BISHOP'S CLEEVE 4-1 FC STRATFORD: THE INDEPENDENT MATCH REPORT...

 Cleeve Cleave Stratford By Taking Their Chances…

Bishop’s Cleeve 4-1 FC Stratford

The Mowdog’s Thoughts…

This was a decent game to watch, although it was a pre-season workout between Hellenic League Step 5 Cleeve and Hellenic Step 6 newcomers FC Stratford. The guests must have been pleased to play a match, having had two previous matches postponed, first by England having a kickabout on a Wednesday evening and then by Southam being affected by Covid… In fact, FC’s next game, at Bretforton, has already been chalked off due to the virus… Young men need to get vaccinated, it appears…

HASKAYNE ASKS THE REF TO MAKE THE FINISHING TOUCHES TO HIS TATTOO... 

Both clubs were really kind to provide me with names which corresponded with shirt numbers for their players on a warm evening which became floodlit later on, causing the focus of my camera to palpitate… However, the hosts looked dangerous early on and caused problems for the FC defence, although only once did they manage to get past FC’s goalie Eddie Cox, a new signing. Jack Watts was the scorer, a guy I saw score several times for Stourport Swifts. Parity was subsequently achieved by Stratford, courtesy of Ben Cox, who benefitted from Levi Steele’s assist.

STEELE WOULD STRIKE THE CROSSBAR WITH THIS FREE-KICK...

Steele was instrumental in FC’s undulating performance, for the central striker was willing, quick, aware and unfortunate, for he was unable to find the net on the night. The hosts certainly mastered midfield, where skipper Archie Haskayne and the reliable Jake Parrott, flanked by the elusive Kieran Alder made life tough for FC’s Dean Poulson, Ryan Reeves and Lewis Ludford. 

STEELE: IMPRESSIVE ON THE NIGHT...

Blaine Waugh on the Cleeve right, tussled well with FC’s Ash Wilkes before the break but Harrison Reeves was impish for the hosts and he was responsible for many of the defensive problems suffered by the visitors. Clearly, the marking was not effective by FC in the early stages but certainly, after the recess, players like Ellis Champkins, who joined his skilful brother Ethan on the pitch, plus Dan Atkins and Jensen Gaye, saw to it that a strong finish was displayed by Stratford and really, the scoreline ought to have been much closer. Indeed, Cleeve scored three of four chances after half-time, whilst FC missed about ten opportunities, as they finished on top, with both teams having made a number of changes.

HASKAYNE: LED HIS TEAM EFFECTIVELY...

Oddly, neither ‘keeper was particularly busy and although Danny Janes’ number-line in his dugout was admirable, maybe the next wall chart should be one explaining angles, for shots went regularly awry… Only joking of course, for pre-season games are essentially for sharpening the skills…  

1st half:

WATTS: BAGGED A BRACE & MIGHT HAVE HAD MORE...

Watts was the danger before the rest period at 45 minutes, for he not only scored with an inside-of foot volley following Waugh’s right-side centre from an unmarked position, he went close on other occasions too. One shot from inside-right was deflected, bobbed against the base of the left upright and into the grateful clutches of Eddie Cox. Another Watts drive struck team-mate Sam Blackie on the back, who was in an offside position anyway, then Eddie Cox dropped on a slow shot by the ex-Swift. A decent clipped shot flew over the right angle of crossbar and upright too and he also headed too high, albeit an offside flag was wagging.

0-1: WATTS...

Alder had been blocked out in the opening seconds by a combination of FC skipper James Robbins and Ryan Reeves, Blackie volleyed way too high, a Leroy Odiero header rose over the crossbeam and Haskayne miscued a planned near post ruse from Jake Parrott’s low free-kick assist.

FC had taken time to settle and twice wild hacks by defenders conceded corners from 30 yards out. However, on offense, a weak Ryan Reeves effort was picked up by home goalie Max Harris, whilst the remaining chances fell to Steele and Cox (sounds like a TV cops series…) 

Steele struck the near right post from an angle but he was being flagged offside, the ‘keeper saved at his feet and home defender Matt Sysum blocked a low shot well. Ben Cox shot into a side-netting then scored, converting into the roof of the net at the far post from Steele’s low delivery (shot?) across goal from the right. A decent curled effort by the goalscorer flew past the right stick too and he looked very disappointed when he shot into the side-netting again before the break.

1-1: BEN COX...

2nd half: 

The hosts had already forced Eddie Cox into evasive action before the goals went in after the half-time sojourn in a hopefully cool dressing-room. A tapped free-kick from downtown by Parrott to Haskayne resulted in a drive being beaten out by the goalie and the tall Stratford defender Abdul Muhammed hacked the loose ball clear. However, Blackie was then assisted by the scurrying Alder and drove a low shot through a crowd of players from 18 yards and the ball rolled into the left corner of the net, just out of Eddie Cox’s reach.

2-1: BLACKIE...

Blackie set up his skipper for goal three, who drove the ball from 19 yards, the shot deflecting slightly off Atkins’ leg to beat Eddie Cox low again. 3-1 seemed harsh on the visitors but they kept playing, although Muhammed inadvertently stopped an Alder centre with an arm to provide Watts with a spot-kick opportunity. He didn’t miss, hitting a low shot into the right corner of the net.

3-1: HASKAYNE (8)...

4-1: WATTS AGAIN...

Lewis Ludford dive-headed wide and left-booted too high for the guests, Ethan Champkins lifted a good chance well over the target, following some neat play, replacement and ex-Knowle left-back Steve Ruck had a shot blocked in a melee, following good work by Steele and Poulson’s strong 22 yarder was deflected off target by Parrott. Parrot would later clear a Jensen Gaye shot off his own goal-line at his right post and Gaye would test Harris with a low shot in the final moments.

MAYBE FC THOUGHT THAT THE REFEREE WAS ALLOWING MORE PHYSICAL DEFENDING FROM CLEEVE THAN WAS ACCEPTABLE...

However, the second period’s offensive story belonged to Steele, who was close to scoring several times and indeed was a worry for Sysum, Ash Caldwell, substitute Kev Slack and Odiero. Harris beat away an angled drive, after Steele had moved inside from the right flank and then the ‘keeper had a fly-kick blocked by the ever eager forward to set up another FC attack which came to nought. The striker's 20 yard free-kick then rattled the Cleeve crossbar, as FC threatened more and more. Steele was then set up at the left upright by the speedy Ethan Champkins but fluffed his lines really, seemingly unable to get his feet set and shoot, so that the opportunity was lost. A late skied shot by the striker summed up his evening, I guess…

EDDIE COX: "I'M RATHER SHY, YOU KNOW..."

Final thoughts:

I enjoyed the evening, even driving home, for there were no road closures on the A46 or A435 towards Solihull and I managed to sort out some clips ready for the movie before midnight…

MUHAMMED STICKS TO WATTS...

An unusual name, Champkins… Maybe Danny Janes should put together a squad of ‘Kinsmen’, including Ethan and Ellis, along with SD card manufacturer Simkins, sheepish defender Lambkins, tea-room owner Huffkins, FC player Atkins, nature lover Catkins, cigar smoker Manikins, vegetable growers Pumpkins and Gherkins, bird watcher Siskins, the always dozing Napkins, the barrel maker Firkins, the leather maker Bodkins and the Devon farmhand, Bumpkins…

Naturally the ‘B’ team would be known as the Munchkins…

Sorry, just sayin’…   

TEAMS:

BISHOP’S CLEEVE:

MAX HARRIS, ASH CALDWELL, LEROY ODIERO, JAKE PARROTT, MATT SYSUM, KIERAN ALDER, BLAINE WAUGH, ARCHIE HASKAYNE (CAPT), SAM BLACKIE, JACK WATTS, HARRISON REEVES.

SUBS:

KEV SLACK, TAYLOR KIGHT, JOSH WILKINSON, COLE HALLAM, GEORGE WILLIS.

FC STRATFORD:

EDDIE COX, BEN JOHNS, ASH WILKES, RYAN REEVES, JAMES ROBBINS (CAPT), ABDUL MUHAMMED, DEAN POULSON, LEWIS LUDFORD, LEVI STEELE, BEN COX, ETHAN CHAMPKINS.

SUBS:

STEVE RUCK, DAN ATKINS, ELLS CHAMPKINS, JENSEN GAYE, PAUL DIPPLE (GK)…