BILSTON TOWN 1-7 BLACK COUNTRY RANGERS: full match report by The Mowdog...

Bilston Bedlam Breached By Black Country Rangers

Bilston Town 1 Black Country Rangers 7

The players emerge to the cacophony of noise. From one man...

The Bilston players apologise to every Rangers player for the expected noise...

I am still scratching my head wondering how this game ended 1-7, for the hosts competed so well until just after the interval and deserved to be ahead of their malfunctioning guests, Black Country Rangers. Unfortunately for the hosts, driven on by Scott James in midfield, visiting ‘keeper Todd Henderson was in fine form and denied Town a few times, whereas Rangers’ finishing, especially that of striker Liam Hughes, was as devastating as it was simple during the second-half. Both teams lost a central defender to injury but Rangers’ replacement, wearing 18 (maybe Phil McKerdy) really played strongly and second period replacement Adam Fincher, at right-back for the visitors, played a big part in his team’s breaking game, as the goals rained in. Bilston’s orange-clad veteran fan, or perhaps mascot, possibly even their ‘alternative coach’, who kept up a smoking, bellowing tirade at his team’s players before and during the game was absolutely brilliant and it’s worth looking at my video-clips at https://www.youtube.com/user/TheMowdog34/videos just to hear him… Strange things happened at Bilston’s likeable Queen Street stadium though: two players scorched into the stadium in a smart set of wheels, possibly late, like they were negotiating an off-road section of a motoring rally, a random horse was heard trotting past the non-grandstand side of the pitch, a squat dog constantly rolled around scratching its back on the grass near the yelling, repetitive orange mascot whilst another shitty mutt dropped a turd behind me. All of this added up to an odd but interesting afternoon in Bilston Bedlam, which was bathed in sunshine and goals. I loved it.

Watch Nico... He boogies at the toss...

The kick-off...

Henderson actually juggled a left-wing centre from lively left-back Jamal Pinnock under his crossbar in the early stages, but as The Orangeman bellowed, “Use the sun, use the sun, use the sun…” Henderson actually faced it… An interception by tall Rangers’ forward Andy Price, who surprisingly failed to nab a goal, made an interception at inside-left but planted a disappointing rising effort way wide of the right angle of bar and post from 19 yards, despite bearing down on home goalie Luke Stevens. A free-kick by home skipper Leon Pugh caused consternation in the rather undisciplined Rangers’ defence but eventually, Adam Hill drove a cross-shot 16 yards wide of the left upright from 19 yards out. Not too close then… More hesitation by the visitors led to a right-flank centre, which was superbly defended by right-back Elliott Skelding, despite being shoved and flattened by hefty home striker Mark Habbershaw. Suddenly, a scurrying run right to left by James saw him fall under Skelding’s challenge and the midfielder himself shot the resulting penalty into the net off the base of the left upright and the hosts held a deserved lead.

Bilston are 1-0 ahead...

...and The Orangeman seems happy enough...

The Orangeman bellowed “Who’s got who? Who’s got who? Who’s got who?” down my right ear but in truth, the game became a catalogue of errors for a time, rather like watching dithering politicians begging for our votes, but a decent run from Rangers defender Ross Miller ended not with a sensible pass to a supporting colleague, but with a wild, sliced 25 yard shot, which endangered a beautifully sewn flag on a corner-pole. Weak defending again by the out-of-sorts Rangers led to Nelson’s high centre, then threats from Liam Morris and Habbershaw but finally a horrible skewed shot by Hill, which rolled well wide of the left stick. The Orangeman encouraged his team with “Put snow on it… Put snow on it… Put snow on it…” The passing game wasn’t a viable tactic, it appeared. The emerging classy player was Rangers’ left-back Alex Hammond, not the Sky Sports’ racing tipster version, but the decent soccer player one, and he passed to the lean Craig Love near the penalty-box, who fed Hughes for a centre from the left but Price’s head-down was skied over the crossbar by Russ Garner from a mere 10 yards. Finally, the guests had looked dangerous but they soon lost Miller to a back injury, possibly as a result of carrying all those sacks of flour and grain, yet replacement McKerdy played a fine role in his stead.

Hughes (16) entices the ball to follow him...

Is this a line-out manoeuvre? 

Another run by James led to a tame shot at Henderson, as The Orangeman observed “Defenders have no right to a quiet life…” He was right of course. A  fine McKerdy tackle was followed by another Bilston attack and a cross by Morris which ended with a header from 6 yards by James, only for Henderson to leap like a gazelle over a hedge to catch the ball up to his right. Rangers survived a second penalty appeal, which proved crucial, for when Hughes made a rush into the right side of the 18 yard box for the visitors, his low cross was hacked clear but only to the predatory Hunt, who smacked a rising 10 yarder into the roof of the net, past the hapless Stevens. Neat football by the visitors led to The Orangeman’s bellows of “Use your ‘ead. Use your ‘ead. Use your ‘ead…” and a threat in the home penalty-area was nullified by a fine challenge from Pinnock. Soon, home right-back Zak Marriott supported his offense, as The Orangeman yelled “Overlap, overlap; danger-area, danger-area…” and the full-back did well to lob a cross toward the near post but Habbershaw was unable to manage a telling headed connection. Interestingly, Nelson went down under another Rangers challenge to initiate another penalty appeal, again not awarded by the referee.

Parity restored: 1-1...

A spectator pulls a player's hair. Not right, you know...

A fine run by Nelson, beating McKerdy on the Bilston left, ended with a cut inside and a shot, which was blocked by defender Leigh Pardoe in a massed defence. Soon though, Bilston ought to have re-taken the lead and the chance stemmed from a long throw on the left flank. Morris was involved in the subsequent melee and again James was poorly marked as he powered in a low drive from just 6 yards, which Henderson saved superbly on his goal-line. As the half ended, home skipper Pugh spoke kindly and respectfully to the official about a foul by Morris, who attempted to make a comment himself, but Pugh turned on him like an evil drill sergeant onto a raw recruit in trouble and told him to, er, “Please be quiet, old chap…” Then the skipper turned back to the referee like he was a kindly vicar discussing the personal problems of a member of his congregation. Half-time, 1-1 and The Orangeman recovered his voice, smoked a fag and removed his marvellous jacket, which would have put any Cockney Pearly King to shame. The hosts must have been optimistic about their chances in this game but within minutes of the second period starting, Rangers had grabbed a fair slice of good fortune and taken the lead, which they would emphatically underline with five more goals. Hughes did well to control a long ball from Skelding under pressure from Josh Clift and get in a shot from 18 yards but his effort took a cruel deflection off Marriott over Stevens, bounced against the base of the right upright and rolled into the net.

Today's lesson endeth here...

Heads-up play...

Hunt (8) watches a game of stone, scissors and paper, in the tunnel...

Goal! 1-2...

With The Orangeman in full bellowing flow, home, hefty midfielder Ian ‘Doctor Johnson’ Boswell stroked a pass right for Nelson to race away onto but when his near post delivery looked to be just right for Habbershaw, the ball bounced off Henderson’s legs and away. Pugh measured a gentle effort against the outside of a Rangers post, following  Nelson’s free-kick, although an offside flag was wagging vigorously anyway then an unseen horse trotted past the stadium behind me, as a dog rolled crazily in the grass and then lay shattered from its exertions, not responsible I am sure for the turd behind me, I add, hastily. Fincher then replaced Skelding, who had done a decent job for the guests but the substitute was to prove to be a real bonus for Rangers. A long Rangers throw led to Hunt firing too high but at 1-2, the hosts were denied twice in quick succession by the covering legs of the alert Henderson, who kept out low drives from first Morris and then the rebound effort of James. Hughes was by now becoming really difficult to mark and he worked well on the right, before releasing the ball to Love, who must have hated his own curled attempt at goal, which was well off target.

The little dog laughed to see and hear such fun...

Town goalie Stevens appears to hate pigeons. Me too, Luke...

Then the struggling Clift was replaced for Town, along with Habbershaw, for the introduction of Leon Spence and Rhys Hall, with Marriott moving into the middle of the home defence. Morris got in the way of an 18 yard clearance by Rangers and Henderson was forced to fall right to save on his goal-line, before Rangers blocked a free-kick and the solid and determined Fincher won a challenge on the right side, then fed a pass into the inside-right channel for Nick Turton, who finally achieved, turning neatly and placing a low shot under the advancing Stevens and really, the game was over for Bilston, who began to fold like a Poker player with not even a ‘pair’ to show in his hand. The Orangeman had given Turton a lot of good-humoured banter before the game and had constantly advised the Town players with his customary yells: “Watch Nico, watch Nico, watch Nico…” On this occasion, they forgot.

Turton has made it 1-3...

Simeon Townsend replaced Love for the visitors and was soon in action, benefiting from good play by Turton and Hughes but the replacement could only blaze a 20 yarder over the home crossbar. Hughes claimed a penalty in vain, after being floored, then after Hall rolled a shot well wide for Bilston, Nelson was surprisingly replaced by the hosts and Lee Onions was introduced, making all of our eyes water, of course. A poor free-kick by Bilston’s Boswell dropped into Henderson’s arms and his instant long punt dropped for Hughes to outsmart Marriott and poke a low shot from 17 yards past Stevens, who had started to advance. 1-4, Henderson was awarded an ‘assist’ and The Orangeman turned to me and demanded: “How many passes was that? How many passes was that?” “One…” I replied humbly, but also quietly.

The creator, goalie Henderson, right...

...and scorer Hughes (16): 1-4...

Fincher then did well again on the Rangers right, combined with Townsend and a cross was struck to the left flank, where Turton retrieved the ball and fed Hunt, whose pass into the middle of the penalty-area confused Hall, allowing the lurking Hughes to stroke an instant left-footer just inside the right upright to claim his hat-trick. Easy? Yes, very easy. The Orangeman’s advice? “Hold him up, hold him up…” They didn’t. Really good play by the impressive Hammond then saw Hughes rush away from Pugh and look to add another goal but his rising 18 yarder slapped against Stevens’ crossbar, with the goalie desperate to be given a chance to save a shot. Fincher was the architect for goal six, pushing a pass through inside-right, where Townsend hovered onside and this time the strong forward moved forth to curl a fine left-footer just inside the left angle of crossbar and upright, with Stevens simply astonished. 

1-5: Hughes' third...

1-6: Townsend...

Hall shot weakly at Henderson, Rangers countered with a good move involving Hunt and Garner but instead of shooting, the skipper chose to feed ‘Watch Nico’ Turton to his left and although the striker netted, he had strayed offside. However, the skipper would get a reward of sorts, as Rangers treated the home defence like a particularly poor opponent for the Harlem Globetrotters: basically stooges. As The Orangeman’s advice of “Get closer, get closer; hold him up, hold him up…: rang out over the Black Country, to be heard at Lye Town’s ground, possibly even in Solihull if the truth be known, the excellent Fincher worked the right flank, passed inside to Hughes and he had so much time to pick out an embarrassingly simple assist inside for Garner, who simply rolled the ball past Stevens, who probably just wanted to go home. There was still time for Hunt to rifle a shot too high from Townsend’s pass and then the referee signalled the end. Oddly it all went very quiet…

1-7 from the smiling skipper, Garner...

Earplugs out: it's the final whistle...

Fair play to Bilston, they had done OK for an hour but had then collapsed like an injured knee cartilage beyond that time. Pugh, Clift and Pinnock battled hard, as did James and Morris but Nelson was their one danger mainly in wide areas and he was unfortunate on the day. Rangers were poor for a good portion of this game but netted at will after an hour to win convincingly. Hughes was lethal, Fincher a fine substitute but Hammond was really effective throughout the match.

Sad end for a great bloke...

I watched sadly from my car as The Orangeman took down his beautifully crafted flag, with the victors milling around the centre-circle beyond, in the aftermath of a mammoth victory. Milling around were a Miller and a Garner, which was odd… I was released from Bedlam and drove home to eat eggs and chips with a shaky fork, for the bellowing of the brilliant Orangeman was still resounding in my ageing ears…  

Teams:

Bilston:  Luke Stevens, Zak Marriott, Leon Pugh (Capt); Ian Boswell, Josh Clift, Jamal Pinnock; Adam Hill, Scott James, Liam Morris, Mark Habbershaw, Michael Nelson.

Subs: Leon Spence, Danny Mason, Lee Onions, Rhys Hall, James Gettings.

Black Country Rangers:  Todd Henderson, Elliott Skelding, Alex Hammond; Ross Miller, Leigh Pardoe, Liam Hughes; Russ Garner (Capt), Jamie Hunt, Nick Turton, Andy Price, Craig Love.

Subs: Simeon Townsend, Luke Findley, Marcus Flint, Phil McKerdy, Adam Fincher.