Romans Scuppered At Coles-Hill By Chelmsley’s Guerrillas…
Chelmsley Town 3-1 Rocester
This was a surprising result for the independent onlooker, for despite an initial surge by Town, the Romans of Rocester grew into the contest and really ought to have scored more than the single goal smuggled in by right-sided attacker Elisio Francisco, which had equalised Kye Dryden’s early strike for the hosts. A free-kick goal by well known home forward Luke Barlone had given Town a 2-1 half-time lead but the feeling was that if Roman Jordan Dodd could keep his form, surely the guests would spoil the Chelmsley party. However, the second period was a gross disappointment, containing infringements, spoiling tactics, poor passing and in general, a total degeneration in the level of play. A very late third goal for Town, again netted emphatically by Dryden, rubbed salt into the sore gums of the Roman defence, in which skipper Carl ‘Centurion’ Allen and Josh ‘Optio’ Sedgley had performed stealthily.
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| TOSSING, NOT TURNING... |
The match referee was patient, dished out a few cautions but displayed some annoyance just before Chelmsley’s third goal by sin-binning Barlone, not long after he had booked him. Barlone had apparently been involved in an altercation with a spectator who, probably like most Rocester fans, was severely miffed by the striker’s dramatic falls with excruciating yells, which usually impressed the main official…
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| BARLONE PROVES THAT HE CAN KICK OFF WITH ONE LEG... |
It was a cold night at Pack Meadow and I had ventured up a bouncing metal ladder to reach a platform above a shelter, opposite the dugouts and Coleshill Town’s uniquely quaint grandstand. I might take on the nickname ‘Gantryman’ soon but in truth, for filming on a dark night under not overly bright floodlights, the view was rather decent. It was cold up there though. In fact it was very cold indeed up yonder. It’s called global warming, you know…
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| THE LADDER WHICH DOESN'T QUITE LEAD TO HEAVEN... |
However, Town started well, Dryden forcing visiting goalie Charlie Wood to save a low shot at his right post, then the ‘keeper leapt right to keep out a decent free-kick by the busy Dom Oliver. Subsequently though, Rocester would make a break forward, Dodd delayed his pass to the criminally badly marked Francisco to his right and Town nabbed the ball and counter-attacked quickly. A pass by right-sided defender John Daley sent the speedy Dryden clear at inside-left and his low left-booter beat the advancing Wood and rested in the bottom right corner of the net. Soon, Barlone reached the left byeline but when Roman Matt Nutt deflected the ball towards his own near post, Wood saved with one of his caligae, tied about his feet. (Boots…)
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| FRANCISCO HAS MADE IT 1-1... |
Until the hosts scored again, the game was notable for the offense created by the Romans and really, they should have been ahead before Barlone scored with his set-piece. Jordan Godfrey’s near post header from a left-wing corner clipped the upright, nearly removing Francisco’s head in the process, Luke Smith drove wide from a good position and then the Legion regained parity. A free-kick from wide left by Jack Hurd simply bounced across the goal-face, seemingly ignored by the players who probably thought someone else would latch onto it. Francisco must have been so surprised to tap the ball over the goal-line at the right stick…
Dodd powered a low left-footer from 17 yards which home gloveman Josh Benton dived left for to keep out of his goal, then Dodd chested down a long ball at 16 yards and volleyed it as it fell, missing the target by not much. Finally, Smith got in a hard header from 4 yards, as he met Hurd’s fine centre at the near post but somehow Benton reacted superbly to claw the ball away. A Francisco shot rose way too high but it really did seem a matter of time before the Romans breached the Chelmsley wall held by guarding skipper Steve Sadler and the inimitable Chris Gumery…
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| SECOND PERIOD... |
Not so, because after a fine challenge on the well placed Dryden by Allen to relieve some pressure, Town won a free-kick 19 yards from goal. Oliver was probably told by Barlone, “Pardon me, my good man, this one is very much mine…” (What he actually said probably went something like: “I’m f…..’ havin’ this…”) And the forward lashed a chest-high shot round Rocester’s defensive wall (He breached a Roman wall? Really?) and into the net via the right post. There was still time for Oliver to fasten onto a Roman error but chip his shot too high.
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| ILLUMINATION REQUIRED... |
Thus the recess arrived and with Roman Asa Tomkinson scurrying about in midfield, Hurd looking mildly dangerous and Dodd leading the offense like he wanted a memorial arch built in Rocester using JCB diggers and equipment, it still seemed only a matter of time before the Legionaries plundered the spoils.
Except that, er, they didn’t… The second period was as uninspiring as the opening period had been interesting. So few actual chances were created that it became more trench warfare in World War 1 than an ancient Roman attack on Coles-Hill… A shot from distance by Allen for Rocester was fielded by Benton, a low Hurd effort was fielded too and in the closing seconds, Sedgley (I think…) drove a low delivery across the face of the home goal from right to left. The hosts? Liam Morris drove too high and Dryden scored in added time and, er, that was that…
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| THE SPOOKY BEYOND... |
Cautions for Nutt and Hurd of Rocester, plus Morris (for an unseemly challenge) and Barlone for Town underlined the petty nature of the second 45, following the tea and biscuits interval. Yes, Dodd battled, without getting the better of Gumery and Sadler, yes, Francisco flattered to deceive but much of the Romans’ good work emanated from Allen and Tomkinson, sometimes Godfrey and Smith. The visitors made three substitutions, all to no avail and when Dryden moved into the right side of the 18 yard box to lash a rising drive into the top right corner of the net, Roman hearts bled.
Dryden took his chances, Rob and Tom Ellis were effective for the hosts, Benton’s saves were crucial and Barlone was simply a pain in the arse.
It didn’t escape my notice either that on the Rocester team there was a Wood, a Hill and a Marsh, as well as a Hurd, a Nutt and a Sedg-ley… Hmm, a bit countryside-like…
So, I descended the icy metal ladder from my perch and drove the few miles home for a slice of fruit cake and a bowl of Cheerios.
It’s what you do, when you are Gantryman…
TEAMS:
CHELMSLEY TOWN:
JOSH BENTON, JOHN DALEY, ROB ELLIS, STEVE SADLER (CAPT), CHRIS GUMERY, TOM ELLIS, LIAM MORRIS, ADAM KEELEY, LUKE BARLONE, DOM OLIVER, KYE DRYDEN.
SUBS:
COREY SOLOMON, HARVEY WOODMAN-SMITH, DYLAN BRITTON, ANTONIO GREEN, DANNY BRAIN.
ROCESTER:
CHARLIE WOOD, MATT NUTT, OLI MARSH, ASA TOMKINSON, JOSH SEDGLEY, CARL ALLEN (CAPT), JORDAN GODFREY, LUKE SMITH, JORDAN DODD, ELISIO FRANCISCO, JACK HURD.
SUBS:
LIAM ROBINSON, JACK DUNDAS, ZAK HILL, MACAULEY ROWE.
