LITTLETON 0-1 COVENTRY COPSEWOOD: match report by The Mowdog...

Fitter’s Dynamics Not Enough For Littleton

Littleton 0-1 Coventry Copsewood

The red, the pink, the green and the grey...

Simon Fitter, the experienced Littleton defender and skipper, endured one of those games in which he was the feature performer but ended on a losing team. His long free-kicks were really well flighted, he curled two free-kick shots only just wide, he somehow cleared two Copsewood efforts off his own goal-line at full stretch and he also managed to get cautioned for arguing about where a free-kick should be taken. As you do. His forwards were wasteful and in truth his midfielders were not creative enough, despite playing against visitors who were without some players due to holidays. One of the home midfielders, Callum Clarke, even changed his 7 shirt to 22 after the interval, possibly for a change of fortune... It didn’t work. Copsewood’s strike-duo of the eager, battling Martin Gormley (should he not be playing for Gornal) and Connoll Farrell were constantly dangerous and Farrell, in particular, could have left the countryside with a hat-trick. The Copsewood defensive three, of James Ritson, Mike Quirke and Luke Wilson were superb and the latter’s two anticipatory interceptions in the first-half were telling. Balls flew into fields of crops, into conifers and high into the midge-filled air all evening but the visitors nabbed a goal, looked smart on the break and held off a better challenge from their hosts in the latter stages.

Fitter, wearing red, into everything, wants to toss as well...

The strong-running and tall Littleton flanker Kyonn Evans swung in an early cross from the right but although visiting ‘keeper Tom Hindmarsh looked concerned, the ball dropped over the goal frame, before the wide-man latched onto a Fitter pass on the left, after a defender failed to cut it out, but after a promising run and cut inside, Evans smacked his 16 yard drive too high. Copsewood responded with a pass from Dan Povey to the lively Farrell on the right-wing and he too cut inside but dribbled a disappointing effort into the side-netting. Then, following a loss of possession by the hosts, Farrell dribbled into the home penalty-box at inside-right but from an acute angle and with only home goalie Haydn Whitcombe to beat, the forward opened up his body and slotted a left-footer high across the face of goal. A third opportunity was squandered by Farrell, following a determined run by strike-partner Gormley and from the inside-left channel, the speedster hesitated before clipping a right-footer well wide of the right upright.

The game was one of rushes, booted punts, lots of effort but regular poor control of the ball on a bobbly pitch but at least the visitors looked threatening, whilst Littleton huffed and puffed, then failed to blow the house down. Visiting ‘keeper Hindmarsh punched a long free-kick away for a corner then could only watch as home defender Adam Guest challenged for another Fitter delivery from deep, but failed to get his head to it. Stuart Hall managed to find the Coventry net but had been flagged offside, a decision not agreed with by a few Littleton supporters then the influential Copsewood skipper and playmaker Craig Civzelis combined with George Whitlaw but Gormley could only dribble a shot to Whitcombe. Another fine deep free-kick by the driving force of Littleton, Fitter, was jumped for by defensive partner Tim Beattie but he missed the ball, as did the leaping Hindmarsh, who was no doubt relieved that the ball dropped past his left post.

The onside Gormley nudged a near post cross at Whitcombe from an unmarked position then the hosts attacked with Will Gayton feeding Matt Chambers on the right, whose chest-high cross was punched clear by Hindmarsh, like he was after a Welterweight knock-out at the recent Commonwealth Games. The rather poor opening half ended with three shots at goal by Littleton, although it would have been cruel on Copsewood’s game defence to have conceded. First, a 22 yard free-kick by Fitter, inside-left channel, curled round the right upright, then Clarke blocked a clearance with an accidental arm but when Gayton took possession at inside-right, his awful shot rose way too high from 17 yards. Finally, a better effort, from 18 yards by the central striker was brilliantly blocked by the sliding Ritson and the interval arrived with a deep red sunset, charcoal clouds, a threat of rain but no goals.

Gayton (9), will have more productive days...

Farrell’s impish opportunism allowed him to combine with quick and positive left-wingback Dan Fraser and beat the goalie from an angle on the left but the dependable Fitter, who always reminds me of the very likeable but damned annoying kid in class, slid back at his own right post to clear. He could not prevent Farrell latching onto the next fine pass of the playmaking Craig Civzelis at inside-left however, and the forward fired a low drive past the advancing Whitcombe from 14 yards. 0-1 and just about deserved for Coventry but the goal served to hurry the hosts and Beattie’s long run ended with a shot from distance, even though it lacked pace and direction.

Copsewood celebrate their winner...

Fitter, creating from the back, as well as commanding and defending, launched a deep pass for Hall, who fed Gayton but the striker sliced his left-booter well wide of the left upright from 19 yards. Gayton made one fine run on the left though, but Hall couldn’t get to his strike-partner’s sensible low delivery. Chambers, more of an influence on the left, fed Robbie Bunn for a 23 yard shot, which fizzed wide of the left stick, as Littleton wound themselves up and Copsewood’s Whitlaw was now having to mark Chambers really closely. A free-kick was awarded to Littleton, right of centre, just 19 yards out, fit for Fitter’s right foot and he didn’t disappoint with a good curling shot, but the ball whipped into the side-netting. Andy Lee replaced Copsewood’s hardworking Gormley, whilst Steve Edgehill, Chambers and Hall were replaced by Littleton’s Nathan Haywood, Sean Cooke and Tom Allard.

Fitter was cautioned for a tirade of words at a linesman, over the placement of a free-kick for his team, Evans made a strong run to the right byeline but all and sundry missed his low delivery then Coventry might have sealed the win when Littleton squandered possession and Farrell broke clear at inside-left. Beattie pulled him back though, encumbering the forward but he stayed on his feet, rounded the advancing Whitcombe and from a very narrow angle on the left, slipped a low shot towards the net, but, typically, Fitter had to be into everything and once again took the plaudits with a slide, a boot and a clearance off his goal-line. Ritson blocked well from Bunn of Littleton and just before Farrell left the field to be replaced by Ryan Harkin, the hosts missed a great chance to regain parity. Fitter was involved again, with a pinpoint free-kick onto Gayton’s chest right edge of the 6 yard box, he chested down the ball and with all the Littleton players’ minds rehearsing their goal celebrations, Gayton, er, miscued. And that was that.

Copsewood’s resolute defence weathered the expected late, if not concerted onslaught by their hosts, their ‘keeper had been rarely extended though and Littleton must have rued the fact that Craig Civzelis was wearing green on the night. Farrell was the match-winner but much credit must go to Gormley for his unselfish support and to Adam Civzelis, Povey and Whitlaw for their concentration and cover from midfield. Evans will be a danger for Littleton this season, surely, and Gayton will have many better days but the 5 Acres club needs more than a quick-fix Fitter…

And I managed to complete this report without a mention of Lee Hendrie: Shepshed players, take note…

Teams:

Littleton:  Haydn Whitcombe, Adam Guest, Steve Edgehill; Simon Fitter (Capt), Tim Beattie, Matt Chambers; Callum Clarke, Robbie Bunn, Will Gayton, Stuart Hall, Kyonn Evans.

Subs: Nathan Haywood, Sean Cooke, Tom Allard, Luke Rowlands, Sam Bastow.

Copsewood:  Tom Hindmarsh, James Ritson, Dan Fraser; Adam Civzelis, Mike Quirke, Luke Wilson; George Whitlaw, Craig Civzelis (Capt), Martin Gormley, Dan Povey, Connoll Farrell.

Subs: Dave Evans, Ryan Harkin, Mike Bawden, Andy Lee, Mitch Campbell (gk).