SC INKBERROW 2-1 MOUSEHOLE AFC: THE INDEPENDENT MATCH REPORT + IMAGES WITH CAPTIONS...

 Eagles Snatch Points From Seagulls…

SC Inkberrow 2-1 Mousehole AFC…

The Mowdog’s thoughts…

Despite owning less possession during a interesting but scoreless opening period, until home winger Jack Tolley had fired in a couple of shots and Noah Rubio’s free-kick had dropped over the target, Mousehole had seen four goal attempts fly too high. Hayden Turner twice, Tim Nixon and industrious midfielder Alex Cairo had struck shots which had risen over the target, whilst central striker Liam Prynn was foiled by home ‘keeper Gabriel Bajrami’s legs.

Strangely, the only awkward save made by either gloveman came early in the half, when Jay Higgins-Pugsley’s low drive was smartly pushed behind for a right-side corner by Mousehole’s skipper and goalie, Ollie Chenoweth.

The lively Tolley, too often afforded a lot of room on his flank smacked a fine effort off the inside of the left upright, before firing wide of the same vertical later in that opening 45.

The Eagles’ passing game on a pitch which had passed an early morning inspection was laudable and the Seagulls struggled to gain momentum, relying on the wispish Tallan Mitchell and the occasional deft flicks of Nixon to relieve the tedium of trying to quell Inkberrow’s often dominant play.

Credit to Ed Harrison and Jacob Kevern in the visiting defence then, for home forwards Rubio and Leo Brown found chances hard to come by.

After the interval Mousehole looked livelier, urged on by Mitchell, Cairo and the more involved Paulo Sousa and for a time Inkberrow’s flow was disrupted. A few errors crept in the Eagles’ possession game too, as the Seagulls scavenged. However, after Rubio could get no power behind a close range effort for SC which was easily picked up by Chenoweth and a stubbed effort at the near post by Prynn for the guests had rolled wide, the Eagles, a little surprisingly, took the lead.

The goal stemmed from a messy goalmouth melee in which Chenoweth’s legs blocked a low effort by Higgins-Pugsley but the rebound was latched onto by home left-back Will Moore, who drove a rising effort from an angle deep into the net.

MOORE, FAR LEFT, FIRES THE EAGLES AHEAD...

...& HIS DRIVE HITS THE NET...

Within moments however, the Seagulls equalised, following smart midfield play by the tricky Mitchell. He slipped the ball through inside-right for Iestin Harris to chase but Tolley was ahead of him and as Bajrami hovered, Tolley’s short back-pass was seized upon by Harris, whose low shot entered the goal and flew back out again, making it appear at first that the ball had struck an upright… It hadn’t.

HARRIS WOULD RACE ON & EQUALISE...

Incredibly, when I checked the video clips, the only one badly affected by the powerful sunset was Mousehole’s goal. The lead-up was fine, then the sunset took over, leaving Harris’ goal almost totally in the dark. I was lucky though, for after lots of fiddling about on my laptop, I was able to lighten the clip just enough to make out the action… 

Turner smashed a free-kick from downtown against the outside of the right stick, as Mousehole looked to score again but finally, Inkberrow managed to restore themselves somewhat and after Chenoweth gathered a long volley from home skipper Gregor Guy, Tolley intuitively set up Rubio for a fine opportunity at the right post but the winger lifted his shot almost vertically. 

A curled shot by Turner for AFC drifted beyond the goal-frame, before home replacement Aiden Clark nudged another Tolley assist across the face of Chenoweth’s goal. However, defending a right-flank corner would become Mousehole’s downfall and it happened so close to the end of the encounter.

Before describing the flag-kick, it is essential to mention the Eagles’ midfielder Nathan Benson. I saw him play several times in his mid-teens for a team called Meadow Park and he played like a man against young lads, rampaging, dominating and looking hugely effective in midfield.

He now reminds me of a particularly irritated and sullen guard dog, stalking the midfield area like he is protecting a bullion warehouse and pleasingly I had spoken to him before the match had begun.

I had suggested that he might like to score a goal for the camera and with just four minutes remaining, he decided to reward me. He jumped at the far side of the 6 yard box with Mousehole's Prynn and Harrison and with both hands he shoved Harrison enough from behind not only to send the Seagull flapping to the ground but also to allow him to outjump Prynn and lob a header goalwards. Chenoweth lunged to his right but was unable to prevent the ball from entering the net.

BENSON (LEFT) HEADS THE WINNING GOAL...

So, not just any old goal, the winner, indeed!

The final words…

For Mousehole, although Mitchell, Cairo and Sousa certainly livened things up after the recess, subsequently the forwards misfired when chances were eked out but in truth, home defender Ruben Freeman ruled his defensive roost in any case. The tall fellow, alongside Alex Griffiths, Luke Bastable and Moore gave little away and goalminder Bajrami was thus rarely troubled.

Certainly Cairo’s efforts, the clever play of Mitchell and some real commitment from the Mousehole team as a whole, arguably deserved a point…  

The brooding Benson and the effective Guy in midfield, plus the always available and willing striker Brown were all prominent for SC and although Rubio would have cursed his own finishing, he was often a threat on the right, just as the dribbling Tolley was usually a real livewire on the left.

A long journey home without a point then for the Mousehole contingent of players, staff and magnificent supporters but I did wonder whether their media staff paid to attend the game, as I did. 

£11 for my entrance (concession and a programme) despite the fact that I filmed the game, commentated, took photos and have spent some hours writing this match report…

Hmm, I seem to be doing something wrong…

...AND SO TO THE IMAGES WITH CAPTIONS FROM THE MATCH...

TOLLEY (11) FIRES AGAINST A POST...

BENSON'S HEADER WOULD BE DEFLECTED FOR A CORNER...

TREATMENT GIVEN...

INJURIES FROM A LATE MELEE IN THE INKBERROW GOALMOUTH...

THE PLEASURE OF SCORING...

THE MISERY OF CONCEDING...

A COUPLE OF BOOKINGS ON THE WAY...

THE EAGLES HAVE OPENED THE SCORING...

TURNER SETS UP A FREE-KICK...

TURNER USES A BREAK IN THE GAME TO SAMPLE THE WORCESTERSHIRE SUNSHINE...

MITCHELL: TALLANTED...

THE GUY ON THE LEFT SEEMS LIKE A COMPETITOR...

CHENOWETH (LEFT): NOT OVERLY BUSY...

NOBODY'S BUSINESS IS EVERYONE'S BUSINESS...

LATE JANUARY SUNSHINE...

REF: "WHAT DO YOU MEAN, DO I WANT TO PLAY LEAPFROG?" 

MAN PLAYS FOOTBALL WITH A TREE ON HIS HEAD...

KEVERN & BROWN...

HE'S FINE...

MAKING GROUND...

HIGGINS-PUGSLEY CARRIES OUT THE PITCH INSPECTION...

BROWN TO KICK OFF...

THE TOSS...

BEASTY BENSON, LEFT, IS READY TO SPRING...