LONG EATON UNITED 2-1 COVENTRY UNITED: MATCH REPORT...

Coventry As Sick As Dogs With A Loss At Long Eaton Who Were As Obstinate As Mules…

Long Eaton United 2-1 Coventry United

To call this game was as tricky as a box of monkeys, for it was clear that Coventry’s obviously talented individuals would be pitted against Long Eaton’s obdurate transitional outfit, who refused to give up ground to their offensively minded guests. Oddly though, neither goalkeeper was particularly tested during the encounter and it was one goal-frame which made the fine saves, as well as conceding all three goals. As plain as day, off target finishing and errant final decisions by players caused the problems for both teams but mainly for Coventry who were in the ascendancy more regularly than their hosts. The Blues seemed as stubborn as mules in their approach with Romaine Graham, ostensibly a central defender, ploughing an often isolated meadow in attack. Yet for all of Kevin Thornton’s guile, despite the attentions of Blues’ debutant Kallum Keane, plus Josh O’Grady’s occasional sorties and Kai Williams’ blistering speed, the Cagemen only troubled the scoreboard once before the interval and that was from a Thornton penalty.

The second period saw Long Eaton’s resilient attitude harden, as sure as death and taxes, putting pressure on their opponents, often from set-pieces but even so the equalising goal came as a slight surprise. Danny Brain, as keen as mustard, netted the winner which left the visitors looking as sour as vinegar and with the home central defenders Rob McCormick and Paul Lister as strong as oxen and well supported by full-backs Brain and Josh Raven, Coventry were denied even a point from a match they maybe looked capable of winning comfortably during the opening period.

TOSS UP, OR PRAYER MEETING?

The Blues had begun the game with a decent sortie forward involving Todd, Graham and Keane, before Brain’s low shot had been deflected for a corner by the stretching Lewis Ison, who was as bright as a button in the early exchanges on the right side of Coventry’s defensive three, well marshalled by skipper Chris Cox, who was, as ever, as keen as mustard. The ensuing left-side flag-kick was met by the head of the wily Andy Todd at the near post but his header was not directed and the chance was gone. The experienced Todd, as sly as a fox, would become a real thorn in the Cagemen’s sides later in the game but although Long Eaton managed a decent 25 yard free-kick shot by left-flanker Scott Staniland which curled past Rich ‘Mozza’ Morris’ right upright and skipper Paolo Piliero miscued a shot well wide, after decent play by Raven and Todd, the only other threat from the hosts was when Graham, finding the going as tough as old boots, fed Jermain Hollis and his 19 yard drive was saved falling left by Morris. As Cox attempted to clear, the ‘keeper hooked an arm round the ball to drag it away and nearly mugged his skipper, with Staniland lurking.

MOUDIME & STANILAND AT CLOSE QUARTERS...

Hollis was again in and out of the proceedings for Long Eaton, Todd was managing without being too effective but Keane was watching the inimitable Thornton closely. Piliero was having to defend for his team too and certainly Coventry were closer to scoring than the Blues. First Thornton found Ben Vallance in space on the left for a low delivery which was converted by an offside O’Grady at the far stick then Williams, as quick as a wink, raced on but lifted a 20 yarder well off target, before a curling Thornton effort from 22 yards was superbly headed by Lister for his new ‘keeper Matt Cottrell to scoop up. O’Grady and Thornton set up Williams, as quick as silver, but the forward drove low and off target then Coventry were unfortunate when the clever Thornton, fed by the strong running Jean Dakouri, set up O’Grady at inside-left but Tricky’s low 15 yard effort clapped the foot of the right post and bounced perfectly into Cottrell’s gloves.

CLASH...

A NEW YEAR GIFT...

The goal arrived when Pierre Moudime, at right wingback for the Cagemen, threaded a smart pass through inside-right for Williams, as quick as lightning, to run at Cottrell, who was beaten for pace and grabbed at the rapid runner, who stumbled and shot into the side-netting. The resulting caution for the ‘keeper was deserved and Thornton, as cool as a cucumber, shot the resulting penalty left-footed and calmly into the left corner of the net. 

NO MISTAKING TRICKY O'GRADY...

A Moudime centre bounced off the top of the home crossbar before the break and indeed it seemed that perhaps the guests would prove as welcome as a skunk at a lawn party. Long Eaton, whose threat had been so limited before the interval, had seen their defensive resolve looking as tight as a drum, as sturdy as an oak and almost as solid as a rock. The hosts had no Blair Anderson, Romello Nangle or Kev Hemagou to call upon as attackers, Graham was fighting against the odds to get the better of Cox and compatriot Rob ‘The Laird’s Son’ Prinzel and surely it was only a matter of time before O’Grady, as slippery as an eel, fell within shooting distance of a free-kick shot, before Thornton, as cunning as a fox, broke away from Keane to drastic effect and before Williams, as bright as a button, got himself clear for another one-on-one with Cottrell.  

TERRY HEAD-BUTTS A GOAL-FRAME...

LISTER GETS A WARNING...

I STOOD NEAR WHERE THE MUZI SAT
BUT WHERE DID MUZI GET THAT HAT? 

At the start of the second period Lister prevented the above happening and despite a caution, got his goalkeeper out of an awkward situation. Cottrell’s kick clear was as weak as a kitten’s and Williams took possession, only for Lister’s cynical tug back to offer the opponents a free-kick which came to nought. However, it was Long Eaton who began to look as hungry as wolves and put Morris under pressure from a corner by Piliero, which the ‘keeper punched as dead as a dodo off Todd’s lurking torso. Piliero, now becoming more of a creative influence for Long Eaton, as busy as a beaver in fact, soon set up a shooting opportunity with a smart pass to Staniland, whose drift inside was as neat as a new pin but his low dragged finish from 18 yards was as dull as ditchwater. And then O’Grady fell. It was around 21 yards out and Thornton looked to grab the headlines again but his shot, as straight as an arrow through the defensive Long Eaton wall, which was stood in front of by schoolboy Gift Mussa, was held as safe as houses by a crouching, clutching Cottrell.

GLOVES, 4 CENTIMETRES OF KNEE DISPLAYED & THE ONLY THING MISSING IS A BALACLAVA...

WILLIAMS IS POLEAXED...
(NOT BY PILIERO...)

Staniland, who had just done really well to get back and make a fine defensive challenge, was replaced by the getting fit Aaron Cole and it was the substitute’s retrieval work which helped set up parity for his team. Raven’s cross was nudged on by Graham, Cole retrieved the ball and clipped in a near post cross, which Cox competed for aerially with Graham and the ball bounced up almost on the goal-line for Todd to caress over the goal-line with a forehead, leaving him as happy as a lark. Morris was incredulous, Manager Anderson’s reaction was vociferous and suddenly, the game took on a different entity.

TRICKY FALLS,
TRICKY SHOT TO DEFEND,
COTTRELL MANAGES...

A right side set-piece by Piliero was nudged on by Graham and another head but the nearby Lister and Keane were unable to get in a telling touch to score at the left upright, but driven on by Manager Anderson, Coventry came to their senses and as bold as brass, Thornton and O’Grady fashioned a great chance between them. Clever footwork, a precious pass from Tricky to Thornton, some clever feinting by him and a clear shot was on from inside-left, 10 yards out but Cottrell moved left to clutch the effort with some comfort. Williams turned a Moudime centre wide of the near post, Moudime himself drove wide but soon, the Cagemen made a change and Ison was replaced by Courtney Cameron, although it was the Blues who then nearly scored. As pale as a ghost, Lister stole in to head a fine Piliero free-kick from the right side just past the left upright and Manager Anderson’s voice became as hoarse as a crow’s in his urging for his Coventry team to up their game and deliver…

After Thornton drove a cross shot from the right, off target, the unthinkable happened however and Long Eaton took the lead. Replacement Brandon Gwinnutt slipped a pass to Graham whose low delivery across the face of goal was collected by Todd near the touchline. He fed Brain, as fresh as a daisy, who attacked the 18 yard box, slipped the ball to Piliero, whose smart return pass inside was as sharp as a needle and there was Brain again to fire a low 15 yard right-booted cross-shot as straight as a die past Morris and as clean as a hound’s tooth into the bottom right corner of the net. The Coventry defence looked as flat as a pancake, Long Eaton were as high as kites, Brain was as pleased as Punch and his boss Gary Hamson looked as proud as a peacock…

A poor shot by Cole let Coventry off the hook again, Mussa cleared a dangerous situation for his team with some calm defending but then Brain saved Long Eaton twice, as brave as a lion, in a matter of seconds. O’Grady made one of those typical runs to the right byeline, a melee ensued, Williams’ miscue sent the ball upwards and in quick succession, Brain threw himself into two challenges as hard as nails, on Thornton and then Moudime and his team eventually cleared the danger. Muzi Nduna replaced the destructive Jean Dakouri but Manager Anderson, his annoyance by now leaving him looking as stiff as a board, was incandescent as his team squandered two right-wing corner situations by taking the kicks short and quickly losing possession. It remained only for veteran Todd, as fit as a fiddle, in the closing moments, to pass to Graham who slipped a return pass inside for the midfielder to rifle a superb shot against the underside of Morris’ cross-beam. As stubborn as mules, the Blues had edged the game and as mad as hatters they celebrated, the Cagemen in contrast were as quiet as mice, probably in disbelief and the visiting fans’ magnificent enthusiastic support finally fell as silent as the grave. 

FINAL WHISTLE...

Long Eaton no doubt felt as right as rain in their dressing-room but Coventry’s was doubtless a tense place. At one point in the game, two officials were forced to becalm the Coventry dugout personnel whilst right in front of the Coventry bench, two Long Eaton players, both left-siders, verbally abused each other which showed the intensity of a game which was really about mid-table stuff. As sticky as jam in parts, the pitch played OK, despite the overnight frost and in truth, neither team probably deserved to lose the encounter, for Coventry’s offense was dangerous on several occasions, prompted by the skills of Thornton and O’Grady but in fairness too, McCormick and Lister defended so well for the hosts and subsequently this allowed the Blues to make some headway later in the match whereby Todd and Piliero became more effective.

COVENTRY: AN UNEXPECTED DEFEAT...

Mussa was involved in some enormous challenges in midfield for the Cagemen, backed solidly by Dakouri and the two wingbacks did all right but Williams’ finishing didn’t match his pace and although Keane marked Thornton rather well, the skilful creator still looked the most likely to affect the scoreboard. O’Grady was lively in patches but that fine wide ability he has to trick his way to the right byeline or turn inside and clip in good deliveries or curl dangerous shots was not evident due to his more central role these days.

Lacking a posse of forwards, Manager Hamson was forced to go with the tall Graham again, as large as life, but his individual battling still kept Cox busy and apart from Todd’s experience and Piliero’s workrate, the two full-backs were real positives for the new management team. Raven and Brain were as offensive as Vallance and Moudime for Coventry, despite the differing systems. Late replacement Brandon Gwinnutt, for Keane added some calmness to the closing period and looked a good acquisition on his short debut. 

So Brain, as wise as an owl perhaps, won the game for Long Eaton, his second right-footer from 15 yards in a week and Coventry were left to rue a second defeat at Grange Park this season…      

TEAMS:

LONG EATON UNITED:

MATT COTTRELL, JOSH RAVEN, DANNY BRAIN, PAUL LISTER, ROB McCORMICK, KALLUM KEANE, ANDY TODD, PAOLO PILIERO (CAPT), ROMAINE GRAHAM, JERMAIN HOLLIS, SCOTT STANILAND.

SUBS:

AARON COLE, BRANDON GWINNUTT, JAMIE McKEEVER, SHAUN RICKFORD.

COVENTRY UNITED:

RICH MORRIS, PIERRE MOUDIME, BEN VALLANCE, CHRIS COX (CAPT), LEWIS ISON, ROB PRINZEL, KEV THORNTON, JEAN DAKOURI, KAI WILLIAMS, JOSH O’GRADY, GIFT MUSSA.

SUBS:

COURTNEY CAMERON, NKOSI MZYNDWANA, MUZI NDUNA, JOE CONNOR (GK).