PAGET RANGERS 0-1 COVENTRY UNITED: light-hearted report by The Mowdog...

Kobe Kool and the Gang Break Burly Bears…

Paget Rangers 0-1 Coventry United

Has the coin been lost?

At Boldmere’s sloping pitch, a diagonal lean from corner-flag to corner-flag, United arrived without left-back Vallance, minus Prinzel, dismissed last week, as well as Blake, who has an injured hand. However, Rob Whaling settled in at left-back and the unique fashion guru Thomas Maguire wore the missing Blake’s 7 shirt… (Blake’s 7?) With sidelined goalie Connor also absent, Jason Fox was his replacement and it was evident from the start that Paget would test their guests to the extreme. Kobe Ntim, afforded a rest by Coventry, was soon called into action as the replacement for Whaling, then Jamie Coleman left the encounter with a nasty cut, received from Henry Mungwira’s boot. Coleman was bleedin’ awful; from the head, I mean. I had been blasting Kool and the Gang’s hits CD in my car en route to Sutton Coldfield and the smiling Ntim reminded me of the band’s smiling leader, Muhammed Bayyan, also known as Robert ‘Kool’ Bell. Ntim was to play an important defensive role for his team, as Pierre Moudime’s fine goal was clung onto by the visitors. The game would be memorable too, for an outrageous and superb volleyed finish by Tommy Maguire over namesake Peter Maguire’s motionless body, but the score was nullified by the erring referee, who blew for a free-kick, TO Coventry… The difference between Maguires Peter and Tommy was of course one of wardrobe and wardrobe malfunction.

Paget nearly mess up the kick-off...

Gift Mussa deflected an early Dean Morris shot for a corner to Rangers, as the hosts were keen to ‘Get Down On It’ and the subsequent right-side corner was reached by Josh McPherson’s prodigious leap with Fox stranded but the header dropped onto the roof of the Coventry net. Chris Cox, the United skipper, made a break and the sharp-looking Dan Stokes carried the move on to Brian Ndlovu on the right, only for a dummy, then a strong Paget challenge to lead to a free-kick for the guests. Maguire looked to be confident one to take it, just 20 yards out but Josh O’Grady maybe slipped as he took the shot and the ball was easily blocked by the Rangers wall. A flick-on by Ndlovu saw Maguire, left side, fire a low volley past the near upright from an angled 12 yards, before Paget came very close to opening the scoring. A deep free-kick, I think by strong and effective central defender David Arrowsmith, was back-headed with a twist by the busy Morris, unmarked, and only a good swoop down to his left by Fox, like he was nabbing a hare, allowed him to push the ball away for a corner.

A Paget player does his Bear impression...

The flag-kick was cleared by United and the ball went to Paget left-back Craig Gasiewski, who stumbled, fell over, then grabbed hold of the ball to ensure no further calamity. Naturally, he was cautioned. He had certainly got down on it… Martin Hutchcox, who had played the majority of the previous week’s match as a stand-in goalie, launched the free-kick forward but Ndlovu’s header bounced harmlessly across the penalty-box. Coventry left-back Whaling must have felt like he’d been harpooned when his hamstring gave way and with his recent injury history, I’m sure I heard him muttering ‘Take My Heart (You Can Have It If You Want It)’, as he was led, heartbroken, from the field by Sarah Evans. Kobe ‘Kool’ Ntim replaced the ailing Whaling but Jamie Coleman moved to the left-back slot, which seemed jinxed…

Kurt White displays the art of ball-eating...

Whaling hobbles to the dugout...
The referee wails with emotional tears...

Hutchcox cleared a Paget free-kick and it seemed that Ndlovu would break clear over the half-way line but the ball ran away from him and the threat fizzled out like a candle being extinguished in ‘Poldark’. Billy Fagg, the small, fired-up midfield engine in a Paget shirt, fed Kurt White for a 19 yard shot but the striker didn’t connect well enough and Fox gathered easily. White had chatted to me at the reverse fixture inside The Cage and had scored that day, which he had promised to do if he was used as a replacement, just so he could have it videoed. He still has it on his phone, I believe. A couple of left-flank corners came to nought for the visitors then following some better possession by Coventry, Gift Mussa strode through the home midfield, ‘Steppin’ Out’ well and drove a hard shot straight at Peter Maguire, who held on comfortably, although Stokes felt that a pass from Mussa would have seen a more advantageous outcome.

Coventry's fans: a motley crew...

A generous free-kick to Paget, who, with Fagg lighting up the creativity of the team and Morris and Craig Evans powerful, like a couple of bouncers outside a Birmingham night-club, were causing some distress to the Coventry defence, led to the ball falling at the feet of slim striker Henry Mungwira, sporting a tuft of chin hair, but in his hurry, Mungwira dragged a poor 8 yard shot across the face of goal from left to right. He looked aghast, like he was watching ‘Ladies’ Night’ at a 1970s disco. Moudime then messed up in defence but his team survived and in truth, Coventry were being pulled about by Mungwira and White, leaving holes too regularly and Fagg was proving an elusive foe. Suddenly, a long ball forward towards Tommy Maguire, left edge of the penalty-box, saw him not only fouled from behind, but also able to swivel and slam a magnificent volley dipping into the far corner of the net, ‘Too Hot’ for his namesake Peter, who stood horrified like James Milner facing Messi. The referee disallowed the goal and awarded Coventry a free-kick. Poor, poor refereeing and when Tommy’s free-kick dropped over the crossbar, the look on the United player’s face said it all: he’d taken it ‘In The Heart’…

A short free-kick on the Coventry right led to Tommy Maguire’s low centre rolling in front of Peter the ‘keeper but no Coventry player moved. Another United free-kick was cleared to O’Grady, not that influential thus far but he was able to cut inside from the right and unleash a great left-footer, which skimmed the crossbar from 22 yards. As the half began to wind down, Moudime defended Fagg really well but following decent passing by the hosts, Mungwira shot low from 21 yards, only for Fox to save falling right, as the ball flew through a forest of legs. Fox was in a little difficulty as Mungwira attempted to retrieve the ball on the right byeline soon afterwards but the officials signalled a goal-kick and Coventry breathed again. Coleman had taken a high boot from Mungwira on the head and was bleeding profusely, yet reappeared for a short while after the break, before being replaced by Patrick Suffo. 

The second period exploded into life with a brilliant Coventry goal. O’Grady helped out his defence, as Fagg’s run ended with a tackle. O’Grady fed the willing Moudime on the right-wing, who always appears to be attempting to escape from having to defend at all, but the right-back shoved a decent pass along the touchline to Ndlovu, onside, who simply fed the ball for Moudime to run onto and complete a fine one-two. Moudime out-ran McPherson ‘Straight Ahead’, entered the penalty-box and rasped a fine low drive past the helpless Peter Maguire and into the bottom left corner of the net. ‘Celebration’! and the cue to ‘Let’s Go Dancin’ (Ooh, La, La, La), as Coventry’s fans whooped it up in the grandstand. Me? I’ll ‘Cherish’ that one…

The winner...

Celebration...

Hutchcox moves a Madame Tussaud model into position...

Suffo replaced Coleman and a third left-back was tried. Er, Tommy Maguire… Ntim produced a fine tackle, Morris drove a 23 yard shot but straight at Fox, before Evans was fortunate to escape a caution, after clobbering Ndlovu. The referee was ‘Misled’… Fagg was elusive for the hosts and his team gained a left-wing corner, from which Evans rose and glanced goalwards with a header, but although Fox was beaten, there was old baggy-breeches himself, Tommy Maguire, to nod the ball clear and Arrowsmith’s rebound overhead kick, well struck, flew into the grateful Fox’s arms. A splendid Maguire centre from the left, curling in from the right boot found Cox jumping beyond the far post but the skipper couldn’t quite direct his attempt. Morris then fed Fagg, who cut inside with a neat dribble but saw Fagg end his run with a low shot, wide of the left upright. 

Leon Kelly thinks there's a ball nearby...

Smart passing by Coventry led to O’Grady’s second shot from distance on the day and again he struck it well but it rose too high from 25 yards. White was replaced for Paget then Maguire made a fine tackle on an opponent to relieve some pressure, before Leon Kelly, ‘Fresh’, replaced Stokes, who looked more lively on the day, possibly having recovered more from the leg injury which has plagued him recently. Ntim then made a wonderfully timed tackle on Mungwira, as the slim striker raced into the penalty-area, left side, Fagg was cautioned for complaints made, then hard-working Bears’ midfielder Tom Howard was replaced by Michael Gordon. The last real opportunity for the hosts came when substitute Sheppard's header fell for Mungwira just 10 yards out but Hutchcox made the best block of the match to keep the Bears out. Gasiewski was replaced for Paget, who wasted a free-kick opportunity by lifting the ball out of play, left side of goal, Mungwira beat Maguire to the right byeline, but crossed behind the goal-frame and Morris was cautioned for arguing, as tempers became a little ragged.

Tommy 'Left-back' Maguire...

Important win for United...

The game over, Paget can surely look to a strong performance from their powerful midfielders, a decent game by right-back Jacob Barnes and a clever display by Fagg, despite his efforts turning into ashes. Mungwira will have better days in front of goal but Coventry are a challenge to play against. Hutchcox and Ntim were immense in the second period, as was Moudime. Cox worked tirelessly and Mussa was massive. O’Grady and Ndlovu were not prominent but effective at times, yet Ntim was in his element in defence, even smacking one ball away with his left foot… (Yes, Kobe, I saw that…) The fans really like Ntim, who possibly feel ‘Stone Love’ for him… Credit? Surely to the enigma that is Tommy Maguire, for despite his clever moments, despite his brilliant volley, despite his remarkably disciplined left-back performance, there was a ‘No Show’ from his knees…

‘Take It To The Top’ played in my car on the way home, as did ‘Joanna’, which was a bit of a let-down, for she didn’t play. Maybe she will fill in at left-back next week?   

Teams:

Paget Rangers: Peter Maguire (Capt), Jacob Barnes, Craig Gasiewski; Dean Morris, David Arrowsmith, Josh McPherson; Tom Howard, Craig Evans, Henry Mungwira, Kurt White, Billy Fagg.

Subs: Cameron Knight, Dan Cullen, Michael Gorden, Callum Sheppard, Richard Gayle.

Coventry United:  Jason Fox, Pierre Moudime, Rob Whaling; Chris Cox (Capt), Martin Hutchcox, Jamie Coleman; Tommy Maguire, Josh O’Grady, Dan Stokes, Gift Mussa, Brian Ndlovu.

Subs: Sean Kavanagh, Kobe Ntim, Patrick Suffo, Jayden Rickhuss, Leon Kelly.