STOURPORT SWIFTS 1-1 ALVECHURCH: FULL MATCH REPORT BY THE MOWDOG...

Midfield Attrition Leads To Few Thrills, Despite A Late, Short-sided Swifts Flourish

Stourport Swifts 1-1 Alvechurch

This wasn’t a game of goalmouth action, fine saves by flying goalies, shots striking goal-frames, or indeed a showcase for creativity; it was in effect a game of “Roll up the sleeves lads and get into some tackles.” Much of the play was congested around the midfield areas, neither team was able to engineer any real slick offense, highlighted by the element of surprise when something clever did happen. A goalkeeping slip allowed Josh March to open the scoring for Alvechurch in an inauspicious opening period, then after home midfielder Sam Beasley had talked himself into a late second yellow card and thus a dismissal, Swifts actually looked like the team with the extra man and netted in the dying seconds with a soaring Paul Hurrell header from Joe Phillips’ free-kick. Neither team looked to have any real incision, as illustrated by the few goal attempts described below but for effort, both teams could not be faulted. 

THE SWIFTS PREPARE TO MEET...

...THE MEN OF THE 'CHURCH... 

LET'S TOSS...

Phillips, at least, showed glimpses of his ball skills, taking on ‘Church right-back Mike Wardle a few times and it was his ability which set up the best chance of the first-half for his team, which was squandered by Reece Shilvock, who sliced a presentable right-footer well wide of the right upright, following Phillips’ tricky left-flank run. After home skipper Joe Robinson, who had impressed at Highgate last week, had been cautioned Beasley skied an opportunity before more decent Phillips footwork, in the middle this time, ended with a shot off target, which he thought had been deflected. The referee did not agree. Visiting striker Jamie Spencer, who didn’t enjoy a very productive evening, did manage to head a Phillips free-kick from his position in a defensive wall, which was bravely done but those activities apart, ‘Church ‘keeper Charlie Price was largely redundant. 

THE 'CHURCH BENCH LOOKS A LITTLE RILED...

Home goalie Lewis Gwilliams, whose kicking was strong at times was also untested, bar rushing from his goal-line to snatch a through-pass before Spencer could get onto it and he had already watched a 25 yard Mike McGrath free-kick rise well over his crossbar. He was not harassed by a Spencer chip from the left, for the forward didn’t launch one at all with the custodian well out of goal but then, unfortunately for the ‘keeper, when Spencer and March combined with Zack Foster on the Alvechurch left, March rushed for the left side of the penalty-box and the abject Swifts’ challenges allowed the striker a chance to shoot but Gwilliams was beaten beneath him as he fell sideways and the ball squirmed into the net. Gwilliams wasn’t even tested by Wardle, after the defender had exchanged passes with Ryan Winwood, with Wardle’s weak shot spoiling a promising situation, although in fairness, he might have been expecting Winwood to shoot instead.

0-1...

...SCORED BY MARCH IN SEPTEMBER...

The interval had been reached and neither team had impressed, for despite the efforts of Dave Bellis for ‘Church and Phillips for Swifts, little had been achieved offensively by the teams. McGrath’s passes had sometimes gone astray and neither Spencer nor Connor Deards, who was wearing 7 and not 10, as the team-sheet suggested, could conjure up any real threat to Hurrell and Matt Fulloway in the home defence. Visiting skipper Luke Paskin and colleague Mark Smith, the central defenders, did not look like being breached to be fair, either…  

A LITTLE BIT OF A SCRAP...

THE ALOOF, THE ANGRY, THE UPRIGHT, THE LEANING & THE EXASPERATED...

Alvechurch, following the first period during which their manager Mr Long had been frustrated and not a little angry, were quicker after the break and looked the more likely winners of the match but despite this, few real chances came their way. Gwilliams was apparently fouled when Deards challenged him for Winwood’s fine centre, Jim Hanson nodded a Smith header from a right-wing corner off his goal-line and Deards shot straight at Gwilliams, following fine play by Bellis but the forward also slipped an angled shot from the left with the outside of his right foot past the far upright. Spencer gave way for the lively Andy Nicol, Smith went down hurt and was replaced in defence by Andy Parsons and really, ‘Church could offer little more in attack.

CHARLIE PRICE: "I DON'T CARE A SHIT ABOUT SMITHY, I NEED A DRINK..."

MARCH: LIVELY & A GOALSCORER...

BEASLEY: EXILED...

Beasley’s wild challenge had earned him a caution at the start of half two, Reece Shilvock’s header was easily fielded by Price but then little was seen of the home attack at all, until late on Beasley’s arguing offered him a second caution and thus a sending-off. Jack Bailey replaced the largely ineffective Matt Pinder, Sid Gittens replaced Andrew Hudson, yet oddly, it seemed that ‘Church had been forced down to ten men, not Swifts. Incredibly, Deards was replaced as a corner was about to be taken by Stourport, with Orrin Pendley taking his place but although the flag-kick was survived by the visitors, Swifts won an added-time free-kick at inside-right, some 28 yards out. Phillips must have considered curling a shot at goal but didn’t, instead lifting a fine delivery towards the far post, where Hurrell leapt more like a salmon than a swift and headed downwards into the corner of the net.

LATE EQUALISER...

1-1...

GOAL BY HURRELL...

The final whistle sounded before the restart and Swifts had snatched an unlikely draw, although ‘Church would have been so angry to relinquish a couple of points at the death. One thinks of Jordan Nadat and James Spray, both missing on the night for the guests and for the Alvechurch offense, they were severe misses. Home skipper Robinson couldn’t get his sights on goal as he had at Tythe Barn Lane last Tuesday and I’ll wager (not Reece, the home left-back) that the Swifts would have been delighted to add a point to their total, from what really was a poor, if busy, hard-fought game.

TEAMS:

STOURPORT SWIFTS:

LEWIS GWILLIAMS, JIM HANSON, REECE WAGER, SAM BEASLEY, PAUL HURRELL, MATT FULLOWAY, ANDREW HUDSON, REECE SHILVOCK, MATT PINDER, JOE ROBINSON (CAPT), JOE PHILLIPS.

SUBS:

YINKZ ADESHINA, JACK BAILEY, SID GITTENS, JAMES HILL.

ALVECHURCH:

CHARLIE PRICE, MIKE WARDLE, ZACK FOSTER, DAVE BELLIS, MARK SMITH, LUKE PASKIN (CAPT), CONNOR DEARDS, RYAN WINWOOD, JAMIE SPENCER, JOSH MARCH, MIKE McGRATH.

SUBS:

TOM TURTON, ANDREW PARSONS, ANDY NICOL, ORRIN PENDLEY, JACK CRESSWELL.