UPTON WARREN TODAY, INCLUDING AVOCETS & A LITTLE RINGED PLOVER...

 

STOCKTON FC 0-1 DUNLOP FC: THE INDEPENDENT, HONEST & LIGHTHEARTED MATCH REPORT....

 Dunlop Get Late But Deserved Reward…

Stockton FC 0-1 Dunlop FC

(2nd semi-final of the Coventry Telegraph Cup…)

The Mowdog’s thoughts…

Certainly Dunlop were worthy winners on the night, despite a shaky start when Stockton dominated and threatened from Henry Leaver’s set-pieces but gradually, once Konnor Frankum had recovered from a very early caution, following a rash challenge on Tom O’Callaghan, he used his pace and strength to worry the Stockton defence. Indeed, little was seen of Stockton after the break, except for two isolated efforts from way downtown and a very late scramble in the final seconds, as they desperately tried to find a response to Ryan Watts’ emphatic finish as the game had neared a penalty shootout.

THE DUSK TOSS...

There were too many stoppages in the game to describe it as entertaining, although that said, Dunlop’s offensive efforts certainly increased as the second period wore on, mainly due to some fine skills by replacement Jarro Scott, who often linked up smartly with the left-sided Seb Sam.

Both teams had a player booked but there could and should have been more yellows flashed by a referee who at times seemed unsure whether to apply an advantage or not, resulting in players getting annoyed and becoming even more, er, physical. Both teams felt that they should have been awarded goals earlier in the contest too. First Stef Grudzinski’s downward header for Stockton from a Leaver flag-kick was hacked away from the goal-line by Dunlop’s lively Jaydeep Vim and then later, an error by Stockton ‘keeper Dan Timms led to him backtracking to rescue the ball which might have crossed the goal-line in the Allard Way gloom. The referee was too far behind the play and his assistant not up with the play.

SCREENSHOT: NO GOAL 1...

SCREENSHOT: NO GOAL 2...

However, it did seem that despite the original challenge by Frankum, the ball had been shoved back to the goalie by his team-mate Callum Bell, yet Timms picked up the back-pass… Hmm, a free-kick to Dunlop maybe?   

The winning goal was dramatic, for it did seem that Stockton would have been delighted to go to a shootout by that time and they had already survived a number of attacks from their opponents, especially after the recess.

The goal stemmed from a pass, left to right across the 18 yard line by industrious midfielder Mason Osbourne which Scott collected and held onto, skilfully beating off the challenges of Stockton’s Jay Morgan and Harry Jervis, before slipping a pass right for Watts, who was supporting the attack. He took possession inside the penalty-box and lashed a rising angled drive at goal which took a touch off Timms’ gloves as it rose high into the net. Cue a mad celebration on the touchline, as all the players and staff joined in to express their delight at their prize: a chance to play at the Ricoh Arena in a final against AFC Coventry Rangers…

SCREENSHOT: WATTS IS ABOUT TO SHOOT THE WINNER...

SCREENSHOT: THE BALL IS IN THE STOCKTON NET...

The Stockton response to the late blow…    

Strangely, they nearly scored in the final minute of added time when Dunlop goalie Jack Chatland advanced to stem an attack but somehow in the resulting melee, the ball bounced away to Stockton defender Mike Clough, whose shot forced a parrying save by Chatland to concede a worrying corner. However, Matt Gorman’s attempt at a far post header from the ensuing flag-kick fell wide in a crowd and Dunlop survived.

Little offense had actually been evident from Stockton during the second period, which included the aforementioned long shots by Adam Miles and the creative Leaver. Leaver’s volleyed effort was comfortably held by Chatland who then had to leap to push away Miles’ right-flank delivery. Headers wide from skipper Luke Cole and also Morgan weren’t threatening efforts, however.

Before the break and early in the match, Kasey Smith had headed too high for Stockton, Grudzinski’s header (as described above) was cleared from the goal-line and Leaver had shot way too high. The set-pieces Stockton delivered had put some pressure upon Dunlop but skipper Liam Duffy, Mike Bawden and Ben Ellis had stood strong… 

When Dunlop began to dominate…

Without doubt, the pace of Frankum was key for Dunlop and he might have left Allard Way with goals to his name. Apart from causing that awful moment for Timms, he was released twice more, once through the middle, from whence his awkward right-footer under pressure from 17 yards missed the goal-frame and once on the left but he was unceremoniously felled by Clough, who was cautioned. However, why the better placed referee needed to discuss the matter with an assistant was at first odd, for the lino was a long way from the incident but perhaps a question was being asked about whether Clough had been the last defender? Who knows…

BOOKING FOR CLOUGH...

After the break, Frankum drove an angled shot wide, headed off target and also forced a low save from Timms, who pushed the ball around his left upright. His best chance though stemmed from a fine pass by Scott who freed him at inside-left but with Timms advancing, Frankum shot wide of the right stick.

Callum Davies tested Timms with an angled shot in the opening 45 and won a corner, then shot just wide from downtown after the interval, whilst busy midfielder Taylor Blythe, who showed several smart moves with nifty footwork, drove well wide following fine left-wing play by Sam.

Bawden had shot too high early on and had also forced Timms to palm away a header from the left byeline, when everyone else had stopped playing for some reason. 

The closest Dunlop came to a second period goal before the winner was grabbed resulted from a fine effort by Scott which fizzed past the left pole from 20 yards and a centre, or maybe a shot from the right flank by Adam Welland which smacked against the far left post and was scrambled clear after Davies’ rebound effort was bravely blocked.  

A right-wing corner from Dunlop was cleared from the goal-line by Gorman and from the above goalscoring opportunities listed, it is clear which team was the more offensive and subsequently the more dangerous and surely the more deserving of victory…

YOU CAN BARELY SEE GOALIE TIMMS...

The final words… 

The majority of the skirmishes during this match were untidy and at times reckless but once Dunlop had gained ascendancy and their players realised that the game was there for the taking, there was more dynamism about them. Stockton faded after the 25 minute mark and never really managed to raise their game to compete offensively. Penalties would have been their best chance of success, until Watts struck…

TENSE? YOU BET...

Frankum and Scott, which sounds like a posh shop near Harrod’s in London, were very dangerous at times and AFC Coventry Rangers will have their work cut out to deal not only with that pair but also the physical aspect of Dunlop’s game, which I liked about them.

Sam and Vim were good wing raiders for Dunlop too but although Cole chased lost causes for 90 minutes and the rapid Miles had one or two decent runs, once Leaver took a heavy knock, Stockton’s chances diminished hugely. 

Thanks to Copsewood for making me welcome again and it was good to see the AFC Coventry Rangers contingent bulking out the charity coffers and it makes one wonder what their thoughts now are about May 3rd…

HANDSHAKES...

TEAMS:

STOCKTON FC:

DAN TIMMS, CALLUM BELL, TOM O’CALLAGHAN, MATT GORMAN, MIKE CLOUGH, STEF GRUDZINSKI, ADAM MILES, HARRY JERVIS, LUKE COLE (CAPT), HENRY LEAVER, KASEY SMITH.

SUBS:

JOSH MARSHALL, JAY MORGAN, DOM LALLEY, JOEL BENNETT, CAM POWERS. 

DUNLOP FC:

JACK CHATLAND, SEB SAM, JAY VIM, RYAN WATTS, MIKE BAWDEN, BEN ELLIS, MASON OSBOURNE, TAYLOR BLYTHE, KONNOR FRANKUM, CALLUM DAVIES, LIAM DUFFY (CAPT).

SUBS:

DALE WIGMORE, JARRO SCOTT, ADAM WELLAND. 

STOCKTON FC 0-1 DUNLOP FC: THE LINK TO 23 MINUTES OF VIDEO ACTION, WITH FULL COMMENTARY...

PLEASE CLICK ON THIS MESSAGE TO GO TO THE 23 MINUTES OF VIDEO ACTION WITH FULL COMMENTARY... 

THE BODGING & THE PYDOG EXPERIENCE GRASS IN LATE DAYLIGHT AT ALLARD WAY...

LUKE COLE (RED SHIRT) ASKED ME TO COVER THE GAME.
BET HE WISHES HE HADN'T...

BEFORE DUSK...

DUSK...

THE WILD END...

FRANKUM (9): A PAIN FOR STOCKTON'S DEFENCE WITH HIS STRENGTH & PACE...

WHERE WATTS NETTED THE LATE DUNLOP WINNER...

COLE WAITS TO RESTART AFTER THE GOAL BUT HE MUST KNOW THAT ALL IS LOST, IN REALITY...

PLEASANT SHOT OF ALLARD WAY...

SPRING CLEANING...

 Spring Cleaning…

Used bedding had been dragged

Out of holes, unceremoniously 

And abandoned on claw raked soil,

As badgers replenished setts

For the nurture of their young…

Low, stripped branches sagged

Over the terrain, indecently

And forked their twigs in turmoil

From winter’s harsh regrets,

As rakish and spiky, curiously they hung…

Fresh entrances had been scraped

Out of the ground, rapaciously

And heaps of discarded spoil

Had become pathways for foraging

By badgers with cubs to feed…

Then two masked faces peeped

From trenches, albeit cautiously,

 Yet fed with lusty toil

As I waited, silently disparaging

For daylight to darkness had been forced to concede…

Pete Ray

29th March 2022

Changes to the copse were noticeable but water was left, along with scattered food.

Two badgers then briefly appeared, seemingly to acknowledge the treats… 

PERSHORE TOWN 1-1 STUDLEY FC (3-5 IN A PENALTY SHOOTOUT...): THE INDEPENDENT, HONEST & LIGHTHEARTED MATCH REPORT...

 Bunn’s Penalty Interventions Ease Bees Past Plums…

Pershore Town 1-1 Studley FC (3-5 in a penalty shootout…)

The Mowdog’s thoughts…

I am surely wrong but it did appear that some players weren’t really bothered much about this Bluefin Sports Challenge Cup tie at the Community Stadium near the River Avon’s banks, bathed in early spring sunshine. The reaction of Bees’ playmaker Jack Creswell to scoring the winning shootout penalty summed up my suggestion. It was like he had just downed a very pleasant pint and had stepped outside to to see which neighbours were mowing their lawns. However, Studley were not good on the day, mixing poor defensive marking, a lack of midfield creativity and a penchant for allowing Pershore’s two central defenders Matt Nutt and Kirk Layton acres of space in which to venture forward without any kind of ‘pressing’, along with ‘downtown’ another term borrowed from the NBA…

PUMPING FISTS...

The Clarks, Sam and Aidan could have wrapped up victory for the Plums by half-time and then again after the interval but misfired their acceptable chances. Cruel then, that their guests, whose offense was mostly redundant, took the lead with seconds left of the opening 45, when Sean Brain shoved a low penalty past the gymnastic Eddie Cox. 

The Clarks and replacement Roland Krol missed more opportunities as the game stuttered on in the second period, then wouldn’t you just know it, a Jordan Jones corner found the unchallenged head of Sam Clark in the 6 yard box and with a partial assist from the right post, the tall midfielder regained parity for the Plums.

The shootout was a strange one in truth, for visiting ‘keeper Bren Bunn saved Pershore’s first penalty from, ahem, Aidan Clark but appeared to hurt himself in the process and was unable to make much of an effort to save the other three spot-kicks he faced. Subsequently though, his team-mates rallied round to convert their penalties with aplomb, as did Bunn himself and so it was that the Bees stung the Plums’ comeback hopes harshly and progressed in the competition.

The Clarks…

It was odd that these two Plums seemed destined not to score. Before the break Aidan drove a free-kick from 23 yards so far over the crossbar that Asda’s windows looked in danger for a few seconds. He also missed from 3 yards with an awkward unchallenged header from Sean Cooke’s fine centre, sending it wide of the far stick.

Sam nodded a short James Baldwin centre disappointingly wide at the near post, totally unchallenged, as several Bees stood off him in the opening seconds of the game. He also shot weakly at Bunn, miscued an effort and saw another blocked from, er, downtown.

However, after heading another unchallenged and acceptable chance over the bar from 6 yards after the recess, his towering, er, unchallenged header in the final seconds dropped against the foot of the right vertical pole and bounced into the Studley net to regain the desired parity… He did not take a penalty, however.

RELIEF AT THE EQUALISER...

Aidan did though and shot to Bunn’s right, who dropped quickly to make what proved to be the decisive save of the match.

Other offense by Pershore…  

Layton shot too high from 23 yards, striker Matti Klich drove well wide before the break, then Baldwin lifted a bouncing ball over the target after the restart.

Jones bobbled an effort wide but tenacious substitute Krol was heavily involved, not only being thrown into the net by Bunn, as a corner was awaited, not only verbally abusing the younger of two linespersons and escaping the punishment of a card but he might also easily have netted a few times.

WELSH & BIRCH: RUGGED FOR STUDLEY...

A left-flank Baldwin centre took a touch off Ben Birch’s head and fell to him, unmarked near the right stick but somehow, the Bees’ really effective left-back Jake Bloomer cleared the forward’s header from the goal-line. Bloomer played really strongly for the guests and his long throws were the only real threats offered by a team badly missing Robbie Bunn in midfield.

Krol had another shot blocked but in the scramble which ensued, Sam Clark was flagged offside. After having a weak shot picked up by Bunn, Krol hooked a left-footer, which presumably then took a touch on Bunn’s gloves as the goalie tried to reach the ball and it ricocheted for a corner. 

It was tough to see past Nutt for the Persians’ most valuable player on the day, alongside the equally efficient Layton, although skipper Steve Webb was persistent in midfield, Jones came more into the match after the interval and Jake Cavens was industrious at right-back. 

WEBB HAS TAKEN A KNOCK...

Studley…

Creswell appeared to miss the influence of Robbie Bunn in midfield and seemed rather restricted during the afternoon but he scored the vital fifth penalty for his group, high to Cox’s right to win the tie.

WINNERS...

The offense was so well held in check by Nutt and Layton though and it was only when replacement Harvey Smith saddled up and trotted onto the field that the visitors seemed more of a threat. He hoofed a fine effort from inside-left, 16 yards out against the inside of the near upright, won a few aerial balls and then was cautioned…

I felt uncomfortable about what happened to him though because there were some slightly naughty challenges in the game, whilst Bunn of course chucked Krol into the net as they awaited a Jones flag-kick but nobody else was cautioned at all. Krol’s address to a linesman was far more worthy of a yellow card… 

KROL IS SPOKEN TO...

However, when Smith poked a ball up and over the surrounding fence to waste a few seconds, the referee was there flashing yellow but the only time actually wasted in that instance was when the official issued the booking, for several spare balls lay nearby and in fact Town were waiting to take the ensuing throw during the delay…

SMITH IS CAUTIONED...

Moments later Smith kicked another ball away in the middle of the pitch and that surely was a bookable offence, for no other balls lay close by… The referee merely censured Smith on that occasion… Hmm, consistency…

SMITH IS NOT CAUTIONED...

Dale Edwards and Sean Brain…

Dale couldn’t find the space in which to run at defenders but actually committed several offences, which were not bad fouls at all but by his fifth, maybe a card could have been issued…

Brain took the penalty which offered Studley a 0-1 interval lead. He shot low and confidently past Cox’s dive and into the right corner of the net. Layton had tripped the very quiet Sam Jackson inside the 18 yard box to give the Bees their spot-kick opportunity.

0-1 & A GOAL FOR BRAIN...

The final words…

Cooke was playing as a left-back for Town and he does have the ability to ghost past defenders but being positioned so deeply, he was not given enough opportunities to dribble at Studley’s defenders, which was a shame.

Carter shot well wide for the Bees and Jackson’s miscue landed on the roof of the net before half-time but offensively, Studley struggled, as did their defence, which seemed to lack concentration when the hosts delivered corners or free-kicks into the penalty-box, often leaving players unmarked and not reacting to movement. In truth Town ought to have converted enough chances to have sent their guests packing…

The shootout saw Mark Magee, Carter, rugged right-back Ant Miller, Bunn and Creswell score for the victors and Layton, plus substitutes Elliot Lees and Krol for the vanquished, whilst of course Aidan Clark failed with his effort, courtesy of Bunn’s dive…

SKIPPER CARTER RECEIVED SCANT SERVICE, SO FOUND TIME TO SNACK ON HIS SHIRT...

And yes, there was a Miller, a Bunn and a Bloomer in the Studley team, as well as a Carter…

TEAMS:

PERSHORE TOWN: 

EDDIE COX, JAKE CAVENS, SEAN COOKE, STEVE WEBB (CAPT), KIRK LAYTON, MATT NUTT, JORDAN JONES, SAM CLARK, MATTI KLICH, AIDAN CLARK, JAMES BALDWIN.

SUBS:

DANNY JANES, MATT COMPTON-BROWN, ELLIOT LEES, ROLAND KROL, SCOTT LOADER (GK).

STUDLEY FC:

BREN BUNN, ANT MILLER, JAKE BLOOMER, BEN WELSH, BEN BIRCH, JACK CRESWELL, MATT EDWARDS, DALE EDWARDS, DANNY CARTER, SEAN BRAIN, SAM JACKSON.

SUBS:

MARK MAGEE, MAX LOVERIDGE, HARVEY SMITH, TOM FISHWICK, RYAN SMITH. 

PERSHORE TOWN 1-1 STUDLEY FC (3-5 ON PENALTIES...): THE LINK TO 18 MINUTES OF VIDEO ACTION WITH FULL COMMENTARY...

 PLEASE CLICK ON THIS MESSAGE TO GO TO THE 18 MINUTES OF VIDEO ACTION WITH FULL COMMENTARY...

WHERE THE TEAMS SCORED WITH 30 SECONDS LEFT IN EACH HALF...

NOTE THE SMALL CORNISH CHINA CLAY MOUND...

THE ABBEY IN HAZY SUNLIGHT...

PENALTIES BECKON 1...

THE BODGING & THE PYDOG ENJOY THE MARCH SUNSHINE...

IS EDDIE COX BEING HAULED BACK BY ELASTIC CONSTRAINTS?
(ISN'T THAT A RUGBY THING?)

PENALTIES BECKON 2...

PERSHORE TOWN, THE CLUB WITH A STEAMING FLOODLIGHT...

EDDIE COX, MOMENTS BEFORE THE PENALTY SHOOTOUT...