SUTTON COLDFIELD TOWN 2-0 STAMFORD AFC: light-hearted match report by THE MOWDOG...

Lilly Thrives In Sutton Coldfield Rain

Sutton Coldfield Town 2-0 Stamford AFC

Zak Lilly, loaned from AFC Telford, netted twice and missed a hat-trick opportunity, as The Royals triumphed over The Daniels at Coles Lane in a persistent breezy rainstorm. The opening goal, scored so early was a gift, the second a penalty, but Lilly’s all round display would have pleased watchers from his parent club, who also saw their midfielder Jordan Goddard link up really well with Aaron Forde to dominate periods of the game for the hosts. The guests had their moments but striker Jake Newman lobbed one effort too high and was later denied by home goalie James Wren, who would be replaced following a dead-leg injury. Right-back Danny O’Callaghan took over the custodian’s jersey but he was tested only once, when a floated free-kick beat him, as burly Daniel substitute Greg Smith threatened late on. Reliable home defender Joel Kettle steamed back to hack the ball from his goal-line though. Royal Ryan Edmunds’ dead-ball deliveries were a little better than his open-play releases, Malachi Farquharson battled well as the Royal target-man but visitor Elliott Hodge often displayed some fine wing-play for his team, although in vain.  

Jon Hedge shelters his head with a large glove, skipper Jon Challinor realises what happens when you reach 60 and Matt Jackson, er, scratches his scrotum...

Stamford display their dancing ability, in a response to that of Everton manager Roberto Martinez... 

The tossing...

This game didn’t reach any heights at all, probably due to the weather conditions and a poor start was punctuated by the opening goal. A benign low ball rolled towards visiting ‘keeper Jonathan Hedge, Lilly almost certainly distracted the goalie and his touch resulted in the ball rolling into the empty net from 16 yards, like a tenpin bowling ball rolling down a gutter and dropping haplessly behind the untouched skittles. 1-0, easy as that…

Soft goal for Lilly...

Hugs for 1-0...

Wren flew from goal to take a low cross from Stamford’s Jack Wightwick, following a quick free-kick but when the guests won a right-wing corner and their two tall central defenders had loped forward to threaten Wren, the flag-kick was taken short and the ball lost, bringing a barrage of nasty unrepeatable words from the Stamford bench: “Gosh, what a waste…” Well, maybe not quite those words, but you get the idea, right? Hedge was in a mess again, like hedge-funds often are, as was his defence too, as The Royals looked menacing again but soon, Forde’s fine pass for right-back O’Callaghan looked to have unlocked the Stamford defence, only for the defender’s delivery to drift behind the goal-frame.

Hubbins is caught between a bum company and a hot tub...

Out of nothing, Hodge, on the visitors’ right swung over a cross and there was left-back Connor Green to head his team into the lead, surely? No, actually, because his firm header rose over the crossbar from close range. Hedge dived left to keep out a 20 yard deflected Luke Hubbins strike but although Farquharson claimed a penalty as he chased the loose ball, the officials failed to agree with him. Farquharson drove a ball into the side-netting after turning marker Jon Challinor, who I saw play several times for Aldershot some years back but Challinor stayed down, then left the field injured after lengthy treatment. The Daniels reverted to a back-four from the previous rear trio and replacement Greg Smith, who would be welcome to play Bill Sykes in any ‘Scrooge’ pantomime I ever direct, emerged to play as an attacker. Stamford were playing on the counter-attack and after surviving more pressure, Newman got clear at inside-left, as the home defence failed to deal with a long ball, or even turn quickly enough but the hurried striker, with only the looming Wren to beat, lobbed the ball high over the crossbar.

Challinor leaves deep in thought...

Greg Smith scares me...

Goddard’s sliced shot at the opposite end was headed goalwards by Hubbins but Hedge held onto the ball easily and the visitors then produced the kind of skills on the fake grass that one hopes to witness consistently. Hodge played a clever one-two with Wightwick, who lifted the ball into the penalty-box but Wren smothered the ball at Hodge’s feet near the right upright. Hedge leapt to tip a 28 yard Edmunds free-kick over his bar spectacularly, Lilly glanced Edmunds’ subsequent right-side corner beyond the left post and then Edmunds took the wrath of Farquharson, for shooting way off target instead of returning his pass, like a good chap. Then, a moment from the interval, Tom Batchelor was clumsy as Lilly entered the penalty-box and Hedge advanced, Lilly fell, like his stem had been trampled upon and the officials agreed on a penalty, which Lilly dispatched past Hedge’s dive into the left corner of the net. Half-time and 2-0. 

Penalty for Lilly...

...& 2-0...

Daniels fans, including the dog in the red scarf, disappeared for beer, tea, burgers, succulent bones and a bowl of water to lap from, two of them left the grandstand to recover from their first-half smoking exercise and their team replaced Wightwick with Chris Hamilton, but not James Jepson, whose parents I had chatted to at Daventry last season and who, if he hadn’t been hurt during the game, might just have propelled Kettering to promotion a couple of years back in a play-off final, with his hair flapping Apache-like in the breeze. Jesus, I feel a poem coming…

The dog is benched...

An early second period free-kick strike from 35 yards by Edmunds, using wind-aid, rattled off the Stamford crossbar and the winger raced onto a break initiated by the confident Lilly but could only win a throw for his team and when Edmunds’ next corner was nodded clear by Daniel Smith, Hubbins’ sliced volley drifted well off target. Wren held onto a gentle Newman header, following a smart build-up between Green and Hodge, before another free-kick from 35 yards by Edmunds for The Royals, a skidding shot, flew past Hedge’s right stick. Stamford’s Lee Beeson, playing as a right-back since the departure of skipper Challinor, began to launch a few really dangerous crosses from deep right and from one, Smith headed down for Newman, who looked likely to score until Wren swooped to deflect the ball past a post. Beeson’s next swerving centre was thumped by Wren’s claws as he was backed by an opponent, winning a free-kick and sustaining a knock simultaneously.

Buy food, get drenched, catch cold...

The struggling Wren was soon scooped up by an RSPCA official and right-back O’Callaghan took the gloves, with substitute James Beresford replacing the ailing bird-man. When Hubbins wasted a delivery from the right and the Sutton bench found it let’s just say ‘annoying’, it seemed likely that the next substitution would involve the wide-man. It did and Tom Turton replaced him. Jordan Smith replaced tall defender Paul Malone for the guests too and naturally the game became more fragmented, although to be fair to Stamford, struggling though they were, their determination never wavered. On a break, Coldfield won a free-kick on the right and once again Edmunds’ delivery was accurate from the dead-ball situation, so much so that Lilly must have been thinking: “Match ball for me to take home…” as it dropped to him just a few yards out but he failed to connect and the chance went begging.

Regulars at the 'Drum and Horn'...

Stephen Palmer replaced hard working Sutton left-back and skipper Matt Jackson as the minutes cracked on and the rain intensified, then I believe that Stamford’s Batchelor was cautioned, although it might have been Jordan Smith, to be fair. ‘Unclear’ would be the description. O’Callaghan had not been concerned at all since donning the goalie’s greenery but one long cross saw Greg Smith jump in a rather ungainly fashion in front of him, he missed the ball but Kettle was on alert and hacked the ball from his goal-line. Goddard was playing with creativity for the hosts and sidekick Forde always looking for a killer pass but the latter moved into the right side of the penalty-box late on, following Lilly’s provision, only to see his low pass deflected away by Stamford. Hodge, still lively with good ball retention for the Daniels, nearly set up Jordan Smith but the last action belonged to Dead-ball Edmunds, whose last free-kick drive flew only just over the right angle of bar and upright, as the game ended.  

Well, someone was cautioned anyway...

Sutton deserved the victory: Lilly looked strong and athletic, Farquharson was willing throughout and maybe deserved a reward for his efforts, Goddard and Forde bossed the trenches but Edmunds impressed with his free-kicks. Wren had been brave on a couple of occasions for his team but Stamford maybe lacked a little pace in attack, although Newman might have snatched a couple of goals for his team, in truth, despite the strength of home defenders Kettle and Scott Lycett. Jake Duffy, the Stamford 8, was busy throughout but the bright Wightwick (for a half) and the talented Hodge looked rather good on occasions, along with the deliveries from deep by Beeson.

Where I sat...

The dog hadn’t reappeared after the break, the Sutton Ultras had though, complete with horn and drum, which certainly livened up the rain-soaked Coles Lane arena and we all trudged out of the ground to locate vehicles and avoid the M6…

When they chant, there's a silent 'T'...

The two ‘keepers were Wren and Hedge… Surely you couldn’t make that up?

Me? Cottage pie. It’s what I do… 

The Bodging illustrates why I didn't stand on this side...

TEAMS: 

SUTTON COLDFIELD TOWN:

James Wren, Danny O’Callaghan, Matt Jackson (Capt), Aaron Forde, Joel Kettle, Scott Lycett, Ryan Edmunds, Jordan Goddard, Malachi Farquharson, Zak Lilly, Luke Hubbins.

SUBS:

Stephen Palmer, Tom Turton, James Beresford.

STAMFORD AFC:

Jonathan Hedge, Jon Challinor (Capt), Connor Green, Paul Malone, Tom Batchelor, Tom McGowan, Lee Beeson, Jake Duffy, Jake Newman, Jack Wightwick, Elliott Hodge.

SUBS: 

Sam Hill, James Jepson, Chris Hamilton, Greg Smith, Jordan Smith.