Claverdon Strangle League Leaders At Meadow Park
Meadow Park 0-2 Claverdon FC Reserves
The Mowdog’s thoughts…
This was a rearranged match, the original contest having been abandoned earlier in the season at 4-4 due to a serious injury sustained by a Claverdon player. I guess that by the end of this rather poor encounter, a draw would have been a real prize for Meadow Park, particularly as their performance was lacking what might have been expected from a free-scoring team with seven league wins from seven in the bag.
Indeed, they might have scored twice in the opening moments of this match but striker Connor Powell was denied by Clav goalie Henry Glynn, before hard-working home midfielder Mason Taylor struck the crossbar from way downtown and Powell was denied a rebound goal by a combination of Glynn and defender George Calcott. In other words, Powell was scuppered by two English Kings, Henry and George…
The home offense simply worsened after those spicy opening salvoes and visitors Claverdon subsequently took two of their first period chances kindly offered to them by weak Park defending and shut up shop. ‘Keeper Glynn was rarely troubled in truth, as Park’s few attempts at goal lacked both venom and direction, although the often impressive Nathan Benson forced one goal-line block by Clav’s Josh Brelsforth.
Fair play to the guests though because they shackled the home attack effectively and made the occasional counter-rushes forward themselves.
 |
| THE TOSS... |
The conditions were not good for passing football, for the pitch’s mud had begun to stiffen, providing an uneven and bobbly surface which of course meant that players needed to watch the ball right to their feet, by which time tacklers were usually nearby and therefore there was no time to glance about for outlet passes prior to receiving the ball.
Clav regularly passed the ball long. Park didn’t… Mistakes were constantly evident, inaccurate passing was rife, generally by the hosts, which was clearly irritating for the Park coaching staff to witness and as several Meadow Park players’ heads visibly began to drop, the more physical Clav crew deservedly took away the three points on offer.
Once again though, an inconsistent referee made the spectacle even more gruelling to watch, for some rough fouls were ignored while two others were punished by cautions. Visiting defender Harry Lane for example was likely relieved that not one of his three major second period challenges was greeted by a yellow piece of paper…
 |
| WORDS SPOKEN... |
 |
| THE REF SEEMS IRRITATED... |
 |
| TROUBLE FOR HILL... |
Lax defending, a chase, a shove and two Claverdon goals…
An early left-wing corner by the guests dropped into a group of players positioned at the near post, close to the edge of the 6 yard box but no effective clearance was made by Park. The ball simply spilled away from three home defenders to the hovering Max Dargan and the tall Clav midfielder shot low into the right corner of the net from 8 yards.
 |
| ALLEN: MADE ONE DECENT SAVE... |
A short time later, visiting defender Cam Reaper punted a clearance upfield, wind aided and central striker Cam Anderson chased after it behind home skipper Sam Horton. As they closed in on the 18 yard line, home goalie Max Allen advanced to collect the ball and Horton attempted to shield it but Anderson really did appear to shove into Horton who in turn flattened his ‘keeper. The ball rolled left and Anderson couldn’t believe his luck as he planted it into the right corner of goal from 12 yards.
 |
| SAYS IT ALL, REALLY... |
After those goals, it was already difficult to see Park getting back into the match even after the break, for although they managed some pressure, goalmouth action was scarce over the second 45.
Josh Brelsforth…
This Clavman really was the kind of player who worked hard but probably went largely unnoticed. However he assisted for goal one and twice in the second period he manned his team’s right defensive post to clear headers, first from home left-back Jake Eversham, which wasn’t going into goal and then from Benson, whose header was going into the net.
Brelsforth nearly netted a deserved goal late on too, capitalising upon a weak back-header by Park substitute Bailey Eades but his low poke past Allen also bypassed the right post.
 |
| POWELL (9): "LOOK, THERE'S A PAINTBRUSH FACTORY..." |
Nathan Benson…
Apart from the aforementioned header, Benson threatened with two more, one of which was deflected, whilst the other flew too high but he also fired over the target before the interval and shot a weak free-kick at Glynn after the recess, as well as curling a 20 yard effort wide.
The midfielder was strong though and impressed in many aspects of his game.
 |
| BENSON, 2ND FROM RIGHT: ALWAYS PROMINENT, ALONG WITH TAYLOR... |
Weak Park shots…
Whether the surface contributed to some rather weak shooting by the hosts it is tough to say, but the clearly frustrated Powell, plus Benson and replacement Jack Sutcliffe could all get little power behind shots during the game.
Powell’s twisting header rose too high and Benson couldn’t control an assist at inside-left, although one low centre from the right by the underused Ryan Timmins was cleared for a corner at his near post by Reaper.
Certainly Meadow Park fielded wingers, namely Lewis Burford and Ryan Timmins but they were rarely fed any service and subsequently Powell suffered too, for he was reduced to foraging for scraps, like a badger which couldn’t locate any earthworms…
 |
| POWELL (9): LARGELY FRUSTRATED... |
The Claverdon offense…
Anderson sliced wide from 18 yards early in the match, Dargan lashed one effort high towards the paintbrush factory then dived to head a Brelsforth corner wide of the near stick. Allen dived to keep out a decent near post angled drive by winger Tom McCabe and Brelsforth shot over the top following a neat one-two move, before heading too high at the far upright from a Dargan cross.
In the latter stages, with Park looking like a beaten team anyway, Horton fell over and freed Anderson but with good support from McCabe and replacement Aaron Grennall, the Clav forward lifted a 19 yard shot wastefully off target.
 |
| CALCOTT (4) MARSHALLS TROTH... |
McCabe forced a simple low save by Allen very late in the contest and Reaper drove too high from distance, following Clav’s best passing move of the encounter.
Home skipper Horton made several very important interceptions during the match, it has to be recorded…
The final words…
Meadow Park struggled with the conditions and for the second time in a week failed against a physical opposition. Their most effective players were largely nullified, although one could never question the efforts of Benson, Horton and Powell in particular.
Clav did a job on their hosts and were gleeful at the finish, which opens up the league again, although Park still have matches in hand over the four teams above them…
I did wonder what the outcome of that match might have been had it been played on a 4G surface…
Bookings were handed out to Henry and skipper Hill of Claverdon, although one or two other performers might have been equally punished, had the referee remained consistent…
 |
| REF: "TIME FOR TEA, METHINKS..." |
 |
| THE REF CLUTCHES ONE BALL... |
 |
| CLAV GOALIE GLYNN (RIGHT) WAS LARGELY UNTROUBLED... |
 |
| CAUTION FOR THE EFFECTIVE CLAV DEFENDER HENRY... |
Thanks to Park for the welcome and to one of the Clav coaches for chatting to me prior to the game…
TEAMS:
MEADOW PARK:
MAX ALLEN, REECE TIMMINS, JAKE EVERSHAM, SAM HORTON (CAPT), BRANDON ASTON, RYAN TIMMINS, LEWIS BURFORD, MASON TAYLOR, CONNOR POWELL, NATHAN BENSON, JON TROTH.
SUBS:
JED MORRIS, JACK SUTCLIFFE, BAILEY EADES, ROMAN TIMMINS, JOSH THORN.
CLAVERDON FC RESERVES:
HENRY GLYNN, HARRY LANE, JORDAN HENRY, GEORGE CALCOTT, CAM REAPER, MAX DARGAN, DREW HILL (CAPT), RHYS BOWEN, CAM ANDERSON, JOSH BRELSFORTH, TOM MCCABE.
SUBS:
AARON GRENNALL, JOE MCKEVILLY, LEIGHTON JENKINS, MATT PARKER.
