BEWDLEY TOWN 0-2 ALVECHURCH: THE INDEPENDENT GAME REPORT...

 Churchmen Lord It Over Industrious Riversiders…

Bewdley Town 0-2 Alvechurch

Missing six players (I was told), Town were up against it throughout this contest and managed almost no effective offense at all. The defence though did a remarkable job keeping the score to a respectable level, with both ‘keepers, Joe Siddaway and Josh Bishop excelling. ‘Church were profligate though, despite taking a very early lead through their number 11, then increasing it with a goal from their unknown number 4, who side-footed a rebound strike after his penalty had been saved by Siddaway. Remarkably, no further goals were scored by the visitors, as Bewdley toiled on a warm afternoon at Ribbesford Meadows.

Nick Clayton-Phillips was outstanding for ‘Church, supported well by the ‘Alvechurch Busquets’, Dave Bellis, although Bellis can actually shoot, run and head the ball. What Bellis can’t do is look half asleep whilst playing… The unnamed number 4 was instrumental in the guests’ dominance too and the number 8 was very influential. Left-back 19 also performed strongly, displaying pace and a penchant for overlapping, offering succour to Clayton-Phillips and Bellis in particular. 

NICK CLAYTON-PHILLIPS: IMPRESSIVE...

DAVE BELLIS: SEEMINGLY MORE AWAKE THAN LORD BUSQUETS...

Striker 9 worked hard but his finishing wasn’t accurate on the day, whilst 11 netted goal one and looked lively on other occasions. The supporting right-back, wearing 2 didn’t enjoy the best of success on some supporting rushes but second-half replacements 14, 16 and 17 all contributed to Alvechurch’s superiority.

The pace, movement and assuredness of the Alvechurch players found Town wanting but in fairness, they competed well, with central defenders Zac Kaurouyann (copied from the team-sheet, so I hope that’s nearly right…) and skipper Simon Rudd both determined in their often heroic efforts. Forwards Cal Martin and the exuberant Lee Morris received scant support but stuck at it and in truth, that the game was still close at 90 minutes says buckets for the Bewdley attitude, as well as being something of a minus for the Alvechurch shooting…

TOUGH GOING FOR BEWDLEY...

1st half…

PRACTISING HIS START FOR THE 100 METRES FRONT CRAWL RACE...

Just two attempts for the hosts before the recess, for the ‘Church dominance was such that goalie Ollie Taylor was rarely involved in the proceedings. Lee Morris did strike the outside of an upright from the byeline in the opening moments but the ball had already gone out of play. Later in the half, he nudged the ball round Taylor on a break but the ball rolled out of play at the right byeline and the striker looked forlorn.

The opening goal was a powerful low drive from the right side of the 18 yard box by the number 11, who had been slipped in by the measured pass of Clayton-Phillips but he also forced one low save from Siddaway, as well as another good save by the Town gloveman with his feet. The follow up shot from that save by Clayton-Phillips was also well blocked by Siddaway’s boots, only for the number 8’s next rebound drive to deflect for a corner. 

0-1...

Clayton-Phillips twisted to head wide from a corner but shot weakly on another occasion, after cutting inside from the left-flank. Central striker 9 dragged a left-footer wide of the right upright, following yet another Clayton-Phillips pass, as well as glancing a header wide of the left stick. Skipper Jamie Willets’ downward header was clutched on his goal-line by the ‘keeper too. He looked rather surprised…

The number 2 wasted a pair of shots, whilst the number 8, from yet another Clayton Phillips assist, had a rising drive from 16 yards superbly turned aside by Siddaway. He shot off target too, although Clayton-Phillips was free to his left. The second goal stemmed from a penalty, following a foul on Clayton-Phillips. The unknown 4 had his low shot parried by Siddaway but he then managed to shove the rebound past the recovering, unfortunate goalie. 

0-2...

2nd half… 

OFF WE GO AGAIN...

No chances came Bewdley’s way after the interval, although one or two sorties were made late on, when substitutions had been made. Kion Kang showed up quite well for Town, as did the number 14, Kyle Bannister in defence but Bishop looked comfortable and confident between the sticks. A Bishop keeping out the Churchmen… Hmm…

Home skipper Rudd was cautioned for scything down Clayton-Phillips, too…

CAUTION FOR RUDD...

A Clayton-Phillips overhead shot flew well wide for the visitors, then after being set up by 2 and Clayton-Phillips, the number 11 clipped a decent effort only just too high from 17 yards. Number 8 had a shot deflected to Bishop, fired a 19 yard free-kick just over the target and would be disappointed when he headed over the crossbar at the far post, from a centre by replacement 16.

BELLIS CLEVERLY BALANCES A BALL ON HIS UPPER ARM...
IS THERE NO LIMIT TO THE FELLOW'S CAPABILITIES?

 Bishop turned a rasping drive from downtown by Bellis over his crossbeam, the unknown 4 saw a shot deflected for a corner, then live-wire substitute 17 shot at Bishop, curled a second effort against the crossbar from beyond the left corner of the penalty-box and had a powerful drive blocked bravely by Bannister’s back. 

The number 14 was quick and elusive when he joined the party but his finishing wasn’t what he would have wanted. He shot wildly over the target, attempted a chip when clear but failed to lift it over the grateful gloves of Bishop and finally hit a decent 16 yarder only centimetres too high. The striker 9 miscued his only chance from 3 yards near the right stick…

BEWDLEY'S MARTIN AWAITS A LONG PASS...

The final words…

So, all in all, this was a hard workout for Town, who simply never gave up, whilst their guests moved the ball around with gusto, propped by the rarely bothered Bellis, who was generally left unmarked to pick up passes from harassed colleagues. He rarely wasted his own passes…

Clayton-Phillips had been a pleasure to watch. His ball control and ability to turn away from defenders, often with a smart trick, was telling; his vision was good, his passing generally accurate and it seemed that when the ball was at his feet, something silky and often scintillating might happen. Subsequently, it often did…

CLAYTON-PHILLIPS TAKES A STROLL...

I was unable to glean names for most of the Alvechurch numbers but thanks must go to the fine fellow who wrote down the names and numbers of the Bewdley team for me… 

WILLETS: "SO THERE I WAS IN MY WADERS AND THE PIKE I CAUGHT WAS THIS BLOODY LONG..."

However, the biggest  thanks must go to my friend at Non League Matchday, for allowing me to use his clip of the opening Alvechurch goal… As a pair of latecomers moved along the row in front of me, I was forced to shift to the right to keep filming and as they made themselves comfortable, I missed the set up to the goal… I was gutted. It was the only goal attempt I failed to capture… 

So, please check out the Non League Matchday account on Twitter!

TEAMS:

BEWDLEY TOWN:

JOE SIDDAWAY, STEVE CLARKE, LAURIE MORRIS, ZAC KAUROUYIANN (?), SIMON RUDD (CAPT), DAN BAYLISS, TOM SMITH, BEN NAPTHEME, CAL MARTIN, LUKE MORRIS, JOSH CARPENTER.

SUBS:

MATT KERBY, KYLE BANNISTER, DEC BIBB, KION KANG, BEN WORTHINGTON, DAN BARTON, JOSH BISHOP (GK).

ALVECHURCH:

OLLIE TAYLOR, ETHAN PATTERSON, JAMIE WILLETS (CAPT), DAVE BELLIS, NICK CLAYTON-PHILLIPS, JOE HULL & A HOST OF UNKNOWNS…