FC STRATFORD 2-1 SHORTWOOD UNITED: THE INDEPENDENT MATCH REPORT...

 Shortwood Snipe Back To Worry Profligate Blues…

FC Stratford 2-1 Shortwood United

The Mowdog’s thoughts…

FC had squandered a good number of goalscoring chances during this Hellenic League Division 1 match and so when Luke Soule fired rather a shock goal for United during the second period to reduce the arrears to 2-1, the Blues were clearly rattled. The Wood then took some initiative and might have taken a point from the game but in stating that, FC continued to waste even more goalscoring opportunities and thus deserved their victory, which in the end, they were having to fight tooth and nail for.

THE TOSS...

Stratford had begun the game sharply but visiting ‘keeper Aaron Taylor was in fine form and as the first 45 wore on, Shortwood’s defence sorted itself out a little better, with skipper Jacob Nowell and his sidekick Declan Earwaker performing with determination and stubbornness against the willing home striker Levi Steele, who might have scored on several occasions.

The first goal was a strange one, caused by Lewis Ludford’s nasty near post corner and scored by the United combination of Taylor and Earwaker. The deserved second goal was a reward for Ryan Reeves’ enormous appetite for involvement and supporting his attackers, as he smoothly converted Ryan Palmer’s low assist.

Oddly, a rare chance for The Wood, created by Manola Marquez was knocked in by Luke Soule and the game changed from that point on. United certainly began to believe that they could regain parity and gaps on Stratford’s defensive right zone were exploited several times by both Marquez and left-back Alex Barrett.  And yet both Steele and replacement Ben Cox were unable to extend the Blues’ lead, despite a number of efforts at goal and subsequently FC resorted to taking the ball into a corner-quadrant in the latter stages, evidence that they were ‘holding on’ to their slim lead.   

STEELE & NOWELL...

The players…

Firstly, Taylor… He began early by saving from his own defender Earwaker, whose intervention nearly turned Steele’s low centre into his own net. Taylor then grabbed the loose ball as Peter Tonchev attempted to get to the rebound. A flying tip-over of Steve Ruck’s well struck drive from downtown and a splendid low save from Freddy Murphy, who had replaced Tonchev early on, were the gloveman’s best saves but after the break his stops were more straightforward. He saved an angled shot by Murphy at the near post, before collecting efforts from Steele and Ben Cox, as well as beating out another Steele effort and dropping well at the feet of the same Blue to smother. He also charged down a close range effort by Ludford.

Steele must have rued his own finishing, for in the opening period he shoved a low shot wide of the left upright, then shot hurriedly too high, both incidents coming from situations when he found himself bearing down on Taylor. He miscued another shot into Taylor’s gloves but after half-time, he had a pair of shots blocked, drove one low shot past a post and then glanced a header wide but the miss when assisted by Ben Cox was the one he will be very upset about, as he trundled a left-booter past the right stick with only the ‘keeper to beat. 

Steele though, was a real offensive leader, causing problems positionally for the Wood defence and really, it was surprising that he was unable to score a goal on the day. 

Ben Cox had replaced Palmer for Blues but he too missed chances, curling a shot off target and firing another straight at Taylor but as a duo, both Cox and Steele would be disappointed that they didn’t sign, seal and deliver the victory well before the end.

Lee Bowles was an effective and lively attacker and ‘number 10’ for United but he cut a frustrated figure at times as his irritation with some of his colleagues began to show. He also aimed a kick at Reeves, after losing a challenge…  

"NOWELL, NOWELL..." THE REFEREE DID SAY...

Reeves was partnered in midfield by Ludford, who shot off target a couple of times and also had a clipped effort deflected just wide. Dean Poulson was  generally a steadying influence for his team, often relieving pressure with neat and very calm passes. All four full-backs, Ben Johns and Ruck for Blues, plus Max Harper-Emerson and Barrett for United played their parts, but certainly Matt Nutt was outstanding for FC, winning some fine headers and flicking aside one dangerous late centre by Marquez, which Soule must have been thirsting for at the right stick.

Nutt however headed a great opportunity too high from 2 yards, as the first period ebbed away but overall, he was excellent for his team. Skipper James Robbins defended astutely but he was caused some real hassle when Shortwood exploited the hesitancy in the right side of the Blues’ defence during the final 20 minutes or so.

Murphy proved an interesting character, mixing some decent dribbling skills and occasional breaks along the flanks with a couple of shots at goal and a few inaccurate deliveries from the wings, which fed comfortably into the gloves of Taylor.

As already mentioned, Nowell and Earwaker played decent matches and along with Bowles and especially Taylor, kept their team in contention. Nowell was the only player cautioned during the encounter… In the Wood midfield, Fin Blythe and Louis Peyton did the grafting work.

 

The goals…  

1-0:

A left wing corner by Ludford swerved inwards at the near stick, where Steele lurked but Taylor desperately fisted the ball away, only for it to strike Earwaker a yard away and it bounced inside the upright as the goalie and Steele were wrong-footed.

A MOBBING FOR LUDFORD...

2-0:

Steele nodded the ball forwards for Palmer at inside-left and Reeves made a run across the field towards the right post but as Palmer ran for the byeline, three defenders watched and covered him, leaving Reeves free to turn Palmer’s low pass across the 6 yard box into the net easily.

A SMILE FROM REEVES...

2-1:

A low pass from left to right by Marquez found Soule having avoided the attention of Ruck and Nutt at 18 yards, who were locked together and the striker took his chance successfully with a low shot from 16 yards as Eddie Cox rushed from his goal to narrow the angle.

SOULE MAN: TOOK HIS GOAL WELL...

Final reflections…

Eddie Cox was rarely troubled in the home goal but he did fall left to clutch a low drive by Soule from 12 yards and his verbal instructions were loud and to the point. He held a first period free-kick from way downtown by Bowles but late on, he was relieved to see headers from Barrett and replacement Matt Blythe fly off target.

A deserved win for Blues but somehow, the weakened Shortwood outfit must have taken some confidence from the final half-hour of this match although in truth, they should have been well beaten by that time…

HANDSHAKES AT THE END...

TEAMS:

FC STRATFORD:

EDDIE COX, BEN JOHNS, STEVE RUCK, RYAN REEVES, JAMES ROBBINS (CAPT), MATT NUTT, DEAN POULSON, LEWIS LUDFORD, LEVI STEELE, PETAR TONCHEV, RYAN PALMER.

SUBS:

DANNY JANES, NICK COX, BEN COX, TOM DACCUS, FREDDY MURPHY. 

SHORTWOOD UNITED:

AARON TAYLOR, MAX HARPER-EMERSON, ALEX BARRETT, DECLAN EARWAKER, JACOB NOWELL (CAPT), FIN BLYTHE, KIERAN MARKS, LOUIS PEYTON, LUKE SOULE, LEE BOWLES, MANOLA MARQUEZ.

SUBS:

CHARLEY HOBBS, TOBY COLLIVER, JOSH BEADLE, MATT BLYTHE.