Alveston 4v0 Brinklow 17 Oct 2010 - Match Report

Alveston produced another dominant display as they swept aside Brinklow Juniors with a comfortable 4-0 victory. From kick off it was clear that the home side possessed a better footballing quality and determination and as the half was to unfold GK Isaac Downes was little more than a spectator as the home side pushed on.

Down the right hand flank Jamie Stephens and Alan Mackinnon gathered the impetus as they combined on more than one occasion but frantic defending by the visitors prevented any clear site of goal materialising. In the middle of the park midfielders Mattie Ricketts and Billy Dingley battled hard to find room to create the elusive opening but when Stephens was able to release Josh Humphries through the middle any doubts and frustrations were forgotten as he calmly shot past the keeper from 12 yards. 

This seemed to unsettle Brinklow and within minutes their loss of concentration enabled Alveston to gain a second goal when from a corner Mackinnon was able to take advantage of hesitant defending and smash home from close range. This was then followed by as series of chances. First Roshen Foley’s hard struck long drive was well saved, Humphries again released through the middle hit the post and when Alex Connor beat this marker to take the ball to the dead ball line, his pulled back cross was met by Mackinnon who struck just over. 

In the 2nd half Alveston immediately regained the impetus. The defensive line of Jake Greaves, Dan Malone and Jordan Pace stepped further up the field and strong tackling by Malone and Pace supported by the confident authority of Greaves at centre back enabled the midfield to thrive on the additional support. On the right hand side both Humphries and Dingley nearly profited but their shots were just wide and a Stephen’s volley went tantalising close as well. 

All this pressure was finally rewarded when Greaves first to the ball once again was able to find an unmarked Humphries who grabbed his second with a firmly struck shot. Chaos seemed to then reign in the Brinklow defence and Alex Connor, Harry Spencer and Harry Coleman could all count themselves unlucky not to get on the end of crosses that shot across the six yard box. Ricketts then narrowly missed when his shot went agonisly wide but with all this pressure the 4th goal was inevitable. 

When Pace released Connor to cross from the left Harry Spencer was able to make room for himself to shoot and when the keeper fumbled Joe Vose was on hand to pick up the rebound and steer home. In the last ten minutes of the game Brinklow rallied hard but solid defending notably at right back by Dan Malone restricted the visitors to one long range shot that keeper Isaac Downes covered well.

Alveston 2v0 Firefighters Match Report and Photos

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Alveston beat Firefighters 2-0 at home to move through the 2nd round of the KO Cup. In a progressively competitive but scruffy affair the visitors set their stall out with a deep defensive but resolute line that Alveston found difficult to penetrate.

In the 1st half goal keeper Isaac Downes was never troubled and shielded by the effective defensive partnership of Jake Greaves and Jordan Pace Alveston were afforded the luxury of being able to concentrate on going forward. However the midfield the trio of Billy Dingley, Mattie Ricketts and Roshen Foley were more often crowded out and struggled to find Alex Connor and Joe Vose waiting out on the wings. As the game began to get bogged down Alveston were beginning to reflect on just one long range shot from Mattie Ricketts and a toe over the bar from Jamie Stephens , but two goals in the space of 5 mins looked set to change the complexion of the game.

First from the right hand wing Alveston looked to have been frustrated once more as the tireless work of Ricketts, Stephens and Alan Mackinnon as once again stifled by sheer defensive numbers. However when the ball fell conveniently to Vose he was able to shoot hard and low from 12 yards across the keeper to see his shot nestle in the bottom corner of the net. Within 4 mins Alveston doubled their lead when Harry Spencer was able to chase down a ball over the top from Dingley then cut into the penalty area and curl his shot beyond the keeper’s outstretched hand into the corner. It was hoped by the home supporters that this would light the touch paper for more goals but to Firefighters’ credit they maintained their focus and saw the half out.

The flavour of the 2nd half was much the same as the first. Dan Malone was introduced into defence and his competitive tackling approach underlined Alveston's tight defensive line . Once more the home team pressed hard trying to create a clear cut chance in front of goal but the weight of numbers and last ditched clearances kept the home team at bay. Against all this Harry Coleman was still able to make some room for himself on the edge of the penalty area but then shot just wide. Minutes later Josh Humphries was able to seize upon a pass by Connor but the keeper was alert enough to palm his shot on to the post . Inevitably the game moved towards a competitive stalemate and Alveston's frustration in search of an elusive 3rd goal was summed up in the closing minutes when Humphries was just unable to connect when given a clear site of goal.. This was of no matter though as Alveston through hard endeavour and two early goals had made it through to the next round.

Alveston in the Stratford Herald 7 Oct 2010

Once again Alveston Juniors have a report and photo in the Stratford Herald.

Read the same match report at this website on the Monday after a game or the old fashioned way in the local newspaper on the Thursday.

Alveston Juniors are at Home to Firefighters on Sunday 10 October 2010. Fire Fighters play at The Woodlands School in Broad Lane, Coventry which is Eastern Green. So far this season, Firefighters have played three league games (a win, a draw and a loss) in Division C which sees them in sixth place.

Photos Alveston 4v1 Southam Saints Sunday 2nd October 2010

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Alveston 4v1 Southam 2 Oct 2010 - Match Report

Alveston under 11's produced an outstanding display away at Southam to claim all three points, with a well deserved 4-1 win. In difficult conditions, and with the wind at their backs, it was the home side who started strongly, but with Isaac Downes in commanding form in goal, and Jake Greaves, Jordon Pace and Dan Malone all superb at the back, not only putting in some crunching tackles, but also looking to play the ball to feet wherever possible, they provided Alveston with a platform to build from. It was from such a move that Alveston created their first chance of the game, when good link up play between Dan Malone, Jamie Stephens & Matty Rickett released Alan Mackinnon down the right hand side, and his cross found the on-rushing Billy Dingley who fired wide. 

Josh Humphriss and Jamie Stephens were causing all sorts of problems for the home defence, and when Alex Connor played a delightful ball into the path of Josh on the left hand side of the box, Luke Hurst had to be at his best to keep the shot out. However, he could do nothing to prevent Alveston taking the lead, when a free kick from Matty Rickett found Josh Humphriss just inside the area, who's sublime first touch turned the defender before he unleashed an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net. 

After the break it was the home side who started well, and were soon level when the referee awarded a penalty when he felt Jamie Ford was upended in the box. Connor Bowmaster calmly firing into the the bottom right hand corner, leaving Isaac Downes with no chance. Alveston responded brilliantly, with Matty Rickett, Billy Dingley and Roshen Foley taking control of the centre of the midfield and orchestrating all their attacks, and it wasn't long before they re-took the lead, when from some good work down the left by Joe Vose and Jordon Pace set up Josh Humphriss, who from the left hand edge of the area, curled a superb shot into the far corner of the net. 

Alveston continued to press, harrying every Southam player with the ball and forcing them into errors. Some good interplay between Matty Rickett, Billy Dingley & Roshen Foley forced the southam midfield into some desperate lunges, and from one of these Alveston were awarded a free kick some 25 yards out. From this distance, you would normally expect the ball to be clipped into the box, however, Josh Humphriss claimed his hat-trick when he unleashed a thunderbolt of a free kick, which flew into the top corner of the net, leaving the home keeper, Luke Hurst, rooted to the spot. 

It was all Alveston now, with Alan Mackinnon, Jamie Stephens and Matty Rickett all going close. With only 5 minutes remaining another well worked move down the Alveston right, involving the impressive Jamie Stephens, set Josh Humphriss away and when his cross was fumbled by the home keeper, Harry Spencer was on hand to guide the ball into an empty net.