ALCESTER TOWN 4-0 MORETON RANGERS: THE WORDS & THE IMAGES...

 Dyson Schemes Romans To Decisive Performance Against Plucky Moreton…

Alcester Town 4-0 Moreton Rangers

The Mowdog’s thoughts…

As ever, there is no point in reporting fully about a pre-season workout, so these words are simply my own opinions about a few things I saw on the day. 

A look at the video highlights will offer a decent insight into the incidents during this keenly fought contest, so I will refrain from cataloguing each goal chance.

Firstly, a huge thanks to both clubs for willingly offering me the names and numbers of their players, which made commentating so much easier. In fact, my request to cover the contest was made late, when my original choice of Knowle v FC Stratford was switched to Knights Lane on a 4G outside pitch. Thanks to the Alcester Chairman, also Coach Aaron and his staff for accommodating me.

Rain had fallen for most of the morning and I knew that it would be brolly in one hand and camera in the other from the start but fortunately, despite the persistent ominous clouds, the rain stopped soon after the 3pm kick-off. Pitch 2 was used for the encounter to protect the newly laid turf in the main pitch’s goalmouths but the conditions were good underfoot, despite the overnight and morning rain.

A young Moreton team’s aerial defending was exploited cruelly by home skipper Ricardo Richards (twice) and central defender Tristan Roberts, who nodded in the first three goals with some ease and the fourth goal was a break from half-way by Odane Barnes, when replacement Jon Walsh charged down a pass by Rangers’ most influential player Kian Burrows inside his own half.  

4-0: BARNES, CENTRE...

Alcester struck posts three times after the interval, Connor Kelly doing so from a prone position twice in three seconds… You have to see that incident on the video highlights… Kelly looked dangerous in the latter stages of the match and might have claimed a spot-kick too. 

In truth though, the game was influenced by the Roman legionary Chris Dyson, who was seemingly everywhere, making interceptions, winning possession, creating smart passes and indeed, it was his free-kick from downtown which struck the Moreton crossbar, initiating a second phase of attack, from which Richards nodded in Brad Hands’ deep centre from the right to start the scoring.

1-0: RICHARDS, SECOND FROM RIGHT...

Dyson then assisted Roberts for his goal with a well flighted corner but the Moreton defending was beginning to look a little feeble, if truth be told.

2-0: THE SMILING ROBERTS...

A long second period throw from the left by the lively Jake Wicketts was headed in unchallenged at the far post by Richards, as Moreton’s resistance was broken. Burrows had been sin-binned and missed the final ten minutes of the match but he had battled well and passed the ball with decent insight on occasions too.

3-0: RICHARDS, SECOND RED SHIRT FROM THE RIGHT...

Several chances went begging for the Romans but Rangers’ goalie Dale Freeman did make a fine diving save from Wicketts’ left-footer in the latter stages. The ‘keeper made other saves too but at times he seemed to lack cover from his central defenders, as Alcester’s experienced and physical opponents took advantage.

Inaccurate finishing by Town subsequently allowed Moreton to leave with a more respectable scoreline but they did manage to forge a couple of opportunities themselves before the break. Trialist number 4 fired in a good effort from way downtown straight at home goalminder Tom Walker and winger Freddie Rix struck the base of the outside of the right stick with a low, angled drive before the interval.

The final words…

Moreton will certainly improve as the season gets underway and in fact they were only able to use one replacement on the day. A new and young team, they certainly competed well until the first two goals went in within a few minutes of each other before the recess.

Alcester, driven on by Kelly, the irrepressible Luke Dugmore and the impressive Dyson will surely be contenders in Midland League 2 this coming season, which promises to be a very competitive division…

The images...

LOOKS LIKE THE REF HAS JUST RELEASED DUGMORE (4) FROM A CUDDLE.
SURELY NOT?

REF: "NO, I ONLY WANT TO SLAP ONE HAND, NOT TWO..."

PUT KILTS ON WICKETTS & RICHARDS & YOU'VE GOT A HIGHLAND REEL...

COVID DISTANCING MAINTAINED BY SINGH & ROBERTS...

THE REF INSPECTS, ER, DUGMORE'S HAND...

BURROWS LOOKS AT THE GROUND, WHERE ANIMALS, ER, BURROW...

SINGH WANTS TO BE A TRAFFIC COP...

IS THAT AN ARMY SERGEANT STRIDING AWAY IN A BLACK UNIFORM?

REF: "I'M GOING TO BIN YOU FOR SINNING, NUMBER 3..."

DYSON, RIGHT: RAN THE GAME...

IF DUGMORE IS TELLING THE TRUTH, THEN WHY IS HIS NOSE GETTING LONGER?
OH! IT'S A FINGER...