SUTTON UNITED 2-2 COVENTRY UNITED: light-hearted match report by THE MOWDOG...

All Things Come To Those Who Wait…

Sutton United 2-2 Coventry United

Credit where credit’s due, patience is a virtue and in the country of the blind, the one-eyed man is King. Any old how, Coventry breezed into Rectory Park to find a strong wind and a difficult and hard pitch to play on, having ended a week of not playing by winning the Midland League Division 2 championship, due to the inadequacies of their nearest challengers. Sutton, though, were in no mood to capitulate, after applauding their guests onto the pitch. They struck whilst the iron was hot and Coventry soon understood the proverb which says, it’s an ill wind that blows no-one some good. You can’t tell a book from its cover and the hosts were not the team beaten 6-0 inside The Cage a few weeks ago, making light of the conditions and passing the ball well enough and looking livelier during a first-half of nightmarish proportions for the title winners. By hook or by crook however, the visitors, only one goal adrift, probably realised that where there’s life, there’s hope and gave an eye for an eye, equalising twice during an absorbing second period. Still waters run deep and in Dan Stokes, Coventry had a player who knew that if a job was worth doing, it was worth doing well and he showed that every cloud has a silver lining, nabbing both goals, including a very late, pressure-laden penalty. The draw was probably a fair result, for although Sutton’s control was better in the opening half, Tommie Maguire was denied twice by home ‘keeper Matt Gough during the game and the guests certainly looked the more dangerous after the interval. The championship trophy was awarded to Coventry at the finish of the contest, proving that all things come to those who wait…

Coventry kick off...

The wind was vicious, the surface uncooperative and Sutton looked astute in possession, led from the front by the bearded Scot, Steve Radzynski, who gave such trouble to Coventry’s Martin Hutchcox, who was in all fairness hampered by an ankle problem and his audacious, unorthodox, unpredictable side-kick, Kobe ‘Kool’ Ntim, who, along with right-back Pierre Moudime, was given a thorough test by the home forwards. Hutchcox launched a long free-kick forward early on but Gough punched it clear and too many times in that opening 45 minutes, long balls either ran too far, or saw Coventry attackers drift offside and Brian Ndlovu in particular didn’t seem like he enjoyed the battering he received from the powerful home defenders, Mark Moore and Jamie Hunter, who were so up for the fight. All’s fair in love and war however and the hosts almost scored, following a foul by Hutchcox, the free-kick dropping dangerously onto Moore’s foot and nearly sneaking between goalie Mitch Campbell’s legs on the goal-line, but like he was attempting to control a particularly lively ferret, the ‘keeper managed to drop onto the ball.

O'Grady is offered a shave...

As the guests continued to struggle in defence, Hutchcox’s clearance allowed Radzynski a shot from distance, which flew wide of the right upright, then after Coventry’s Gift Mussa had fed his skipper Chris Cox, the eventual cross drifted high but was cleared by Sutton and Jarod McGivern’s subsequent run ended with rather a sliced shot past the right stick. Gough nearly fumbled a dropping Ben Vallance cross at the base of his near post but Vallance’s forward colleagues regularly tested the flag-waving abilities of the lines-person, for offside was becoming a habit. Coventry cleared in haste again when Radzynski’s presence caused problems and well involved midfielder Sam Simmonds drove a shot too high from 25 yards, following Josh O’Grady’s defensive header. The wispy McGivern fastened onto a throw but drove a low shot to Campbell, Moudime was fouled and lay hurt, as Maguire collected the ball on Coventry’s offensive left flank and Moore rose to head the winger’s centre upwards into the wind, which took the ball over the crossbar. Maguire’s nasty in-swinging corner from the left was nudged onto the crossbar by Gough but the referee thought that Stokes had pushed the custodian and a free-kick was awarded to Sutton.  

Watson on the run...

The rampaging Moudime...

Ntim boogies in defence...

Guess what? The ball's in the air...

Sutton threaten...

Recently discovered Roman statue of wrestlers...

Kobe asks: "Are you dead?"

Radzynski blows the ball into the air and holds it there...

Hunter hunted...

Smart approach work again by the hosts led to a rifled shot by Radzynski but wide of the right post from 24 yards, then following a fine Mussa tackle, Hutchcox laughed when penalised 19 yards out, for a pull on Radzynski, who I’m sure sniggered in response like Mutley from the Wacky Races cartoon. A neat tricky free-kick by the well rehearsed hosts led to a shot by Simmonds but Campbell was well positioned to grasp the effort. The wind blew hard, then O’Grady on the right edge of the half-way line, under pressure, chose to strike a long pass back to Campbell but the alert Radzynski saw his opportunity, didn’t look the gift horse in the mouth, latched onto the ball and smacked a rising drive high into the right side of the net. O’Grady felt sick as a dog, hadn’t looked before he leapt and one could almost read his mind, that if anything can go wrong, it will… Sutton were out to prove that the bigger they are, the harder they fall.

Radzynski celebrates, as a colleague bites his shirt...

No use crying over spilt milk however, for where there’s a will there’s a way and soon, O’Grady took a free-kick, 23 yards out, inside-left, left-footed, leaving Maguire, who, incidentally, remains unrelated to me, wondering what if, as O’Grady’s shot was too easily blocked by the home defence. Moore then flattened O’Grady to earn a deserved caution and although Hutchcox’s free-kick was cleared, Moudime crossed superbly from the right-flank, Sutton botched their headed clearance and Maguire volleyed a low 15 yard shot, which appeared to deflect off both Moore and Hunter, like they were playing in a three-legged match and Gough did really well, to tip the ball aside, falling right. O’Grady, defending near his own left corner-flag, erred with a pass towards Campbell again but in the chaos which followed, McGivern couldn’t hook the ball on target. 

The interval had been reached, the wind was rattling about, Coventry knew that they had to stop beating about the bush, make hay while the sun shone, knowing that the first half could not be cured but had had to be endured. As good workmen, they blamed themselves, not their tools and began the second period with more confidence and true to the saying, the early bird catches the worm. Sutton’s offense was nullified and Gift Mussa delivered a measured pass through the inside-right channel for Stokes, who veered past Moore and outran Hunter, who thought better of giving away a penalty, discretion being the better part of valour, so that Stokes was able to finish with aplomb and a low strike into the bottom left corner of the net. Beggars can’t be choosers and Coventry took the break with eager hands.

1-1: Dan Stokes...

Cox, 16 yards out, headed a corner downwards but at Gough, Moudime lost possession of the ball but was baled out by Ntim, whose tackle on McGivern was as timely as it was effective. He bellowed at his men, although in truth, his bark is worse than his bite. Coventry looked lively again and by this time, the outlet of O’Grady’s ball-holding ability was becoming useful, but counting chickens before they’re hatched is dangerous and the Incredible Limping Man, Hutchcox simply couldn’t carry on. As Sutton waited to take a right side throw, Jayden Rickhuss replaced the tall defender, meaning a reshaping for the guests and a more central role for Maguire, not a relative of mine. Unfortunately for them, Sutton, as fit as fiddles, took the throw, Simmonds eased the ball left for midfielder Watson and he was past Maguire in a flash to fire a 15 yard effort into the bottom right corner of the net, leaving Campbell stranded. To add insult to injury, Cox had to drop into defence for the visitors but somehow the team galvanised itself, Sutton replaced the hobbling Watson with Adam Spink and the ailing Ndlovu was replaced by Leon Kelly, as hard as nails but as fresh as a daisy, responding with his colleagues to Captain Cox’s angry words, ‘fanning the fire like the wind’ and Coventry retaliated. 

Sutton take the lead again...

The hosts were awarded the first of three free-kicks, this one deep right, which useful midfielder Josh Duggan swung in left-footed but the flight missed a posse of jumpers beyond the far post. Ntim, whose actions spoke louder than his words, climbed all over an opponent to concede a more central free-kick but Moore was only able to glance Duggan’s delivery well off target. Then, Moore was very lucky, so maybe the fortune does favour the brave, for when Kelly flicked on the ball, Stokes got away and he was brazenly held back by the Sutton defender. He should have been dealt a second yellow card but the referee choked it and merely had a word with the Sutton skipper, left-back Phil Taylor. Rickhuss looked rather exuberant and cut inside from the right for a shot, which flew so far wide of the left upright, that it went out for a throw to Sutton near the corner flag. Hunter, screaming at his team-mates, for persuasion is better than force, made a fine challenge as Coventry looked dangerous again, then O’Grady’s centre from the right was knocked back by Dan ‘Wisdom Is Better Than Strength’ Stokes for Mussa to strike at goal from 22 yards and Gough appeared cemented to the spot as the ball flew past his right post.

A wild foul by the tiring Radzynski was not punished by a caution, before Campbell produced a piece of goalkeeping which was straight out of the Harlem Globetrotters’ playbook. A right-side corner by Sutton swung towards the ‘keeper and he fisted the ball onto Gradzynski’s head, before snatching it from the air, like it was a rehearsed move. I liked that. Better to be born lucky than rich… Fine footwork by O’Grady on the left flank allowed him to release Vallance from a tight spot and the left-back’s centre soared across the face of the home goal. Rickhuss was then hauled to the ground by Taylor, whose challenge appeared less injurious than Moore’s second transgression and also the recent foul by Radzynski, yet the Sutton skipper was booked and Coventry, doing much of the pressing at this time, went so close to scoring through Maguire, but a miss is as good as a mile. The free-kick was somehow scrambled away by Sutton but Mussa did what he does so well, he hunted down the ball and his shot was deflected to Maguire, about 12 yards out but his low snap-shot was touched round his right post by the slithering Gough. Soon afterwards, Stokes made a run inside from the left but as he cut across his marker, quite legitimately, the referee penalised him. Well, if at first you don’t succeed down the left flank, then try, try, try again and Coventry did so, after the third successive deep free-kick by Moore took flight on the wind beyond everybody. He was not happy. Give the tricky O’Grady an inch however and he will take a mile, so much so that home right-back Charley Shipp fouled the bearded one near the left byeline and Coventry, in the dying moments had won a penalty. Maguire seemed the likely taker but Stokes stealthily picked up the ball, for he who hesitates is lost, placed it upon the penalty-spot and beat Gough with a rising drive quite high into the right side of the net.

2-2: Stokes' penalty has regained parity for Coventry...

The game was ended by the young referee and it has to be said that Sutton played well in the opening period, capitalised upon an error but somehow, Coventry’s rather slap-dash defence otherwise held out. Offensively, they had been weak but after the break, things improved and the home defence was forced to thwart O’Grady’s trickery and Stokes’ intelligent forward play. Hunter was strong alongside Moore in defence but their midfielders were switched on for much of the game. McGivern was elusive at times and Radzynski the type of strong centre-forward all teams could utilise… Cox was excellent when he dropped in to be a central defender for Coventry, although Maguire became lost in the trenches, after Rickhuss came on to add some good running to the guests’ attack. Vallance was again polished at left-back, Ntim good to watch and Moudime, although afforded no attacking room, defended well at times.  

All square...

The silver lining...

Better late, than never, Coventry had made a point, Shipp had found that it was no use closing the stable door after the horse had bolted and for the guests, the Champions, all was well that ended well. A stitch in time, one could say and every Coventry cloud had a silver lining but in this case the lining was a fine looking silver trophy. Rome wasn’t built in a day but mighty oaks from tiny acorns grow, which seems to sum up Coventry’s rise. The best Gift comes in a small package and I saw Patrick ‘Life Begins at 40’ Suffo, prancing about. Weeping fans were delirious but nothing dries sooner than a tear and the celebrations began quickly. For Hutchcox, the good thing was all the sweeter when won with pain; the manager, Edwin ‘Starr’ Greaves, had hoped for the best but was prepared for the worst, yet his actions spoke louder than his words, getting involved in the fracas which followed, involving bubbly, singing and a not so Kool Kobe Ntim, who had completely lost his head in sheer joy. Too many cooks spoiled the broth and the joyous bunch collapsed onto the turf but in fairness, Sutton had been fine hosts, their silence golden, but they retired to their dressing room, out of sight, out of mind.

It is said that fortune favours the brave, also he who laughs last, laughs longest and that you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink, yet the Coventry manager has encompassed all of those proverbs during this season…

I stayed behind to watch the fun but although procrastination is the thief of time, my late departure was truly worth it. Many a true word is spoken in jest but the last proverb below says it all, really: 

“As you go through life, make this your goal:

Watch the doughnut, not the hole…”