COVENTRY UNITED 1-1 WHITNASH TOWN: Birmingham Saturday Vase Semi-Final. A.E.T. Whitnash win 3-5 on penalties

Resilient Whitnash Hold Their Nerve In the Cage…

Coventry United 1-1 Whitnash Town

(a.e.t. Whitnash win 3-5 on penalties…)

(Birmingham Saturday Vase Semi-Final)

Maybe Coventry’s fans will point to incompetence by officials, the fact that their goalkeeper was too badly injured early in the game to be able to continue, or even that one of their midfielders was dismissed on the say-so of an assistant, not too far into this semi-final tie. However, Whitnash were disciplined, rarely deviated from their game-plan and threatened Coventry on several occasions, displaying a toughness, which derailed the well-oiled United engine to the point that the hosts became ragged at times. Certainly credit must go to Coventry for tackling the uphill struggle with sheer slogging hard work but in the end, the result came down to the goalkeepers. Joe Connor was badly injured when attempting to fly-kick the ball away, as the bullish Ross Briscoe slid into him, then walked away quickly and thus escaped even a word from the official, despite questions being asked by Coventry coach Patrick Suffo. Physio’ Sarah Evans wasn’t happy that Connor wanted to carry on but soon the inevitable happened and central defender Martin Hutchcox donned the ‘keeper’s jersey and that meant a quicker than expected introduction to first-team duties for ex-Alvis Sporting defender, Rob Whaling. He improved as the game wore on but was beaten when the opening goal was scored. Visiting ‘keeper Neil Stacey erred badly to concede an equaliser, whilst Hutchcox made a pair of fine saves to keep Coventry in the tie. After a typically pointless extra-time period, the penalty-shootout would decide the game. Stacey saved the first United penalty, oddly from Hutchcox, then charismatically won the match with his own spot-kick, the sixth successive successful penalty. Whitnash qualified for the Final and Coventry rued the lack of a speedy forward, a man to cause angst for the solid Town defenders.

Luke Cole (white shirt) wins another aerial duel...

Connor knocked away an early Town corner but Andy McKinlay, Whitnash’s central defender and as solid as a brick shit-house, couldn’t control a far post header. Connor was then hurt and it looked bad. Suffo was displeased with Briscoe’s challenge but the tall and wily Whitnash forward seemed licensed to push, barge and shove all through the game and you can’t blame him for continuing to do so, as a physical striker. The injury to Connor appears to be a stress fracture to a tibia. No further comment then… Kobe Ntim, who was the recipient of some mean late challenges himself, managed to find the quiet Dan Stokes with a pass, who fed Josh O’Grady but his eventual shot at goal was somewhat wayward. Josh Blake went closer and maybe ought to have registered a goal for United, when a back-pass to Stacey was too short, Blake nipped in but lifted his shot well over the gaping goal. Whitnash ought to have scored with their next attack too, but the scandalously unmarked Briscoe powered a close range header wide of the left upright from a bye-line delivery by offensive left-back Ryan Billington.

The ref' pretends to shoot Joe Connor with an imaginary gun...

Sarah is not happy with the leg...

Patrick Suffo is not happy about the tackle...

The official pretends not to hear Suffo's questions...

Gift Mussa, who endured a very tough midfield afternoon, was upended by a Town player but Rob Prinzel’s 26 yard free-kick lacked any venom at all, bouncing past the left upright. Connor was barely able to stand up by this time and a loss of possession by his misfiring colleagues led to a pass through the inside-left channel, where Hutchcox chose not the best moment to tumble, freeing Charlie Smith for a run at Connor but the forward’s measured right-footer bounced behind off the base of the right post. A second escape for Coventry then, but their own forwards were barely being given a kick by Whitnash’s skipper John Blunson (I hope that’s right…) and his fellow defenders. A slight threat by Stokes was followed by two Town fouls, one on Mussa, but it became clear that Connor couldn’t continue and Hutchcox took over in goals, leading to the introduction of Whaling, who couldn’t have been faced with a more difficult task. Glabrous Whitnash midfielder Luke Cole, who was really effective for his team, winning any number of midfield aerial duels and threatening on offense too, slid very late into Ntim for a second time, but neither challenge bothered either the nearby linesman, or the referee, called Balac…

Briscoe (10) has a bit of trouble with his wardrobe...

Luke Cole: imperious again...

Connor asks Martin Hutchcox if he'll sign his shirt...
(Is that right?)

Rob Whaling, minus harpoon, enters the fray...

Hutchcox, the reluctant custodian...

Interestingly, the official did react when Chris Cox, developing a frown like that of a shoebill stork, removed McKinley’s legs with a really bad tackle. Cox was shown a deserved yellow card. Luke Cole stayed out of view… Blake was cautioned for a sliding challenge too, as both Briscoe and Luke Cole hid in the shadows. Deservedly though, the guests took the lead and to rub salt into Coventry’s wounds, Luke Cole claimed the goal, after Whaling fell, fairly muscled off the ball whist covering a through-pass and Cole ran into the penalty-box, inside-left channel, doing enough to turn the ball into the right side of the net, as Pierre Moudime and Hutchcox challenged at his feet.

A tall man with four arms heads the ball...

Kobe Ntim hangs onto Ross Briscoe...

Luke Cole (8) has scored for Whitnash...

Whaling was treated for an ankle injury following the goal but an innocuous incident on the defensive United left ended with the linesman waving his yellow flag like he was interrupting the German Grand Prix. The referee chatted in a whisper to the assistant and Prinzel was dismissed, presumably for foul and abusive language, although the son of a Scottish Laird’s language would surely be foreign to a pair of English officials… Naturally, the Coventry supporters yelled their anger, pointing out that ALL the players were using abusive words, but the deed had been done. The resulting free-kick saw more poor marking by Coventry, as who else but Luke Cole jumped to head the ball over the goal-frame. Briscoe beat Ntim well on the right and busy midfielder Henry Leaver teed up Luke Cole for another shot but this time the effort rose too high. Coventry failed to get to grips with the effective Luke Cole throughout the contest. He was there again, after Whaling was this time beaten on the right by Briscoe but a fine interception by a defensive boot denied Cole and a corner was conceded by United. The flag-kick on the right, by Smith, meant too much of a stretch at the far stick by Kevin McGarvey after it was flicked on, and the ball spun towards the far corner flag.

Prinzel sets off on a charity walk to Falkirk...

Luke Cole: effective again...

Stokes, frustrated by poor service from the Coventry midfield, which was being bossed by the industrious Paul Wilkinson, the destructive McGarvey, the dangerous Cole and the splendid Leaver for Whitnash, hacked McGarvey down crudely and was deservedly cautioned. Mussa and Moudime combined well for the hosts but Stokes was dispossessed and with Moudime in attack, space was freed for Briscoe to break for the visitors but his shot from 27 yards, although hard, lacked direction, when maybe he could have carried on running. The interval was reached, there was a chill in the air and the players left the field to regroup. It had been tough to recognise which team was the leading light in the MFA 2nd division, notwithstanding the injury to Connor and the dismissal of Prinzel. Brian Ndlovu would replace the disappointing Stokes at the break and Coventry would begin the second period in the ascendancy.

Coventry took a number of throws in this contest and delivered the ball straight to opponents, which was inexcusable and from one of these, Briscoe broke on the right but he hurried his shot, as if he had a train to catch, slicing it wildly off target. Josh O’Grady, barely a threat thus far for Coventry, suddenly set off on a slalom run, for you could just imagine him on his skis, swerving down a snowy piste; he was crudely hacked at by Luke Cole but the bearded one kept going, fed Moudime on the right, whose low delivery was mishandled by Stacey and only a last ditch piece of defending kept out Blake’s awkward header. Then, to everyone’s surprise, the referee cautioned Luke Cole after the event… Blake was then offered a headed opportunity from a good position but couldn’t get any purchase on the ball at all, yet Whitnash were dangerous on the break and Coventry had Hutchcox to thank, when he saved Briscoe’s rasping effort with his legs, after the striker had shrugged off Whaling’s challenge. 

O’Grady’s next progress was halted by a brusque McGarvey foul, for which he was cautioned, a foul which led to United’s fortunate equaliser. O’Grady thumped the ensuing free-kick goalwards from about 30 yards and Stacey, attempting to clutch the ball low, in front of him, succeeded only in fumbling it into the bottom corner of the net to his left. It was almost like a wicketkeeper had totally misread a ‘wrong-un’ bowled by an Indian spinner.

O'Grady, right, has equalised, although you wouldn't know it...

O’Grady then fed Blake, who made ground to the left byeline, only for defender Billington to deny Ndlovu, who was lurking at the far post. Ndlovu had not made much impact thus far but could only watch as another rush from Moudime ended up with a wasteful centre into the side-netting. Josh Cole replaced McKinlay in the Whitnash defence, which was a shrewd move, for Cole’s reading of the game would prove crucial. Cox soon waded wildly into Luke Cole in midfield and really, a final warning did not suit the crime, for that, undoubtedly, should have been a second caution, leading to a red card. From the free-kick, the home defence managed, although McGarvey shot low from 25 yards in the second phase but Hutchcox saved at his right upright. The referee erred badly a few moments later, when Ntim was correctly booked for a foul on Briscoe, but to then ignore Briscoe’s aimed kick at the Coventry defender was inexcusable from the official, who remained below par for such an important match.

Smith was replaced by Town substitute Lewis Currell, who didn’t write ‘Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland’, before a switch of play allowed freedom on the Town right for Jack Taylor, not the famous referee of course, but certainly impressive at right-back, only for his cross to drop behind the goal-frame. A quick attack by Town led to a snap-shot by Currell, which he dragged past the left upright, then Luke Cole shot too high. It seemed that Whitnash had endured the Coventry backlash, had becalmed themselves and had begun passing with confidence again, almost benefitting when Currell’s drive was brilliantly blocked by Cox. A deep Moudime cross was taken on the chest by Ndlovu but Stacey fell left to save the replacement’s low effort at goal, before Hutchcox covered himself in glory when Currell fed the ball right for the once again unmarked Luke Cole to run onto and his rising drive was superbly turned over the crossbar by the makeshift custodian. Mike Ellis replaced McGarvey for Town, several 50/50 challenges flew in as the play became desperate and scrappy, before Stacey made a real meal of a Josh Cole back-pass and was nearly dispossessed by Blake, who couldn’t quite get hold of the ball on the byeline, in a tussle which reminded me of brothers playing one against one on a small back lawn.

A strong finish to the 90 minutes by United saw O’Grady exchange passes with the lively Moudime but curl his left footer straight to Stacey, then he fell over inside the penalty-box, something which although inexcusable, didn’t excuse Stacey from running 17 yards to push O’Grady in the back. That, of course, wasn’t spotted by the officials. Maybe… 

Extra-time means drinks...

...and bringing the dead to life...

Overtime was typically cagey, with tired players looking like they simply wanted to take penalties and go home for a crumpet and a pot of tea. Ellis fouled Moudime badly, following smart defence by Cox and then Whaling but the inventive Wilkinson scythed down Moudime to be presented with a yellow card, although O’Grady had just controlled the ball with an obvious elbow, which had been missed by the officials. O’Grady fired a promising free-kick straight to the grateful Stacey but Blake ended the game as he had started it, by missing a chance, one on one with Stacey. A one-two between Ndlovu and O’Grady’s heel had set up the late opportunity but Stacey somehow smothered the ball away from the exasperated Coventry forward. There was still time for Mussa to be cautioned, just after Tommy Maguire’s delayed introduction had been secured, replacing Blake. Hutchcox was shoved attempting to catch the ensuing free-kick but the subsequent corner came to nought. The referee signalled the end and so penalties would decide the tie…

O'Grady on the run...

Cox hides behind O'Grady's facial hair...

15 minutes left...

...more muscles are relaxed...

...and Tommy managed to get his shirt on...

Joe Connor, right, wants to help out...

Briscoe, Wilkinson, Leaver and Blunson were really splendid performers for Whitnash and ‘keeper Stacey did it when it mattered. Coventry, hampered by not having a replacement goalie, also losing a man, battled hard and again Gift Mussa displayed such a work-rate, rarely receiving protection from the officials but carrying on regardless. Kobe Ntim was also battered in challenges but defended mostly really well, with Whaling improving alongside him, although Ben Vallance has seen more productive days. Praise for Martin Hutchcox must be given, as a goalkeeper, but not, perhaps as a penalty-taker on the day… 

Whitnash pressure...

Coventry together...

The shoot-out:

0-1: Whitnash’s Josh Cole fired his shot high to Hutchcox’s left, who couldn’t reach the effort.

Still 0-1: Stacey fell right to keep out Hutchcox’s weak shot for Coventry.

0-2: Whitnash’s Luke Cole shot low into the bottom left corner, sending Hutchcox the wrong way.

1-2: Coventry’s confident Maguire (how they missed his skills during the game…) fired low into the left corner of the net, beating Stacey’s dive.

Maguire has scored...

1-3: Whitnash’s Leaver shot calmly and head-high into the right side of the net, as Hutchcox strolled in the other direction. 

2-3: Coventry’s Ndlovu, with the minimum of effort, shot sullenly into the bottom left corner of goal, with Stacey diving the other way.

Cheer up, Brian, you scored...

2-4: Whitnash’s Taylor shoved a low shot into the left corner of the net, with the fooled Hutchcox watching, wrong-footed.

3-4: Coventry’s O’Grady shot high into the right side of the net, beating Stacey’s dive.

O'Grady: successful...

3-5: Whitnash’s goalkeeper Stacey shot left of centre, an effort almost reached by Hutchcox’s dive but it was enough to carry his team into a cup-final…

And that was that.

Winners!

Losers...

The referee took some terrible abuse from the home supporters for what they felt was an inept performance and the linesman with a smooth pate walked from the Cage, using his raised flag to fend off comments and imaginary blows… Badly done, lino’… Referee Mr Balac’s name was probably mispronounced in the audience’s description of his overall performance… 

I drove home for the customary post-match eggs and chips and wondered about what might have been for Coventry, whose hopes in the Cup competition had, by a disciplined Whitnash, been well and truly eclipsed… 

Coventry: eclipsed...

Teams:

Coventry United:  Joe Connor, Pierre Moudime, Ben Vallance; Chris Cox (Capt), Martin Hutchcox, Kobe Ntim; Josh Blake, Josh O’Grady, Dan Stokes, ‘Lairdson’ Rob Prinzel, Gift Mussa.

Subs: Sean Kavanagh, Brian Ndlovu, Rob Whaling, Tommy Maguire, Leon Kelly.

Whitnash Town:  Neil Stacey, Jack Taylor, Ryan Billington; John Blunson (Capt), Andy McKinley, Kevin McGarvey; Paul Wilkinson, Luke Cole, Henry Leaver, Ross Briscoe, Charlie Smith.

Subs: Josh Cole, Mike Ellis, Lewis Currell, Lee Scott.