FC STRATFORD 4-2 FECKENHAM FC: THE INDEPENDENT MATCH REPORT...

The Soft Header, The Penalty, The Deflection & The Own-Goal: Not A Good Night For The Feckers…

FC Stratford 4-2 Feckenham FC

The Feckers arrived in Stratford and before they had really got going themselves, they had conceded twice, one a really soft header from a free-kick, the other a penalty. The hosts had begun the game with some slick passing but that was soon negated by Feckenham’s attacking surges and Stratford found themselves blocking regular shots and goalie Luis Sone needed to be alert to save twice from Danny Murphy. The odd thing about the match was that visiting ‘keeper Ryan Young didn’t actually make a save, as Stratford’s offense faded rather badly. Two fortunate second period goals won the match for the Blues though, after the Feckers had netted twice immediately following the break, to regain parity. It had seemed that the Greens would then go on to win the contest but poor finishing, smart goalkeeping by Sone and some inspired defending by Danny Janes in particular kept the hosts in the game. The final insult for Feckenham was an unfortunate own-goal by skipper Ben Welsh but fellow defender Jordan Adams will be annoyed that the Stratford Herald reporter wrote that he, not Welsh had erred…

FECKER BEN WELSH PRETENDS TO SIT ON AN IMAGINARY STOOL, WHILST STRATFORD'S ASH WILKES PRAYS FOR HELP WITH THE TOSS...

Feckenham were often infuriated by the local referee and felt that they were being short-changed on occasions, as four of them were cautioned, whilst no home players received bookings at all. Jake Donnelly was yellow-carded retrospectively but soon afterwards, home striker James Gifford pulled back an opponent, the referee again allowed play to continue but didn’t then punish Gifford retrospectively, thus highlighting some inconsistency in the officiating. 

A BIT LATE TO DRY THE WASHING...

An early free-kick by home skipper Ash Wilkes from the right flank was glanced into the net at the near post by the criminally unmarked Sacha Everard, with Young rooted to the goal-line and thus the Blues took a very early lead. Their only other attempt at goal during that opening period was when Gifford broke away, after a Feckenham attack had faltered and he was challenged from behind by Connor Perry-Holmes. The ball ran to Young, Gifford sprawled from the contact and a spot-kick was awarded. Perry-Holmes was cautioned and Wilkes deposited the penalty low to Young’s left and the Feckers had a real problem.

EARLY GRUMBLES FROM THE FECKERS ABOUT THE REFEREE...

Oddly though, they forged several attacks before half-time, mainly through the efforts of Umit Eminoglu, whose presence in midfield was tough for the Blues to combat. A Perry-Holmes drive was deflected for Sone to fall upon, then later in the half Perry-Holmes sliced badly off target, following an Eminoglu corner which Sone had struggled to get away. Welsh’s low shot had been blocked by Everard, before Perry-Holmes’ wayward rebound effort drifted away high to the right.

JAMIE HATFIELD: "YOU CALL THAT A BEARD?"

The gloved Eminoglu’s right-side free-kick was claimed at the near post by Sone’s safe gloves, both Donnelly and Billy Garvey had low shots well blocked by Janes, then Donnelly fired wide from 8 yards and had another shot stopped by Everard, as Stratford reeled. Murphy though went closest for the guests and one of his two efforts, following a slick one-two with Perry-Holmes, saw him one-on-one with Sone, who managed to deflect the ball wide. The referee awarded a goal-kick, his assistant offered no assistance at all and it took the players to inform the officials that a save had been made… A later Murphy shot from 19 yards was well dealt with, falling right by Sone, who had suffered one or two difficult and buffeting moments aerially, in attempting to deal with Eminoglu’s set-pieces. Half-time arrived and the recess for Sharp’s Coconut Stout and fig biscuits ensued, ready for the second 45 on a pitch which was actually seemingly playable… 

MURPHY STANDS TALL...
HIS HEIGHT WAS NEEDED IN THE STRIKE ZONE...

Words were spoken by a few Feckenham players to the main official before the second period began but soon the visitors won a free-kick just outside the penalty-box, courtesy of a foul on Eminoglu. The resulting shot by Eminoglu looked to swerve viciously past the rooted Sone and flashed high into the left side of the net for a spectacular goal. Eminoglu had annoyed the referee by his outspoken actions I believe, but moments later attacking left-wingback Jack Cole crossed from the flank and Murphy nudged the ball on with his head, chaos reigned in the goalmouth and predator Garvey shot in from 6 yards with a low left-booter. 2-2, just like that and Eminoglu was immediately cautioned…

DANNY JANES: THE BARD OF STRATFORD...

Garvey slid into a challenge, missed his prey by some distance and received a booking, but with Feckenham menacing, Stratford managed an attack and the trusty Dean Poulson tried a shot from 19 yards and the ball took a cruel deflection forwards towards Gifford, sandwiched between three opponents: Welsh, Donnelly and the wiry, bearded defenceman Jamie Hatfield. Incredibly, like a running-back slipping between a trio of linebackers, Gifford turned cleverly and stroked a smart goal past the outrushing Young.

"YOU ALL RIGHT, MATE?"
"NAH, I FORGOT TO GET THE CHICKENS IN BEFORE I LEFT HOME..."

That Feckenham battled on was credit to their attitude and they went on to miss several chances to score. Garvey was denied when Sone plunged left to make a fine save but replacement Jak Albutt was unable to fasten onto the rebound. Donnelly drove wide, Garvey found the net but was ruled offside and Albutt was denied by Everard’s block at an angle near the right stick. Substitute Ben Ellicot lifted a presentable chance well off target, after an Eminoglu corner had been cleared and yet all that Stratford had managed to create was a low drive, right to left by replacement Tom Parnaby which took a deflection wide of the far upright. Subsequently though, Stratford’s fears were eased when Welsh turned a low cross from the right by home substitute Tom Daccus into his own net at the near post.

BILLY GARVEY BALANCES A CIGARETTE UPON ONE RAISED KNEE...

The Feckers still had time to get in two more attacks, first when Donnelly shot too high from a decent position and then when Sone raced out to gather as Albutt chased a though-pass.  

EMINOGLU: "WHAT??? YOU'RE BOOKING ME CUZ MY GLOVES ARE THE WRONG COLOUR? REALLY?"

Thus the game ended with a valuable win for the hosts and a disappointing loss for their guests, who really ought to have gained at least a point. Janes and Sone, Poulson and Everard all did the business for Stratford and Dan Atkins was often lively on the ball, with defenders James Robbins and Michael O’Regan rallying to Janes’ calls. 

THE REF WARMS UP WITH, ER, STRATFORD...
TOUGH TO DISTINGUISH THE KITS, TO BE FAIR...

Garvey was often neat for Feckenham, Cole ran the left-flank willingly but despite the influence of Eminoglu, Perry-Holmes, Ben Cox and Donnelly, in truth the Feckers lacked accuracy in their shooting. Maybe Murphy and Garvey both foraged similarly deeply on occasions in the opening period, leaving no real threat inside the penalty-box to exploit the feeds of Eminoglu, Cole and Cox but that seemed to improve following the change-round. 

DAN ATKINS (11) DISPLAYS HIS SHAKESPEAREAN ACTING TALENT...

However, the meagre crowd had been treated to six goals and enough discussion to last several days… 

TEAMS:

FC STRATFORD:

LUIS SONE, JAMES ROBBINS, ASH WILKES (CAPT), DANNY JANES, SACHA EVERARD, MICHAEL O’REGAN, NICK COX, DEAN POULSON, JAMES GIFFORD, STEVE ROCHE, DAN ATKINS.

SUBS:

COURTNEY SOWE, LOUIS MCDONALD, MATT BAILEY, TOM PARNABY, TOM DACCUS.

FECKENHAM FC:

RYAN YOUNG, BEN WELSH (CAPT), JACK COLE, JAKE DONNELLY, JAMIE HATFIELD, JORDAN ADAMS, BEN COX, UMIT EMINOGLU, BILLY GARVEY, DANNY MURPHY, CONNOR PERRY-HOLMES.

SUBS:

JAK ALBUTT, DAN WILLIAMS, BEN ELLICOT, DECKLIN PRINT, MAX TIBBINS.