HIGHGATE UNITED 2-1 LICHFIELD CITY: THE MOWDOG'S INDEPENDENT, LIGHTHEARTED REPORT...

 Battling ‘Gate Overhaul Unfortunate Lichfield…

Highgate United 2-1 Lichfield City

The Mowdog’s thoughts…

Postponements on the day offered me the chance to take a look at Terry Anderson’s group, as they continued to bid for a play-off spot in the Midland League Premier Division. The Coppice is a forty minute walk from where I live and I subsequently witnessed a tense affair between second in the league visitors Lichfield City and the battling ‘Gate.

Ex-Villa midfielder Ian Taylor was present, watching his son Jude play for the guests and he was positioned to the right of me amongst several fellows who had travelled to support the team from the city of five spires. One chap was remarkably vociferous, as witnessed by his resonant joking, his lusty bellowing and his regular, sometimes cruel admonishing of the officials. The noise continuously emanated from him, often with humour, usually with hard-done-by annoyance. Committed? I’d say so… 

Thanks to ‘Gate’s Ben Vallance, I was informed the morning after the match that Aaron Brown, down on the team-sheet as United’s number 10, hadn’t actually played and in fact Jake Collins had taken his place, which explained why Collins was credited with ‘Gate’s second period equaliser. Originally, Collins was due to wear 17, so when I saw the number 10 barely get a touch to James Wilcock’s low near post pass and then the ball flick off City ‘keeper James Beeson’s foot for the equaliser, I became confused… 

WILCOCK (SEATED) WORKED WELL FOR THE HOSTS...

Ah, well, at least it was sorted out for me…

The game was a gritty affair at times which began fairly brightly for the hosts but soon became dominated by the guests, who led 0-1 at the break. In truth, Lichfield created several more goal chances than the ‘Gate managed but due to a few decent saves by home gloveman Reece Francis and several wayward finishes by the Spiremen, the visitors failed to increase their lead and they were punished by a soft equaliser then a neatly taken winner during a physical, yet rather watchable second period. 

The opening segment…      

Both Ryan Harkin and Connor Mooney drove low efforts wide of the target for ‘Gate, before Francis saved his team twice by palming away a near post Dan Smith header, then deflecting a low shot from the left by Jordan Clement high past his left stick with a flailing boot. After a low shot by Luke Childs had been blocked and the dangerous Jack Edwards had slashed an effort past the near, right pole, the guests took a deserved lead. 

HARKIN WAS DENIED BY BEESON LATE IN THE MATCH...

City were looking the more confident and competent outfit, so it was no real surprise when Smith released Clement at inside-left rather neatly and the midfielder slipped outside the outrushing Francis then buried a low angled shot for 0-1.    

A strong rush on the left by Edwards saw him veer inside and smack a rising drive just beyond the far angle of crossbar and upright, before the hosts, shaken by the upturn in their guests’ form, were offered a free-kick from downtown. Surprisingly, the deep-lying Josh ‘Tricky’ O’Grady didn’t take on the shot but midfielder Charlie Shaw did, only for his effort to slap into City’s defensive wall. Well, it’s an historic city, after all…  

The teams’ fortunes during the second segment…

Before Shaw lost out in a one-on-one with Benson, whereby the ball ran loose and Shaw took a tumble, and a shot by O’Grady was deflected aside, the guests had begun the second period like they had each eaten four Shredded Wheat during the interval. First, an Edwards shot was deflected wide by United’s Liam Cairns, before Francis tipped away a nasty corner from the right by the impressive Joe Haines and somehow, when Haines’ low shot from inside-right seemed certain to enter the Highgate net, home skipper Shay Palmer arrived from nowhere like a ghost on Halloween to scoop the ball clear.

HAINES RECEIVES INSTRUCTIONS...

Taylor lunged but headed low and off target for City, although it appeared that the referee’s assistant on the far touchline, thus safe from loud criticism, was flagging maybe for offside. And wouldn’t you just know it, United got a break and regained parity…

James Wilcock was fortunate to be able to break forward on the right and he cut across from the touchline and made a dash for the near post, chased by Childs. His low pass seemed to be touched slightly by the sliding Collins, which was just enough to put Beeson off, so that the ball nudged the goalminder’s foot and sneaked into the net.

Obviously Lichfield responded and Childs glanced a header well wide from an Edwards free-kick and then an Edwards free-kick shot from 27 yards flew just off target and replacement Callum Griffin sent a low shot wide. 

And then Mooney struck what proved to be the winning goal for Highgate, after receiving a pass from a central position by Shaw. Mooney took on Wykes at inside-left and drove a low shot past the advancing Beeson and into the far corner of the net to win the encounter.

SCORING THE WINNER...

It remained only for Beeson to save smartly from Harkin’s low 12 yard shot and for another City substitute Cam Dunn to fire low and wide of the far left post as Lichfield attacked desperately but ultimately in vain, as time ran out in the dark and chilling surroundings of Tythe Barn Lane… 

The final words…

Lichfield have some smart players on their team, the likes of defender Lewi Burnside being one of those who stood out defensively, alongside Haines. Sadly skipper Dan Lomas was forced to leave the field through injury but to be fair, the energetic and often clever Dom Lewis offered a lot, as did Clement. Forwards Taylor and Smith did lack support on occasions but realistically, home defenders George Cleet and Palmer were steady, solid, significant and steely. Palmer was not afraid to dish out some physical challenges either, just ask Taylor, whose head found itself not socially distanced at all from one of Palmer’s upper limbs during the second period. Cue screams of derision from the chap on the sideline who wanted Palmer dismissed… Palmer was duly cautioned, causing even more derision…

HAINES RE-ENACTS WHAT HE BELIEVES HAPPENED...

Vallance was steady, unruffled and effective on the left side of defence for ‘Gate and his releases of the ball were often crafted rather than belted, which at Step 5 was admirable. O’Grady managed several neat angled passes, Wilcock was industrious on United’s right-flank but Cleet was admirable alongside his skipper.

LEWIS & MOONEY...

These two teams could possibly meet in the play-offs I suppose, so it will be fascinating how the coaches will approach the clash, should it materialise… 

Thanks to Terry and his staff for the kind welcome at The Coppice…