DRAMA IN THE COVENTRY ALLIANCE, 2015: FOLLY LANE 2-2 WHITNASH TOWN & AEI RUGBY TAKE THE LEAGUE TITLE...

Drama In The Coventry Alliance, 2015…

Folly Lane 2-2 Whitnash Town:

(allowing AEI Rugby to snatch the league title…)

Lots of people crammed around the perimeter of Folly Lane’s recently mown pitch on a May evening more suited to dog-walking than one on which a league championship match should be held. The league title would eventually be won by a team which was not actually playing. AEI Rugby benefited from this drawn game, remaining on top of the league, courtesy of their superior goal-difference to Folly Lane. The tense match swung in each team’s favour during the sunny early evening but Whitnash, playing against ten men for over 45 minutes, only really came alive during the closing quarter-hour, when they finally roused themselves to equalise but then they squandered an added-time penalty and thus handed the honours to AEI. 

A few AEI Rugby players stood in awe as the horrors of the evening unfolded, then raced off to their cars as Champions, texting absent colleagues and no doubt making sure of some quality drinking time at some unfortunate pub or other. Shame really, for a replica trophy had been taken to the ground but AEI hadn’t been officially present to receive it. Sad too for the large attendance, which would have enjoyed the capers of the winners. The spectators included one groundhopper, his dog and the animal’s drinking bowl too, who badgered me for the images of the lists of the starting players on my camera. Another ‘hopper’ asked me which team was which… He also asked me if I was a ‘groundhopper’, to which I bit back, “Do I LOOK like one??? NO…” I felt better after that. He slunk away to harass someone else, probably about badges… 

THE BODGING FINDS A NET TO RELAX IN...

The opening goal arrived preempted the first of several squabbles, also the first chorus of groans from the watching AEI players… Josh Cole flicked the ball on from a long pass, Wilkinson raced onto the ball, maybe offside, although the linesman on the far side did have the strong sun in his eyes and although home skipper and goalie Wardle raced from goal and made a fine save at the midfielder’s feet, he was unable to stop Wilkinson’s second shot. Suddenly though, compact home defender Sam Madill ran towards the official on that side to berate him, “Are you sure about your well meaning decision, my fine fellow?” he might have said… He did however push Wilkinson to the ground en route, like he was a bull in a china shop and really, he could have received cautions for both infringements. He received just one and the visitors were in the driving seat.

TWO GROUNDHOPPERS FROM BARROW...

Quite out of the blue though, the hosts equalised and AEI’s spectating players danced about like they were on a 1970s night-club disco floor, and more trouble flared too from a totally ridiculous source. Right-sided midfielder Brad Jones, brother of Coventry United forward, snappy dresser and all-round nice chap (he told me to write that) Jayden Rickhuss, got away and out-paced Watkin, before slotting a cross-shot beyond the reach of Whitnash goalie Neil Stacey. The ball nestled in the netting, it was retrieved by Pidgeon and I believe that he, having been jibed at earlier by visiting non-participant Luke Cole, projected the missile at the Whitnash man. The linesman saw it, alerted the referee and Pidgeon towed the line of dismissal, cowered, strode away and the AEI players’ joy at parity was tempered now that the folly of Folly Lane had offered their guests a one man advantage. Oops…

THE SHADOWS.
(SURELY THERE WERE ONLY 4?)

The interval reached, it seemed certain that Whitnash would then dominate the second period and pick off their hosts at will, for they had created more opportunities during the opening half but this would not prove to be the case. Briscoe’s adventurous play on the right was curbed, Cole was rarely offered decent service and the lack of width was embarrassing at times, allowing Folly to defend more easily in what was to become little more than a narrow strip of action. Indeed, a foray on the left by Deehan, whose ability on the ball often shone, ended up with a penalty-kick, after an original lack of a tackle by Whitnash’s Martin Hutchcox. It almost looked like the felled Follyman had trodden on the ball but Hutchcox was penalised and Fitzharris, the squat home midfielder, fired his spot-kick to Stacey’s left and the hosts led. The AEI contingent texted like demons, became deathly quiet and willed Whitnash to be more Whiplash, but the visitors looked a sorry bunch for quite a while and they were rarely able to break Folly down.

WILKINSON: 0-1 TO WHITNASH...

Hwever, the AEI guys were eventually jumping about like fleas in a World War One uniform, as the ascendant, if largely uninspiring visitors finally scored and the goal was a tragedy for the Folly defence. It looked like Wardle would deal with Briscoe’s head-on of Stacey’s huge boot forward but lively right-back Darren Hutchinson appeared to get in his way, the goalie lost possession and visiting skipper Scott smacked the rebound into the net.

1-1: JONES...

It was all Whitnash after that, as Briscoe began to exploit some space at inside-left. First though, he was booked for a heavy foul on Fitzharris. Cole nodded well wide from a deep centre, he was denied by the smothering Wardle at the near post, as a low right-flank centre was struck, then Briscoe was surely fouled by Hutchinson inside the 18 yard box but the referee was unmoved. Currell thought he was going to be in wonderland though, as he found space at inside-right, lobbed the advancing Wardle but then stood in amazement as the ‘keeper somehow leapt and batted the ball aside for a corner, like he was in a volleyball tournament. Scott and Watkin shot off target for the visitors, the AEI players chewed their fingernails and often dared not look but when Cole fell over after a tackle and the referee awarded Whitnash an added-time penalty, the Rugby lads paled visibly and clearly needed the lavatory.

FITZHARRIS: 2-1 TO FOLLY LANE...

Watkin stepped forth to win the game for the guests against NINE men, for Fitzharris had lost his temper big time, possibly butting an opponent, but that is only what I was told on the night. People pulled people, trouble was in the air, some silly chaps ran onto the field but eventually, the referee managed to brandish a red card to the red faced Fitzharris and we all settled to watch Watkin secure the league title for his team. He strode up to the ball, struck it low and left-booted but Wardle had guessed correctly, leapt left and saved the effort near the upright and fastened his gloves onto the ball. The AEI strays bounced up and down like meerkats in a huddle and it remained only for Folly Lane to cause chaos in the disappointed Whitnash defence, gain a corner off Scott but deliver it straight into Stacey’s gloves. The referee blew for the end and the AEI lads raced to their vehicles…

SCOTT: 2-2...

What a breathless end, all for no admission fee, but we all saw drama, misses, excitement, fighting, two dismissals, a penalty scored, the most important of penalties missed and a replica trophy not given to anyone… The scene on the field was one of depressing and palpable disappointment. Credit to Folly Lane for surviving for so long with ten men, then nine for the closing moments but at least Whitnash finally got their act together, although the lack of width displayed at times was criminal. Cole and Briscoe were eager, if scoreless, Josh Blunsom worked hard in midfield but somehow, there was little real creativity, the kind that Deehan possessed for the hosts. Madill defended well for them but he and Briscoe were fortunate to remain on the field of play after one particular second-half spat with each other. 

WATKIN'S PENALTY WOULD BE SAVED BY WARDLE...

My 98th game of the season and what an encounter to end with…

I drove home for crumpets. 

It’s what I do…