FLASHBACK: THE FA VASE IN 2017, WHEN HIGHGATE UNITED WON 0-2 AT RUSHDEN & HIGHAM UNITED, DESPITE STORM BRIAN...

Rushden Hopes Blown Away By Storm Brian

Rushden & Higham United 0-2 Highgate United

(FA Vase Round 1…)

The Brian-Storm windy conditions at Hayden Road made for a disrupted spectacle, in which neither team exploited the gale at their backs whilst playing up the Rushden slope. I found the home club a very welcoming one and there was no problem asking to get a look at their team-sheet, something which is rather like being Peter Falk playing the TV detective ‘Columbo’ at some grounds, Highgate’s Coppice being one… ‘Gate played with the benefit of the howling elements before the break but they rarely caused home ‘keeper Kyle Swailes too much bother, until right at the half-time point, when finally a swirling corner nudged the crossbar and fell for one of ‘Gate’s huge Ansell’s Bittermen, Scott Turner to poke a goal.

After the break, the Lankies were unable to use the elements to their advantage either and visiting goalie Brad Catlow, another Midlander built like a Cornish huers’ hut, wasn't really tested at all. Indeed, the Gatemen finally began to exert their influence on the match, the talented George Curry began to look more elusive in midfield, skipper Aaron Brown, built like an Atlanta Hawks point-guard in the NBA, forced his physical presence on the proceedings and forwards Marco ‘Smiler’ Adaggio and Lei ‘Frowner’ Brown might have scored several times. Home gloveman Kyle Swailes made a few good saves too but only rarely did the hosts manage any offense. 

STORMY, BUT THE BODGING MANAGES A WAVE...

Top scorer Dylan Wilson was often isolated for the Lankies but his pace was good, he ran intelligently and one could see his worth to the team, although maybe Nat Gosnal-Tyler was underused by Rushden, for he looked to have the ability to take players on. The second goal, a lovely finish by Lei Brown, was deserved, despite the Lankies’ efforts and ‘Gate in their pink outfits progressed to Round 2 of the FA Vase. Minus the unavailable Trevor Edwards and Luke Rogers, plus apparently having lost the services of James Wilcock and Macauley Manning in recent days, the Gatemen came through the stormy afternoon unscathed and it was only fitting that midfield impresario Josh ‘Magwitch’ Hawker should also emerge from behind a gravestone to exercise his brick shithouse frame for a cameo second period appearance…

Sam Fowler fouled Adaggio in a foul, fouling sort of way and was cautioned by the excellently named Mr Rueben Ricardo, before the home skipper Jed Ainge, no angel presumably, also decided he wasn’t impressed by Adaggio’s tan and scythed the experienced forward to the turf.

However, in the final seconds of the half, Rushden conceded a left-wing corner and Scott Rickards’ eyes lit up, his mouth watered and his right boot did the damage…

RICKARDS' CORNER IS GLOVED BY SWAILES...

The flag-kick swerved towards the goal-frame over a crowded 6 yard box, with the huge Gatemen Aaron Brown and Scott Turner towering above the home defenders like statues of the Pharaoh Ramses II rising over an ancient Egyptian workforce. The ball appeared to strike the underside of the crossbeam and drop onto the alert Scott Turner’s left boot just 2 yards from the goal-line and the visitors led 0-1…  

...BUT TURNER NUDGES THE BALL INTO GOAL...

...& HIGHGATE LEAD 0-1...

The interval arrived, the players exited to re-gel hair and drink mugs of tea, or suck on sliced orange segments, a red kite soared over the ground hunting prey and the spectators wondered whether any of the threatening clouds would sling gusts of rain upon them before the restart… Certainly Highgate had disappointed but Rushden had done what they could in dire circumstances and Jed Ainge’s efforts in midfield, alongside the solid Aaron Cormack had been laudable. Jory Mann had looked sprightly and of course predator Wilson’s slim frame had impressed in its quest for rare morsels to feed upon.

George Curry, the slim, lean playmaker for ‘Gate, back of course from his New Zealand exploits, began to affect the game more and his expert turns and spins in possession were more akin to the skills of the ice skater John Curry on occasions…

‘Gate increased their lead when Trev Edwards’ right-back replacement Reece Staley played a one-two with Rickards and moved the ball to Lei Brown, who turned aside on the right edge of the penalty-box before curling an accurate, superb shot over and round the flails of Swailes and into the far corner of the net…

BROWN FIRES GOAL 2...

...WHICH SOARS OVER SWAILES' OUTSTRETCHED LEAP...

Their job complete after Lei Brown’s strike, the visitors controlled the game mostly with some comfort, despite the wild weather but to be fair, Rushden never stopped fighting, never gave up the chase and hopefully will have learned something from the match. Wilson, Gosnal-Tyler and Mann all showed glimpses of pace and ability in attack, Jed Ainge was strong in midfield and both full-back and the central defenders were influential.

Curry, Aaron Brown and Rickards would eventually come to dominate the second period of this game and in Lei Brown and Adaggio, supported by Connor Mooney, the visitors were regularly a threat after the interval. The two left-footed full-backs, Nathan Pulisciano and Staley were steady and Turner was a solid pillar of strength in the rearguard.

Rich Bryan? He was strong in defence too, on a day when his near namesake Storm Brian attempted to cause havoc in this FA Vase encounter…

Me? Drove back to Solihull and watched Barcelona struggle to overcome Malaga. After all, it’s what I do…    

TEAMS:

RUSHDEN & HIGHAM UNITED:

KYLE SWAILES, CRAIG HARROWER, DAVID HUNT, AARON CORMACK, SAM FOWLER, RYAN KALLA, JAKE REYNOLDS, JED AINGE (CAPT), DYLAN WILSON, JORY MANN, NAT GOSNAL-TYLER.

SUBS:

STEVE AINGE, BEN AIDULIS, JAMIE MASTIPIERRO, LOUIS McMAHON, TOM MARTIN.

HIGHGATE UNITED:

BRAD CATLOW, REECE STALEY, NATHAN PULISCIANO, RICH ‘STORM’ BRYAN, SCOTT TURNER, AARON BROWN (CAPT), SCOTT RICKARDS, GEORGE CURRY, MARCO ADAGGIO, CONNOR MOONEY, LEI BROWN.

SUBS:

JOSH HAWKER, ISAAC JAGROOP, BEN THOMAS, JACK NICHOLLS, BRAD HAYWARD.