MORETON RANGERS 1-3 BRISLINGTON FC: THE MATCH REPORT...

 The Briz Do The Biz Before The Break…

Moreton Rangers 1-3 Brislington FC

The Mowdog’s thoughts…

This FA Vase tie was a strange one, for Brislington’s strong opening half was followed by rather an insipid second period, which allowed the previously poor Rangers back into the game. 

From a dead and buried 0-3 deficit, the hosts nabbed a goal and then might just have nicked a couple more but for the crossbar and a lack of incision. The visitors had attacked at will during the opening period and forwards Dean Griffiths, Danny Dodimead and Jordan Scadding had threatened a number of times with their positive and quick running. 

In truth though, the three goals conceded by Moreton were unconventional, yet in fairness home skipper Hedley Smart and the taller Morgan Ballinger held firm on a number of other occasions. Smart made several fine interventions and really, Rangers’ goalie Dan Hollings wasn’t overly busy, especially after the recess.

THE TOSS...

It seemed that Moreton were sluggish before the interval and apart from a first minute wild slash over the crossbar by Manny Singh, little offense was forthcoming. A few attacking attempts by Rangers as the game wore on when the often interesting Jamie Goodwin began to influence the proceedings, did offer some hope for the hosts, especially after Briz’s lively Dodimead had left the field hurt, whilst both skipper Ash Kington and Griffiths began to suffer from knocks. The guests had already been forced to replace Jack Allward before the game began and Josh Egan had started instead, wearing 12, although he too limped out of the contest…

However, the visiting Foxes held on without too much ado, despite cautions for Griffiths and Harry Tobin and they progressed to Round Two of the FA Vase and a home tie against Corsham Town.

All told, this game lacked atmosphere somehow, despite being an FA Vase tie and too many unforced errors made the affair a tough watch for the respective coaching staffs and the spectators on a warm Cotswolds afternoon.  

THE GOALSCORERS FOR THE BRIZ: GRIFFITHS & DODIMEAD (IN BLUE, OF COURSE...)

That awful first period for Rangers…

Six times the Moreton defence was caught by counter attacks and goals were conceded from three of them. One break was nullified by an extremely questionable offside flag, on another occasion centre-forward Griffiths lobbed too high and from another clear run at goal by Dodimead, home goaltender Hollings managed to palm away an attempted chip.

However, the opening goal was slightly odd, in that Griffiths didn’t know much about the punt forward by Kington and, only just onside, the ball bounced upwards off the tall striker’s head. He swivelled quickly though and with several Rangers calling for an offside flag to nullify the attack, Griffiths lunged to hook a right-boot volley past Hollings and deep into the Rangers’ net. 

0-1...

Not learning from the speedy Briz transitional play, off went Griffiths again but as he was about to shoot, a superb block by Smart stopped the ball but it then ran free. Griffiths shot again from 16 yards and this time the ball looped upwards off the advancing Hollings and over the gloveman, goalwards. Although Griffiths followed up, the ball took an outrageous spin and entered the net at the left post…  

0-2...

Once again not learning from previous misdemeanours, Rangers allowed Dodimead to race clear too and his lob from downtown was perfectly judged over Hollings’ head and the ball bounced sweetly into the net for 0-3…

0-3...

A comfortable lead at the break for the visitors then, who also saw Jordan Ricketts fire too high, after good defending by the leaping Ballinger and a tip away by Hollings, then George Jones was given space to run forward and shoot wide from 20 yards. A low Dodimead centre was later nudged on by Jones then deflected by Hollings, home defender Will Middleton cleared the ball but straight to Ricketts, whose low drive was kicked from his goal-line by the same Rangers player. 

Kington also drove too high following a short corner routine…

The untidy, fractured and disappointing second-half…

I moved my position to the right of the dugouts at half-time, for it seemed a sensible place to be, as Briz would be attacking in that direction. However, I was badly mistaken as the guests lost their threat, the game descended into a mash-mash of errors and stoppages which allowed Rangers to gain some confidence and typically, the main attacking action was at the end further away from me. Thanks for that…

IS THIS A LINE OF SCRIMMAGE BETWEEN THE DETROIT LIONS & THE BALTIMORE RAVENS?

However, once Scadding had been superbly denied by a Smart tackle and Briz defender Danny Barwood had headed over the home goal, Singh caused a worry for the outrushing visiting goalie George Dorrington and a fellow defender as the ball bounced near the 18 yard line. Goodwin though shot well wide after fastening onto the loose ball.

And then the hosts scored…

Striker Josh Burford, alongside the quiet Callum Briggs, really put himself about after the interval and he took possession from Goodwin’s low centre. He was duly partially tackled by Connor Bryant but managed to get in a shot anyway which Dorrington saved well, only for the ball to roll to replacement George Kirby, who shot low from the left-side of the 6 yard box into the vacant right side of the net.

1-3...

After that, Jones won a free-kick with what appeared to be the final phase of a triple jump attempt but Kington’s ensuing set-piece shot from downtown rolled wide. Smart trickled a close range effort wide for Rangers, home midfielder Matt Johnson drove just too high from distance, busy Briz defender Harry Tobin headed wide of the home goal and also shoved an angled centre into Hollings’ arms, whilst Griffiths had a strike chalked off for offside.

The best action though stemmed from a 25 yard drive by Goodwin (playing for Rangers who suffered a Badloss… Get it?) which slammed against the Brislington crossbeam…

There was a slight chance that Briz’s careless second period might be punished but in the end, Rangers were simply not penetrating enough, despite the promptings of Goodwin…

CAUTION FOR GRIFFITHS...

The final words…

A sunny afternoon, a good chat with Rangers’ Chairman and also the acting Moreton manager Steve Edghill, a pleasant outing to the Cotswolds but subsequently a disappointing spectacle overall…

GRIFFITHS & BALLINGER AT IT AGAIN...

Home substitute Josh Lefeuvre performed a lively cameo late on, combining well with Burrows but it was all too little, too late.

A shame Moreton’s programme production had been delayed too, for a few extra pounds would have been made from the sales thereof… 

PLAYGROUND SCUFFLE WITH THE HEADMASTER TAKING CENTRE STAGE...

Ah, well…

TEAMS:

MORETON RANGERS:

DAN HOLLINGS, KIAN BURROWS, WILL MIDDLETON, RICH MOSS, HEDLEY SMART (CAPT), MORGAN BALLINGER, MANNY SINGH, MATT JOHNSON, JOSH BURFORD, CALLUM BRIGGS, JAMIE GOODWIN.

SUBS:

GEORGE KIRBY, ALEX STAYTE, JOSH LEFEUVRE, CONOR WAGSTAFF, MATT MAGEE.

BRISLINGTON FC:

GEORGE DORRINGTON, CONNOR BRYANT, JOSH EGAN, HARRY TOBIN, DANNY BARWOOD, ASH KINGTON (CAPT), GEORGE JONES, JORDAN RICKETTS, DEAN GRIFFITHS, DANNY DODIMEAD, JORDAN SCADDING.

SUBS:

JOSH KNIGHT, FREDDIE THORN, LEE PERKS, NEIL GRAYDON.