Bears Take The Points & Baldwin Strikes Memorable Goal…
FC Stratford 3-0 Carterton…
The Mowdog’s thoughts…
Late August rain and a wispy breeze accompanied this watchable Hellenic League Division 1 encounter which was deservedly won by the Bears. A brace by home striker Tom Daccus, which might subsequently have been added to by the evasive forward, plus a wonderful effort by influential midfielder Dan Baldwin from a yard inside the Carterton half, won the match but with Carterton battling to get back into the contest as time passed, they did leave themselves somewhat open in defence and FC missed several late chances.
Visiting goalkeeper Tom Russell won’t enjoy watching Baldwin’s goal on film but otherwise he certainly kept the score down with a series of important saves during the game.
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| RUSSELL TURNS AWAY A CENTRE... |
Baldwin was generally creative and assisted Daccus for the striker’s second goal, whilst the occasional neat touches by Robbie Sone from his deep-lying forward position were usually progressive and he claimed the assist for Daccus’ opening goal.
The guests were never overawed, despite the result and indeed began the match strongly, threatening on their attacking right flank, where Kieran Day often looked lively, whilst Allando Davis made several smart runs on the opposite flank too.
However, the home defence was rarely under threat, where number 5 (Dan Purvin, not Joe Waterfield) and number 6 (Joe Waterfield, not Dan Purvin) defended well enough and moved the ball about sensibly behind their midfielders. Wing-backs Cian Hodson and James Kiley were regular rushers into attacking positions, whilst skipper Kian Hamer was a strong presence throughout, allowing midfielders/forwards Baldwin, Dan Chaundy and Jamie Robinson to exploit a little more freedom and space.
The opening period…
Carterton were able to make a couple of early inroads on the offensive right and Day was offered a shooting chance, his low drive being stopped by a boot worn by home gloveman, Alex Watson. However, as the hosts settled more and the game recovered from some early untidiness, Russell reached left to beat away a Chaundy drive and then dropped right to push away a shot from 18 yards by Daccus.
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| RUSSELL SAVES FROM CHAUNDY, ABOVE, THEN DACCUS, BELOW... |
The opening goal was well constructed, stemming from the right-flank, where Hodson and Robinson were getting some joy. Hodson slipped a pass inside for the deceptively languid Sone, who saw Daccus point to where he wanted a pass played, inside the 18 yard box. Sone’s assist was perfect and from an angle, the striker drove a low effort through the challenge of the powerful Ben Brown and his goalkeeper, so that the ball flew into the far side of the net.
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| THE SLICK SONE PASS... |
...& THE SMART DACCUS FINISH...
The only other goal attempts worth mentioning were an excellent drive from downtown by Sone for the Bears which skimmed the right angle of crossbar and upright, then as the half ended, Davis poked a hopeful attempt wide of the left upright for the visitors.
SONE'S SHOT GOES CLOSE...
How the second-half panned out…
After the interval, the teams traded goal attempts before the hosts grabbed their second goal and from then on, Carterton’s efforts to pull back a goal led to a succession of opportunities for the Bears on the counter attack.
Carterton began it with a Davis shot straight at Watson, then a long drive by Day was deflected for a corner but the hosts soon countered with a shot off target by Daccus.
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| RUSSELL SAVES WELL FROM DACCUS... |
Russell then made a good save from Daccus, beating an 18 yard shot away to his left but from a defensive position, the Bears then broke with clinical effectiveness. Baldwin clipped a left-footed clearance along the left flank, where Daccus was lurking and he got running. He neared the penalty-box, with Crossman challenging and he had two supporting, unmarked colleagues away to his right but he didn’t need them, striking a low drive into the bottom right corner of the net.
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| DACCUS SHOOTS... |
...SCORES... 
...& IT'S 2-0...
With a hat-trick calling, Daccus then unselfishly delivered a low pass across the goalmouth, which Brown cleared, Purvin nodded the first of his two headed chances over the target from close range, before a delivery from Daccus on the left dropped onto the roof of the net.
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| ABOVE & BELOW: THE TWO PURVIN HEADERS... |
Then, entering from stage-right, came Baldwin…
A Day pass was intercepted, Baldwin moved into the centre-circle, crossed the half-way line, looked up and lifted a shot from so far downtown, it might have been from Mousehole harbour. All eyes followed the trajectory as it rose, then began to fall but Russell, back-pedalling, was unable to reach the ball as it began to drop and it fell into his gaping net…
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| ABOVE & BELOW: THE 6 SCREENSHOTS OF BALDWIN'S FINE GOAL... |
Daccus had a hat-trick in the offing, as Sone’s lovely lobbed right flank assist fell onto his head, unmarked, but his falling attempt bounced past the right vertical…
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| DACCUS HEADS WIDE... |
A long and strong run by Hodson ended with a shot too high, then a superb curling effort by the elusive, smart and clever home replacement Petar Tonchev was splendidly tipped onto and over the crossbeam by the leaping Russell…
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| TONCHEV SHOOTS... |
...BUT RUSSELL SAVES WELL...
Finally, a brilliant Tonchev pass through inside-right for Daccus saw the striker’s rising drive fly too high…
The final words…
A deserved win for the hosts, who scorned several opportunities to score a hatful of goals and they were also refused a penalty, then were stopped in their tracks by one interesting offside decision which would have released the hosts one-on-one with the Carterton goaltender…
Baldwin certainly took the eye for the hosts, as did the ebullient skipper Hamer both in midfield and in defence when facing set-pieces, whilst Daccus was a constant threat to the guests, as was the enigmatic Sone on occasions.
Tonchev’s cameo appearance promised much for the Bears and the eager exploits of Robinson, Hodson, Chaundy and Kiley were very worthwhile.
The Carterton lads were industrious throughout, with Josef Fullerton and Fin Baker working so hard in the trenches, but despite their obvious ability, Davis and Day were fed little to feast upon during the contest.
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| ABOVE & BELOW: THE BEARS' WALL BLOCKS TWO DAY FREE-KICKS... |
Mike Duerden and Josh Crossman in the full-back berths were busy and involved, and before being replaced, Kian Fitzgerald was involved offensively a few times.
Thanks to FC Stratford for the welcome, the guests’ lanyard, the free programme and the opportunity to film from a decent viewpoint…
It was much appreciated…
