.
DATE: WED 28 SEP 2022    BY STEVE WHITNEY
Tuesday`s Premier Division Central Round-Up  

Top two Tamworth and Nuneaton Borough both maintained their impressive start to the 2022/23 season in the Pitching In Southern League Premier Division Central on Tuesday night.

However, third-placed Coalville Town produced the most eye-catching result! Adam Stevens` side joined the leading pair on six wins from nine game with a 7-0 mauling of a struggling AFC Rushden & Diamonds side who had started the evening buoyed by gaining their first win of the season last weekend. However, the majority in the 374 at Hayden Road were stunned by a second-half Ravens onslaught. Tim Berridge opened the scoring after 6 minutes and then his second had everyone bar the Diamonds players and bench applauding with a tremendous mid-air volley. Luke Shaw added a third seconds before the half-time whistle to make it 3-0 and give the hosts a mountain to climb. Any thoughts of a comeback though were distinguished just 6 minutes after the restart when Tom McGlinchey added Coalville’s fourth – and he swiftly followed that with his second and the visitors` fifth 7 minutes later.Berridge completed his hat-trick just past the hour-mark and then McGlinchey did likewise from the penalty spot with still 13 minutes left to play. But that proved the end of the scoring on a chastening evening for the home club.

Diamonds` former boss Andy Peaks` new team Tamworth, in contrast, are going great guns and won 3-2 at the Don Amott Arena against Mickleover to stay top of the early table on goal difference. Ty Deacon opened the Lambs` account after just 6 minutes, only for Elliott Reeves to equalise 10 minutes later. Dan Creaney, who scored twice in Tamworth’s 3-0 win over King’s Langley last Saturday, restored the visitors` lead in the 29th minute and then just 2 minutes later, made it 3-1 from the spot. Mason Warren `won` the second half for Sports with a 65th-minute reply, but the Lambs held firm.

Nuneaton are level on points with Tamworth after beating Alvechurch 3-1 at Liberty Way in front of 446. Jimmy Ginnelly’s men did the damage in the opening half as Tyrell Waite after 27 minutes, Matt Stenson on 40 minutes and then Waite again in injury-time took them 3-0 up. Alvechurch tightened up but couldn’t dent the scoreline until a minute from time when Tom Edge netted a consolation.

Leiston are fifth after a 3-0 win at The Watson & Hillhouse Victory Road Stadium over Bedford Town. Ben Fowkes put the Suffolk side in front after 34 minutes, but the game took a massive shift in the hosts` favour just 4 minutes later when they had veteran striker Craig Mackail-Smith somewhat controversially sent-off. The Eagles held out until half-time, but 8 minutes after the restart, Will Davies made it 2-0 and Seb Dunbar added a third in the 68th minute.

Steve Burr and his new Hednesford Town side are still looking for a first win of the campaign after going down to a 3-2 Keys Park defeat to Bromsgrove Sporting. A crowd of 433 saw the experienced Leroy Lita continue his good form in front of goal with the opener for the Pitman after 18 minutes. On the half-hour mark, Vladimir Pais pulled the Rouslers back on level terms to leave the teams all-square at the break. Then just 7 minutes after the restart, Ryan Edmunds put the visitors ahead, only for Joe Cuff to level on the hour-mark. Parity lasted just 8 minutes though as Mike Taylor put Sporting 3-2 in front. Any hopes of Burr’s men making a comeback disappeared when they had Mason Birch dismissed for a challenge on Pais and then in stoppage time, Hednesford finished with nine-men after a second yellow card for Kyle Bennett.

Stourbridge, like Diamonds, were looking to back up last weekend’s opening win of the season when they travelled to Greenwich Avenue to take on Basford United. However, like their Northamptonshire rivals, the Glassboys were unable to make it back-to-back wins as goals from Luther Munakandafa after 30 minutes and Declan Dunn right on half-time put them on the back foot. The visitors did eventually manage a response, but it came in the 89th minute from Jason Cowley.

The new joint management team of Jamie Ward and Ben Turner saw their Ilkeston Town side win for the first time at the Microlise New Manor Ground against Stratford Town. It was goalless at the break and the deadlock was broken just past the hour-mark when the experienced Adam Rooney put Stratford in front. But then a Dan Lafferty own goal shortly afterwards and a Dempsey Arlott-John goal on 70 minutes took the Robins in front – a lead they held.

After a good win at Rushall Olympic last weekend, Royston Town returned to Garden Walk looking for victory against a Barwell side who had won just the once to date. However, despite playing for 26 minutes-plus with ten-men, the Canaries produced a surprise 4-2 win. It was the visitors who took a 6th-minute lead through Max Brogan. Matt Bateman equalised 4 minutes later only for Tiago Nassunculo to restore Barwell’s lead within seconds. Jack Deakin pulled the visitors 3-1 ahead after 33 minutes to leave them with a half-time lead. But on 64 minutes, Barwell had Melis Bushaj sent-off for reckless challenge on Bateman. However, it was the ten-men who scored again on 76 minutes with Beck-Ray Enoru on the mark. An 8th-minute stoppage time reply from Dan Newton was all that the out-of-sorts Crows could respond with.


 

.

Stratford Manager's after match comments



GAV REFLECTS POST MATCH - IT WAS A HARD PILL TO SWALLOW
28 September 2022



Big Stu spoke to a disconsolate Manager after the game. 

A 2-1 defeat but it could have be so so different - everything went against us
GAVIN: Fine markings, it’s a tough pill to swallow. Because a lot happened before the game and I’m not making excuses, we have a squad and if someone has to fill in late notice or play out of position before the game we have to deal with it and we did that but obviously are concerns are with Jack, we really hope Jack's going be to ok and he’s on the way to hospital as we speak and our prayers are with Jack and hopefully he’s ok. It’s frustrating. We went one up away against the odds and played some good stuff up to that point but then we scored an own goal then conceded a comical second goal - I’m lost for words. But we have to quickly dust ourselves off, we have to quickly watch the game back and learn from our mistakes. But again for me the very basic mistakes, like the really basic mistakes, we have to be able to defend correctly, clear our lines and when the ball has to go, it has to go. But we’ll talk about that on Thursday ready for Rushall on Saturday. 

And so many changes before the game and then some injuries during the game 
GAVIN: For me and I always reflect on myself and the lads reflect as a team.  People have got hurt tonight and nothings been said and I don't think there’s been any bookings for them and the ball was handled in the box and it should have been a penalty. I’m not here to make excuses a lot went wrong but we have to dig deep we have to show the character that we are going to come away on a Tuesday night and pick up something and we were ahead and it was then down to mistakes of our own really. Take everything else that happened, which a lot did happen, we still did get ahead but still ended up throwing it away from our own personal errors. 

And player wise what is the situation ahead of Saturday 
GAVIN: We’ve got a good squad and we have to assess it and the medical team will be working hard. We have players coming back and we have to hope that the injuries aren’t too serious and we’ll look at that again before the weekend. 

 

.
Match report by Big Stu 

ILKESTON TOWN       2   ( Own goal 67, Arnott-John 70) 
STRATFORD TOWN   1   (Rooney 63) 
Half Time: 0-0 
Pitching In Southern League Premier Central 
Tuesday 27th September 2022
KO 7.45pm
New Manor Ground  
Attendance 522 

Stratford Town: Phillips, Vann, Turner, Lafferty, McCone, O’Neill, Molyneux(Storer)(Miles) Hawker, Rooney(Lait), Grocott(c), Walters   Unused subs: Beresford
Ilkeston Town:  Battersby, Wilson, Hutchinson, Thomas, Willock, Fenton, Eratt-Thompson(Campbell), Solanke, O’Grady, Troke, Arlott-JohnSubs: Ward, Woodward,, Brown-Hill, Turner  

Great Expectations turn into a Comedy of Errors then into a Tragedy for the Bards in Derbyshire on Tuesday night.

The team were extremely buoyant before the game and the expectation was for a great performance prior to the 7.45 kick-off. Manager Gavin Hurren selected the same starting line up to the one on Saturday, that drew with Nuneaton. Jack Storer was again available but started on the bench. Then things started to go wrong for the Bards, centre half Paul McCone pulled out in the warm up with a calf injury, Ash Sammons was called back to the changing rooms and was in the starting line-up. Dan Lafferty was moved to right back and Jack Turnerwould partner Jimmy O’Niell in the centre back position with Sammons starting in defensive midfield.

The immaculate 4G pitch seemed to suit both teams who were testing each other out with swift passing moves but no real trouble for either keeper. Then the injury jinx hit the Bards on 16 minutes, with winger Jamie Molyneux pulling up with injury and he was replaced by Jack Storer.

Dexter Walters was having plenty of the ball and his crosses caused problems for the home defence but no real clear cut chances for Adam Rooney to get on the end of. The game edged into stoppage time at the end of the first half with the home team looking to force an opening down their left. This was thwarted by an energetic leap by Jack Storer, who intercepted with a huge jump and control with his left foot. He took contact in mid-air by the home sides winger who knocked Storer off the side of the pitch and into the metal pitch surrounds with the Stratford striker landing on his neck. He lay motionless and both teams physios raced to the stricken Bards man. A stretcher was called for and the referee called a halt to the half and after about 10 minutes Storer was carried to the changing rooms on the stretcher with his head and neck clamped to it.

Bards used their last fit substitute Felix Miles at the start of the second half and he so nearly scored with his first touch, but his effort was saved by the home keeper.

Good pressure by Miles down the right-hand side found Hawker and his cross and first-time finish by Adam Rooney opened the scoring in the 63 minute for the Bards.

The lead only lasted four minutes after good pressure from Ilkeston switched the ball from left to right and a hard low cross was deflected into the net by Jack Turner giving Leon Phillips no chance in the Bards goal.

Turner’s luck got no better a further 4 minutes into the game when a poor back pass allowed Arlott-John to put pressure on Phillips who’s hurried clearance ballooned off the winger and over the keeper into the net much to the amusement of the home fans.

The Bards pressed for an equaliser but their appeals for an injury time penalty were waved away by the referee. 

Our thoughts are with striker Jack Storer who had to wait nearly an hour for an ambulance to arrive and take him to hospital. 

Update:  Jack was discharged from hospital in the early hours of this morning


 

Last edited by Matchman (06/10/2022 2:37 PM)