BORROWASH VICTORIA 3-1 ELLISTOWN & IBSTOCK: light-hearted match report by THE MOWDOG...

Borro’ Wash Away Penalty Nightmares In the Jenkins & Jenkins…

Borrowash Vics 3-1 Ellistown & Ibstock

Another awful experience driving on the M42 & M1 and then I couldn’t find the rather sinister, almost frightful entrance to the parking lot for the Borrowash ground. I recalled it when I began to negotiate the grim, unlit approach to the grim, unlit car-park. It was so quiet (& grim) there but I did manage to secure images of the two team-sheets from a visiting official, then the referee. I had spoken with Vics’ Kirk Francis and Louis Menson-Evans beforehand, both of whom had missed shootout penalties on Saturday last and both of whom knew nothing about my coverage of the game… Thanks, guys. Their punishment will be to wear The Bodging on their hands at forthcoming matches. Great for their street-cred… Anyway, Menson-Evans did net a spot-kick for the hosts, Francis also scored but although the smaller visitors looked quite lively on occasions, they didn’t threaten the Vics’ goal anywhere near as many times as the Stripes harassed theirs. The League Cup is known as ‘The Jenkins and Jenkins’ apparently and that is probably one of the oddest names for a cup competition I’ve come across. E&I did pull a goal back for 2-1, through Umar Husain, following Kye Hall’s strike for Borrowash, which trickled into and through the net, like the ball had been coated in some destructive, net-attacking acid but the hosts deserved their victory in truth.    

The ref chucks his money about...

The E&I defender has quite a swelling beneath his sock...

In front of a bonfire laden with what looked like giant waffles but were surely surplus pallets, the opening half of this game wasn’t one of fireworks, for goal chances were scarce. A flick-on by Scott Birch’s head from a deep Danny Briscoe free-kick drifted a long way wide of the E&I goal, although a decent centre by Francis did cause visiting goalie Marc Radforth to tip the ball over his crossbar with haste. Skipper Briscoe made a tough run to the left byeline for Vics and his near post delivery appeared to strike the foot of the upright on its way towards Francis, who squandered his chance, firing the ball well wide of the same post. Menson-Evans, 4 yards out, got under a right-side cross from Francis and headed much too high but although the visitors were providing some neat control, particularly from Husain, Mahir Mohammed and Zak Yusuf, the only danger to home ‘keeper Wayne Smith was a Yusuf effort from inside-right, which he saved with an outstretched right boot.

Louis Menson-Evans (9) looks over one shoulder, hoping that lots of cameras are clicking...

Mr Timms (8): busy...

Francis: often lively...

...causing more problems...

Menson-Evans then produced two similar headers, despite the fact that he is not the tallest of forwards by any means and the first, a 12 yarder from Michael Meehan’s corner looped against the top of the right post, with Radforth scurrying across goal to somehow scoop up the ball. The second Menson-Evans header, a 15 yarder, soared onto the face of the right angle of bar and post, as E&I escaped punishment again. Yusuf did cut inside from the left and fire wide of the far post for the guests but as the half blundered on, Radforth erred, dropping a long punt by Briscoe almost perfectly for Menson-Evans to capitalise upon but the goalie recovered to clear. Then Hall sprawled under a challenge on the right byeline, a penalty was awarded and Menson-Evans grabbed the ball. This time he scored easily to Radforth’s left, as the ‘keeper ventured to his right. On November 4th, he proved to be the Guy…

1-0: Menson-Evans has scored a penalty...

Quiet celebrations...

Radforth annoys the referee...

Radforth’s bellows and complaints earned him a caution close to the interval but in truth, the hard work, the long balls on a greasy, uneven surface and some shoddy passing by both teams hadn’t really lit up Bonfire Eve. I had liked some of E&I’s passing but despite Vics’ aerial prowess in the visitors’ penalty-box, it was Menson-Evans who had gone close to netting and not the taller Hall…

Tall Hall (10)...

At the start of the second period, an ambitious low, skidding 30 yard free-kick by Birch caused E&I’s ‘keeper Radforth more trouble, as he spooned it away but Francis’ rebound cross drifted behind the goal-frame. A one-two between Menson-Evans and Francis allowed the goalscorer in on Radforth, who did well to parry at the striker’s feet but home defender Mitch Robinson’s header from Owen Brown’s subsequent right-flank corner was way too high. Meehan was replaced by James Buck for the hosts and almost immediately, Vics took a 2-0 lead, when a deep free-kick from the left was challenged for in the air by Menson-Evans, with E&I’s Liam Kavanagh. The ball fell in front of goal to Hall and he simply could not miss from a few yards and his low rocket of a shot, er, trickled into but then through the net, which caused the few spectators near me to wonder whether he had missed the target altogether or something. He hadn’t.

Hall has made it 2-0...

Mohammed, becoming more of a threat for E&I with his quick rushes and elusive moves, cut inside from the left but shot into the side-netting, which thoroughly displeased Smith, who bellowed at his team-mates. Was it simply the particular goalmouth that upset both ‘keepers on the night, or what? A decent run by Francis, who was finding more room on the left now that E&I were having to chase the game, ended with a decent shot wide but then the visitors pulled back a goal, following good work by Mohammed and Yusuf near the left byeline, allowing Husain to poke the ball inside the left upright from a few yards away.

2-1 now: Husain...

Jake Gardner was replaced by E&I’s more physical presence, the frame of Radoslaw Gaglewski, before Menson-Evans was brilliantly tackled, I think by Sam Collins, after a poor pass by a visiting player had freed the forward. Francis headed down Brown’s deep right-side centre but Menson-Evans was just beaten to the ball by the kicking Radforth, then Mohammed won a right-wing corner for E&I with a tricky run from a tough position, past two home defenders. Visiting skipper Carl Timms glanced a header wide of the far stick from a right-flank cross but then, despite some admirable offensive play, the visitors lost possession in attack and Briscoe played the ball ahead of Francis, who outstripped his marker, lifted the ball over the outrushing Radforth at 18 yards and ran on to nod the ball into the empty goal as it bounced up pleasantly for him. Francis didn’t have to dwell on that head-in-hands-on-knees moment from the Alsager shootout any longer… Radforth stayed down injured, sadly.

Francis is on his knees again...

...but in celebration this time...
3-1.

Buck slid dangerously into an opponent and earned a booking, the ailing Radforth was replaced in goals and Briscoe attempted to shock the new goalie by taking a quick free-kick from 30 yards but the ball drifted off target anyway. Wojciech Saczewski replaced Kavanagh for E&I, whilst Ryan Nadine-Fuller, the workhorse, was replaced by Vics’ Robson Grey. Visiting central defender Sam Surridge, not a quiet fellow, had performed strongly for his team and he got in a header from a right-side centre, which rose too high, before Birch freed Francis for a run at inside-left but his drive was struck into the side-netting. Brown decided that he liked Buck’s booking and slid into Collins to earn himself another yellow card, after a caution and a dismissal at Alsager, so it will be an expensive month for him in fines, then Grey, Birch and Francis combined to offer Menson-Evans a shot at goal from inside-left but he powered it off target.

Kye Hall looks like he is being questioned about the Gunpowder Plot.
It wasn't him...

A period of E&I attacking led to a four-man break for Vics in front of Briscoe but his wasteful pass was intercepted, left the Borrowash skipper out of position and the guests on offense. The trickery of Mohammed was again evident as first Birch was cautioned for a challenge and then Robinson was also yellow-carded for his conversation with the nearby linesman, possibly along the lines of: “Gosh, old chap, surely not?” The ensuing free-kick fell onto Surridge’s head again and this time his effort was closer. The final moments of the game were played out in the home penalty-box, after Saczewski’s low shot was blocked but Gaglewski’s presence couldn’t supply a finish, as home defender Adam Burton made a fine tackle. Burton had again been solid for the hosts. 

When it was suggested that Louis would be placed on the bonfire if he couldn't carry on, he jumped up quickly...

The E&I right-back, Danny Blythe tackled Meehan and Francis fiercely and well during the first-half of this game and with Timms driving his team, Surridge urging colleague on, the guests were never out of the match. Menson-Evans’ headers and Francis’ running were always dangerous for Vics though and they probably thoroughly deserved to stay in the Jenkins & Jenkins, despite E&I’s work ethic and decent play by Mohammed, Husain and Yusuf, as I mentioned earlier.

Me? Out into the dark, located my car then I drove home for malt loaf and cereal…

It’s what I do…  

TEAMS:

BORROWASH VICS:

Wayne Smith, Owen Brown, Danny Briscoe (Capt), Mitch Robinson, Adam Burton, Ryan Nadine-Fuller, Kirk Francis, Scott Birch, Louis Menson-Evans, Kye Hall, Michael Meehan.

SUBS:

James Buck, (Steve O’Connoll,) Robson Grey.

ELLISTOWN & IBSTOCK:

Marc Radforth, Danny Blythe, Sam Collins, Liam Kavanagh, Sam Surridge, Jamie Ward, Zak Yusuf, Carl Timms (Capt), Mahir Mohammed, Umar Husain, Jake Gardner.

SUBS:

Wojciech Saczewski, Danny Birt, Joe Neal, Radoslaw Gaglewski.