DERBY ROLLS ROYCE LEISURE 3 MELBOURNE DYNAMO 0: match report by The Mowdog...

Melboune Dynamo Of No Use To Rolls Royce Engine

Derby Rolls Royce Leisure 3 Melbourne Dynamo 0

Dynamo’s own pitch looked like summer, with the cricket outfield being mown by a friendly chap in the sunshine near Ticknall’s churchyard but it seemed that the end of season footballers had momentarily forgotten what their nickname ‘Dynamo’ actually suggested and they too had relaxed into summer mode. Mary, Queen of Scots was not incarcerated in Melbourne Castle, apparently due to its state of disrepair and in truth, the league leaders’ creativity was also in some state of disrepair on this important evening, when the visitors handed the initiative to Rolls Royce, who now need a single point from their visit to Newhall United on Saturday to pip Dynamo to the championship. With defender Peter Aliguma as imperious as a Seraph, skipper Ash Foster as infectious as a Spirit and striker Sean Gordon as inventive as a Phantom, the hosts lived up to their Rolls Royce labels. Melbourne made a few chances but were well beaten on the day, as the sun beat down and the languid referee dozed through much of the match.

The bowing Carl Allsop (4) shows respect...

Early skirmishes led to a long throw on the right by Rolls Royce and when Owen Brown’s launched sling was nudged on by the head of visiting skipper Carl Allsop, home left-back Kieran Lynch bent forward like an eerie Wraith, shrugging off the attentions of the taller Matt Brian, who had been ball-watching and tucked a neat header just inside the far post. As I videoed, I had thought the scorer was wearing 9, so I apologise to Kieran but a shocked Melbourne never really recovered from that early blow.

Kieran Lynch's unique goal celebration:
he runs back to his position...
This could catch on...

On a rare foray forward, a left-side centre by Dynamo was stretched for by tall striker Michael Tristram, who had chatted to me before the game but he couldn’t quite reach the flight and his bare touch skidded wide. Allsop cleared away a Foster corner but Davy Hamson’s rebound effort rose too high from 23 yards then Gordon somehow blocked an attempted 24 yard clearance by Melbourne and the ball ricocheted goalwards, missing the left upright by a few yards. Brandon Gwinnett’s effort for Rolls Royce was off target, after Dynamo ‘keeper Finn O’Brien, who was often too hurried with his fly-kicking, had punched away a Foster corner but the visitors, being pushed back by the eager Royce passing attempts, did manage another header by Tristram from a long left-side throw. The ball was missed by Brian and his marker and bounced up for Tristram but Lynch, very alert, nodded the ball behind at the right post.

Peter falls out with Michael.
The referee continues to look bemused...

Foster clipped a deep left-side free-kick from 26 yards, which bounced past the right stick for the hosts, Aliguma headed a Melbourne corner away but Tim Adcock picked up the loose ball and showed neat skills to set up a shot from 18 yards, which flew straight to goalie Rob Woodard. The speedy Gordon threatened in the penalty-box and from the retrieval of the ball after that attack, Foster got in a low shot, which visiting defender Matt Jones did well to hack clear from the goal-line, as O’Brien scrambled on the turf. Alex Marshall poked a pass through inside-right for the Royce but a defender managed to deny Hamson, although the rather gloomy linesman awarded nothing and the dreaming referee awarded a goal-kick, when just about every other person there knew it was corner. The lively Gwinnett raced onto the ball and fired off target from 23 yards and the half ended with me scratching my head and not only because of the flies I had encountered at Staunton Harold Reservoir, as I was eating my malt loaf earlier; I was surprised at Melbourne’s lack of bite and the ease by which Rolls Royce had risen to the ascendancy.

Jumping: an art form in the non-league game...

The ground-hoppers continued their pow-wows on the side-line even after the break, deciding which matches were still outstanding in Cheshire and the West Riding and thus missed a good proportion of the proceedings they had ostensibly travelled to watch. I shivered a little in the shade and the four and a half-minute interval soon passed, the second-half opening with surely more exerted influence by the guests? Er, no, actually. Foster rolled a low shot at O’Brien for Rolls Royce, then fine work by the elusive Gordon, whose tussle with the stubborn Jones was a highlight of the game for me, led to a wild Troy Black shot, which flew into the beautiful tree behind the goal-frame. Woodard was forced into a slight error for the hosts and the visitors nearly capitalised, when substitute Karl Munton, (if the numbers on the team-sheets were correct) who had replaced Jak Ward, fastened onto the ball, right-side of the penalty-box and although his low pass inside was miscued and bounced off Foster’s boot, the outspoken Brian fired an instant low effort from 10 yards, which clipped the outside of the left post.

A fine clearance by the tough Jordan Simpson for the home team led indirectly to Foster’s smart, simple pass inside a defender from the half-way line for Marshall on the left flank; he crossed short and low to Gordon, who tricked Jones like a Silver Ghost easing past an ordinary vehicle on the M42 and slotted a neat finish past the helpless O’Brien from 10 yards, inside-left channel. 2-0 and really, Melbourne didn’t appear to have the power to regain a foothold in the game.

2-0 and Sean Gordon has netted...

Seems happy enough...

O’Brien raced from goal to beat the ever dangerous Gordon to a through-pass, Lynch’s right-flank corner curled just past the far upright and Tristram was relieved of his duties by Dynamo, so he could have a fag on the sideline and I believe it was Lee Bull who replaced him. A low Ryan Gray free-kick curled past the right upright for the visitors but it lacked real threat and then Dave Brough was sent into the fray (good band ‘The Fray’, as is ‘Safetysuit’) to replace Tom Ballard and from a right-wing cross, Bull skied a shot. A late challenge by combative Royce midfielder Black, earned him a yellow, which are two smart colours together and he was soon replaced by I believe, Dylan Place, who left his place on the bench. Dylan Place sounds like a shrine to the famous singer. A brilliant run by Gordon, forcing his way to the left byeline, leaving Allsop on the seat of his pants, was wrecked by a magnificent tackle by the covering James King for the guests and Gordon’s two unmarked colleagues in front of goal were left frustrated.

Peter points out that he remembered something from last year...
Great image...

Then demonstrates that he really hasn't forgotten last year...

Hamson moved inside from the right and drove a shot off target and still the visitors were looking tired, unable to raise their game and allowing the hosts to dictate much of the play, with Foster really busy, Gwinnett battling and defenders Aliguma and Simpson mostly steady. Then, a simple long throw from the left by the Royce was glanced on by Aliguma, the bounce beat the jump of Allsop and there was Marshall at the far post to nod the ball easily into the top right corner of the net from a yard or two. 3-0 and a beating for the Dynamo was almost complete.

Alex Marshall's header: 3-0 to The Royce...

Aliguma made a powerful run from defence for the hosts and passed smartly right for the lurking Hamson, who bore down on goal at inside-right, only for his angled effort to be well saved by the outstretched right leg of O’Brien; the ball was retrieved by Gordon on the left and he passed inside for his supporting skipper, but Foster had to hit the ball first time as a tackle came in and his 22 yarder rose too high. Paul Mora, I think, replaced the impressive Gordon for the Royce, before from a deep Melbourne free-kick, Brian’s header across goal led to a melee and a 10 yard shot by Bull, which was brilliantly kept out by Aliguma, stretching out his right boot at his right post, with Woodard probably beaten. Hamson was replaced by Nathan Daley, to whom I spoke pre-game as he strolled to the pitch in his hooded coat, before Brian fed Brough, whose weak shot to Woodard saw the ‘keeper fall, so that he could display a little dirt on otherwise pristine knees. Melbourne stuck at it, Munton’s cross was headed down to Brough by Bull, so all three replacements were involved but Brough’s stumbling low shot was cleared keenly and well by Brown, as Danny Guild attempted to convert for the guests near the left upright.

A right-side centre from the Royce found Foster about 16 yards out but at an angle and his driven delivery was remarkably hacked over his own crossbar by Jones, although the referee awarded a goal-kick. Total consternation and correction by the Royce players saw that a corner was awarded instead, which was cleared but Gwinnett did manage to scream a shot from 24 yards, inside-right, some yards wide of the left post, as the hosts retained their command until the end.

Job nearly done...
One point on Saturday and the title goes to Rolls Royce...

For Rolls Royce, every Silver Cloud has a lining and for Melbourne, sadly, Rolls Royce left them “…wishing on a star…” for the league title is now up for grabs for Royce when they rolls into Newhall on Saturday… As I drove home, I reflected on the fact that upon my request a programme was available on the day and I presumed neither Melbourne’s ‘keeper, nor their number 10, who really gave the referee some friendly but stern banter after the game, which the official took like kitchen-roll soaking up the blood from a rare steak, would call any sons Brian; for they would be Brian O’Brien and Brian Brian, which would make reporting on future games even more confusing...

I drove home to Solihull through Melbourne, ate crusty bread and jam and prepared my thoughts for Newhall on Saturday… It’s what I do…

Teams:

Rolls Royce:  Rob Woodard, Owen Brown, Kieran Lynch; Jordan Simpson, Peter Aliguma, Brandon Gwinnett; Troy Black, Ash Foster (Capt), Davy Hamson, Sean Gordon, Alex Marshall.

Subs: Dylan Place, Nathan Daley, Paul Mora.

Melbourne:  Finn O’Brien, James King, Jak Ward; Carl Allsop (Capt), Matt Jones, Tom Ballard; Tim Adcock, Ryan Gray, Michael Tristram, Matt Brian, Danny Guild.

Subs: Karl Munton, Dave Brough, Lee Bull.