RACING CLUB WARWICK 5-1 BEWDLEY TOWN: THE MATCH REPORT...

 Racers Dominate Plucky Riversiders…

Racing Club Warwick 5-1 Bewdley Town

The Mowdog’s thoughts…

A fine welcome was received from Gary and Ruth Vella, which included thunder, lightning and heavy rain, likely their idea of a firework display to celebrate the fact that I had finally paid RCW a visit…

The Racers certainly entertained for much of this game, despite Bewdley’s stubborn resistance during the opening 45 in particular and in fact the Riversiders even regained parity before the interval when Ben Worthington equalised an early strike by Dylan Parker for Warwick.

THE TOSS...

However, post-recess, the hosts were more clinical and skipper Cal Templeton showed his forwards the way to goal with a precious brace, soon added to with goals from a pair of midfielders. Sadly, central striker Colin Smith, whose personal performance warranted at least one goal, was unable to find the net on the night but his physical presence, his marauding, his inclusion of others in offensive play and his charismatic demeanour were often outstanding. 

NO UMBRELLAS...

James Hancocks was instrumental in the victory too, capping a fine display with a firm left-booted strike to add goal four for his team. Even when he dropped to left wingback, his contribution was positive and generally accurate. On the right-flank, Chris Mayuba was often rampant, using pace and elusive footwork to shove Town into reclusive defence.

It appeared that the contrast between the two offenses was the difference between a swashbuckling approach and rather a reserved one, for Bewdley certainly played their part in an entertaining evening at Townsend Meadow. Their goal was a real whack by Ben Worthington but in truth, until late in the match when several replacements had been infused into an already lost cause, few real chances were created by the visitors.

THE COMBATIVE MARTIN & RUDD...

Much admiration should be offered to the players for enduring awful conditions on a surface which appeared to bear the elements satisfactorily.

The Bewdley offense…

Kyonn Evans’ efforts were laudable, despite his colleagues being forced to play on the counter-attack and he headed over the bar early on from Ellis Stubbins’ free-kick, whilst Luke Morris’ low cross was cleared over his own crossbar by Racer Josh Steele. A decent Worthington effort flew wide, skipper Simon Rudd shot straight at home goalie Dan Crane and an Evans free-kick from 23 yards flew just off target. 

FIRST-AID...

Josh Carpenter and Worthington drove well off target in the closing stages of the second period, when mere consolations were being sought.

The Bewdley goal stemmed from an accidental assist by Carpenter, as the ball rebounded off him to the left side of the penalty-box from a Warwick clearance, straight to the unmarked Worthington. The forward’s angled 15 yard volley was spectacularly thunderous, lightning quick and it skidded off Crane’s soaking gloves onto the underside of the crossbar and into the net. Neat…

The Racers in attack…

Early in the encounter, Smith broke on the left-flank and made a strong rush but the Riversiders criminally failed to track the run of Parker at inside-right and so when Smith’s low pass across the 6 yard box was met by his strike-partner’s easy finish, Town’s goaltender Joe Stockton was beaten all ends up for 1-0. 

SMITH ASSISTS...

...& PARKER SCORES...

The surprise was that no further goals were claimed by the Racers in that half, the ball once rebounding across goal off Eli Bako, a Hancocks drive flew low straight at Stockton and when Smith cleverly freed Parker on he left, his angled effort drifted wide of the far stick.

PARKER WOULD SHOOT WIDE...

A 30 yard Hancocks free-kick rose too high, before Stockton did well to reach a chipped effort by Parker, then Smith shot straight at the ‘keeper and also curled one attempt wide of the target.

MARTIN SIMPLY AIN'T PLEASED...

After the resumption Bako missed twice, lacking power once, before somehow shooting wide from 12 yards when a pass was rolled to him. Bako also rounded Stockton by veering left but he sliced his 19 yard effort off target as he lost his balance. Bako’s low centre was later fumbled against the near post by Town defender Rio Bakala, before Stockton dropped onto the ball like his pet rabbit had tried to escape. 

Stockton dived right to save well from the unfortunate Smith, who curled another effort well wide from an assist by Mayuba. Mayuba himself tricked his way into the middle but shot just wide, whilst Parker drove wide and a fine cross-shot by that left boot of Hancocks struck the crossbar so hard that the ball ricocheted for a throw-in. 

SMITH: A FINE SHIFT...

Late on, replacement Danny Murphy forced a low save from the overworked Stockton but subsequently three goals did go in to turn a miserable night for Bewdley into one of abject horror.

Those three second period strikes…

A left-wing flag-kick played short saw a deep centre fall onto Templeton’s boot in front of Stockton and the ball rolled into the left side of the net for 2-1 but the skipper was soon at it again when the hosts won a free-kick deep right.

The assist from substitute Toby Scott was excellent and Templeton rose to nod the ball into the left side of the net but for the second time, he was poorly marked by the Town defenders.

Goal four stemmed from Smith’s presence on the 6 yard line but he was unable to convert Bako’s assist, due to a flailing defender. The ball though fizzed to the unmarked Hancocks, left of centre, 11 yards from goal and he smacked it low into the right corner of the net.

Sadly for Stockton, the fifth goal was something he would rue more than the others I guess and I feel that he didn’t deserve that disappointment, due to his decent performance. A low drive from downtown by replacement Connor Mort passed beneath the goalminder as he fell right and the rout was complete… 

The final words…

Bewdley were well beaten, despite Stockton’s efforts but although the Town defence leaked rather badly at times, individually Jordan Graham, Dan Brookes and Bakala got in some telling clearances. The marking though for each of the goals was sadly lax.

A UFO IS ABOUT TO STRIKE...

The lively and endearing Bako will have better days in front of goal but Desean Martin, despite his late caution was heavily involved in the Racers’ passing movements and his workrate was exceptional.  Yes, Mayuba was voted MVP by the club but surely Smith ran him close in his go-to striking role and Templeton was pretty powerful at the back too, alongside the rangy but imposing Jamal Clarke and the reliable Steele.

Left-sided wingback Dan Kavanagh was instrumental in complementing the rapid rushes of Mayuba on the right, until he was rested after the break and of course Parker was a danger in attack.

To have Danny Murphy on the bench says a lot for the starting eleven for the Racers and if this type of form continues, several opposition teams could find themselves in some difficulty.

Clarke and Bakala were apparently cautioned for their respective teams but really this was a cleanly fought match and in all honesty, Bewdley competed heartily but were well beaten by an often slick, attacking opposition…

TEAMS:

RACING CLUB WARWICK:

DAN CRANE, CHRIS MAYUBA, DAN KAVANAGH, CAL TEMPLETON (CAPT), JAMES CLARKE, JOSH STEELE, DESEAN MARTIN, JAMES HANCOCKS, COLIN SMITH, DYLAN PARKER, ELI BAKO.

SUBS:

ARMANI BENNETT, CONNOR MORT, DANNY MURPHY, TOBY SCOTT, ROSS QUARTERMAINE.

BEWDLEY TOWN:

JOE STOCKTON, LUKE MORRIS, JORDAN GRAHAM, ELLIS STUBBINS, DAN BROOKES, RIO BAKALA, JOSH CARPENTER, SIMON RUDD, KYONN EVANS, BEN WORTHINGTON, NATHAN CHOWNES-HIGGS.

SUBS:

ALEX QUAYNOR, STANFORD STEWART, ASA HUMPHREYS, DARREN STEADMAN (GK).