Stokes Fires Up Coventry To Edge Out the Comeback Rangers
Coventry United 3
Paget Rangers 2
On a decent, flat surface, United recovered from a slightly
sticky start, when Paget’s Marcus Brown looked lively in attack, to lead
deservedly at the break, then dominate the early stages of the second period;
they scored a fine second goal, then replaced their impressive midfielder Chris
Cox, possibly because of a combination of a knock and an earlier caution. This,
along with the introduction of smiling substitute Kurt White, appeared to
galvanise Rangers and they struck back, testing home ‘keeper Joe Connor and
clawing back to parity. Dan Stokes however, was in no mood to relinquish the
opportunity to score a hat-trick and he nipped in to turn home Patrick Suffo’s
delivery and despite a late corner for the visitors, including the arrival of
the Paget goalie in the home penalty-box, the Cagemen survived to win a contest
which ended thrillingly. Many thanks to the Coventry staff for allowing me
inside the Cage to take pictures and film the goals…
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Paget kick off @ Coventry... |
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In the pink: Joe Connor... |
A bit of shirt-pulling by Jonathan Ashfall of Paget on
United’s Cox led to a low, short free-kick from the right for the hosts, which
surprised Rangers, but Andrew Woodall’s drive rose too high from 16 yards.
Justin Haughton’s low corner, weakly struck towards no colleague at the near
post somehow rolled beneath home midfielder Dan Lucas’ foot and bounced off
goalie Connor’s feet but with the visitors, mostly through the strength and
pace of Brown, looking lively in attack in the early stages, Coventry’s defence
was working hard. Brown’s left-wing centre looked perfect for Haughton to head
but he attempted to lift a foot instead and the chance went begging, then
United were really close to opening the scoring. A fine crossfield pass, left
to right by the ageless Suffo to Stokes led to the quick striker beating a
defender on the right byeline and testing visiting goalie and skipper Peter
Maguire with a low near post shot but the rebound to Stokes saw the unselfish
forward pass to Nathan Stoute, in for Brian Ndlovu, but his close range shot
was hacked from the goal-line by Rangers defender David Arrowsmith, who was a
feature player for the guests.
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Did they pose for this? |
Home defender Steven Young and midfielder Cox were forced to
defend stoutly as Brown continued to cause the occasional problem and then a
fine tackle by Ben Vallance saved his team as Brown galloped onto schemer
Terence Carpenter’s pass through the middle. Suffo collected a poor Paget
clearance but shot well over the crossbar from distance, an effort which was
followed by polite applause from spectators, like he was playing bowls on the
lawn. A foul by Cox on Ashfall was allowed to pass by the referee, who played
an advantage, then Cox made a really good tackle on his opponent to concede a
throw but the official then cautioned the Coventry man, to Suffo’s annoyance
and indignation, an incident which would have an interesting parallel later on.
Woodall took a quick shot from a 28 yard free-kick for the hosts, which took a
high bounce, forcing Maguire to push the ball over his crossbar, then after
fine defending again by United’s Young, a long centre by Vallance was not
headed well by Stokes beyond the far upright.
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Cox cannot believe he's just been cautioned... |
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Kabonga the Controller (2)... |
The combative Dan Cullen in the Rangers midfield was
cautioned for a rough tackle on Woodall, who was always looking to pass the
ball for the hosts, before the United midfielder shot wide from 25 yards, as
Coventry began to dominate more. Connor stopped a shot by Brown, who had forced
his way forward at inside-right but when Cox’s low free-kick from the left to
the near post was read quicker by Stokes than marker Carpenter, the impish
forward’s finish rose high into the net off Maguire. Once again, the near post
delivery had caught the guests napping. Before half-time was signalled, Maguire
made a meal of saving a Cox drive and Ashfall ran straight into one of the
Coventry coaches, displeasing the fellow, which I joked with him about as the
second period was about to start.
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The ref books Cullen but won't look at him; so dramatic... |
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Stokes (the one without the headache) has just opened the scoring for Coventry... |
Connor fumbled a back-header by Peter Williams, who again
generally defended with aplomb for United but the ‘keeper escaped further
punishment and then Coventry really turned the screw on Paget and the danger
sprang several times from Cox, who was working the right flank cleverly, even
though his coaches were urging him to play a more modest role at times! He
caused Rangers’ left-back Rackeem Reid to hack him down, earning the Paget man
a booking, then helped to push Suffo to the byeline for a cross which nobody
could capitalise upon. Incredibly, Cox mugged Arrowsmith, who simply grabbed
the intense United midfielder around the waist like he was grabbing a mate for
balance at Solihull Ice Rink, but Woodall saw his chance, latched onto the
loose ball and forced a low block by a combination of Maguire and centre-half
Dean Morris. The referee, amazingly, did NOT show the obvious yellow card to
Arrowsmith, which was an inexplicably crass decision, after Cox had been booked
for a similar, if less cautionable offence earlier. Badly done Mr Aires…
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Players pose for a new waterfall statue in the centre of Rome... |
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Ashfall thinks The Cage is a place for rap and garage music to be enjoyed... |
From the ensuing corner, again taken short by United and
again not spotted by Rangers, Stokes erred and Paget cleared. Then Coventry
scored a fine goal, which stemmed from the right flank; a long crossfield pass
from deep right by the inventive Cox was brilliantly headed over a covering
defender by the switched-on Suffo and Vallance read the intention, driving onto
the ball inside the penalty-box, beating the sliding challenge of Morris and
passing across the 18 yard area for the supporting Stokes to stroke home from 8
yards, with marker Matt Price unable to get back. Well created, clinically
finished…
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2-0 and Stokes again (9)... |
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Cox leaves the field after what Harry Redknapp would describe as a "Good shift..." |
Three substitutions then changed the game somewhat, for
Coventry had been quite ascendant; Paget withdrew Price and Haughton and
introduced Graham Bond and Kurt White, who had earlier joked with me about
maybe having a goal to record on video later in the game. How prophetic was
that… Cox was replaced by Robert Prinzel for United but quite suddenly, a pass
inside from the right by Billy Fagg ended with Carpenter dropping a couple of
yards off Young, as the home defender watched Fagg’s movements and the Rangers
midfielder clipped a 12 yard left-booter into the left side of goal as Prinzel
ran to challenge and with Connor almost certainly unsighted as he dived to his
right.
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Suffo (8) laments Carpenter's carved out goal... |
Suffo made a strong run but sliced a 24 yarder well wide
then Lucas lost possession in midfield and Brown, quiet thus far in the
second-half, ran towards the right but lifted his hopeful drive way too high.
The warnings were there for all to see by now and Paget sensed success, for
after one header by, I think, Arrowsmith had looped and dropped past the left
upright from a corner, the now really effective Cullen rose high to head Reid’s
left-side centre goalwards, only for Connor to jump at his left post and nudge
the ball away for a corner, which Bond got his head to, but was unable to
direct towards goal for Rangers. Sean Kavanagh replaced the hurt Stoute for the
hosts, Mitchell Dunbar appeared for Rangers, in place of Fagg but Coventry
broke on the right with Prinzel and Kavanagh, but the latter was dispossessed,
before Suffo threatened to shoot, following a strong run but he passed right to
Prinzel, who hammered a first-timer from 16 yards past the near upright. The
game was ridiculously open in these latter stages and became exciting to watch,
for soon Brown turned Williams at inside-right and smacked a rising shot
towards the near post, which Connor turned over his crossbar in spectacular
style. Unfortunately for the goalie, the resulting right-wing corner was struck
towards White, at the near corner of the 6 yard box, marked by Young and he
leaned and ducked, twisted and bucked, nodding the ball on and over the home
defence, whereupon the ball dropped just inside the left upright and the
equaliser had gone in…
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White told me he'd score if he went on as a replacement. He did. And he rolls on the floor in delight. He didn't tell me he'd do that though... |
As the attacking continued, a remarkable passage of play
ensued and brought the winning goal for Coventry. Home skipper Tristan Kabongo
had tackled resolutely for his team, especially after the interval and it was
another challenge by him which set the ball rolling. Suffo’s free-kick was
cleared with difficulty by Rangers but Reid fed Brown in a promising position,
only for Kabongo to wrestle the ball away, offering Williams possession, who
was returning from attacking duties. The defender ran on, Kavanagh was free to
his left, but he chose to pass right to Suffo, whose low pass into the
penalty-box was met by a deft Stokes flick at the near stick and the ball
deflected into the Paget net.
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Game-winner Stokes wonders why nobody wants to hug HIM... |
Stevy Djedje replaced Suffo for United, who soon lost
possession again but Ashfall drove way too high then a poor clearance by Paget
‘keeper Maguire offered Kavanagh a chance, which he struck at the near post but
the goalie recovered to save and make up for his error. Kavanagh then ran the
ball towards the left corner-quadrant to waste time but somehow, without
warning, tricked his marker instead and went for goal, firing an angled
right-footer, which grazed the Rangers crossbar. Breathless stuff! And then the
visitors were gifted a last-second corner, when Connor punched a cross from the
right-wing away and the left-side flag-kick brought visiting goalkeeper Maguire
forward to add an extra body inside the penalty-box; the delivery was headed
away but Rangers crossed from the right again, Cullen leaned to volley a shot
but Connor was there to save and throw out to Stokes on the right. He pushed a
pass for Prinzel on the half-way line, who tried to shoot as Maguire ran back
into goal like his house was on fire, only for the ball to drift wide.
Coventry held on to claim their first points of the season
but the contest had been a good one to witness and I would imagine that most
spectators walked away with a smile… Maybe even Patrick Suffo too… Woodall and
Cox were the driving forces behind United’s midfield play, Vallance was really
effective at left-back and the central defenders did well enough; Suffo showed
flashes of class and experience but Stokes displayed sniping at its best. Paget
worked so hard and Brown will be an asset this season, as will the defensive
pairing of Morris and Arrowsmith and also midfielder Carpenter, who was always
looking to offload a neat pass.
It did not go unnoticed that Paget wore Coventry City sky-blue today (!) but it was Stokes’ day, if not Stoke’s day, who were beaten
at home by Villa. Now that WAS a shock…
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Carpenter and Vallance show due respect at the end... |
Teams:
Coventry:
Joe Connor, Tristan Kabonga (Capt), Ben Vallance; Andy Woodall, Peter
Williams, Steven Young; Chris Cox, Patrick Suffo, Daniel Stokes, Daniel Lucas,
Nathan Stoute.
Subs: Stevy Djedje, Rob Prinzel, Wendell Moyo, Gift
Mussa, Sean Kavanagh.
Paget:
Peter Maguire (Capt), Billy Fagg, Rackeem Reid; David Arrowsmith, Dean
Morris, Justin Haughton; Jon Ashfall, Matt Price, Terence Carpenter, Marcus
Brown.
Subs: Graham Bond, Sam Chilton, Kurt White, Mitchell
Dunbar.
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