Bell Inn out of County Cup at first hurdle

Richmond, J.Pattison, A.Pattison, Eagle. Anderson, Skelly, Tarrant. Ashman, Simpson. C.Butler, Babb.

Bridges 60 (For Anderson)

The Bell Inn suffered their first defeat of the season as they went down 3-2 in a close affair against William Wanderers.

Changes were made from the draw at Dussindale with Richmond making his first appearance of the season between the sticks.

Anderson and Eagle came into the starting 11, starting in defence alongside both the Pattison’s.

Skelly moved into midfield with Tarrant as Babb made his first start of the season in front of the midfield 3 of C.Butler, Simpson and Ashman.

Bridges started on the bench with both Brown’s.

William started the stronger and could have been 3-0 up in the first 5 minutes but some woeful finishing and last ditch defending kept the scores level.

The Bell Inn finally woke up and almost took the lead twice through Simpson.

It was the away side that took the lead though, when a goal mouth scramble resulted in the ball finishing in the back of the net.

The Bell Inn changed to a 442 with Simpson joining Babb up top and instantly won a penalty, which was casually converted by the reliable J.Pattison.

HT – Bell Inn 1-1 William

The Bell Inn started the second half as they ended the first and missed chance after chance until Skelly scored his first goal for the club.

A good move down the right involving Ashman, Babb and then a Simpson back heel led to Skelly tucking home a right foot drive from the edge of the box.

The Bell Inn had more chances to put the game to bed but failed to convert and William equalised with 20 minutes to go.

Eagle, who was a rock at the back, pulled his hamstring and had to be replaced and William went on to score the winner 15 minutes from time.

More chances were created and missed by the home side but they couldn’t take it to extra time as their dreams of Carrow Road died for another year.

FT – Bell Inn 2-3 William

J.Pattison pen (30), Skelly (60)

Man of match – The performance was brilliant, the finishing was poor. Most players had a decent game but Skelly just about edged it in centre midfield.

From a personal point of view, I was very pleased with the performance and can’t ask for much more apart from the strikers coming round mine this week to practice some shooting.

Fair play to William, who we always have a good game with and wish them the best of luck in the next round.

We visit Easton to play Schoolhouse next week, and then Riverside the week after. The two best teams in the league in my opinion (apart from us). Two huge games, points are needed from both.

Regards,

TB

Bell Inn remain unbeaten after battling draw

Robinson, A.Pattison, Page, J.Butler, Skelly, Tarrant, Garrod, Ashman, J.Pattison, C.Butler, Simpson.

Babb (45 mins for J.Pattison), Eagle (80 mins for Page), Tubb (85 mins for Garrod).

The Bell Inn made it 2 games unbeaten after a good draw against a strong Dussindale side.

Robinson came in for the injured Aldridge in goal, whereas Page, Skelly and J.Butler replaced Challen, Anderson and Bridges in defence. The front six was unchanged from last week, with Babb joining Eagle and Tubb on the bench.

Hangovers were plenty and this showed in the opening exchanges as Dussindale dominated possession without creating any real clear cut chances. They were reduced to 30 yard pop shots, which were dealt with (just about) by Robinson.

The yellows made the most of the roll on, roll off substitute rule as Tubb made a 2 minute cameo of the bleeding Garrod, and Eagle did the same so J.Butler could change his boots.

The Bell Inn should have took the lead on 20 minutes as a front post knock down found J.Pattison, who flicked the ball onto the bar from 2 yards. The rebound fell to C.Butler, also 2 yards out, as he somehow headered wide.

The away side were made to pay for their missed chances as Dussindale took the lead on 30 mins with a good finish from the edge of the box.

This seemed to wake the Bell Inn up and they pulled it back to 1-1 after a superb C.Butler free kick found the head of Page who did brilliantly to head home from 6 yards.

HT – Dussindale 1-1 Bell Inn

Babb replaced J.Pattison in attack as Simpson moved into the free role.

The changed worked almost immediately as after 55 minutes, Babb picked up the ball on the left, rounded a couple of players before dinking it over another defenders leg and finishing from a tight angle. One of Babb’s best goals I have ever seen to be honest. It was god.

However, the Bell Inn were still celebrating as Dussindale went straight up the other end to make it level again. Another tidy finish to be fair.

As the game came to a finish, it was the Bell Inn creating the better chances but couldn’t find a winner.

Jack Tarrant had the best chance, after a cross found him 6 yards out but he smashed it wide, just inches past the post. This was also in front of his girlfriend Vicky and his baby Isabella, who was making her Bell Inn debut and couldn’t believe he had missed such an easy chance.

FT – Dussindale 2-2 Bell Inn

Page 40, Babb 55,

Man on the match – Lots of decent performances again with Richard Skelly impressing on his league debut at full back. Jamie Butler mopped up well at the back, Jack Tarrant class in midfield and substitute Ian Babb made a massive impact. But the award goes to Reece Ashman this week, who was back to his best on the right wing, beating the full back for pace every time and even managing to cross a few balls into the box (for once).

All in all, after being battered for the first 35 minutes, a point was a good result. Dussindale could have been out of sight early doors but we showed character to fight back and were unlucky not to win it in the end. 4 points from our opening 2 Premier Division games is a good start, considering 2 weeks ago we only had about 5 players.

We have a week off now then welcome old rivals William Wanderers to ours for the 1st round of the County Cup the following week. A cup we believe we can win.

Oh, and well done to Middle Green for managing to win a game in Division 2A. After last week’s hiding, I feared they may not pick up a point all season. Hopefully they can avoid relegation if they pick up a few more wins like this.

Enjoy the week off. Au revoir.

Bell Inn win Premier Division opener

Bell Inn 4-2 The POW FC.

L. Aldridge, T. Bridges, K. Challen, A. Pattison, N. Anderson, J. Tarrant, M. Garrod, R. Ashman, J. Pattison, C. Butler, D. Simpson (c)

R. Tubb (65), N. Eagle (75)

The Bell Inn welcomed last seasons 4th best team The POW FC to Barnham Broom for their first ever Premier Division game.

With a number of players missing, as usual, it was a bit of a make shift team with a new 4-2-3-1 formation being given a go.

POW started the strongest without really creating any clear cut chances but it was the Bell Inn who caught the away side on the break a couple of times, with Dale Simpson dragging a shot wide and Joe Pattison clipping the cross bar.

The visitors broke the deadlock on 30 mins through a scrappy goal which debutant Challen did his best to keep out but had no back up, leaving the striker with a simple tap in at the back post.

POW dominated the rest of the half and could have made it two but goalkeeper Aldridge made a classy save from a one on one.

HT. Bell Inn 0-1 POW.

Managers Brown and Anderson emphasised how impressed they had been with the first half performance and demanded more of the same.

On 55 minutes, Challen placed a perfect through ball through the POW defence and Simpson casually slotted it past the keeper, carrying on his impressive scoring record from last season.

The Bell Inn were now on top but fell behind again after a good move down the left resulted in a brilliant cross and finish to make the score 2-1.

Unlike previous encounters over the years, the home side kept their heads up and were rewarded with a penalty with 25 minutes to go. Joe Pattison stepped up and placed it well away from the goalkeepers reached to level the scores once again.

It was all Bell Inn now as the impressive Anderson made away for Tubb as the yellows pressed for a winner.

Good work down the right from Simpson saw him get into the box and mis hit a left foot shot which found its way nicely to Pattison to slot home for this second of the game.

The reformed Eagle, without a beard and 2 stone lighter, came on for the last 15 minutes to add a bit of strength up top and had a goal disallowed with his first touch.

He then almost scored a 30 yard lob without his boot on, which had came off whilst he was running for the ball, and was thrown into a bush by an opposition player.

The impressive Butler sealed the win after everyone stopped but him when the linesmans flag went up. He was judged on side and cooly rounded the goalkeeper before tapping home.

The Bell Inn stood firm for the final 10 minutes, which again is rare, with the back four and the two defensive midfielders Tarrant and Garrod, performing miracles.

FT. Bell Inn 4-2 POW.

(J. Pattison 2, Simpson, C. Butler)

MOM – It’s not very often we say this but everyone was at their best today, from front to back. The three stand out performers with Garrod back in his more comfortable position of midfield, J. Pattison who used his freedom in the hole well and banged in two goals and man of the match Challen, who was a rock at the back and we all hope he plays a few more games for us this season. Despite him being old, ginger and ugly.

Fair play to POW who will feel like they deserved something from the game. There was not a lot between the two teams and could have gone either way. We look forward to the re match at their place later in the season.

From a personal note, it was brilliant watching that out there yesterday after a very hard summer of trying to get things sorted. The players making their debuts were all quality and the regulars from last season turned up as usual and did their job. We have a few more players back next week so may even be in a position where we have to pick a team and subs, and not just play the only 11 players who turn up. I won’t hold my breath with that though.

With decent commitment, we can do things this season. Well done everyone. Bring on Dussindale.