FC STRATFORD 1-2 STUDLEY: THE INDEPENDENT MATCH REPORT...

 Studley Spine Wins The Points At Tiddington…

FC Stratford 1-2 Studley

The Mowdog’s thoughts…

THE TOSS...

The sea defences in some North Sea places, like Sandsend near Whitby rely still on the presence of spines of weatherbeaten groynes to protect the beach and seaside properties. In a similar way, Studley won at FC Stratford through the strength of their own spine of four players in particular: goalkeeper Ryan Young’s composure, central defender Tom Fishwick’s powerful heading and clearing, central midfielder Jack Cresswell’s busy control of the crowded midfield area on Tiddington’s small pitch and of course central striker Danny Murphy, whose brace of headed goals earned the victory.  

DULLY & DANNY SHARE A JOKE.
THE REF IS UNIMPRESSED...

Although the game appeared closely fought on occasions, the number of goalscoring opportunities told a different tale, for the Bees might have scored a number of other times during the two halves. In contrast, home striker Levi Steele, who still hasn’t scored when I have been present, was his team’s only danger, if you discount Tom Parnaby’s goal and a free-kick by Lewis Ludford which was batted away by Young. In fact, the free-kick was awarded when the rampaging Steele had been hauled down by Studley’s Jordan Adams, who was cautioned for his trouble and actually didn’t reappear after the interval.

Cresswell certainly ran the game, ably assisted by Matt Edwards, the lively Jordan Murphy and skipper Dan Carter, for the home midfield was largely anonymous. Aerially, Studley were constantly a threat and with Fishwick and Danny Murphy lurking, the home defence was usually struggling to cope.

"HE SHOULD BE USING A HANDKERCHIEF, REF, NOT HIS BLEEDIN' SHIRT..."

Yes, a goal conceded seconds from the end was cruel on the Blues, for they had battled so hard, especially after losing defenseman Matt Nutt, their own aerial presence but in truth, Studley deserved to win the match for their attacking intentions alone.

NUTT DOWN...

JORDAN MURPHY CLEVERLY BALANCES A GOLF BALL ON HIS HEAD...

Tom Parnaby…

Like Steele, he was fed morsels by his midfielders but he certainly took his goal well. A short pass from the left by Steve Ruck, a turn at 16 yards and quick low drive beat the falling Young into the left side of the net. 1-0 and all looked good for the hosts but it would never really be enough. Parnaby was replaced late on but he was probably the most lively of Steele’s partners all afternoon.

1-0: PARNABY...

Levi Steele…

A goal from a one-on-one with Young might have made the score 2-0 to the hosts as Steele raced clear but the goalminder advanced to turn aside the forward’s not well struck low shot and the chance had gone. 

After the break, Steele took two shots from inside-left, around 17 yards out, one of which was deflected over the top and the other flew just too high unaided, before he was unable to direct a header from a Ludford free-kick. 

BEACH & STEELE...

Steele was probably FC’s best performer, although skipper James Robbins ran him close, for he was forced into some desperate defending at times, the result of some wayward marking amongst his colleagues.

Free-kicks…  

Some refereeing consistency was missing, certainly, for Ludford and Dean Poulson were pulled up several times during the opening 45 for the weakest of challenges, whilst other, more physical offences were simply dismissed. Steele would likely agree that a defender’s arm about his neck was more than Covid, or the referee should have allowed…

DANNY JANES MAKES A POINT...

Robbins and replacement Jagjit Aujla were cautioned for FC, whilst Studley’s substitute Jake Donnelly joined colleague Adams in the official’s notebook. 

ROBBINS IS BOOKED...

CAUTION FOR DONNELLY...

YELLOW FOR AUJLA...

BOOKING FOR ADAMS...

Alfie Bloomer…

His heart-on-sleeve performance perhaps deserved a goal, although he was close to earning a yellow card too. In the first-period, he was able to get between Nutt and wing-back Ruck to force Eddie Cox into a pair of saves at the goalie’s left post. First, a tackle bounced off Bloomer to force a Cox block, then the forward mistimed his volley from a Carter centre and again Cox parried. 

ALFIE WITH DULLY: MORE HUMOUR...

Bloomer played on the left after half-time and had a real battle with Aujla which brought the caution for the FC man late on. One low drive by Bloomer smacked the base of the left upright, following an error by Dan Atkins but Ruck at least cleared the rebound for a corner. 

A shot from downtown by Bloomer went way too high but he was a pain for the home defence to deal with, especially as Cresswell was seemingly always on hand for support.

Jack Cresswell…

The game’s most effective player, surely… Biting tackles, smart control with know-how and very often a slick passer. Controlled the trenches. Enough said…

Studley in attack…

First period headers by Fishwick twice and Jordan Murphy flew off target, as did shots by Will Beach and both Murphys, whilst Jordan Murphy tested Cox with a low effort. The closest to scoring though was perhaps Jamie Ashmore, whose presence in the game became more powerful when he moved from right-back to replace Adams, more centrally. Ashmore’s drive was beaten away by Cox.

After the recess, shots by Ashmore and Jordan Murphy drifted off target and Danny Murphy headed a fine opportunity over the crossbar from a Cresswell delivery. However, poor Dean Fisher will likely have nightmares about his 5 yard miss at the right stick when Bloomer’s long centre from the left saw both Abdul Muhammed and Ruck move towards Jordan Murphy at the near post, leaving Fisher free but his volley rose over the crossbeam.

Danny Murphy… 

Tough to manage in the air, true but his goals were smartly taken despite FC’s deficiencies. First he was being marked by Muhammed who then turned with his back to goal and thus didn’t jump with the striker, allowing Murphy to glance Cresswell’s left-flank corner beyond Cox and into the right side of the net.

1-1: DANNY MURPHY...

The winner in the closing seconds, literally, came as a result of the ball being cleared to Fisher, 19 yards out by Stratford. He smacked a shot straight at the defending Steele and screams were heard for handball but in the confusion the ball was shifted towards the left byeline. Cox ran along the byeline to usher Jordan Murphy away as Aujla hovered nearby but suddenly Murphy J. turned and swung a fine centre across the face of goal leaving Cox stranded. Only three players were in the goalmouth, Fishwick and Danny Murphy of Studley and Robbins of FC, who was totally helpless as the ball was nodded into the empty net at the far stick to signal magnificent Studley celebrations…

1-2: DANNY MURPHY...

The last words…

Stratford will recover from this setback but in truth there was little creativity visible in midfield and a good deal of the offense stemmed from long deliveries out of defence. They were unable to boss the match and that was largely down to Cresswell, Ashmore and Fishwick, whose inputs were huge on the day.

And there was Danny Murphy’s head…

NOTE SIMON FITTER, POSING IN WHITE SHOES.
RARE FOR A BIRMINGHAM CITY FAN...

TEAMS:

FC STRATFORD:

EDDIE COX, JAMES ROBBINS (CAPT), STEVE RUCK, DAN ATKINS, ABDUL MUHAMMED, MATT NUTT, DEAN POULSON, LEWIS LUDFORD, LEVI STEELE, TOM PARNABY, TOM DACCUS.

SUBS:

JAGJIT AUJLA, NICK COX, BEN COX, FREDDY MURPHY, RYAN PALMER.

STUDLEY:

RYAN YOUNG, JAMIE ASHMORE, WIL BEACH, JACK CRESSWELL, JORDAN ADAMS, TOM FISHWICK, MATT EDWARDS, ALFIE BLOOMER, DANNY MURPHY, JORDAN MURPHY, DAN CARTER (CAPT).

SUBS:

DEAN FISHER, JAKE DONNELLY, MAX LOVERIDGE, BEN WELSH, DAVE PHELAN.