As you will know if you've read any of my occasional match reports before, I like to make a bit more of my day than just travelling to and from the football. This was no different. A few weeks ago I'd had a hard 12 mile walk over various peaks of the Malvern hills before our battling win against Brackley. Today's walk was less challenging, the far (wrong?) side of the Malverns, significantly less climbing, but quite a bit of squelching through soggy going that resembled a 1970s goalmouth. One aim was to call in at the Three Kings pub in Hanley Castle, but a bit like Scarborough’s shooting later in that day, our directions went slightly off target. We did bump into a familiar face in Hanley Swan, a Malvern Bull, at least someone was working hard keeping the country going.
9 miles was a reasonable effort though before we retired for a few beers in Weaver's in Great Malvern. Train back to Hereford was almost on time, a quick catch up in the Orange Tree and it was off to the Street for the evening’s entertainment.
The Bulls lined up as follows: Pond. Skinner, Southern, Downing and Cranston across the back. Texeira and Pugh holding in midfield, Mendes more midfield than winger on the right, Ceesay more winger than midfield on the left. Babos as the number 10 behind Cowley.
Alex Babos Is Brought Down But Yusifu Ceesay's Free Kick Comes To Nothing
A bright start by both sides, the visitors perhaps had the better of the half chances and I felt were starting to look the better side when we took the lead on the half hour; Southern pinged a crossfield ball to Ceesay in front of Block E, who chested it down and beat his man before cutting inside and threading it through to Babos, who calmly rounded the keeper and rolled the ball home. A picture goal as they say.
At half time the person I was stood next to said this lot are quite good, we could do with a bright start and an early goal. Well, we got both, sort of. The bright start came from Boro who came close to scoring three times in 30 seconds, Pond with two fine saves and Southern with a goal line clearance. The goal, however, came from the Bulls. A long ball relieving pressure was chased hopefully by the ever willing Cowley, the defender had a mare, his attempted header back to the keeper was well short, Cowley pounced and as befitting a proper number 9 demonstrated how to poach a goal with a perfect lob over the stranded keeper from 20+ yards out.
The limping Mendes was promptly replaced by Livingstone, hopefully a minor knock and he'll be back available soon.
If we hoped the second goal would knock the stuffing out of Boro, they had other ideas. To their credit they kept passing and creating opportunities and, in short succession, a open goal was somehow squandered, followed by a shot pinging off the far post. Just after Fremantle replaced Cowley, a rash challenge in the area was drawn, Babos the guilty party, and, once again, Curtis Pond went the wrong way against a penalty kick.
You couldn't say Boro didn't deserve to be back in the game, but one thing I can definitely say about our lot this season is they have fight and guts; it's great to see and it was evident again here. Other sides might have crumbled or, at best, just tried to hang on grimly, but we kept pushing for the decisive killer third goal and it soon came. Tom Pugh won the ball, held off two opponents, drove forward from midfield and with the Boro defence out of shape played in Ceesay who drilled it past the keeper to confirm the points. A fine goal, celebrated by the vast majority of the 1800+ crowd.
Immediately after the goal Tolley, who gave a lively 10 minute cameo, replaced Ceesay, who deserved the acclamation from the crowd, and other than one chance for Fremantle which was hit straight at their keeper, that was really that.
My train home was a few minutes late which at least meant I could remain after the final whistle and join in the deserved applause for the players and management. An excellent win against good opposition; and I would like to take a moment to praise Scarborough, they were among the best I've seen this season, perhaps the bus legs mentioned in the match preview affected their finishing, on another day they'd have gone home with something for their efforts.
I may have only walked 9 miles earlier in the day but, as 500 miles blared out celebrating another fine victory, I can see why you would want to walk or travel a fair distance to see this side.
Nigel Preece