DUDLEY TOWN v ALSAGER TOWN: THE MOWDOG'S PREVIEW...

 DUDLEY TOWN v ALSAGER TOWN

BUILDBASE FA VASE: THE MOWDOG’S PREVIEW…

Another North West Counties League outfit, the Bullets of Alsager Town travel to the Midland League’s Dudley Town on Sunday in the 1st Qualifying Round of the famous FA Vase.

THE ASPRAY ARENA...

Oddly, I have only seen Alsager play twice and both times they were FA Vase matches played in the month of November. In 2015 I saw them draw 2-2 with Borrowash Victoria but then won 5-4 on penalties, after a Vics player shot wide from his spot-kick but then I witnessed a 2-1 loss at Racing Club Warwick in 2017 on a gloomy, damp afternoon.

ALSAGER TOWN'S WOOD PARK STADIUM, ON THE DAY OF MY ONLY VISIT...

Dudley, who I have seen play twice at the Dell athletics stadium in the town are currently using the splendid Aspray Arena, home of Sporting Khalsa, a fine club, who are now playing Northern Premier League Division 1 Midlands football, as they progress up the non-league pyramid.

THE DELL, ON ONE OF MY TWO VISITS...

At the Dell in 2011-12 and 2012-13 I saw Dudley draw 2-2 on both occasions, against Wellington and then Atherstone Town. On both occasions they squandered a 2-0 lead…

I wrote a poem after my first visit:

DUDLEY TOWN: Doom In The Dell

Hurdles lay angled against a surrounding fence,

Officials’ chairs were stacked high near the finish line

Like a thin grandstand for slim hopes,

As throwing-event nets rose into the evening gloom…

Barriers for steeplechasers lay oddly awry,

The damp amber track though dormant propelled footballs further astray…

A grandstand of planks was rigid on buttocks,

Showing signs of woodworm in the Dell’s Dudley doom…

Pete Ray

April 2012 

Dudley are currently lying 4th in the league standings, having won 6 and lost 2 of their 8 matches so far, with a goal difference of +7 and a points total of 18, with a pair of matches in hand over the top two.

An early 0-2 home defeat to Stapenhill opened their campaign, with Todd Perry being elected as Town’s MVP. A fine 0-6 win at Nuneaton Griff’s Pingles Stadium came next, where the scorers were Callam Baker with 2, Hinesh Patel, Connor Archer, Rhys Boswell and Rhys Horton, who was also voted MVP.

TODD PERRY...

Next came a 2-1 success against Wednesfield Town, during which Wednesfield’s Ash Bellingham and Dudley’s Jake Griffiths were sent off. Baker scored again, as did Boswell in the 90th minute to snatch victory. Mitch Lawley was chosen as MVP.

HINESH PATEL...

A 0-1 victory on the road at Heath Hayes, where Ash Smith proved the match winner, was soured by the dismissal of Jake Sharman in the final minute. Heath Hayes’ Jamie Brown was also red-carded but the MVP vote again went to Todd Perry. 

ASH SMITH...

Todd Perry was again afforded the MVP accolade in a 2-0 defeat at Cradley Town, before a return to winning ways saw a 3-2 win v Coventry Copsewood (why do folks write that at CopESwood?) Alex Perry, Lewis Taylor-Boyce and Jayden McCalla scored the vital goals, with the winner arriving in the 82nd minute. Callam Baker was voted MVP for Town and it was interesting that Copsewood’s Sean Kavanagh scored a goal and was elected his team’s MVP. Sean played for Coventry United at one time of course and has always been a regular goalscorer, often with Coventry Alliance outfit Christ the King.

CALLAM BAKER...

The 0-1 win at Wolverhampton Sporting Community was achieved with Kaine Butler getting the vital goal and Soms Sibanda receiving the MVP vote from WSC…

On Tuesday evening the Robins were at home to Shawbury and Todd Perry’s added time goal gave the Robins a 2-1 victory in front of 109 spectators. The other goal was an own-goal following Horton’s delivery from a free-kick.

So, Alsager Town, the Bullets, are managed by Brian Wilson, although not perhaps the Brian Wilson of Beach Boys fame… 

BRIAN WILSON...

The team has won 3, drawn 1 and lost 6 of its 10 games so far, with a goal-difference of -8. Lying 12th of 20 teams in the league standings with 10 points, the club is no doubt looking for more improvement on the pitch.

The opening match of the season saw Luke Vayro score in 1-2 home defeat by West Didsbury & Chorlton, who voted Jordan Stafford as the Bullets’ MVP.

LUKE VAYRO...

A 0-2 win at Stafford Town (ex-Midland League of course) was welcome, with Vayro and Stafford with a penalty getting the all important goals. Hunaish Essa was voted MVP but Stafford actually scored at Stafford? Hmm…

HUNAISH ESSA...

The second victory of the team’s campaign was secured at their Wood Park Stadium, 3-1 v Maine Road. Vayro scored, as did Ben Darby and Stafford not only netted a spot-kick again but he was also chosen as MVP.

JORDAN STAFFORD...

Darby was voted MVP once more in a disappointing 0-3 home loss to FC Isle of Man, before the lads crashed 0-4 at home to Sandbach United, for whom Bobby McConnell nabbed a hat-trick. Essa won a second MVP award.

The trip to bottom of the league table St Martins ended poorly, for the Bullets conceded a 90th minute own-goal and drew 2-2. George West and Darby scored for Town and Abdimajid Osman won the MVP accolade.

BEN DARBY...

Three successive defeats followed and sadly, Alsager scored in none of those matches. They lost 0-3 at home to Cheadle Town, with Joe Thompson receiving the MVP award, then 0-1 at home to Barnton Town, after which Vayro was voted MVP and finally there was a 2-0 loss at high flying Abbey Hay, whose second goal came in the 93rd minute. ‘Keeper Tom Scott was voted MVP after that encounter. 

On Tuesday evening the Bullets travelled to second from bottom of the league table Rocester and came away with a solid 0-2 victory, courtesy of strikes by West & Darby. The Bullets’ Twitter account suggested that their MVP on the night would have been George Coleville…

So, all of the above points to a keenly fought tie on Sunday afternoon, which I am fortunate enough to be able to cover. Thanks to Dudley Town for accommodating me!

Full coverage of the match (video highlights with full commentary, images, screenshots & an independent match report) will appear at themowdog.blogspot.com from Monday morning…

The Mowdog…