Musing The Moon
(from the artwork by artist Maggie Roberts…)
Snout twitches its acute sensitivity
As it sniffs a nocturnal breeze,
In awe of a full moon’s lucidity;
Earnest eyes peer reflectively,
Its demeanour patiently at ease,
Yet still it will move furtively;
Head raised, its exposed audacity
No imminent danger sees
And it reveres its sanctity;
The badger will turn shortly,
Its motion at first will freeze,
Then return it to the sett, deceptively…
Pete Ray
October 2020
FA VASE PREVIEW:
STOURPORT SWIFTS v
SKEGNESS TOWN AFC…
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| WALSHES MEADOW... |
Clearly, this will be the first time I see Skegness play and in truth they have a tough tie against Stourport, as well as a long trek to the banks of the River Severn. Swifts have begun this season so well, however this is a knock-out competition and needless to say, all the players from both teams need to perform well on the day and I guess therefore that anything could happen at Walshes Meadow, bordering a lively, boisterous, if incongruous fairground…
Strangely, just a couple of miles away, Bewdley Town are hosting Stapenhill in the same competition on Saturday, so there’s a lot at stake in local bragging rights, I reckon…
Quentin Townsend, the Stourport manager and Nick Chapman, part of the Skegness management team have provided a few thoughts for this preview and I thank them heartily…
Swifts qualified for this round of the FA Vase by winning 1-3 at Uttoxeter Town, where the goals were scored by Bailey Fuller and Jack Watts, who nabbed a brace.
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| JACK WATTS: LEADING SCORER WITH 8... |
The league form for Stourport has seen 6 wins, 2 draws and 3 losses and the team currently lies 3rd in the Step 5 Midland League Premier Division. The goals ratio is 27-15, with a solid difference of +12, whilst a total of 20 points has been amassed. However, the two teams above them and also the pair below them do have matches in hand…
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| DREW CANAVAN: 4 GOALS THIS TERM... |
The last three matches included a 3-3 draw v Racing Club Warwick, in which Joe Phillips, Watts and Ryan Wollacott netted. Next came two wins, also at home, firstly a 4-2 victory against Walsall Wood (goals by Drew Canavan, Watts 2 & Wollacott) and secondly a fine 4-1 success against a strong Gresley Rovers outfit, the goalscorers being Fuller, Phillips 2 and James Timmins. I saw that match and the highlights can be watched by going to themowdog.blogspot.co.uk
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| MARTIN 'SLEV THE MEAN' SLEVIN: MIDFIELDER... |
Watts leads the goalscoring chart overall with 8, followed by Canavan with 4…
Swifts’ Manager Quentin Townsend comments on his team’s progress this term:
“I’ve been delighted with our progress as a football club this season; we are reaching for and achieving new levels every week.
We have a solid, close-knit group of lads that I know can action what I ask of them. The league table currently demonstrates that.
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| QUENTIN TOWNSEND... |
As is the case for most clubs, the FA Vase provides an opportunity to test ourselves against unknown opposition and gives the club the chance to earn some much needed prize money, should we win.
I’ve not had Skegness watched on this occasion, for I feel that if we play our normal game then they will hopefully be the ones worrying about us.
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| THIS IS NOT THE LIMIT OF A STOURPORT WARM-UP, HONESTLY... |
I am hoping that we start the game well like we have done in most games this season, try to get an early goal and then be professional enough to see it through 90 minutes.
We have some good penalty takers within the ranks and we won’t be shy with people stepping forward, should that be the case. It’s not something we will be working on in training, as hopefully we can get the job done in the 90 minutes.’’
Step 6 Skegness from the Northern Counties East League Division 1 have played just 7 league matches thus far, winning 4, drawing 1 and losing 2. The goals-ratio is tight, 14-11, hence a difference of +3, with a points tally of 13. They are holding onto a healthy 7th place in the divisional standings.
Following their Vase victory at Borrowash Victoria (0-3), where the goalscorers were Dan Durkin, Dan Trott and James Petronzio, the next three league clashes ended with a loss, a draw and then a win.
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| DAN DURKIN: SCORED IN THE FA VASE AT BORROWASH... |
A road trip to Worsbrough Bridge Athletic saw the hosts beat them 3-0, before they drew 2-2, courtesy of a late equaliser at home to Armthorpe Welfare, the goals being scored by Josh Nichol & Gary King. The most recent outing was a trip to Nostell Miners Welfare, where goals by Jason Field, Jenk Acar & King secured a 1-3 victory.
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| TOM SAWYER, 8 MIDFIELD APPEARANCES THIS SEASON... |
Acar leads the goalscorers with 4 overall, closely followed by Trott with 3 and Durkin with 2…
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| JENK ACAR: LEADS THE SCORERS WITH 4... |
Nick Chapman, part of the management team at Skegness, who is also a trustee and committee member, kindly wrote a few words about his club’s progress this season:
“The NCEL is a really tough league with clubs trying to get promoted into Step 5, which we were looking to achieve until last season was made null and void.
Our season so far has been blighted by injuries to top players and it has been tough to say the least. We probably played our best football last week away at Nostell MW and won 3-1.
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| THE LILYWHITES... |
The FA Vase is really important to us as it gives us a break from the league, however we would have preferred a tie a bit closer than an eight hour round trip to the match at Stourport. We are looking forward to the test though, against what is a very good side in one of the hardest Step 5 leagues.
We have had Swifts watched and we are expecting a tough encounter but it’s one we are relishing. We always try to prepare properly for every contest so Saturday will be no different.’’
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| SKEGGY MANAGER NATHAN COLLINS... |
Video highlights of the tie, with full commentary, may be found at themowdog.blogspot.co.uk from Sunday, along with screenshots, images and a full, neutral match report…
The Mowdog…
Hill Crests Hillcrest Avenue With A Smart Hat-Trick…
Dudley Sports 1-3 Shifnal Town
Thanks to Dudley Sports for the kind welcome at Hillcrest Avenue and also for some compliments by the home players about my ‘touch’, as I lifted a ball gently but accurately over the rail during their warm-up… Did I want a shirt, they asked… Would have loved to be on the bench… However, despite taking a lead, courtesy of the bullish Nick Turton’s close-range finish in a goalmouth scramble worthy of an under-7s match, a smart hat-trick by Shifnal’s Tom Hill meant that the visitors ran out worthy winners, for they were the more creative outfit and home goalie Gurtej Bhullar had made several good saves to keep Sports in the match.
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| DID SOMEONE LEAVE HIS WOOLLY MITS AT HOME? |
Much of the danger caused by the guests stemmed from some imaginative play by wide-players Jake Webb and Rees Wedderburn, so that Hill was often lurking in goalscoring areas and in truth he would have been left wondering how he didn’t score more than three on the night. Ah, yes, the night; it was grim, dark, cold and slightly desolate at the ground, with leaves strewn all around and trees forming ‘nasty, bad’ (Trump words…) images around the extremities of the pitch. One chap attempted to climb one tree to rescue a ball which nestled like an obese barn owl in a cleft but he failed. Another bloke tried at half-time too, after yanking a pole from behind the grandstand like he was punting amongst thick river weeds and he poked at the offending football, as if he was playing a giant game of snooker in the old TV show ‘Jeux Sans Frontières’ for the town of Dudley… He failed too.
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| CAUTION FOR PEARSON... |
In the tricky light, Dudley’s numbers on their dull green shirts and relying on straight lines, were often tough to identify, so I apologise for any mistaken identities during the video commentary but it must be written that Shifnal certainly enjoyed some dominance over their hosts for a good deal of the encounter. Five times Hill threatened, first rushing at inside-left but being foiled by Bhullar’s dash to get to the ball, then stabbing well wide of the near post from a corner, before heading Wedderburn’s centre off the top of the crossbar. Bhullar advanced to foil Hill again, then saved a left-footer by the striker but when the lively Webb cut inside home defender Adam Roberts (I think), he fell down and after some thought, the referee awarded a penalty. Hill drove a low spot-kick left of centre, as Bhullar fell the other way.
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| HILL HAS EQUALISED... |
This strike regained parity for Town and deservedly, due to the offensive play previously displayed, during which Jordan Uppal shot well wide from downtown, after Bhullar’s poor clearing kick, Webb had driven a shot from inside-left against the goalie’s legs, Kieron Northwood had just failed to get a touch to a left-wing corner at the right stick and Wedderburn had headed straight at the ‘keeper. In contrast, the hosts had been limited in attack, despite the presence of Turton…
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| SOCIALLY DISTANCED AND IN GOOD HUMOUR: SHIFNAL BEFORE KICK-OFF... |
Midfielder Mitchell Evans had exploded onto the scene with a smart 15 yard drive, following good work by Turton and Donovan Westwood but Town ‘keeper Jake James did well to turn the ball over his crossbeam. From the ensuing corner, Evans volleyed well wide of the right stick and then following a gymnastic moment by Shifnal’s Jordan Jones, who involuntarily produced a handspring just outside the penalty-box, Jay Holdcroft’s right-flank centre was at first fumbled by James but was then dropped upon like the goalie’s pet snake had attempted to escape from the lounge. Winger Matt Hearsey fired twice at the ‘keeper but when Turton struck, it was the culmination of a total mess in the Town goalmouth.
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| MEESE, HILL & HOLDCROFT, THAT WELL KNOWN FIRM OF SURVEYORS... |
Hearsey poked the ball across the 6 yard box from the left byeline, after some hesitancy by Town’s Ben Perks and there was Turton to convert from a melee, a yard or so from the goal-line. There was still time for the visitors to go close again, when a fine one-two between Uppal and Wedderburn ended with the latter’s shot being stopped by Bhullar’s boot on the goal-line and Holdcroft’s rebound shot was somehow cleared from near the left post by Roberts. It was close, though…
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| TURTON HAS GIVEN SPORTS THE LEAD... |
Half-time arrived for the players to disappear into the darkness and return looking refreshed after a quick shiver in the dressing-rooms and mugs of warm cocoa…
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| BOOKING FOR NORTHWOOD... |
A couple of cautions marked the second period, for Kyle Pearson of Dudley and the industrious Northwood of Shifnal were yellow-carded for misdemeanours but fewer goal chances were created, as many errors were made on the uneven surface but after Webb played an accidental one-two with a home defender, he shot wide of the left upright, before the visitors went ahead, through Hill again. Holdcroft blocked a clearance at 18 yards and the ball fell kindly for Hill, who slammed a low right-booter into the right side of the net, with Bhullar helpless.
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| 1-2: HILL'S SECOND... |
Soon, Hill was thwarted by Bhullar’s rush out as he got away at inside-right but when the home defence got into a mess from a right-side delivery, Webb’s flick goalwards was knocked back by Holdcroft to Hill, who cleverly dummied home defender Ricky Hayer at 17 yards and smacked a rising shot into the roof of the net from 12 yards.
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| 1-3: GAME SAFE FOR SHIFNAL... |
An overhead effort by Holdcroft was superbly kept out by Evans on the goal-line, possibly with the aid of the underside of the crossbar but at 1-3, ahead, there was no catching Shifnal. Turton had one effort deflected, Hearsey shot wastefully wide and saw James catch a rising effort, skipper Dave Meese’s downward header from replacement James Weaver’s cross bounced into James’ gloves and a very late Weaver corner struck the upper reaches of the outside of the near post but subsequently, the game ended in a fairly comfortable win for Town.
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| MEESE (8): DISAPPOINTED TO LOSE... |
The Shifnal forwards were dangerous, no doubt about it and Hill was a real problem for home defenders Sam Conway and Ricky Hayer but a mention must be made about the skipper and left-back, Jamall Pinnock, whose combinations with the impressive Webb along the left flank were instrumental in the victory. Angelo Franco, Kyle Montague and Mark Webster all joined the fray for Town and did their bits, as Dudley struggled to get back into the contest.
Evans did well enough for the hosts, Bhullar did his best between the uprights, Tyrone Clarke was often busy on the offensive right, Hearsey was involved a lot on the left, too, whilst Meese battled typically hard in the midfield areas. Substitute Mark Swann did some strong defending late on but Turton was somewhat starved of service up top, although his mode of physical play, often rampaging like a raging wrestler, would be a bonus in attack for many teams…
I walked the darkness back to my car and drove home to find out that Bewdley had managed to lose at home again, this time after leading Worcester Raiders 3-0… Hmm, they have an FA Vase tie on Saturday…
TEAMS:
DUDLEY SPORTS:
GURTEJ BHULLAR, ADAM ROBERTS, KYLE PEARSON, MITCHELL EVANS, SAM CONWAY, RICKY HAYER, TYRONE CLARKE, DAVID MEESE (CAPT), NICK TURTON, DONOVAN WESTWOOD, MATT HEARSEY.
SUBS:
DECLAN HAIRE, JASPAL BHANDAL, JAMES WEAVER, MARK SWANN, RYAN MCDONAGH.
SHIFNAL TOWN:
JAKE JAMES, JORDAN UPPAL, JAMES PINNOCK (CAPT), BEN PERKS, JORDAN JONES, BRAD SMITH, JAKE WEBB, KIERON NORTHWOOD, TOM HILL, JAY HOLDCROFT, REES WEDDERBURN.
SUBS:
JOEL CRANER, ANGELO FRANCO, HARRY WOODBURN, KYLE MONTAGUE, MARK WEBSTER.
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| THE GENERAL VIEW... |
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| THE BODGING & THE PYDOG FIND SOME DECENT SEATS TO WHILE AWAY A MINUTE OR TWO... |
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| VIEW ALONG THE HARD STANDING... |
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| FLYING FISH NETTING... |
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| THIS SHELTER SHOULD BE CALLED 'THE BALL IN THE TREE STAND'... |
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| THE FAR SIDE SHELTERS... |
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| THIS INTREPID CLIMBER WAS MORE CONCERNED BY THE POSSIBILITY OF LOSING HIS HAT THAN RESCUING A NESTING BALL... |
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| THE FLAG WAS INTERESTING, IF INCONGRUOUS... |
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| AH, AUTUMN IN THE BLACK COUNTRY... |
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| ARTY-FARTY THROUGH THE NET ONE WAY... |
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| ARTY-FARTY THROUGH THE NET THE OTHER WAY... |
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| SOCIAL DISTANCING IS ON THE BACK-BURNER... |
Game 5:
