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.