Blues Res 1 Wolves Res 2 .. IPFreely Reports
They seem to have narrowed the pitch at Solihull Borough – either that or the optician has switched me to zoom contact lenses, with the effect that everything now looks much further away. Apart from being too far away, the pitch at Solihull looks in excellent condition. They seem to have improved it a lot over the last couple of seasons – ‘nuff respect to the horny-handed Groundsman. I hope the somewhat sparse crowd at Borough tonight appreciated his long hours of toil in the baking Solihull sun during the summer months.
The game was played too fast. Everyone seemed to be hurtling around at 900 mph with the poor ball pinging hither and thither like a veritable hot potato. I have a theory – this is it: Wolves had a number of First Division players in their side who naturally play like that. Blues had a bunch of kids who lack the nous and experience to know how to slow the game down to a more manageable pace. The combination of these two factors led to a game which looked very English indeed. Blues really should have had the game sewn up by half time, but blew it – two excellent chances fell to Curtis and Kilkenny respectively, Curtis found himself in front of an open goal following excellent work on the wing by Barrowman after 30 minutes but sidefooted the ball wide, whilst Kilkenny set a fine move going himself after 36 minutes, dashed into the box to receive a return ball from James Blake, beat his marker all ends up but again, sidefooted the ball wide with the keeper (Matt Murray) wrongfooted.
Ah yes; Matt Murray. What a gob that bloke has! He’s excellent at marshalling his defenders, but in order to keep vocalizing, he often comes out with some absolute purlers. The bloke’s a master at stating the bleedin’ obvious! Allow me to elaborate: Wolves have a throw in, Murray shouts to the bloke taking the throw in ‘Space! You’ve got plenty of space! Some Wolves defender is trying to clear his lines with two forwards pulling and pushing him, Murray shouts “Man On!” and so it continues, a Stream Of Unconsciousness. Good goalie, though.
Blues young forwards Barrowman and Curtis were getting no change at all out of Wolves older and stronger back four who included Mark Kennedy (sober, I’m led to believe), Joachim Bjorklund, who if I remember right, is a former Swedish International and some bloke called Patrick Flynn who I don’t know but looks about forty-seven and is a decent enough player.
Blues’ midfield was doing OK, with Kilkenny and Howland forming a decent central partnership. First time I’ve seen Kilkenny this season and he seems to have muscled up a bit and become more direct in his game. Howland had a great Savage-esque game. At the back, Sam Oji looked as safe as houses defensively but spoilt his game by persisting in trying to hit defence-splitting sixty yard passes instead of just laying the thing off to Kilkenny and Howland and letting them build through the middle.
Blues’ midfield was doing OK, with Kilkenny and Howland forming a decent central partnership. First time I’ve seen Kilkenny this season and he seems to have muscled up a bit and become more direct in his game. Howland had a great Savage-esque game. At the back, Sam Oji looked as safe as houses defensively but spoilt his game by persisting in trying to hit defence-splitting sixty yard passes instead of just laying the thing off to Kilkenny and Howland and letting them build through the middle.
Half-time 0-0
Bovril surprisingly watery, by Solihull standards. No belly-buster burger for IP – he’d had a big bacon and egg sarnie for his tea and still felt very full and greasy.
Bovril surprisingly watery, by Solihull standards. No belly-buster burger for IP – he’d had a big bacon and egg sarnie for his tea and still felt very full and greasy.
Second half Wolves made a substitution. Conor Rafferty came on for Stephen Gleeson. Blues started very slowly in the second half and Wolves began to get back into the game, having been under the cosh for most of the first half. Wolves took the lead via Leon Clarke, who’s a big, strong, forward and a real handful. Oji had been handling him well but he found some space in Painter’s zone (man marking would probably have been more effective than zonal marking) and had a simple tap in after a ball was allowed to come across the face of goal (57 minutes).
Blues equalized after 81 minutes, Alsop and Motteram (who had a quiet game) combined well, Motty crossed the ball deep, cutting out Murray, for once, and Curtis volleyed a side footer in from a tight angle. The goal spurred Blues into belated action and the attacks began to come thick and fast as both teams went in search of a winner. Both defences were relying heavily on the offside trap, which wasn’t too pretty to watch.
Wolves grabbed the winner after 92 minutes. Again it was the impressive Clarke who put the ball away following some good interplay and passing by about four Wolves players on the left wing. The resulting cross was met by an unmarked Clarke who had been let slip by Painter, who to be fair had only just been clattered requiring lengthy treatment. Clarke brought the ball down well showing, ahem, ‘good touch for a big man’, picked his spot and placed the ball well past Vaesen.
Referee Mr Cordy of Gloucestershire must have had a row with Mrs Cordy because he seemed very unwilling to go home. He added no less than nine minutes of extra time, during which Kilkenny got booked for a foul. Eventually, though, he blew his whistle after some broad hints from the Solihull Borough Nightwatchman who was on the touchline with his lantern and keys.
No Brucie Watch tonight – I got there too late to see him and never saw him. Instead, dear reader, spare a thought for my cat Smirnoff, who got run over and killed by a car the other day. A fine little tomcat and an excellent mouser, he had fought off cancer via a course of chemotherapy, only to end his days under the wheel of a passing VW Golf. Say a little prayer for Smirnoff tonight – we shall not see his like again.
Blues: Vaesen, Blake, Alsop, Oji, Painter, Howland, Birley, Kilkenny, Barrowman, Curtis, Motteram. Subs: Doyle, Hall, Reynolds, Howell, Hamilton
Blues: Vaesen, Blake, Alsop, Oji, Painter, Howland, Birley, Kilkenny, Barrowman, Curtis, Motteram. Subs: Doyle, Hall, Reynolds, Howell, Hamilton
Wolves: Murray, Flynn, Kennedy, O'Connor, Bjorklund, Townsend, Gobern, Davies, Clarke, Gleeson, Cooper. Subs: Ikeme, Rafferty, Musson, France.