CHELMSLEY TOWN 0-2 HAMPTON FC: THE INDEPENDENT MATCH REPORT...

 Useful Workout, Despite The Scrap…

Chelmsley Town 0-2 Hampton FC

(Pre-season game…)

The independent view…

It is always interesting to see teams at this level performing on an artificial surface, upon which players can take possession and then pass the ball without the encumbrance of ruts and an uneven field. These two teams did pass the ball but it was visitors Hampton who came out on top, despite Town squandering a penalty opportunity and then scorning three decent chances late on and not even forcing visiting goalie Matt Allely to make a difficult save. Sadly, an unpleasant incident arose after the interval, following a challenge between Chelmsley’s Nick Ellis and Hampton’s Collins Ajayi, which erupted into hands raised, skulls threatening skulls and a possible spitting offence. Certainly Ellis was incensed and took some becalming, before both antagonists were dismissed from the encounter…

HAMPTON TAKE THE FIELD...

However, thanks to both clubs for their kindness in providing me with names and numbers, although should I have made any spelling or identification errors, I apologise unreservedly.

MITCHELL WAITS TO KICK OFF...

Before the recess, I guess that Hampton looked slightly more dangerous than their hosts, mainly through the endeavour of their front trio, consisting of Tom Mitchell, Cam Seivewright and Kori Edinborough. Indeed, Seivewright nabbed the opening goal, following a James Morris free-kick, just a moment or two after Raheim Faulder’s wasteful penalty shot for Chelmsley. After the break, more attempts at goal were made by Town, strengthened by the introduction of the wily Danny Brain and the influential Rob Ellis, although fellow replacement Tom Marshall also held the ball up well in his central striker’s role. A second Hampton goal by the lurking Mitchell made the game safer for the guests but in truth Chelmsley’s shooting accuracy left a lot to be desired on the day.

NO RAIN, NO THUNDER, NO LIGHTNING: JUST CLOUDY SUNLIGHT...

The first period…

James Brown’s funky header drifted well wide from Ethan Richardson’s overhead centre for the hosts, then he must have thought a goal was signed, sealed and delivered, until Allely fell at his feet to save in the 6 yard box. Midfielder Adam Keeley, who regularly found so much space in midfield for Town, although one or two of his challengers were, er, robust, shot twice at Allely, as did Faulder on one occasion but that striker’s penalty miss was wild. The incident was a trifle tame, for Ciaran Connaire (a film-star's name, surely…) was adjudged to have tugged back Dean Morris with his hands placed about the opponent’s waist. Players are constantly holding in the 18 yard box these days, so to single out one example in a pre-season workout did seem a little tough on Hampton. Maybe Faulder thought so too, as he lifted his spot-kick over the right angle of crossbar and upright.

DEAN GUEST REALISES THAT HE'S LEFT HIS COPY OF THE BEANO AT WORK...

Faulder was strong as a target forward but would be replaced by the powerfully built Marshall just after the interval. Hampton managed two shots on the turn by Mitchell, one of which was saved low by Peter Maguire, whilst the other effort flew too high, then after the industrious Ajayi’s low shot had been blocked, Mitchell closed in towards the left upright but his left-footer was palmed aside by the ‘keeper, allowing steady home defender Cory Solomon to concede a corner.

The goal came from a half-way line James Morris free-kick, immediately following Faulder’s penalty miss and fair play to Hampton skipper Jack Slevin, for his towering header towards the left side of the 6 yard box proved the assist for Seivewright to latch onto the ball before Maguire could get at it and his nudge found the net…

SEIVEWRIGHT LOOKS SLIGHTLY EMBARRASSED...

...BUT HE REALLY HAS SCORED...

The second period…   

JACK GREALISH WAITS TO START THE 2ND PERIOD...

The visitors, like their hosts, made a number of substitutions throughout the half and clearly the game’s dynamic was affected by the introduction of several players. Neat play by the rapid Edinborough led to a cross by effective Hampton right-back Ryan Deery but Seivewright’s subsequent shot was blocked to the goalie, as Mitchell hovered. A free-kick from downtown by Seivewright led to the second goal for the guests. 

Maguire was well beaten as a fine curling shot by the Hampton winger smacked the crossbar, bounced down and caused a problem for the home defence. Dean Morris and Maguire both tried to clear but got tangled together and the ball rolled meekly for Mitchell near the right stick and he rapped home his chance.

MITCHELL LIKES TO CELEBRATE WITH A REEL...

When trouble erupted, a chap in the grandstand, I think one of two veteran Alvechurch fans, shouted that the players should put their handbags away… However, there were no handbags here. It looked nasty, as players piled in and Nick Ellis was having to be more restrained than any of the others. James Morris pleaded with the nearside linesman to ‘help the ref’ but I guess the assistant was no fool, for he would have the inhabitants of two arguing dugouts behind him for the remainder of the match. Both Ellis and Ajayi were exiled but complaints about spitting rumbled on. 

Fair play to Dean Guest, the Hampton boss, though, for he ventured across to the home dugout a while later and held out a hand to shake, which was accepted by Town’s coach, for the unpleasantness had continued to simmer for a while between the two shelters…

PEACE WAS MADE...

The only other worthwhile goal attempts by Hampton were a stunning volley from distance by Slevin, which was palmed aside by replacement Town ‘keeper Ryan Scott-Taggart and a wasted free-kick from the right by substitute Jack Ward which was way too high.

The hosts were well urged on by Brain and Rob Ellis but Allely saved easily from Richardson and Dean Morris, who also headed a deep Solomon free-kick well over the target. A left-footer by Brain was easily collected by Allely, Marshall drove a decent chance wide of the left upright from 19 yards, Rob Ellis shot straight at the ‘keeper, before his low delivery across goal was blocked by Allely’s legs. Replacement Luke Francis, who showed neat touches at times, then escaped punishment for a nasty foul on Seivewright. 

A fine free-kick by Brain appeared to nudge the head of a leaping defensive-waller, possibly James Morris, then clip the crossbar and that was the closest the hosts came to a goal… As time expired though, Marshall assisted Rob Ellis, who miscued and Francis missed a fine chance, again assisted by the solid Marshall, smashing a 19 yard left footer well off target.

IN CONCLUSION…

There had been some rushes on the Town left by James Medford, Jack Grealish lookalike Richardson had been busy and Sam Aldhouse’s left boot had been prominent. For Hampton, Chris Hill had been quietly effective, using his left-foot to push thoughtful passes to the likes of the readily available Mitchell and left-back Adam Smith had competed with some gusto. The referee did seem a little more generous towards Town as the game wore on but that was only a feeling… 

There were two Brains, two Ellises and a pair of Morrises, as well as a James Brown and a Slevin, although this time it wasn’t his cousin Martin Slevin of Racing Club Warwick and Stourport Swifts fame. The guests’ manager was called Guest and wisely, Chelmsley fielded a Solomon… 

Certainly Town should have found the net, especially late in the proceedings, for they had the upper hand by then and their guests were basically playing with substitute Hamza Siddique as a lone forward for the final ten minutes or so. Indeed, Siddique featured in the final action of the match, as he suffered a hamstring injury in the final seconds. As Belgium manager Roberto Martinez would say: “He had structural damage…”

SQUADS:

CHELMSLEY TOWN:

PETER MAGUIRE, RYAN SCOTT-TAGGART, DANNY BRAIN, SAM ALDHOUSE, DEAN MORRIS, COREY SOLOMON, NICK ELLIS (CAPT. 1), ADAM KEELEY, RAHEIM FAULDER, ETHAN RICHARDSON, JAMES MEDFORD, FIN BURKE, ROB ELLIS (CAPT. 2), LUKE FRANCIS, MATT BOULTON, JAMES BROWN, TOM MARSHALL.

HAMPTON FC:

MATT ALLELY, RYAN DEERY, ADAM SMITH, JACK SLEVIN (CAPT), JAMES MORRIS, CHRIS HILL, CIARAN CONNAIRE, COLLINS AJAYI, TOM MITCHELL, KORI EDINBOROUGH, CAM SEIVEWRIGHT, MATT BRAIN, LUKE BENHAM, JACK WARD, HAMZA SIDDIQUE.