Distant rumblings of motorway usage,

Barely audible, yet persistent, scarred

The general silence, occasionally scored

By a robins indignant protestations

Which failed to reveal my anonymity.

I loitered, one tense shoulder leaning

Against beech bark and barely breathing

As a deep amber sun barred

The October sky beyond the privacy

Of tall trees, which occasionally floored

Wilting, loosened leaves as garbage,

Scorning my anonymity

A badger, leading no entourage,

Keen, yet on constant guard,

Dragged a crust of white bread, a hoard

Into its underground reservation,

Ignoring my uncomfortable anonymity.

I teetered, one leg stiffening

Upon a tuft of hard mud, breathing

In autumn, which in no way marred

The watching. Thus my audacity

To a badger's world was largely ignored.

Faltering, it demurred, wise and sage

To preserve my anonymity

Pete Ray

18th October 2021

The distant hum of traffic, a piercing, protesting robin and one cautious badger failed to shake my anonymity on a cool autumn evening in Warwickshire

Studley Spine Wins The Points At Tiddington

FC Stratford 1-2 Studley

The Mowdogs thoughts

THE TOSS...

The sea defences in some North Sea places, like Sandsend near Whitby rely still on the presence of spines of weatherbeaten groynes to protect the beach and seaside properties. In a similar way, Studley won at FC Stratford through the strength of their own spine of four players in particular: goalkeeper Ryan Youngs composure, central defender Tom Fishwicks powerful heading and clearing, central midfielder Jack Cresswells busy control of the crowded midfield area on Tiddingtons small pitch and of course central striker Danny Murphy, whose brace of headed goals earned the victory.

DULLY DANNY SHARE A JOKE.
THE REF IS UNIMPRESSED...

Although the game appeared closely fought on occasions, the number of goalscoring opportunities told a different tale, for the Bees might have scored a number of other times during the two halves. In contrast, home striker Levi Steele, who still hasnt scored when I have been present, was his teams only danger, if you discount Tom Parnabys goal and a free-kick by Lewis Ludford which was batted away by Young. In fact, the free-kick was awarded when the rampaging Steele had been hauled down by Studleys Jordan Adams, who was cautioned for his trouble and actually didnt reappear after the interval.

Cresswell certainly ran the game, ably assisted by Matt Edwards, the lively Jordan Murphy and skipper Dan Carter, for the home midfield was largely anonymous. Aerially, Studley were constantly a threat and with Fishwick and Danny Murphy lurking, the home defence was usually struggling to cope.

"HE SHOULD BE USING A HANDKERCHIEF, REF, NOT HIS BLEEDIN' SHIRT..."

Yes, a goal conceded seconds from the end was cruel on the Blues, for they had battled so hard, especially after losing defenseman Matt Nutt, their own aerial presence but in truth, Studley deserved to win the match for their attacking intentions alone.

NUTT DOWN...

JORDAN MURPHY CLEVERLY BALANCES A GOLF BALL ON HIS HEAD...

Tom Parnaby

Like Steele, he was fed morsels by his midfielders but he certainly took his goal well. A short pass from the left by Steve Ruck, a turn at 16 yards and quick low drive beat the falling Young into the left side of the net. 1-0 and all looked good for the hosts but it would never really be enough. Parnaby was replaced late on but he was probably the most lively of Steeles partners all afternoon.

1-0: PARNABY...

Levi Steele

A goal from a one-on-one with Young might have made the score 2-0 to the hosts as Steele raced clear but the goalminder advanced to turn aside the forwards not well struck low shot and the chance had gone.

After the break, Steele took two shots from inside-left, around 17 yards out, one of which was deflected over the top and the other flew just too high unaided, before he was unable to direct a header from a Ludford free-kick.

BEACH STEELE...

Steele was probably FCs best performer, although skipper James Robbins ran him close, for he was forced into some desperate defending at times, the result of some wayward marking amongst his colleagues.

Free-kicks

Some refereeing consistency was missing, certainly, for Ludford and Dean Poulson were pulled up several times during the opening 45 for the weakest of challenges, whilst other, more physical offences were simply dismissed. Steele would likely agree that a defenders arm about his neck was more than Covid, or the referee should have allowed

DANNY JANES MAKES A POINT...

Robbins and replacement Jagjit Aujla were cautioned for FC, whilst Studleys substitute Jake Donnelly joined colleague Adams in the officials notebook.

ROBBINS IS BOOKED...
CAUTION FOR DONNELLY...
YELLOW FOR AUJLA...
BOOKING FOR ADAMS...

Alfie Bloomer

His heart-on-sleeve performance perhaps deserved a goal, although he was close to earning a yellow card too. In the first-period, he was able to get between Nutt and wing-back Ruck to force Eddie Cox into a pair of saves at the goalies left post. First, a tackle bounced off Bloomer to force a Cox block, then the forward mistimed his volley from a Carter centre and again Cox parried.

ALFIE WITH DULLY: MORE HUMOUR...

Bloomer played on the left after half-time and had a real battle with Aujla which brought the caution for the FC man late on. One low drive by Bloomer smacked the base of the left upright, following an error by Dan Atkins but Ruck at least cleared the rebound for a corner.

A shot from downtown by Bloomer went way too high but he was a pain for the home defence to deal with, especially as Cresswell was seemingly always on hand for support.

Jack Cresswell

The games most effective player, surely Biting tackles, smart control with know-how and very often a slick passer. Controlled the trenches. Enough said

Studley in attack

First period headers by Fishwick twice and Jordan Murphy flew off target, as did shots by Will Beach and both Murphys, whilst Jordan Murphy tested Cox with a low effort. The closest to scoring though was perhaps Jamie Ashmore, whose presence in the game became more powerful when he moved from right-back to replace Adams, more centrally. Ashmores drive was beaten away by Cox.

After the recess, shots by Ashmore and Jordan Murphy drifted off target and Danny Murphy headed a fine opportunity over the crossbar from a Cresswell delivery. However, poor Dean Fisher will likely have nightmares about his 5 yard miss at the right stick when Bloomers long centre from the left saw both Abdul Muhammed and Ruck move towards Jordan Murphy at the near post, leaving Fisher free but his volley rose over the crossbeam.

Danny Murphy

Tough to manage in the air, true but his goals were smartly taken despite FCs deficiencies. First he was being marked by Muhammed who then turned with his back to goal and thus didnt jump with the striker, allowing Murphy to glance Cresswells left-flank corner beyond Cox and into the right side of the net.

1-1: DANNY MURPHY...

The winner in the closing seconds, literally, came as a result of the ball being cleared to Fisher, 19 yards out by Stratford. He smacked a shot straight at the defending Steele and screams were heard for handball but in the confusion the ball was shifted towards the left byeline. Cox ran along the byeline to usher Jordan Murphy away as Aujla hovered nearby but suddenly Murphy J. turned and swung a fine centre across the face of goal leaving Cox stranded. Only three players were in the goalmouth, Fishwick and Danny Murphy of Studley and Robbins of FC, who was totally helpless as the ball was nodded into the empty net at the far stick to signal magnificent Studley celebrations

1-2: DANNY MURPHY...

The last words

Stratford will recover from this setback but in truth there was little creativity visible in midfield and a good deal of the offense stemmed from long deliveries out of defence. They were unable to boss the match and that was largely down to Cresswell, Ashmore and Fishwick, whose inputs were huge on the day.

And there was Danny Murphys head

NOTE SIMON FITTER, POSING IN WHITE SHOES.
RARE FOR ABIRMINGHAM CITY FAN...