PERSHORE TOWN 2-1 COTON GREEN: THE MOWDOG'S HONEST, INDEPENDENT REPORT...

 Pershore Strike To Avoid Penalty Shootout…

Pershore Town 2-1 Coton Green

The Mowdog’s thoughts…

A dramatic late goal by Pershore replacement Josh Willis dumped Coton Green from the second Semi-Final of the Medley Crooke Memorial Cup. At least a penalty shootout was averted…

COTON'S GREENS...

Neither team really took a grip in midfield during the match, which was often low key, regularly careless, usually tetchy. Verbal irritation between a few players had punctuated the second period of the untidy encounter, which then erupted into unpleasantness after two desperate added-time corners by the visitors had been survived by the Plums.

THE SKIPPERS SHOOK HANDS HERE.
I GUESS THEY DIDN'T LATER...

The problem began with what looked like a spat between the two skippers, Kirk Layton and Joe Smith as the referee blew for the end of the tie. A few other folks joined in, including a couple of chaps from the Coton dugout and the official was seen to be forced to issue a couple of yellow cards and one red one.

ACCUSATIONS...

PLUMS KEEPING OUT OF IT...

It was a sad end to the match, for any pleasure in winning was likely dampened for Pershore by the behaviour of several people in the scuffles.

NOT GOOD...

Coton certainly improved their performance after half-time, not allowing time on the ball for Pershore’s defenders, as they tried to play out from the back. A penalty equaliser for the guests straight after the recess, which cancelled out Jake Donnelly’s goal in the latter stages of the opening period, was a shock for the Plums and until their substitutes livened things up later in the game, Coton proved to be stubborn adversaries.

Coton’s attacking game…

Basically, John Baker shouldered the attacking threat and after a Brett Fellows free-kick from downtown had been well blocked by the Persian wall, the Coton winger clipped in a centre, which Layton deflected to the unmarked Baker, 8 yards out but his low shot was turned aside by Town goalie Brendon Bunn’s right boot.

Just before the recess, Pershore stalwart Steve Webb plunged to make a fine block and diversion of Luke Fox’s low drive but it was Webb whose upper arm blocked the ball from a Coton cross immediately after the interval, which resulted in a penalty for the visitors.

Skipper Smith shoved his right-booted penalty into the right corner of the net past the upright Bunn. 

SMITH IS ABOUT TO REGAIN PARITY...

During the second-half, Tom Cullen had a shot blocked by the sliding, often laughing Logan Stoddart, Baker drove into the side-netting and a Matt Gardner effort from 22 yards deflected off Layton, forcing a decent save by Bunn, falling left.

Their two late corners caused scares but Town survived them, despite claims for penalties. And then the trouble began… 

Pershore’s offensive efforts…

Six first period opportunities ended with a goal and five efforts rising over the target. Levi Steele and Jordan Adams nodded too high, Petar Tonchev’s free-kick from downtown dropped just too late and both James Baldwin and effective midfielder Jordan Jones shot just over the target from 18 yards.

Certainly Donnelly’s long throw was useful for Pershore on a few occasions but it was his goal which separated the teams at the break.

Baldwin’s rush towards the penalty-box saw visiting defender Fox miscue, then right-back Luke Hennessy slice the ball upwards and backwards, allowing Steele to challenge Fox for it but the ball rolled right for the unmarked Donnelly to poke past goalie Lewis Landers from 8 yards. 

1-0...

After the half-time breather, Smith blocked a Jones drive, Donnelly’s shot from Steele’s nod-down was deflected for a corner, before Steele somehow lunged forward at the far left post but headed a great chance over the crossbeam. Lucky for him then that the dimming light had put my camera out of focus and no record exists of the miss… Lucky for me too, because had that gone in, I would have been really upset to have missed it…

When the replacements arrived, Pershore picked up their game quite a bit, for Jamie Clarke’s touches were smart, Aidan Clarke made a few decent runs along the left flank and Willis was a constant menace.

THE REF ENJOYS BRANDISHING A YELLOW CARD...

STODDART, RIGHT, CHECKS HIS HAIR GEL...

Landers saved an angled Clark drive, then did well to grab a low centre from the same player, whilst Donnelly headed too high from Layton’s right-side delivery.

And then, with moments remaining, the Persians won it and it stemmed from Donnelly’s long, left-wing throw, which was glanced on by Adams’ head. Willis had shifted away from the middle towards the right stick, no Coton player had noticed and thus the Plum had time to shoot first-time towards the right corner of the net and although Landers did well to get his gloves to the ball, he just couldn’t keep it out…

2-1...

The final words…

Thanks to Danny Janes for leaving my name at the gate, which was a kind gesture and it was good to see Robbo from Lye Town, who of course was checking up on prospective opponents in the Final on 27th May…

STEELE (LEFT): NOT A LOT WENT RIGHT ON THE NIGHT...

Despite the efforts of Jones and occasionally Tonchev, it seemed there was little flow in the home midfield, although Sean Cooke was often in space and unused wide on the left before the break. 

Baker worked so hard for the guests, as did Fraser Doyle in midfield, alongside the combative Curt Shiels but overall, both defences must be applauded for protecting their respective glovemen so well.

COTON DISCUSS AN EARLIER INCIDENT WITH THE OFFICIAL...

Subsequently it all came down to an elusive moment by Willis and a confident well struck finish, earning his team a Cup-Final berth, which on goal opportunities alone, they deserved, despite the plucky second period showing by their guests…