LUTTERWORTH TOWN 1-0 RUGBY BOROUGH: THE MOWDOG'S INDEPENDENT REPORT...

 Profligate Boro Beaten By Adomako Strike…

Lutterworth Town 1-0 Rugby Borough

The Mowdog’s thoughts…

Rugby had dominated the first period so much offensively that I moved towards the end which Lutterworth would be defending for the second-half, hoping to get better footage of the majority of the attacking play… Oops… Wrong move.

MCGAHEY IMPRESSES EVERYONE BY BEING ABLE TO CALL EITHER HEADS OR TAILS WHILST STANDING UPON ONE LEG...

The hosts had survived a tough opening period, during which some good saves by ‘keeper Zach Hedges (my mum’s maiden name, as it happens…) and also some weak finishing by Boro had somehow kept the contest scoreless at the interval. 

CLEAN SHEET FOR HEDGES...

Typically, however the Swifts battled their way into the match after the recess and might have netted a couple of times before Benji Adomako benefited from an assist by the hugely industrious home forward Divine Okyere and scored a smart goal. However, the goal was scored in the net some way from where I was by then filming, a view slightly marred by the two dugouts and the coaches in their ‘technical areas’. A couple of warming-up substitutes passed in front of my hand-held bridge camera too as I watched Okyere win possession and release his team-mate. Then, typically, the linesman also moved past the lens at a critical moment but despite the hassle, pleasingly I was able to capture the shot which won the game… Phew…

GOALSCORER ADOMAKO...

Ah, yes, the linesman in front of me after the break… He made a splendid comment to the Town manager, Will Andrew after he failed to raise his flag for offside against Boro for the fourth time during the second 45. On each occasion, the official cited the ‘number 2’ as playing the opponents onside and finally, exasperated at the criticism he was receiving, commented rather loudly, “Your defence is like a dog-leg…”

That was memorable… 

How Boro’s offense faded from the proceedings…

Before a weak headed effort towards goal by burly Town striker Nick Reeves interrupted Rugby’s first period quest for a goal, lively Boro winger Halim Halim had already sliced wide of the target then set up skipper Ged McGahey for a low shot at Hedges. Hedges had also plunged right to turn away a free-kick from downtown by Boro’s often dangerous Adam Creaney. McGahey had been unable to get in a shot when well placed but after Reeves’ headed effort for the hosts, more attacking by the guests really ought to have produced a goal.

McGahey’s near post flick was adjudged not to have been deflected for a corner by the much maligned referee, Hedges beat away a Halim centre but Creaney shot the rebound too high, a miscue by midfielder Tyler Reeve led to a mis-hit shot by McGahey to Hedges, before home defender Luke Wilson’s second risky foul set up Marsden for a 19 yard free-kick attempt. However, Marsden slipped over and his shot rolled to Hedges… Oops…

As half-time beckoned, Boro’s two best chances were eked out and inevitably both involved McGahey. First, a headed flick-on from Halim’s cross by Reeve left McGahey close in and with only Hedges to beat but the ‘keeper, threw out his right hand and saved the effort. Then McGahey made ground to the right byeline but his low delivery flew across the six-yard box untouched and thus the Swifts survived until the quarter-hour break for a cuppa…

Incredibly, the output from Boro offensively during the second period was severely limited. A McGahey drive from distance rose well over the crossbeam, then as time began to run out replacement Jack Barnett rose unchallenged at the far post for a right-flank corner by McGahey which had flown over the reach of Hedges but Barnett’s effort was mis-headed upwards and the chance had gone.

A final chance fell to central defender Josh Cooke from the edge of the penalty-box but his attempt rose way too high and thus Lutterworth held on to secure an unlikely victory, considering their first period struggles…  

The second half improvement by the hosts…  

Reeves had an early second-half shot shot blocked by Rugby’s Josh Baker, then rolled an effort agonisingly wide of the left upright, wrong-footing the visiting defence and leaving goalie Jake Bull stranded.

But then Okyere’s divine pass (sorry about that..) fed the ball left to the always menacing Adomako, who got past Boro’s Ash Piper and shot low past Bull from an acute angle…

1-0...

Later, a rush by Hne Wilson to the right byeline resulted in a low drive which smacked against the foot of the near post and the ball flew out towards Ben Bradshaw whose shot was deflected by the fine challenge executed by Boro’s Josh Baker. Adomako nearly added a second goal for the Swifts too when he rose like, er, a swift to nod Bradshaw’s free-kick but as the looping ball dropped it spun away from goal like a delivery from a Leicestershire spin bowler, allowing Bull to collect with comfort…

The final words…

Thanks to Lutterworth for the fine welcome, once I was able to get past the turnstile and certainly the Swifts’ second-half performance was strong, generally nullifying the previously dominant play by their visitors. Central defender Brandon Williams was impressive often and he was well complemented by the solid Luke Wilson whose two rash challenges to concede free-kicks in the opening half proved to be invaluable, for neither Creaney, nor Marsden could capitalise with their set-piece attempts at goal… The conscientious defending by home forward Okyere was effective and admirable during the early stages of the game when Boro really held control.

McGahey was usually at the heart of much of the Boro creativity, although Creaney’s runs on the right and Halim’s smart work on the left had stretched the home full-backs, Brad Coleman (originally ‘Oleman’ on the white-board in the bar…) and James Sanderson. Too often though, the service from wide wasn’t accurate enough for the visitors and Marsden was often forced deeper to try and affect the match. The long grass might have been a factor too, perhaps… 

Piper and fellow full-back Shay Young were always prepared to support their midfielders but subsequently, the team’s efforts failed to produce a goal…

Home skipper Tom Marrs, alongside Bradshaw were really effective in midfield after the interval, whilst Hne Wilson made several dangerous rushes along the right flank…

However, was it the arrival of The Messiah, Brian ‘He’s A Very Naughty Boy’ Ndlovu whose calm cameo appearance secured the victory? 

IT IS A SIGN FROM THE MESSIAH...
LET US ALL CARRY OUR SHINGUARDS AS WE WALK THROUGH LIFE... 

Hmm, who knows…

Images...

WHY DOES IT TAKE NEARLY TWO MINUTES TO EXECUTE MOST FREE-KICKS THESE DAYS?

BRADSHAW & TOMMY GLASSCOE (NICE TO SEE ANOTHER EX-COVENTRY UNITED PLAYER AGAIN...)

OK, SO I'VE NOT SEEN ANYONE BALANCING A BALL ON THE BACK THE NECK WHILST VERTICAL BEFORE.
REMARKABLE...

HALIM: DANGEROUS BEFORE THE BREAK...

LUKE WILSON BOOGIES UPFIELD...

"WHY DO YOU KEEP SENDING THIS PARTICULAR BALL BACK ONTO THE FIELD, BOSS?"

TROUBLE AT THE MILL...