United Edge Out Robins & Last Eight Beckons In The Vase…
Coventry United 2-1 North Shields…
The Mowdog’s thoughts…
I must write an independent view of this match and thus I suggest that the visitors were rather unfortunate to lose the tie and exit the FA Vase to a battling Coventry team.
What is remarkable is that on the artificial surface both teams struck many long deliveries forward before the break, resulting in constant changes of possession and the game never did settle down into any pattern. Really, apart from when Charlie Faulkner surprised many of the spectators by scoring a decent goal, little of interest happened in the opening period.
The passing game was rarely evident, whether through nervousness or restraint but after the recess, North Shields began to pass the ball with accuracy and intent, driven by the creativity of Callum Ross and United were pushed back onto their heels. Subsequently though, no goal was scored by the Robins, due to a fine double-save by home gloveman Dan Moore from Shields’ Blair Adams.
And then United scored a second and telling goal, followed by a couple more chances, as the guests reeled temporarily, shocked by the concession.
Chris Cox, Steph Morley, Danny Fraser and Shay Palmer held firm in defence for the hosts until the final seconds when Ben Sampson slipped in a neat goal for the Robins, albeit too late for a final rally…
Before the interval…
The early atmosphere created by the spectators had quietened as the first 45 had lumbered on, only a disappointing glancing header by United’s Ryan Harkin from Fraser’s centre causing any goalmouth action, before Sampson nodded well over the target for Shields and their bustling, willing striker Stephen Hall drove an angled effort wide of the left upright.
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| HARKIN GLANCES A HEADER WIDE... |
The goal by Faulkner stemmed from, ahem, a pass over the defence by Fraser, which the lively forward fastened onto at inside-left. As the ball’s bounce on the artificial surface held it up a little and wrong-footed Robins’ centre-back Ben Harmison, Faulkner turned inside, creating the space to rattle a shot past visiting goalminder Callum Elliott.
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| FAULKNER SHOOTS... |
...& IT'S 1-0 TO UNITED...
As the half ebbed away, a Jordan Lashley free-kick for the visitors flew too high and a miscued volley by Harkin rolled some way wide for United.
As the 45 ended, it was almost a relief and it seemed odd that the teams had been so competitive, yet perhaps unwilling to be creative and possibly make errors, hence the launched passes and hurried clearances.
How things would change after the half-time interval…
After the tea-break…
The difference was palpable, as the white shirts moved forth in waves, pinning United back on numerous occasions, as Ross dictated the play from deep in midfield. Hall was a pain in the air, likely the arse too but his endeavour was faultless, as winger Lashley began to trouble the home defence.
Lashley had a shot blocked before Adams, well forward, looked sure to score from 10 yards, following smart work from Lashley and Reece Wanless but after sidestepping Steph Morley, his shot was smartly blocked by Moore, who also kept out the rebound header from Adams and Coventry survived.
Hall might have done better with a glancing header, similar to Harkin’s attempt for Coventry earlier, as it drifted beyond the right stick, before replacement Lee Mason got underneath a header from close range and the ball rose too high.
United were reeling, in truth, their only response being a cross-shot wide by Harkin but after a low Lashley drive flew off target, the hosts broke out to sting their guests with a second goal.
From a right-side throw, both Charlies, Shaw, then Faulkner were involved, the latter being well tackled by Robins’ skipper Adam Forster. However, the ball rolled invitingly for the fellow who had begun the attack, substitute Nehemia Zazi and as Elliott advanced the forward clipped the ball into the net, tumbling spectacularly as he did so.
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| ZAZI CONVERTS... |
...FOR 2-0...
Another replacement, United’s Benji Adomoko, whose first two passes had been superb, then drove a low effort wide, before Cam Dunn shot into the side-netting, as Shields seemed stunned by the concession of that second goal.
North Shields’ strong finish…
Recovering and with a decent amount of time remaining, the Robins persisted with their neat approach play, culminating in a brilliant block by Fraser from Mason’s powerful shot, before Cox’s head deflected a Harmison header away and visiting replacement Nelson Ogbewe’s low shot from downtown flew straight at Moore, who held on to it well.
Time went on but a goal for North Shields came too late, Harmison’s flick-on taking Sampson into the left side of the 18 yard box and closing in on goal from an angle. After side-stepping a challenge from home midfielder Luke Downes he slotted a cool finish past Moore into the far side of the net…
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| SAMPSON APPROACHES GOAL... |
...& FIRES HIS TEAM'S GOAL...
The game didn’t restart and Coventry’s players danced in joy…
The final words…
Industrious Coventry won the tie and that is all that really matters, for two goals beats one and there is no argument to be had.
It was a tough second period for the hosts, who were well led by skipper Cox’s example of strength and calmness under pressure but he was well supported by his defensive companions and his workmanlike midfielders too.
Few opportunities came the way of Harkin and Faulkner in attack but both full-backs impressed, Fraser and Palmer, whose contributions were vital for United.
The visiting full-backs were also effective, Lewis Suddick and Adams but whilst Ross was the pivot in midfield, Forster was generally busy and Wanless and winger Brandon Slater supported Hall well enough. Substitutes Mason and the neat Regan Patterson contributed well in the latter stages…
Thanks to Coventry for the welcome, the mug of tea and the Custard Creams, plus a place to park…
Quarter-finals for The Cagemen next…
THE IMAGES FROM THE TIE...
HOPES ENDED FOR SHIELDS... 
ABOVE & THE TWO IMAGES BELOW: UNTED ENJOY THEIR VICTORY...
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| SHIELDS HAVE SCORED, BUT NOT SOON ENOUGH... |
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| SOMEONE'S NICKED HIS CANOE... |
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| THE REF EXPLAINS THAT COSSACK DANCING ISN'T ALLOWED ON THE PITCH... |
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| 2-0 NOW... |
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| FORSTER: "YOU BOOKIN' HIM FOR TYING HIS LACES?" |
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| ...ACTUALLY, OGBEWE WAS CAUTIONED FOR A FOUL... |
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| SECOND PERIOD DEFENDING FOR COVENTRY... |
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| "HE'S LOOKING FOR MY FINGERS..." |
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| MOORE: TWO VITAL SAVES... |
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| THE REF WAVES AWAY A PATHOLOGIST... |
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| DOWNES (3) RUSHES TO GET HELP FOR LASHLEY, WHOSE STUDS ARE STUCK IN THE BALL... |
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| JOY... |
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| HARMISON (5): POWERFUL AERIALLY ALL AFTERNOON... |
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| SHAW (7) PREPARES FOR TAKE-OFF... |
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| GOAL ONE, FOR FAULKNER... |
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| DRINKS WATCH FROM THE TOUCHLINE... |
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| THE REF IS HEAD-BUTTED IN THE ELBOW. ODD, THAT... |
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| READY TO START BUT SHIELDS LOOK KNACKERED.. |
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| COVENTRY READY TO GO... |
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| THE MATCH BEGINS... |
