BALSALL & BERKSWELL FC 1-3 DUNLOP FC: THE MATCH REPORT...

Dunlop Tyres Safe On The Road

Balsall & Berkswell FC 1-3 Dunlop FC

Strange game this, for despite first period domination, the Tyres couldn’t add more goals to the single Mason Osbourne strike which separated the teams at the interval. Home ‘keeper Mitch Eley made a few fine saves to deny the guests but in reality the wind was a pain for both teams, as it was for commentating, for it screeched at the edges of my camera’s built-in microphone. The light was poor too and the referee duly demanded a short half-time break to get the match completed before the players were asked to switch on the torches on their mobile phones. Actually Dunlop left the field, whereas Balsall remained on the sidelines. The second period was more even, with the hosts denied several times by Tyres’ goalie George Gane, who gained plaudits for his performance. A second Dunlop goal sealed the victory in effect, despite Joe Gorst’s goal for the Hornets direct from a corner. The enigmatic Wendel Moyo set up the clincher for fellow replacement Ross Knight however, to end Balsall’s resistance.

THE SKIPPERS, THE COIN & THE OFFICIALS...

The hosts looked oddly on the fringes of the action from the start, although the speedy Berkswell forward Ben Cranage, a pain all afternoon for the visiting defence, did get away on the right early on but his delivery was accelerated by the wind and raced away into the undergrowth beyond the far touchline. The Tyres passed the ball whenever possible, encouraged by their two coaches, who prowled the touchline around me and indeed, several scoring opportunities were created by their persistence. After Troy Dixon had shot low past the left post, the danger usually stemmed from the impish forward play of Konnor Frankum. He saw a low shot touched past the left upright by the diving Eley, before Taylor Blyth’s shot cannoned off home defender Harry Finch (apart from Bull, Chaff, Gold and Green, the only Finch not to have eaten in my garden) and there was Frankum to hit a good rising drive, which Eley leapt for and tipped over the crossbar.

LOUIS O'CONNOR: "WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO?"

Frankum would later lose control of the ball on a break but in assisting with the opening goal, he took a knock and celebrated lying prone and groaning. A left-side centre by the Tyres’ wingback Dan Monger (did I really see a glimpse of Martin Keown in his frown?) was sliced upwards and slightly backwards by home defender Vinnie Jay-Record (not Mickey Thomas as I mentioned in the video highlights… Sorry Mr Thomas…) The falling ball led to Frankum’s 8 yard shot under duress being parried by Eley but there was the lurking and lively Osbourne to convert easily for 0-1. Skipper Michael Bawdon lifted a shot well over the target and the interesting Tyres’ central defender James Ritson, who scared me even when he smiled, totally miscued at the near post from a left-flank corner. 

"COME ON, KONNOR, PLEASE CELEBRATE WITH ME..."

"OK, DON'T BOTHER..."

So the wind roared, spots of rain pattered against my back, the dead rat next to my car was unmoved, the Hornets stayed on the touchline and drank water but the Tyres retired to their dressing room for toasted teacakes and lattes (not really, but it sounds very British…)

ELEY: GOOD FIRST-HALF...

CHECK THE IMPRESSION OF MARY POPPINS LANDING WITHOUT AN UMBRELLA...

Subsequently the game became more interesting, as the Dunlop coaches became more tetchy with their players, now holding onto a slender lead and allowing their hosts back into the contest. Until their second goal, the Tyres had found less grip on offense, mainly due to a tightening up by home back-liners Lewis Proctor and Finch but Osbourne did knock a near post effort wide from Frankum’s feed. Blyth’s shot was well blocked by Mickey Thomas and Osbourne was freed at inside-left but Eley managed to take the sting out of the shot and as it went over him, a defender hacked the ball clear. Eley also did well to tip aside a dangerous Ritson cross, following a short corner routine. However, a left-side corner by Monger, who was finding less room on the left flank than during the opening period, swung over a corner, both Louis O’Connor and Ritson leapt for it just a few yards from goal but it was the former who nodded it goalwards and despite Mickey Thomas’ attempt to clear off the goal-line, the ball ricocheted into the roof of the net.

DAN POVEY: QUIET GAME...

The Hornets must have been particularly disappointed with that goal for they had pressured Dunlop more (pressured, tyres… Get it?) A short free-kick led to a shot from downtown by Jay-Record, challenged by Frankum and the effort flew wide of the left stick, before midfielder Pete Bailey, who had struck a first period shot well off target, clipped a 23 yard free-kick too high. Bailey’s next effort was better, forcing  Gane into a fine leaping save. Joe Gorst had looked more effective too, once making his way into the left side of the 18 yard box only to be baulked by Moyo into firing at the side-netting. He then shot too high from 15 yards, before seeing Gane plunge left to push aside a low effort, after replacement Luke Hatfield’s shot had been bravely blocked by Ritson’s belly, or possibly his right arm… The energetic Cranage then hit a rising drive which Gane simply plucked from above his head like he was casually changing a light bulb and substitute Leon Edmund drove a centre across the goalmouth. The goal though stemmed from a right-wing corner and Gorst’s in-swinger towards the near post was swiped at by Monger but he missed the ball which somehow found the far corner of the net, with everyone watching, motionless.

'OVER MY SHOULDER' BY MIKE & THE MECHANICS...

A Monger flag-kick had already landed on the crossbeam and Knight had shot too high when well positioned at inside-left but when Moyo’s efforts set Knight up at inside-right, the substitute, wearing 9, deceived Finch, leaving the defender on the ground and shot low past the helpless Eley.

PROCTOR (4): KEPT BUSY BY OSBOURNE (14)...

Thus the points were safe for the Tyres who had been treading carefully following the Hornets’ goal, before finally inflating themselves to secure victory and getting back on track to challenge at the top of the division. Fair play to Balsall though, for after an abject opening half, they certainly worried their visitors from around the hour mark. The little kick-out at an opponent by the aggrieved Tyre Connor Payton was not representative of the spirit the game was played in and despite the wind, the gloom and dead rat, the afternoon was one spent usefully in Balsall Common.

RITSON GLARES MY WAY.
BEING AFRAID, I MOVED TO MY LEFT...

I thought Ian Biggerstaff was effective for the guests, as was the busy Blyth and the elusive Osbourne but Monger was really useful in the opening period with his exploitation of the space afforded him on the left side of the offense. Lewis Robinson was calm at the back too but Frankum was a livewire in attack.

WHEN YOU DON'T LISTEN TO YOUR COACH BUT LOOK TO THE HEAVENS FOR INSPIRATION...

Dan Povey had a quiet game for the hosts, wearing 9 but in truth the service during the first-half to both Cranage and himself was sparse. He dropped back then and helped out in midfield alongside Luke Rawlings.

Me? Once again the Coventry Alliance proved, er, interesting and on balance, the Tyres deserved the victory…

TEAMS:

BALSALL & BERKSWELL:

MITCH ELEY, HARRY THOMAS, MICKEY THOMAS, LEWIS PROCTOR, HARRY FINCH (CAPT), VINNIE JAY-RECORD, JOE GORST, PETE BAILEY, DAN POVEY, BEN CRANAGE, LUKE RAWLINGS.

SUBS:

LEON EDMUND, LUKE HATFIELD, JAKE CLARKE.

DUNLOP:

GEORGE GANE, LEWIS ROBINSON, TAYLOR BLYTH, JAMES RITSON, MICHAEL BAWDON (CAPT), IAN BIGGERSTAFF, DAN MONGER, KONNOR FRANKUM, TROY DIXON, LOUIS O’CONNOR, MASON OSBOURNE.

SUBS:

ROSS KNIGHT, WNDEL MOYO, CONNOR PAYTON.