Report: Sutton Coldfield Tn 4-3 Kidsgrove Ath - NPL One South

AT THE DOUBLE: Sutton striker
Mark Danks

SUTTON Coldfield Town may have a reputation for falling at the final fence when trying to snaffle a play-off place, but that all may be about to change for the Royals.

Coles Lane has witnessed its fair share of last ditch heartache in recent years with Sutton twice pushed out of the Southern League play-offs on goal difference, the second time by a single goal on the last day of the season in 2009-10 before blowing a promising position in their maiden Northern Premier League campaign in 2010-11.

And after a season of inconsistency saw Sutton slip to a 13^th place finish last season, locals could be forgiven for thinking the chances of Step 3 football were about as likely as local MP Andrew Mitchell remaining as Chief Whip.

However, after a shake-up both on and off the pitch and Neil Tooth’s surprise promotion to the manager’s role, the Royals have been on the up.

Tooth’s reign started with some patchy results, but since reshuffling his squad, the man who served as assistant to former boss Chris Keogh has overseen a run of 10 wins in 13 league matches, propelling the men in blue up to 3^rd in the Evostik NPL One South.

And this latest victory is testament to a change in mentality for the Royals.

So often routine wins against struggling sides have evaded Sutton through poor performances or defensive lapses, but a bold tactical change along with a generous dose of character saw Tooth’s side recover against a dogged Kidsgrove outfit.

A vital cog in Sutton’s results machine has been enigmatic striker Mark Danks. With Blue Square Bet North pedigree during his time with Worcester City, the at times feisty striker had plundered eight goals in six starts prior to this match before adding another two against an Athletic side that just couldn’t handle his movement.

Danks’ ninth of the season came after a clever bit of footwork outfoxed two markers before turning back inside to drill a low shot beyond Dave Dyson’s left hand to seemingly put Sutton in control.

But Kidsgrove hadn’t read the script and with lively front pairing Liam Shotton and Andy Kinsey giving the Royals plenty to think about, it allowed the rest of the side time and space to retain the ball well on the synthetic surface.

Ten minutes to go before the break and Kidsgrove were level as Shane Reaney’s low ball found Shotton who took full advantage of Phil Male’s slip to cross for Kinsey to rifle home.

And within four minutes, the Royals found themselves behind when Kinsey rattled in the goal of the day, collecting Paul Donnelly’s airborne ball with a single deft touch before volleying past stunned keeper Lee Evans.

Things got no better for the shell shocked hosts at the start of the second half as Shotton cut inside and saw a swirling effort fizz past the far post with Evans stranded before the third came courtesy of a horrible mix up at the back. Louis Keenan wasted the chance to clear his lines before Evans made a hash of collecting with Daniel Skelton tapping home the loose ball.

But it was from there that Sutton’s performance stood out from their previous endeavours. The crowd stayed with a side that remained purposeful. Tooth went three at the back with substitute Jamie Sheldon adding impetus to the attack, and the former Leamington livewire got the Royals back on track driving a half cleared corner across Dyson and into the bottom far corner with his first two touches.

With over half an hour to play the pendulum had swung – Kidsgrove were tiring with Shotton and Kinsey steadily drifting out of the game.

The Royals continued to probe and that man Danks was again in the thick of the action to equalise, peeling away from his marker to tuck a neat finish into Dyson’s bottom right corner following Lee Parsons’ long throw.

As Sutton sought a winner Kristian Ramsey-Dickson’s thumping header was cleared off the line by James Curly, but Tooth’s charges weren’t to be denied as Luke Chapman picked up a loose ball and hit a speculative shot for all of 30 yards, beating Dyson at his near post.

As well hit as Chapman’s effort was, Dyson will be disappointed not to have kept it out, though it was no less than the home side deserved with Kidsgrove offering little in response.

There may still be flaws in this Sutton side, but with Danks on board it is hard to bet against them finally making that top five this time, and in such free scoring form the Royals could yet be this season’s surprise package.

SUTTON COLDFIELD TOWN: Evans, Lycett, Keenan (Sheldon 54), Parsons, Kettle, Male, D Taylor (Leek 86), Edwards, Ramsey-Dickson, Danks (McNaught 90), Chapman. Unused subs: Thompson, Bedford (g/k).

Goals: Danks 17, 71, Sheldon 56, Chapman 81.

KIDSGROVE ATHLETIC: Dyson, Curly, P Taylor, Donnelly, Parkinson, Espley, Reaney (Nagington 86), Skelton, Shotton, Kinsey, Sherratt (Johnston 77). Unused subs: Hill, White, Street.

Goals: Kinsey 35, 39, Skelton 52.

STAR MAN: Daryl Taylor (Sutton Coldfield Town)

A difficult decision, but Taylor was instrumental in the way that Sutton played. The width he gave the Royals allowed Danks the space to work his magic as well as working hard without the ball. Danks and Kinsey were at their prolific best and ran Taylor close, but the wing wizard takes the plaudits for showing the courage and ability to prize Kidsgrove open despite them shielding a two goal lead. 

Report: Market Drayton Town 1-0 Romulus - NPL Div One South

COMEBACK TRAIL:
Marcus Brown

IT summed up Romulus’ season perfectly.

A performance that wasn’t a million miles from what was required, wasted chances and questionable refereeing, but still no goals and no points for Richard Evans’ relegation battlers.

With just one defender on the pitch, the Roms were stoic in their resistance against a hard working Market Drayton side on a heavy, sloping Greenfields pitch.

Liam Roberts, the Roms keeper on loan from Walsall, stood out by making a handful of vital saves early in the second half before the visitors kicked into gear and steadily found the cohesion that Evans craved.

However, despite Ashley Jackson seeing his effort somehow spooned off the line by Paul McMullen and Marcus Brown having a cast iron penalty waved away, Roms could not find a way through.

And even when the most glorious of chances fell to new boy Luke Keen, who sprang the offside trap to face Drayton keeper Andrew Pryce one-on-one from 8 yards, a moment’s hesitancy before trying to pass to Brown wasted the opportunity. Visiting fans didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Evans’ men were left chasing the game after an error at the other end that left the crowd bemused. A ball sprayed from right to left was aimed for lively Drayton winger Rob Stevenson with stand-in right back and captain Marcus Jackson unnecessarily crashing into his adversary as the ball seemed set to run out of play.

After consulting his assistant, referee Steve Mycock pointed to the spot with Martyn Davies coolly slotting home from 12 yards on the stroke of half time.

But Mycock further angered the men from Coles Lane with an inconsistent performance, allowing cynical play from Drayton captain Nicky Porter to go unpunished before Brown’s ankle was kicked in the penalty area by McMullen after the break. There was no penalty though, despite the returning Roms goalgetter sporting a bleeding ankle.

It would be easy to blame the referee for the defeat, but in fairness to the hosts they hit the post in the opening exchanges and dominated the opening 20 minutes before Roberts saved well from Matt Johnson, Stevenson and Craig Ryan in quick succession early in the second half.

The Roms had plenty of pressure and chances from there but were laboured and never truly laid siege on the Drayton goal. On another day, they may have earned a point, but the second half display was encouraging enough to believe that Romulus’ recent signings will gel and help them to turn the corner.

Graham Deakin adds Conference North pedigree while Luke Keen, misfiring at the moment, has a reputation for goals at this level with Atherstone Town and Rugby Town. Marcus Brown, who plundered 25 goals in the Roms’ opening Northern Premier League season will also be a handful when back in full flow.

With the talent Romulus possess, they will surely improve on a record of just 20 league goals this season, currently eight less than the next lowest in the First Division South.

And with Richard Munday to return alongside dependable defender Liam Francis, the panic button should be left alone.  

With the tenacity shown since their formation as a boy’s club in 1979, it always used to be said around the Midlands that you should never rule the Roms out. Despite this game going against the nomadic club there were still plenty of reasons to back that up. There is fight in the young dog yet.

MARKET DRAYTON TOWN: Pryce, Jones (D Proffitt 64), Connor (Ting 76), Swetnam, McMullen, Blake, Porter, Johnson, Ryan, Davies (S Proffitt 71), Stevenson. Unused sub: Cooke.

Goal: Davies (p) 45.

ROMULUS: Roberts, M Jackson, Ravenhill, O’Callaghan, Francis, Deakin, Walker, Keen (Gregory 81), Brown, A Jackson, Amory. Unused subs: Stone, Hadley, Meakin-Richards, Exall (g/k).

STAR MAN: Rob Stevenson (Market Drayton Town)

Constant thorn in the experienced Marcus Jackson’s side and his chasing of a lost cause won the penalty that decided this clash. Equally adept at cutting inside to shoot and providing ammunition from the left, he made the difference in generally poor match. 

Southern Premier: Bashley battling back as Saints suffer

DOUBLE: Bash striker
Mark Gamble

BASHLEY moved back into the top of an increasingly tight Southern League Premier Division and to within three points of the play-offs with a third straight victory over St Albans City.

Frank Gray’s men have forced their way up the table while the Saints have hit troubled waters and are winless in five.

Chairman Ian Ridley left after disagreeing with an increase to admission prices with manager David Howell quickly dismissed after. The Saints board cited poor results but Howell hit back saying it was down to budget cuts.

A matter of weeks ago, this result may have looked unlikely, but Bash grabbed a deserved 2-0 victory with both sides seemingly heading in opposite directions. Bash striker Mark Gamble grabbed both of the goals.

*The report focussing on Bashley’s revival in the Bournemouth Echo can be found here. 

Report: Dorchester Town 2-2 Luton Town - FA Trophy R1

LATE LEVELLER: Charlie Clough

AT times the gulf in class was all too apparent, but not often enough as the giants of non-league Luton Town were outbattled by dogged Dorchester.

The fact that Charlie Clough’s equalising header arrived in injury time couldn’t paper over the cracks as the Hatters’ full strength side flattered to deceive in Dorset.

When Paul Buckle’s full strength side looked good, they were imperious and threatened to take the Magpies to the cleaners, but the visitors’ effort and endeavour soon waned with Phil Simkin’s cup heroes showing how it should be done.

Inspired by their recent FA Cup heroics against League TwoPlymouth, Dorchester didn’t allow their heads to drop when Luton did show their strength.

And in truth, the hosts produced some classy moments of their own that were more than deserving of a second trip to Kenilworth Road in fourdays next week. The task facing Dorchester in the FA Cup 2^nd round will seem all the less daunting now they have matched their illustrious opponents.

In many ways it was so close to an unlikely victory for the Magpies and had it not been for a shaky start, a defensive lapse and two fine saves from Luton custodian Mark Tyler we could be talking about another famous upset.

It didn’t start that way though. Dorchester were clearly unnerved by the Hatters who took full advantage, albeit with an element of fortune in the opening minute. Just 58 seconds had passed when Andre Gray’s follow up cannoned off Neil Martin and into the unfortunate Jason Matthews’ net.

A long night was on the horizon as Gray only found the sidenetting when set away down the right and JJ O’Donnell should have found the net on 11 minutes but his tame finish at the far post was deflected wide.

Dorchester eventually settled and found their outball through Jake Gosling on the right who regularly got the better of Lathaniel Rowe-Turner.

However, the host’s chance of the half came from a straightforward punt downfield with debutant Richard Logan flicking on for strike partner Ben Watson to race through one-on-one, but Hatters stopper Tyler stood firm and tipped his low finish around the far post at full stretch. 

It was a rare moment where Luton’s rearguard looked like it could be breached during the first half with defender Janos Kovacs in fearsome form, blocking from Logan and winger Sam Malsom before the break.

At the other end, the Hatters faithful will be wishing that Gray had shown similar prowess after weathering the storm, but the former Hinckley United frontman enjoyed a tortuous evening, wasting three glorious chances to double the lead before half time.

And how Luton were to rue those misses as Dorchester got closer to their opponents from the restart and played the more enterprising football.

It is no secret that Dorchester have lacked a cutting edge this season, hence the arrival of more striking options in recent weeks, but they eventually forced the ball home through the determination that has won them so many plaudits.

Overlapping stand-in full back Nathan Walker drilled the ball across the face of goal for Logan to hold up and lay off for onrushing captain Mark Jermyn to crash the ball home, a fitting contribution for a man making his 100^th cup appearance for Dorchester.

Logan blazed over the crossbar as the game became tight, but the home side’s heads were in hands as a soft goal seemingly handed Luton victory.

Stuart Fleetwood came off the bench for the ineffectual Gray and merely stood on the shoulder of the last defender, collecting six offsides during a 28-minute appearance, but his predatory instincts paid dividends as he slammed home O’Donnell’s cross-shot with 12 minutes to play.

Clough saw a header from Jon Garcia’s corner acrobatically clawed away by Tyler as Dorchester pushed for a leveller but the Magpies’ tenacity finally paid off in stoppage time. Portsmouth loanee Dan Thompson, whose touch frequently evaded him after replacing Logan, flashed a corner in for Clough to peel away from Simon Ainge and thump home the equaliser.

It was a mini triumph for a side that had given its all and a stern message to Luton, as if they needed it, that it takes more than the best squad on paper to succeed in non-league.

DORCHESTER TOWN: Matthews, Walker, Martin, Clough. Pugh, Gleeson, Gosling, Jermyn, Watson, Logan (Thompson 79), Malsom (Garcia 69). Subs not used: Smeeton, Morgan, Crittenden.

Goals: Jermyn 58, Clough 90+2.

LUTON TOWN: Tyler, Rowe-Turner, Kovacs, Lawless (Dance 86), Rendell, Howells, Ainge, O’Donnell, Smith, Henry, Gray (Fleetwood 62). Subs not used: Beckwith, Walker, Brill.

Goals: Martin (og) 1, Fleetwood 78.

STAR MAN: Mark Tyler (Luton Town)

This match ebbed and flowed and went from the sublime to the silly in its own entertaining way. Tyler takes the award for proving to be the difference. He made two outstanding saves when his side were one up and could well have kept them in the competition. If Luton go on to lift the Trophy, they will look back on this night and thank their keeper. 

Rugby Union: Bournemouth 22-27 Launceston - National 2 South

CAPTAIN'S CHARGE: Bournemouth's
Alan Manning drives forward

LAUNCESTON'S last gasp try prevented Bournemouth from making it four wins in a row at Chapel Gate as the Lions failed to hold their nerve as they had against Taunton seven days earlier. 


In a closely contested match, David Dunn's side were out-muscled by the Cornish All Blacks during the dying embers of this midtable clash.


The defeat leaves newly promoted Lions 9th in National 2 South as the season approaches its halfway stage, though hands Launceston a healthier advantage just above Bournemouth in the standings. 


Dunn's charges are without a fixture for three weeks now following the demise of Rugby Lions at the start of the season and a blank weekend scheduled. 


When Bournemouth return to action, they will be confident of returning to winning ways with a home fixture against Lydney who have lost every match since their opening day success over still winless Barking. 


*The full match report for the Bournemouth Echo can be found here, while a range of match images courtesy of photographer Denis Murphy can be found at his website here.