COVENTRY UNITED 2-1 LICHFIELD CITY: light-hearted match report by THE MOWDOG...

Lichfield’s Clarke Rues His Right Boot As Only Left-footers Find the Net…

Coventry United 2-1 Lichfield City

Cole and Cox toss...

Coventry United, although technically ‘at home’ at Sphinx Drive appeared to find this game rather like playing at a neutral venue. Lichfield were resolute, marshalled by central defender Adam Wood, like he was a re-incarnation of a tough S.A.S. training sergeant. Having lost two players this week in Rob Prinzel and Nkosi Mzungwana and with Gift Mussa sitting on the bench nursing a slight injury, Coventry stuttered during a muted first-half, although Josh Blake did give them an undeserved lead. City, too, were missing players but their forwards, Tony Clarke and Kyle Minto found aerial supremacy against the United defence rather unproblematic, although only Martin Crawford stretched Rich Morris in the Coventry goal. After the break, quick, long releases by Jack Wilson and Joe Parke in particular, led to Clarke and Minto rolling off Martin Hutchcox and Callum Burgess and too regularly running clear but after equalising with a ferocious left-boot drive, Clarke flunked two simple chances to take the game away from careless Coventry. Both teams then squandered a couple of half-chances, until Josh O’Grady followed the philosophy of my ex-brother-in-law, now deceased, Roly Morris (ex-Vila and Hereford United, who is still in the top ten all-time Bulls’ goalscorers…) He was so self-confident that he reckoned: “I do it when it matters…” O’Grady did this, netting a cheeky winner late on, when it mattered, leaving Clarke and Minto on their knees, as if shot by snipers in the Somme trenches.

A linesman asks a Lichfield official to keep an eye on his balls...

It is said that the phrase ‘Send to Coventry’ originates from the Civil War, when Royalist prisoners were confined in Coventry, the Parliamentarian headquarters, where they were snubbed by hostile residents. The garrison was run by three colonels in 1645, Willoughbie, Boseville and Bridges and the St John the Baptist church held Scottish prisoners following the Battle of Preston. Lichfield was a Royalist stronghold, Coventry wasn’t, so for this match report, Coventry United will be ‘The Parliamentarians’… 

Parliamentarian Burgess: tight-lipped and won't speak to Royalists...

O’Grady found Lichfield left-back Nick Harris in belligerent mood, totally unwilling to yield any space and the tricky winger took an early knock for his troubles, as a midfielder, possibly Wilson, blocked his first attempted centre. The ball was soon on offense for the visitors and Clarke shovelled the ball left for Crawford to shoot just 8 yards out but the bear-like presence of Rich Morris skidded from goal to make a blocking save, then recovered to catch the ball as it popped up off Clarke. Overhit passes and crosses by The Parliamentarians were spoiling most attempts at creativity and with Wood bellowing orders for Lichfield and on one occasion defending the escaping Ross Briscoe well, the hosts were regularly malfunctioning. Indeed, Wood’s tackle on Briscoe was nullified by the referee, who called the play back for an earlier foul on the running Briscoe and visiting goalie Sheridon Martinez messed up when attempting to catch O’Grady’s floated free-kick, the ball dropping behind for a corner. The flag-kick, by O’Grady, was partially cleared but only to Briscoe, 16 yards out and his nonchalant flicked effort was claimed properly this time, under his crossbar, by Martinez, who would err twice more before the interval.

Rich Morris: an early corner to face...

Chris Cox finds time to disco...

O’Grady offered a tricky heel-flick to retain control but slammed his subsequent volley way over the goal-frame, then Blake nearly freed the regularly threatening Muzzy Nduna into the penalty-box, before the grumbling striker found the net with a piece of innovation, following Martinez’s second mistake. Briscoe chased the ball towards the right touchline and managed to hook in a centre, which Blake challenged for but the much taller Martinez claimed with his gloves, only to spill the ball again and the tumbling Blake was alert enough to twist like a falcon onto a dormouse, then smack the loose ball into the net off the underside of the crossbar.  

I did mention that the Lichfield strikers were decent aerially...

Wood and Briscoe: a good contest throughout...

Josh 'The Grumbler' Blake has opened the scoring...

1-0...

O’Grady soon fastened onto a poor free-kick pass by the harried Martinez, ran forth but saw his low drive well saved by the goalie, diving down to his left to concede another corner. Lichfield, although uncompromising, were a little rattled and Jean Dakouri lunged out those attacking buttocks to set off running; he was awarded a free-kick but although O’Grady’s pass to Nduna offered the wide-man a shot, it rose way too high from 28 yards. Wood bellowed at Minto to shut up, after he was cautioned, Lewis Bourne was warned for fouling O’Grady, whose free-kick dropped onto roof of the net from 23 yards and all that Lichfield could muster before half-time was a run by Minto, who handled Rich Morris’ boot clear from near the goalie’s right corner-flag.

Muzzy 'Shaky Knees' Nduna watches...
(Check his shaky knees on the video clip of goal one...)

Nice new card displayed...

The hardworking Bourne takes a warning...

The interval arrived, a linesman had made an horrific decision to flag Briscoe offside when rambling past a defender and clear but there was some concern at the lack of danger being caused by The Parliamentarians, for the two Lichfield attackers would surely get opportunities during the second period. How true that proved, as a sluggish Parliamentarian defence became as porous as a sack-cloth umbrella. 

Man strides past minibus...

The guests opened the second period with some fine centre-forward play by Clarke, who was afforded the opportunity to muscle forward from the half-way line, after Parke had simply dispossessed O’Grady, with the hosts mounting a concerted attack. Clarke was sandwiched and baulked by two of the more physical Parliamentarians Burgess and Dakouri but the forward powered on towards inside-left, from whence he unleashed a brilliant 22 yard rising drive, which zoomed into the top left corner of the net past an astonished, diving Rich Morris, the first goal conceded by the ‘keeper this term. What a goal! And suddenly, the visitors had found a chink in the Parliamentarian armour…

Clarke has scored a memorable goal: 1-1...

More yellow...

...and more...

Incredibly, Ben Vallance was unable to deal with another quick Lichfield release and Crawford made ground on the right, before passing perfectly into the path of Clarke, just 6 yards out and ahead of slower, trailing defenders but the striker appeared to freeze, the ball became entangled between his boots and the hosts smothered possession from a desperate situation. Burgess, looking somewhat shaken, did so well to defend Clarke again as Lichfield capitalised upon The Parliamentarians’ inability either to stem the flow of quickly played forward passes by their guests, or to deal with the runs of Minto and Clarke. O’Grady’s offensive free-kick pass to Nduna on the 18 yard line, saw the home forward pulled off the ball, the officials played on and Wilson rampaged forward on the break for Lichfield, then drove a fine shot from 30 yards, which Rich Morris turned over his crossbar. Near post control by Clarke led to Chris Cox, the Parliamentarian skipper blocking a driven shot but the rebound sailed over the home bar. 

Tony Clarke asks his right boot what on earth is going on...

Is the referee a card-sharp in his spare time, or what?

Cox drove his team on and for a while the danger of Clarke was nullified, as Coventry managed a couple of attacks and after Ned Kelly replaced the willing Briscoe, somewhat surprisingly, O’Grady drove a centre across the face of goal, before repeating the dose from the left, after Cox’s header dropped to him but the sliding Blake was unable to turn the ball into goal. Crawford was cautioned for a foul on the lively Nduna, the ensuing free-kick led to a Dakouri shot being blocked but Lichfield broke again, only for Hutchcox’s foul to result in a caution for the Parliamentarian defender. Kelly then got away on the United right and his low centre took a deflection into Blake’s path but the forward’s finishing skills deserted him, as he failed to convert from 4 yards, bundling the ball wide of the right upright instead. Costly? It might have been, had Clarke not squandered a game-winning opportunity at the opposite end almost immediately. Again Coventry lost the ball, players failed to get back, or recover and Clarke was released centrally, rounded Rich Morris some 23 yards from goal and all the striker needed to do was roll the ball into the netting from the edge of the penalty-box but fair play to Vallance, who had tracked the speedy forward and somehow the shot by Clarke, albeit not a weak one, flew wide of the right upright…

Jean Dakouri's buttocks...

Defending a right-wing corner in panic, yet with no opposition harassment, Coventry gave the ball straight to Minto but his hurried shot was badly sliced. Blake made way for Mussa and suddenly, the Parliamentarian midfield looked more cohesive and effective. Wood sliced badly too, from another City corner, Clarke escaped offside to set up Parke for a shot, which Rich Morris fielded comfortably and then Mussa, running freely, was badly fouled by Parke, who was cautioned. The ensuing free-kick was passed from the right by O’Grady for Nduna’s near post run but the skilled forward’s cross-shot arrowed across the face of goal. And then, when it REALLY mattered, O’Grady struck the winner for the hosts…

Air-ball again...

Dakouri was involved to wrestle possession in midfield, Mussa took over and slipped the ball right to O’Grady, who drifted, as is his wont, towards inside-right, whereupon Harris and Parke marshalled him, so he simply pushed a curling and measured pass-of-a-shot between them and towards the left upright, totally out of the view and the reach of the surprised Martinez, who could only watch as the ball bounced against the inside of the post and rebounded into the net. O’Grady, delighted, set off towards the parked minibus, celebrated at length with his mates and Clarke and Minto fell to their knees as one. Unbelievable. 

2-1 now...

Kelly and O'Grady celebrate the winner...

...but Wood wishes to see the referee's yellow card...

Wood was cautioned in the aftermath of the goal, Jamie Coleman replaced the embattled Hutchcox for the final moments and from Wilson’s long left-side throw, Rich Morris clutched a gently lobbed Wood header on his goal-line and sank to his knees to waste a valuable moment, like a brown bear cradles a cub. Game over, Lichfield had some justification to feel robbed, despite not really threatening much before the ‘Clarke Offence’ in the second-half. Vallance and Pierre Moudime worked hard as the Parliamentary full-backs, Cox drove himself and his colleagues on as usual, despite having had next to no pre-season and Nduna’s contribution was decent at times, which is why it was pleasing to see him afforded 90 minutes. Charlie Cook was not introduced, which was a surprise but O’Grady’s unpredictability again saw The Parliamentarians home against a tricky, dangerous opponent. Wood and Harris defended so strongly, Wilson and Parke were often elusive in midfield, also habitually releasing the two strikers, who will cause danger to many teams this term.   

Game over...

Lichfield’s Royalists had been sent to Coventry and sentenced to defeat in the hostile atmosphere… Not a lot has changed since the Civil War then, really… 

Me? Eggs and chips. What else? It’s what I do…

TEAMS:

COVENTRY UNITED:

Rich Morris, Pierre Moudime, Ben Vallance, Jean Dakouri, Martin Hutchcox, Callum Burgess, Josh O’Grady, Chris Cox (Capt), Ross Briscoe, Josh Blake, Muzzy Nduna.

SUBS:

Jamie Coleman, Gift Mussa, Kiam Galdins, Charlie Cook, Leon ‘Ned’ Kelly.

LICHFIELD CITY:

Sheridon Martinez, Joe Cole (Capt), Nick Harris, Lewis Bourne, Dan Morris, Adam Wood, Martin Crawford, Jack Wilson, Tony Clarke, Kyle Minto, Joe Parke.

SUBS:

Joe Haines, Dan McLeod, Kieron Parsons, James Wilson, Jon Clough (gk).