ALCESTER TOWN 3-0 RO-STARS HEREFORD: THE MOWDOG'S INDEPENDENT REPORT + SCREENSHOTS WITH CAPTIONS...

 Ro-Stars Stubborn In Defeat…

Alcester Town 3-0 Ro-Stars Hereford

The Mowdog’s thoughts…

 

Despite being emphatically beaten by the Romans, the Ro-Stars, superbly marshalled by their theatrical and experienced defender Tadas Glodenis, the guests successfully prevented their hosts from adding to their 3-0 half-time lead with some heroic defending and some decent goalkeeping by Lazar Ionel (I hope that is correct…)

He made several second-half saves when it seemed certain that Town would add to their tally but with central defender Glodenis throwing himself around his 6-yard box like an NHL goalminder does when his team is shorthanded, further goals were prevented by the Herefordshire outfit.

The three goals conceded by Ro-Stars were uncomplicated and scored with swift forays forward by the Romans and thus the damage was thus done early on but the tightening up of the Hereford defence would later frustrate Alcester. 

The Ro-Stars…

Ionel and Glodenis apart, the two Mihalceas, Andrei (he of the gymnastic throw-in) and Daniel (he of the clever flicks) certainly played a strong part in their team’s performance, although goal attempts were severely limited by Town’s rugged and effective defenders, Tristan Roberts, Cam Crook and Billy Duggins. 

A couple of efforts by skipper Rares Micula flew too high but the best attempt at goal by Hereford came from Andrei Mihalcea’s right boot, as he leapt into the air to smack a volley across the goal-face from left to right… Impressive… 

ANDREI MIHALCEA'S SPECTACULAR VOLLEY...

Otherwise, it was a matter of trying to stifle the Romans in midfield and although Chris Dyson eventually found enough space to engineer his team’s offense as the game wore on, during the first period, creativity wasn’t made easy for the likes of the grafting Luke Dugmore and the smooth Henry Gibson.

WICKETTS CAN'T QUITE GET TO A LEFT-FLANK CENTRE...

The Romans’ goals and first-half misses… 

A slight control error by Ro-Stars’ defender Marius-Ovidiu Dinescu allowed the impish Adam Bourn to fasten onto the ball and move into the 18 yard box, where he shrugged off a defender and shot low and left-footed into the net past the helpless Ionel to open the scoring.

BOURN BUSTLES THROUGH...

...& SCORES...

After skipper Jake Ricketts couldn’t get a touch to a low left-side centre, goal two was indeed scored by the man in the armband, who turned a low pass by Bourn into the bottom left corner of the net from an angle on the right. 

WICKETTS PREPARES TO SHOOT...

...& IT'S 2-0...

The third goal was netted by the lively and unmarked right-flank attacker George Davis who headed a fine left-wing centre by Jack Cole firmly into net at the far post. 

DAVIS CAN'T REALLY MISS...

...& SCORES GOAL THREE WITH A FIRM HEADER...

Ionel saved with his legs at the right near post from Wicketts, then dropped left to stop a low effort from Bourn but those attempts apart, Glodenis and company kept the Romans largely at bay.

IONEL SAVES AT THE NEAR POST FROM WICKETTS...

However, it would be more difficult for the visitors against the breeze and up the slight Stratford Road slope after the interval…

The sterling second period Hereford defending…

Crook headed over the target and then wide for the hosts, Ionel saved a free-kick from downtown by Dyson, then turned a low shot away by Bourn who was bearing down on goal, completely alone. 

CROOK STEALS IN BUT HEADS WIDE...

DYSON'S FREE-KICK...

...IS SAVED BUT SPILLED...

Glodenis made a fine block from the lively Cole, after Ionel had patted down a cross and been forced to kick the ball away but in the second phase of that attack in a melee, the ball fell to Dyson who was dismayed to see Ionel plunge left and claw away his scooped shot. 

DYSON HAS BEEN FOULED BY MICULA...

Replacement Adam Garmson then crossed from the left onto Bourn’s boot but Ionel got in the way again and subsequently preserved his second period shutout.

The final words…

Certainly, Glodenis’ bellowed words to his team about ‘staying in the game’ resonated with his players and they battled significantly well after half-time but home goalminder Ryan Young could have spent the second period on his iPhone in his 6-yard box, ordering stuff for Christmas at Black Friday prices, for he was totally redundant. 

Alcester seem to have a confident defence, a very inventive and workmanlike midfield and a threatening attack, all ingredients which really should see them complete a successful season in the ZZOOMM Herefordshire League…