KENILWORTH TOWN 2-1 COVENTRY UNITED: match report by The Mowdog...

Coventry Craft Undone By Clinical Kenilworth

Kenilworth Town 2 Coventry United 1

Tossing...

The United players huddle and discuss Tommy Maguire's headgear...

This was a fascinating evening, right from attempting to park in a narrow lane, to chatting with Alvis Sporting ‘legend’ Tommy Maguire, now on United’s books, but unusually (ahem…) currently banned for four matches, and finally to being temporarily prevented from simply taking a picture of Town’s team-sheet, like it was a secret message en route to Bletchley Park for code-breaking. Coventry passed the ball well on occasions but despite their movement, workload and mild threat, strikers Dan Stokes and Brian Ndlovu fired few shots, leaving busy midfielder Dan Lucas to stretch home ‘keeper James Bramwell. Solid home forward and skipper Sean Sproul netted left-footed in the second period, Aran Francis added to that and suddenly, United were chasing a game they ought to have been leading. A late goal and a crescendo of attacking brought no further reward for the visitors, who slumped to their second away defeat of the season already. I had paid £2 to go in, for I had been informed that there was no concession for the retired and in a strange explanation I was told at the gate by the recipient of my coins that he was a pensioner too… Meaning what, exactly? Ah, nothing like a fine, friendly welcome! I paid with good grace anyway and I guess it was all worth it…

Man emerges from ditch with balls intact...

An early flick-on by the powerful figure of Sproul for Scott Hennell didn’t quite come off for the hosts, before United’s Stokes crossed from the left for Ndlovu, but the forward’s header was a mere glance and well wide. Ndlovu did get in at inside-left but from a narrow angle close in, home ‘keeper Bramwell smothered smartly at the expense of a corner. The early passing and movement by Coventry were causing Kenilworth some difficulties and they themselves were resorting to longer boots forward towards Sproul’s ability to shield the ball; left-sider Arron Turnbull, who was so well marked throughout by the excellent United right-back Pierre Moudime, slipped one pass back for Dan Hume though and Hennell threw a boot at the left-back’s cross, 18 yards out and the effort flew upwards but dropped over the visitors’ crossbar.

Spectators packed on the sideline watch an aerial duel...

Combative Coventry captain Tristan Kabongo lost possession in midfield and suddenly, Kenilworth had a shooting opportunity at inside-right, from where Mullino McNeilly-Jules smacked in a rising 10 yarder but Joe Connor leapt to turn the ball over his crossbar spectacularly. After the ensuing corner was cleared, United attacked but Kabongo’s shot from distance was wayward. Andy Woodall was regularly involved in Coventry’s quick passing moves and the overlapping Ash McBride was a constant menace to the home team but it was Ndlovu who threatened next, although he slipped and the home defence, in which Dan McDonald was doing so well, managed to clear. Francis set Sproul up in the inside-left channel but the striker chose an awkward right-footer instead of using his left shoe and his 19 yard effort rose harmlessly high, then Ndlovu didn’t appear to read the flight of a left-wing centre, the ball was cleared by Hume but it deflected off Turnbull to Lucas, 18 yards out and he rapped in a shot, which Bramwell fell right to turn away successfully.

The physical Sproul holds off another challenge...

A left-wing corner for United was challenged for at the near post by Stokes but the ball was blocked and rebounded to Lucas at 16 yards again, inside-left channel, but Bramwell threw himself upwards and left to flick the midfield’s clever clipped shot over the angle of bar and upright. More bustling play by Sproul was eventually nullified by three Coventry defenders then a Kenilworth error led to Ndlovu’s low centre but there was no support in the middle. Messy Coventry possession, despite some quick passes, led to Ndlovu shuffling the ball wide of the right post and as half-time approached, a right-side centre by Ryan Conneely for Town was met by the head of the tall Turnbull but his effort at goal was comfortably caught by Connor.

The interval was signalled, United had enjoyed the majority of possession but had failed to capitalise upon it and Kenilworth’s more robust approach was working better for them, although they had enjoyed only very few offensive periods. Moudime and McBride had supplemented the Coventry attack well but the two forwards had continued to lack punch in the penalty-box.

The guests began the second period with a couple of lapses in the marking of Sproule, who first neatly released Francis for a run on the right but there was no-one supporting, then the big man himself found space to clip a 25 yarder to Connor. Stokes’ header from Peter Williams’ long free-kick for Coventry dropped through for Bramwell to collect but then, quite surprisingly, a cross from the Town right found its way to Sproul at the left post, some 7 yards out and with three defenders whirling and flailing like wheat in a wind, the striker took aim and fired a left-footer this time, which flew just inside the left upright, with Connor rooted to the spot.

1-0 to Kenilworth...

Coventry retaliated but Ndlovu slipped again, then Kabongo fed McBride at inside-left but his drive from 21 yards skidded past the left stick and before the guests could assert themselves again, a right—side centre from Town’s Conneely was challenged for by Sproul and the ball squirted left for Francis, who simply capitalised upon Moudime’s wrong-footedness and shot low from 10 yards, again inside the left stick, with Connor helpless.

2-0 and Kenilworth on their way...

A couple of fine runs by Moudime won corners for Coventry but he took a knock too and would soon be replaced by Wendell Moyo, but there was more pushing and shoving between McNeilly-Jules and Kabongo, a repeat of a playground spat of a few moments earlier and both were fortunate to escape cautions. Either side of a wayward Ndlovu shot, Nathan Stoute replaced McBride for the guests, then Turnbull made way for Callum Ferguson for the hosts. Stoute soon threatened at an upright but after Terry Anderson, Town’s gritty midfielder was replaced by Jordan Scobie, a deep United free-kick bounced off the back of Stokes’ head but wide of the right post. Sergess Sokurovs replaced Kabongo for United, for the skipper was tiring and getting rather involved with McNeilly-Jules; a low centre by Town rolled untouched then a short left-wing corner from the by now desperate visitors was swung across by the emerging Williams, left-booted for Stokes’ head, only for the striker’s effort to be blocked by Hume; Ndlovu, however, finally picked up a reward, smashing a low cross-shot into the far corner of the net from 8 yards and suddenly it was game-on.

Could be a detention for Kabongo and McNeilly-Jules, although judging by the spellings of their surnames, the teacher will probably let them off...

Central defender Jack Monger and right-back Ryan Conneely were having fine defensive second periods for the hosts, with some well timed and clean tackles and it was Conneely who effectively secured victory for his team, when another left-wing United corner bounced up onto Ndlovu’s head and past Bramwell, only for Conneely to volley the ball high and clear. The unexpected bounce had taken Ndlovu by surprise and he hadn’t been able to put the necessary force into his effort. Moyo’s right-wing run led to a cleared cross, a fine run through the middle by the impressive Williams was crudely halted by McNeilly-Jules, who could not avoid a caution this time and Kenilworth’s Hennell was replaced by the brilliantly named Ncube Ishmael Mtshumayeli…

Caution for McNeilly-Jules...

After Stoute nearly capitalised at the left upright, a 19 yard Woodall drive took a hop off the surface and bobbled over the diving Bramwell’s body before passing just wide of the right post, as United sensed an equaliser. Williams took a pass from Sokurovs but shot disappointingly wide and the game ended with a 45 yard Sproule effort at the opposite end, which soared off target, allowing a few more seconds to ebb away. The hosts held on but in truth, Coventry had their finishing to blame for not winning the match, never mind gaining one point. Kenilworth were brave, however and their followers would cheer a good result, with strong performances in defence by Monger and the full-backs in particular as the game became a siege near the end. Sproul did what he does best. United were creative at times and with good individuals like Moudime, defender Ben Vallance, Williams, Woodall, McBride and the calm Lucas, as well as the forward pair, so surely they will threaten in this league? And there’s always Tommy Maguire to come in…

Sundown...

Teams:

Kenilworth:  James Bramwell, Ryan Conneely, Dan Hume; Terry Anderson, Jack Monger, Dan McDonald; Aran Francis, Scott Hennell, Sean Sproul (Capt), Mullino McNeilly-Jules, Arron Turnbull.

Subs: Jordan Scobie, Martin Cullinane, Ncube Ishmael Mtshumayeli, Callum Ferguson, John Rumble.

Coventry Utd:  Joe Connor, Pierre Moudime, Ben Vallance; Andy Woodall, Peter Williams, Ash McBride; Steven Young, Tristan Kabongo (Capt), Dan Stokes, Dan Lucas, Brian Ndlovu.

Subs: Neil Guest, Rob Prinzel, Wendell Moyo, Sergess Sokurovs, Nathan Stoute.