SHOTTERY UNITED 2-2 BADSEY RANGERS: THE MATCH REPORT & IMAGES...

Wallace Grabs Two Late Goals With No Help From Gromit & Saves The Sleuth…

Shottery United 2-2 Badsey Rangers

Speaking with United’s manager James Taplin and Rangers’ unique skipper Jake Hall for a few moments post-game, it became clear that the Shottery camp was pleased and relieved to have claimed a point following a poor display and that Badsey were cursing after stopping playing in the latter stages of the match. Indeed, the opening period was untidy and of a low standard, despite the fact that Rangers were often quicker to the ball than their hosts and certainly looked more dangerous, especially from the quick right-flank runs of Ben Higgins. Oddly, the match was quite exciting during the final 20 minutes or so, with Rangers leading 0-2, replacements having added some vigour to the encounter and the Sleuth had detected ways to threaten more regularly. Substitute Carl Wallace was the catalyst for the hosts, netting twice from close range, as Badsey’s defending became badsey indeed…  

FAWCETT & EDWARDS...

Home ‘keeper Rob Hughes had earlier been unable to keep out a high left-flank delivery from Rangers’ substitute Charlie Szymanski which flicked his gloves and dropped into goal, then a break from his own penalty-box by the unknown 16 set up lively visiting forward Jake Edwards for a cunning, low shin finish in the rain… Wallace’s two confident strikes regained parity for Shottery but in truth I suppose Badsey would rue losing control of the proceedings. Games at this level, officiated by a referee only and assisted by representatives of the two clubs as ‘lines-persons’ are difficult to predict and judge fairly, especially when the main official lacks mobility and mostly adjudicates from a small area near the centre-circle. This is no criticism of individuals but decisions made can often appear random (or whoever appeals first…) which naturally causes real consternation and irritation amongst players from both teams.

CHEESEBROUGH (RIGHT): "WISH I HAD HI-VIS BOOTS, ARMBAND & HAIR LIKE THIS STYLISH CHAP..."

However, this contest looked bleak for the Sleuth during the opening period, as their guests took the game to them. An early rush by Higgins took him inside the 18 yard box right of centre but he drove too high, then he converted emphatically but an offside flag spoiled his joy. Much of the Badsey offense stemmed from Jake Hall, barely noticeable (hmm…) with high-vis shoes, high-vis skipper’s armband and, er, high-vis hair… His long throws and set-piece deliveries set Shottery back somewhat and Hall’s general demeanour was that of the owner of an expensive boutique overseeing his select clientele in Chelsea. He curled one free-kick well off target and usually forced some desperate defending from Sleuth Dave Fawcett in particular, whose defensive style was, let’s say, ‘physical’… Stuart McDarby tussled with ‘keeper Hughes when the gloveman spilled the ball on one occasion and two headers by Higgins threatened but one was caught by Hughes and the other bounced over the target.

GENTLEMEN IN WAITING...

United’s first-half offense read ‘Shottery-shy’ although they did force a couple of corners, before number 66 (yes, really…) Ronan O’Leary’s flag-kick evaded Fawcett at the far post. Later, successive shots by Sam Weaver and then the lively Jake Woolley were blocked around the 18 yard mark and in effect that was all the hosts could manage in that disappointing forty-five. Josh Barber was wearing shirt 65 too… 

THE SKIPPERS...

Certainly for Badsey, Jake Edwards and Higgins were quick, along with Reagan Martin whose creativity was noticeable at times, whilst central defenders Scott Shuard and Jake Andrews seemed solid enough at this stage. Tall midfielder Connor Wagstaff played well throughout for the Rangers. Despite some eager running by Woolley, little was seen of the home attack in which Liam Atkinson was offered no service at all. Battling skipper Mitch Gibbs would later be hurt (players regularly hobbled off during the game) but in truth, Fawcett and O’Leary were involved in the proceedings a good deal more than a number of their team-mates.  

ONCE IT WAS SHAKING HANDS, THEN HIGH-FIVES, THEN CHEST BUMPS, THEN KNOCKING ELBOWS.
NOW IT'S CRACKING PATELLAS...

After the break, Rob Hughes was forced to stop a low drive by Edwards, then he leapt left to make a decent save from Wagstaff before the visitors, well on top at this stage, went even closer to scoring. Andrews rose to head McDarby’s corner onto the top of the crossbar, with the home defence reeling. After a low centre by Woolley had evaded replacement Connor Hughes in front of goal, the guests wrecked the party when Szymanski’s deep, speculative right-booted, left-flank centre towards the near post appeared to be misjudged by Rob Hughes and the ball deflected out of his grasp, over his head and bounced into the net. Deserved? I’d say so… Szymanski would later give away a free-kick after an attempted overhead shot at 18 yards, then make an error and hurt himself in the process…

THE ONLY WAY FOR JAMES TAPLIN TO CALM HIS TEMPER IS TO SUCK A COLLEAGUE'S FIST...

Following a weak clearance by Badsey goalie Jimmy Sandalls, home player Phil Sargent, another substitute (wearing 99, interestingly) rolled the ball across the Rangers goalmouth and past the left upright, before a strong run by Woolley saw him pulled back by Badsey defender Shuard, as Sandalls challenged too on the 18 yard line. The official was around the half-way line at this point and saw nothing but the ball rolled kindly to Weaver whose low shot was too easily stopped by the guarding Shuard. And then Edwards struck for the visitors…

WALLACE (12) HAS JUST SCORED...

The Sleuth were attacking and then the ball was in Higgins’ possession and he ran from his own penalty-box to the opponents’ 18 yard box, right-flank, outpacing the labouring Shottery chasers. His low centre was met first-time by the supporting Edwards’ right shin, 16 yards out and the effort beat Rob Hughes’ dive and flew into the bottom right corner of the net.

BADSEY CONGRATULATE EDWARDS' RIGHT SHIN...

Gibbs was cautioned, O’Leary was too and Woolley’s long shot was deflected off target by a Badsey boot, before the intuitive Jake Hall attempted a shot from downtown for Badsey, just inside the United half, which dropped over the target. Wagstaff was then cautioned and suddenly, the hosts fought back. A corner was challenged for aerially, Badsey replacement Andy Hall appeared to lose Wallace, who fastened onto the loose ball and rapped it into the right side of the net to give his team a chance…

OMG, WALLACE HAS SCORED AGAIN...
TIME FOR A CELEBRATORY SHAVE, METHINKS...

Atkinson set up Sargent at inside-right but screwed his effort wide of the left stick, then at the opposite end a 20 yard Martin drive was batted down by Rob Hughes, before the Sleuth were awarded a free-kick deep right which Woolley took. Wallace made his move with fine timing, lost Andy Hall and poked a first-time right-foot volley past the helpless Sandalls and into the right corner of goal…

WALLACE REALLY DID IMPROVE SHOTTERY'S LOT...

Amazing…

A subsequent right-side centre by Martin for Rangers was palmed clear by the diving Rob Hughes but that ended the encounter which, because of the final 15 minutes or so, left a decent impression on the folks clutching their beers behind me on the balcony…

Things to remember from this game include the referee’s two attempts to toss, once losing control of his coin, presumably in the wind, and then facing the other way to make sure he completed the formality. Then he proceeded to wave arms a lot from a distance and reminded me of an orchestra’s conductor, or a science teacher I was once nearly taught by at secondary school, with his long grey hair swishing as he nearly singed himself above a Bunsen burner… 

FULL FRONTAL TOSSING...

FULL REAR TOSSING...

Also, some players’ identities might have provided the opposition with a mental game to play, having brought something with them as a clue to their names. For example, Hughes might have brought a Dulux colour chart, Harper a musical instrument, Barber some clippers and scissors, Gibbs some toothpaste, Weaver some thread and needles, Woolley a jumper, Clark a pen and ledger, Cheesebrough a lump of Wensleydale, Sandalls some wellies, Andrews some liver salts, Martin a caged migratory bird, Hall a telephone table, Woods a tree, Smith an anvil and finally McDarby could have taken along McJoan…  Just sayin’…  

Thanks to Shottery for the fine welcome and I just hope both teams enjoy a decent season…

TEAMS:

SHOTTERY UNITED:

ROB HUGHES, DAVE FAWCETT, RONAN O’LEARY, OLLIE HARPER, JOSH BARBER, JACK ROBSON, MITCH GIBBS (CAPT), SAM WEAVER, LIAM ATKINSON, JAKE WOOLLEY, BEN CLARK.

SUBS:

CARL WALLACE, CIAN CHEESEBROUGH, PHIL SARGENT, CONNOR HUGHES, GEORGE FUSCO.

BADSEY RANGERS:

JIMMY SANDALLS, BEN HIGGINS, JACK GAYTON, SCOTT SHUARD, JAKE ANDREWS, JAKE HALL (CAPT), KAI URBANSKI, CONNOR WAGSTAFF, JAKE EDWARDS, STUART MCDARBY, REAGAN MARTIN.

SUBS:

CALVIN SADLER, ANDY HALL, HARRY SMITH, HENRY WOODS, CHARLIE SZYMANSKI.