BEWDLEY TOWN 3-2 NEW DALES VALE: THE MATCH IN WORDS...

 The Rain, No Cover, An Officious Linesman & A Circling Buzzard…

Bewdley Town 3-2 New Dales Vale

(Pre-season ‘exercise’…)

The Mowdog’s thoughts…

There was no rain at all when I arrived at Ribbesford Meadows but I was impressed to see a new shelter erected behind the goal at the facilities end of the ground. Well done, Bewdley… However, this pre-season match was to be acted out on Bewdley’s second pitch, behind the unready main pitch with its legendary grandstand and of course it was further along the river, which had no shelter at all. And so, at 2.54pm it rained and continued to do so until half-time… My umbrella was forced into action, spectators got wet and that made filming rather a chore at times…

I chose to film the game on the banked side of the pitch, opposite the two small dugouts but as I awaited the kick-off, just to the left of the half-way line so as not to interfere with the linesman’s role, he trundled over and told me to move. I was incensed… I was neither in his way, nor would have been, as he had only one half of the pitch to cover, which was to the right of the centre-line, not to the left… 

I moved a metre (sorry Boris, a yard…) to my left and then he told me that he needed the whole touchline free for his movements and I should shift away. That was a lie, of course. I told him I was filming and stood my ground, rather than walking across to address his shins with my left foot…

INTERESTING THAT AT THE START OF THE 2ND HALF, THE BEWDLEY COACH (?) IN LIGHT BLUE STOOD CLOSE TO THE LINESMAN...
NOTHING WAS SAID TO HIM AT ALL...

There was an alleged spitting incident late in the game too which saw an irate spectator stride half-way round the pitch to verbally abuse the player accused of the impromptu flob, which was all rather unsavoury…

Of course, there was a group of young Vale fans present too, who fetched balls from the undergrowth and really supported their team, especially left-sided attacker Ryan Upson. They stood on my side of the pitch after the break but the annoying linesman said nothing… 

The game itself…

It was a committed affair by both teams, played at quite a pace for a pre-season outing but I guess that Vale, although pleased with their performance would have been disappointed to concede a winning goal close to the end of the 90 minutes.

Bewdley, from the Midland League Premier division found their opponents from the Hellenic League Division 2 West really tough to break down and although they led early, by the interval they were 1-2 behind. Deliveries from wide by Town were often inaccurate, although central striker Kyonn Evans thought he deserved a spot-kick when visiting goalie Harry Leach raced from goal and dived at his feet.

EVANS GOES OVER...

Both Evans and Connor Perry-Holmes had goals disallowed for offside in the opening period and Perry-Holmes volleyed a decent chance too high. Tyler Sands-Fawkes (please don’t tell me his nickname is Guy…) who was instrumental in the taking of set-pieces with his left boot for Bewdley did fire an effort from downtown which bounced off the base of the left post and struck the fallen Leach’s legs and his back, before the ‘keeper was able to snatch the ball.

EVANS' CLEVER FINISH WAS DISALLOWED FOR OFFSIDE...

After the break, replacement Vale goalie Marcin Celmer wasn’t really tested much by the replacements in the home attack, even from free-kicks taken from 25 yards or so, although he would eventually concede twice and then he made a decent save as time ran out from Perry-Holmes. 

The guests invited Town to threaten their own goal before half-time, for Kyri Kourouyianni sent a looping header towards his own right pole, which Luke Morris did well to nod off the goal-line. Forward Rio Janic, who proved to be a useful performer for Vale during the contest, shot into the side-netting after home ‘keeper Sidaway had parried a Connor Grant effort into his path, then the striker drew a comfortable near post save by the goaltender. A couple of weak efforts caused Sidaway no trouble but he was also beaten twice, as described below.

After the recess, Janic was put clear by Josh Farnsworth’s pass but struck his low effort past the left upright and to be fair, despite some decent team play, the visitors didn’t really trouble Sidaway again, although Grant did slap a volley from Celmer’s long punt well over the target. 

The goals…

1-0:

A flurry of attacking by Town led to the ball reaching Morris at the right edge of the penalty-box which he struck low towards goal. ‘Keeper Leach fell right as the ball evaded several boots but couldn’t hold onto the ball, which allowed the lurking Elliott Sumnall to convert easily.

SUMNALL RETREATS AFTER SCORING...

1-1:

Dave Hadden’s right-flank centre fell from Grant’s challenge to the feet of Jay Collins, who side-stepped a defender and shot low from 12 yards but Sidaway was unable to prevent the ball from entering the net near his left post.

THE GOALSCORER LOOKS A LITTLE LEFT OUT...

1-2:

Farnsworth chased a long kick forward at inside-left, stole past Town defender Jordan Graham and shot an angled drive past Sidaway into the far corner of the net. The ball had squeezed between the goalie and his near stick.

FARNSWORTH, RIGHT, IS ACCLAIMED...

2-2:

A strange goal this… A long cross from the right by replacement Fisher was nodded inside from beyond the far post by replacement Josh Carpenter, a header which beat flapping goalie Celmer, allowing replacement Will Ward to side-foot a simple goal…

WILL WARD HAS SCORED FOR 2-2...

3-2:

Replacement Ben Worthington chased a long kick at inside-right, Celmer raced from goal to deny the forward but the Bewdley man reached the ball first to nudge it past the flailing goalminder. There was still much to do but Worthington’s smart angled drive flew past two retiring Vale defenders into the far side of the net.

BEN WORTHINGTON, 2ND FROM LEFT HAS WON THE GAME FOR BEWDLEY...

The final thoughts…

I thought that Town’s Sumnall was really effective for his team and he was rewarded with the first goal, Perry-Holmes has always been a dangerous forward for any team to include and Evans’ movement was decent at times, despite a lack of quality service. Morris offered a few threats on his right-flank overlaps too.

SUMNALL: HUGELY EFFECTIVE FOR TOWN...

Vale were competitive and their physicality was a real plus, as they caused Bewdley some real difficulties. All their defenders battled well enough and left-back Elliot Ash made a number of good interceptions, alongside the immensely effective Jay Jones. 

Perhaps the influence of the home substitutes, two of whom scored, was critical, for the lack of fresh legs for Vale subsequently meant more of a struggle in the latter stages…

Conclusion…

I ignored the offensive linesman, packed up my wet umbrella, noticed a buzzard circling high above the river and left Bewdley to drive home, after a decent first encounter of the season for me and my hand-held camera…

Squads (which I thank both clubs for sending me lists of on Saturday evening…)

Bewdley Town:

Joe Sidaway, Luke Morris, Jordan Graham, Ellis Stubbins, Elliott Sumnall, Kyri Kourouyianni, Tyler Sands-Fawkes, Sam Lester, Kyonn. Evans, Connor Perry-Holmes, Callum Gillies, Josh Carpenter, Fisher, Will Ward, Ben Worthington & a few others, as yet anonymous!

New Dales Vale:  

Harry Leach, Dave Hadden, Elliot Ash, Si Craddock, Jay Jones, Spencer Kenward, Luke Tomkins, Jamie Heason, Rio Janic, Connor Grant, Ryan Upson, Josh Farnsworth, James Palmer, Jay Collins, Marcin Celmer.