INKBERROW 2-1 ALCESTER TOWN: THE INDEPENDENT, HONEST & LIGHTHEARTED MATCH REPORT...

 Ben Thomas Punishes Romans’ Profligacy…

Inkberrow 2-1 Alcester Town

The Mowdog’s thoughts…

Fortunately the rain kept away during this match which was played upon a fairly heavy pitch, if the surrounding turf was anything to go by. It was a strange affair to spectate, for excitement was at a premium, if you take the visiting Coach Seeley’s performance out of the equation. Both teams seemed to trade spells of offense and yet I can recall only one real save being made by either goalkeeper,  which was a decent block by Roman Dom Cooper-Edwards from the Yellows’ two-goal hero Ben Thomas.

WE EVADED THE RAIN...

Their penalty goal apart, courtesy of midfielder Owen Ward, Alcester found the target tough to find on the day and experienced striker Tug Hewitt was unable to convert two chances at the left post, one in each half, as well as shooting wide after the interval, following his best and only run of the afternoon.

Midfielder Lewis Clarke might have won the match for the guests, for his height caused problems at set-pieces for the hosts but he was unable to cause home goalie George Harris any work from his aerial efforts, prompting Coach Seeley to vote his own defensive midfielder Inkberrow’s best defender…

CLARKE BOWS LOW, SO THE REF CAN SEE HIS NUMBER...

However, Clarke was often involved in the trenches, working short passes, winning aerial duels there and in defence but in fairness shot weakly at Harris with his one real opportunity with the ball at his feet. He was cautioned too, for a late challenge and I managed to capture his forward-flob, as it flew from his dejected mouth, prior to being cautioned…

Town led 0-1 at the break but Ben Thomas’ first goal evened things up soon after the recess, then he won it near the end on a counter attack, with visiting skipper Drew Ricketts still attempting to get back from taking one of his long throws. His bellowing anger when the winning goal went in can clearly be heard on the video clip…

RICKETTS, JENNINGS & CLARKE: DEJECTED, OR WHAT?

So, Alcester’s squad included two Wards and two Edwardses, whilst ‘Berrow fielded two Davieses and two Thomases, hence the constant use of certain Christian names in this report…

Owen Ward…

Lively and often inventive for Alcester, although he surely misses the suspended Umit Eminoglu, Town’s game-changer. Owen generally takes the set-pieces for his team and he stepped up to fire a low penalty into the bottom right corner of goal off Harris’ hand, after wide-player Jacob Walton had been tripped by home defender Callum Cook.

More should have resulted from several well aimed deliveries but his colleagues were unable to capitalise.  

Karl Walker often supported Owen and Clarke, even hooking a shot over the crossbar from close range late in the match.

The Roman advances…

Apart from the aforementioned goal attempts, Walton shot weakly past the near post, central defender Andre Edwards nodded wide and Jack Ward’s attempt was deflected over the goal-frame, following a back-heel by Clarke and threat from Owen Ward.

A fine run forward by Ricketts offered Hewitt a shooting chance after the break but a deflection took the ball safely to Harris.

Andre Edwards failed to get in a shot during a chaotic scramble in the  ‘Berrow 6 yard box and he was cautioned late in the encounter, but in truth, a couple of his defensive mistakes early in the match could well have been costly.

BOOKING FOR EDWARDS...

George Robbins & Matt Bailey…

This was a good contest between a left wingback and a right-back, with good rushes by Robbins and several clean and fine tackles by the Roman. Subsequently, little came of Robbins’ approach play but more incisiveness involving George and Ben Thomas would contribute to the Yellows’ victory.

ROBBINS (3): LIVELY IN THE FIRST-HALF...

Ben Thomas…

He struck after half-time when a low right-side cross by wingback Brad Hands (with a foot) was collected with his back to Andre Edwards by Nathan Davies, the central striker. He was able to nudge it on for the taller Josh Bowen and he shoved the ball left for Ben Thomas to get onto, inside the 18 yard box, ahead of Bailey. As Connor-Edwards advanced, Ben shot almost through the goalie and parity had been regained.

Bowen had curled a first period shot past the right angle of crossbar and post from downtown but seemed to be limping slightly later in the contest, when he was replaced. 

HAVE THEY SPOTTED A GOLDEN PLOVER?

Goal two for Ben came courtesy of a break, leaving Ricketts stranded upfield which was unfortunate, for the Alcester skipper had played a huge part in his team’s dogged display. Replacement Harry Keen slipped the ball right for Ben who was in space and his low drive was hard and accurate as it fizzed past defender Mike Jennings and the despairing Connor-Edwards into the left side of the net from just beyond the 18 yard line. 

CELEBRATING THE WINNER...

The Inkberrow offense… 

Robbins headed too high for the hosts from a George Thomas corner, Nathan Davies nabbed the ball from Andre Edwards but poked a left-footer, right to left across the 6 yard box, then the striker shot too high following  decent run at the Romans’ defence.

BOWEN & CLARKE...

Andre Edwards blocked Ben Thomas shot, the rebound falling to the often smart home midfielder Jay Higgins-Pugsley whose drive went wide. Ben Thomas almost reached a low centre which flew across the Alcester goalmouth too…

Final words…

The home defence, commandeered by skipper Callum Davies kept their solidity for much of the match and protected Harris successfully, so credit to Chris Parish and Cook for their resolve.

PARISH & HEWITT...

Both teams could claim to have deserved the win but Alcester were wayward with their finishing too often and Ben Thomas netted two from three shots…

GAME OVER...

Sad scenes erupted near the end of the match when the ball ran out of play between spectators deemed to be Fairfield Villa lads. It would be a long throw opportunity for Ricketts and as the spectators either allowed the ball to run away across the next field (or perhaps helped it on its way?) words were passed between them and Ricketts.

Coach Seeley was incensed and was restrained as he attempted to circumnavigate the pitch to give the interlopers, er, a little advice…

As the game ended, Coach Seeley and a few of his players appeared to chase off their Fairfield rivals, who made rather a speedy exit to the car-park.

The truth of it? No idea. But Ricketts and Coach Seeley were definitely angry…

Happy New Year lads…

TEAMS:

INKBERROW:

GEORGE HARRIS, BRAD HANDS, GEORGE ROBBINS, CHRIS PARISH, CALLUM DAVIES (CAPT), CALLUM COOK, JAY HIGGINS-PUGSLEY, GEORGE THOMAS, NATHAN DAVIES, JOSH BOWEN, BEN THOMAS.

SUBS:

ANDY LIDDLE, CHRIS DYSON, HARRY KEEN, ADAM DANKENBRING, JACK COLE.

ALCESTER TOWN:

DOM COOPER-EDWARDS, MATT BAILEY, MIKE JENNINGS, ANDRE EDWARDS, DREW RICKETTS (CAPT), LEWIS CLARKE, KARL WALKER, COLLINS AJAYI, REECE HEWITT, OWEN WARD, JACOB WALTON.

SUBS:

JACK WARD, SAM JONES, RYAN FAULKNER, CRAIG GASIEWSKI.