the creator of goal three although Scholes actually wanted to receive the pass which was duly swept wide right to Watson. The full-back’s long, high delivery evaded Ellis and dropped into the far corner of the net. 

CHARLIE BAILEY HAS ADDED GOAL 2...

JOHN WATSON, RIGHT, HAS NETTED THE THIRD FROM DOWNTOWN...

WHEN TWO FLYING BODIES CONNECT...

Goal four was set up by Gudger, whose work ethic certainly deserved some reward but when his low 18 yard effort was spilled by the scrabbling Ellis, only Charlie Bailey reacted, rushing forth to bundle the ball over the ‘keeper and into goal right on the half-time break.

CHARLIE BAILEY HAS JUST SCORED GOAL 4...

The attitudes in the Fairford attack displayed by Gudger and Charlie Bailey were admirable in what was basically a workout and they were ably served by leader Dan Bailey, the unexpected turns and angles of Scholes and the industry of the skilled Cam Lloyd. Watson had been an outlet on the right, Preece, no, not Dunton, had been a force on the deep left and Cairns was drifting usefully. Things changed, obviously, following the sit-down chats of half-time and although the visitors still passed the ball with confidence, changes in personnel caused the intensity to drop. 

Newent worked hard after the interregnum and some of their movement and also possession were laudable. Higgs drove too high but did get on the scoresheet when a pass forward by skipper Hawkins was latched onto, right-side, by the number 6, although Grange was hovering offside. Fortunately, correctly and impressively, the lines-person from Fairford didn’t flag and that allowed Higgs to rush on and beat Ellis with a low cross-shot. Grange would shoot at Ellis, then later he would be blocked out by three defenders but the ball flew left to the hard-running Callum Rickard who drove too high from an angle on the left. The very useful Harrison Jones, whose left foot and bullish ability to get past opponents will be invaluable this term, also shot low at the ‘keeper, from 25 yards. However, really, Grange would have been disappointed in the closing seconds when James Hatton shot against Ellis’ feet and thus offered a chance at the left post to the forward, wearing the correct number 14, not the incorrect 15, as happened in the Fairford ranks. Unfortunately the falling Grange lifted his close range angled effort too high, possibly grazing the cross-beam en route.

NEITHER NUMBER 9 SCORED ON THE DAY...

JOSH HIGGS CELEBRATES HIS GOAL BY SCRATCHING HIS HAND...

There was a slower tempo in warm, though breezy conditions and I guess with a lot of replacements onfield, Fairford managed fewer goal attempts. A Saunders poke from inside the 6 yard box was stopped by substitute Newent defender Jon King, who performed strongly during the second period alongside the imposing Rich Prictor, before a later long drive by Saunders was saved whilst falling by Gavin Jones. Preece, clearly not Dunton, shot too high, saw a low free-kick from the left get past everyone but roll wide of the far upright but his final 22 yard strike was pulled well wide. Clayton Shutt’s header was snaffled by Gavin Jones, the still lively Scholes shot too high and the unfortunate but still grafting Gudger was denied low to his right by the goalkeeper.

"WE'LL HAVE NO MORE OF THAT HAND-SCRATCHING, YOUNG FELLOW..."

So, a decent afternoon at Newent’s smart ground, my third visit and welcomed as ever, kindly. The team had been weakened by missing players I believe and the manager was at a stag do too but some of the inventive play they showed augured well for the Hellenic Division 1 West season. Cooper and Grange will be an awkward pair to deal with but certainly the creativity might be worth watching. Fairford looked bright on the ball at times and they have pace in attack, always a bonus, along with cleverness in midfield but it remains to be seen whether they could mount a strong challenge in the Premier…  

HANDSHAKES.
IT'S WHAT THEY DO...

SQUADS:

NEWENT TOWN:

RYAN BARRY, JAMES HATTON, LUKE GRIFFITHS, RICH PRICTOR, JOSH HIGGS, HARRISON JONES, GEORGE WATKINS, JORDAN COOPER, LUKE HAWKINS, DEAN CORBETT, SANCHEZ GRANGE, JON KING, CALLUM RICKARD.

FAIRFORD TOWN:

GAVIN JONES AND HARRISON ELLIS KEPT GOAL FOR BOTH TEAMS…

JOHN WATSON, KALLUM THOMAS (INJURED EARLY, CAUSING THE 14/15 SHIRT MALFUNCTION), ROBBIE JAMES, BEN SAUNDERS, CAM LLOYD, SAM CAIRNS, DAN BAILEY (CAPT), DANNY GUDGER, HARVEY SCHOLES, CHARLIE BAILEY, BEN ANDERSON, ELLIS DUNTON (15, NOT 14…), CALLUM PREECE (14, NOT 15…), BEN SNOOK, ISAAC DOLAN, CLAYTON SHUTT,

AND FINALLY, FINALLY: 

JODY BEVAN (UNUSED, ZIMMER PACKED IN THE CAR’S TRUNK…)

JODY BEVAN:
NO PLAY TODAY...