GNP SPORTS 1-0 COVENTRY ALVIS: THE MATCH REPORT...

Alvis Tankmen Fail To Find Target

GNP Sports 1-0 Coventry Alvis

Scotty Hammond, the GNP forward thought that fancy dress would be appropriate on the 26th December at Sphinx Drive: boxing gloves for Boxing Day (see below…) Indeed, this skirmish would become more of a scrap, especially late on in the encounter when the industrious Tankmen were searching for a well deserved equaliser. GNP held their line however, courtesy of a mixture of misfired rounds by the visitors, calm goalkeeping by Sports’ James Wardle and a number of sterling clearances by frustrated home skipper James Bryson, the tattooed Rhys Lyons and also Matty Compton, signed back by GNP from Alvis only a few days previously.

BOXING DAY, SCOTTY, NOT BOXING RING...

The fact that Alvis’ forwards, the speedy, elusive, lean Ryan Palmer and the chunky, inventive Lewis Ludford were the two most effective attackers on view, possibly suggested that GNP’s newly formed back three struggled to gel as a crew on the day, despite their individual contributions, and Alvis certainly took advantage, with Dan Purvin and Frankie Evans forcing Wil Beach and Hammond to drop deeper and support their defenders. GNP were unable to wrestle their top goalscorer Tom Rawlings into the game much, leaving him too isolated, manna from heaven for the Tankmen defenders, skipper Abdul Mohammed, the lively Danny Cairns and the uncompromising, belligerent and excellent Simon Hicks, whose no-nonsense approach was illustrated when he barged Beach over the right touchline late in the game to take a caution… 

LEWIS LUFORD: SMART GAME...

HICKS BARGES WIL ONTO THE BEACH...

The only goal was netted by GNP left-flanker Jason Evans, a reward for the forward who often found a good deal of space but due to a soft pitch (maybe) and also as a result of inaccurate passing by some team-mates, found himself in receipt of scant service. There were precious few goalscoring opportunities in this game but the tension did rise to a crescendo in the final moments, when Alvis goalie Jack Hartopp sallied forth to attack a deep free-kick, which Compton launched himself at splendidly to concede a corner. Then the last-gasp flag-kick was delivered, during which the jumping Hartopp was floored, probably by a colleague’s elbow and he fell to the turf as Wardle grasped the ball like he didn’t want any of his mates to play with his new Christmas toy. And as Hartopp lay prone, it was GNP’s Bryson who seemed really concerned for the ‘keeper, for he leaned over Hartopp and checked the custodian’s health… And the game ended. 

THE BALL, THE ELBOW, THE MITTENS, THE TENSION...

...& THE OUTCOME...

From GNP’s point of view, it was fortunate that midfielder Rob ‘Laird’s Son’ Prinzel empowered his team and against the Tankmen, he played like a tank himself. Visiting midfielders Ryan Isherwood and Scott Lindley, both of course known rather well to GNP Pharaohs’ manager Sham the Sham, were livelier and more productive than the home playmakers. Considerably so… In the Pharaohs’ ranks there was a dearth of pace and a dearth of left-footedness, both of which were exploited by the clever turns and thoughtful feeds of Ludford, plus the rapid channel running by Palmer. Both however found their shooting awry on the day…

RAWLINGS KICKS OFF, AS EVER, ALONE...

Wardle fell right to save low from Ludford during the opening 45 minutes, Palmer was denied by the ‘keeper’s plunge at his feet near the left upright but then took Ludford’s next assist, only to fire too high from a decent position some 17 yards from goal. Mohammed’s free-kick was slipped sideways by Palmer for the adventurous and speedy right wingback Steve McKenna but his shot/delivery oozed past the left angle of crossbar and post. Frankie Evans forced another smothering save by Wardle and Purvin’s awkward header landed on top of the net, carefully watched by Wardle. GNP fared not quite so well in attack, in truth, for Hammond’s volley from inside-right was deflected across the goalmouth, then after a fine rush, his 17 yard strike rose way too high. Jason Evans had already fired wide from distance but managed to score the only goal before the break.

SAMRA HAS PUT HIS WEIGHT ABOUT...

MOHAMMED POINTS TO THE CHANGING ROOMS, CALLED 'COLDITZ' BY THE REFEREE...

LYONS, PALMER, PRINZEL & COMPTON...

HICKS' BEARD BLENDS WITH HIS SOCKS AND YES, RAWLINGS IS STILL ALONE...

Hammond fed Caz Samra and his neat pass to inside-left freed Evans to slip past McKenna, evade Hartopp’s advance and convert very smartly, LEFT-footed, pleasingly, from a narrow angle. Rawlings did fashion a pair of chances, mainly through his own physical presence, first outfighting Mohammed onto Hammond’s pass, but upon reaching the left byeline, he saw his difficult shot blocked by Mohammed, whose recovery had been quick. Late in the half, Hammond nodded Wardle’s clearance on and again Rawlings left Mohammed in his wake, this time at inside-right but the striker dragged his shot from 15 yards across the face of goal and wide of the left upright. 

THE GOAL CELEBRATION AND RAWLINGS IS STILL ON HIS OWN...

And that was that for the first period, except that GNP had survived a penalty appeal, when Jason Evans’ clumsy defensive challenge saw McKenna fall but neither the referee, nor his assistant were moved by the incident… After the interval, GNP rarely threatened on offense, as Hicks became a formidable barrier but as the half wore on, Alvis really troubled their hosts, who were seemingly unable to reach loose balls first, nor shut down opponents on the ball successfully enough. The Tankmen though were simply profligate with their shooting…  

END OF PART ONE...

The festive half-time entertainment was sparse, unless you include the kestrel which flew over the pitch, yet as the teams reappeared, GNP defender Rhys Lyons did a photoshoot for ‘GQ’ magazine, muscling his random tattoos for all to see. Interesting that the black-headed gulls circling Sphinx Drive at the time subsequently scattered in dismay…

'GQ' READERS WILL LOVE THIS GUY...

After the break, I recall only a pair of rushes by GNP’s Beach and Rawlings, both finishing with a loss of ball control and also a couple of other sorties along the right flank by Beach, neither of which finished with an accurate delivery. Hicks blotted out Beach’s third run, as mentioned above… Compton managed a header which was caught by Hartopp but in reality, almost all of the offensive play came from Alvis. The slick and often quick attacks were leaving GNP’s players bemused sometimes and languid in their responses but when it mattered, defensive interceptions were made by Compton, Lyons and skipper Bryson, whilst Wardle kept his nerve.

BEACH SHAKES A SAND SHOE...

2ND HALF...

Purvin sneaked in at the near post onto a low right-wing centre by Palmer, for Lyons had left it for his goalie and Wardle did well to deflect the ball behind for a corner. A bouncing Lindley shot was fielded by Wardle but the best chances fell to Palmer, replacement Dildale Linton and the  unfortunate Ludford. Palmer shot too high from 16 yards, following a smart turn, Ludford side footed a promising 17 yard chance to Wardle, following a pass from Palmer, drove another effort too high, dropped a 25 yard free-kick over the target and after winning possession, shot low and wide from 20 yards. However, Linton maybe ought to have netted when more fine work to the right byeline by Palmer ended with a clear shot for the substitute from 9 yards but somehow, as Wardle and Beach dropped to the ground like their garden swings had broken, between them they blocked the ball just in front of the goal-line.  

NO OTHER RED SHIRTS?
SO RAWLINGS IS ISOLATED AGAIN...

YELLOW FOR KIRBY...

LINTON'S GREAT CHANCE...

And then came the late pressure by Alvis, the free-kick cleared by Compton and the corner which caused a rumpus until Wardle leapt and caught the ball in his Christmas mittens. And Hartopp lay hurt… Alvis left the pitch scratching heads, GNP left the field smiling in an embarrassed kind of way and Ludford? Well, he left the field frowning just a little more deeply…

COMPTON HAS CLEARED THE FREE-KICK AND LEFT CAIRNS DOWN...

BRYSON IS CLEARLY CONCERNED ABOUT HARTOPP...

Certainly, the introductions of Charlie Cook and Brennan King offered a little more guile for a short time for GNP but Rawlings was still marauding alone in attack, looking totally forlorn at times. Too many set-pieces had been inaccurately delivered during the first period by the hosts, as they began to lose their way but fair play to the Tankmen, they made a real contest of this match and yet were unrewarded…

Alvis substitute Sam Kirby was cautioned late on but the visitors’ team ethic was admirable throughout this game. Beach was active at both ends of the field for GNP, Prinzel was a beast but in truth, Bryson rose above a first-half in which he looked frustrated with himself to lead his Pharaohs to a much needed victory…

I was pleased though that the splendidly named Ted Tantoy appeared as a replacement for Alvis…

TEAMS:

GNP SPORTS:

JAMES WARDLE, RHYS LYONS, JAMES BRYSON (CAPT), LUKE SWINNERTON, MATT COMPTON, ROB PRINZEL, WIL BEACH, CAZ SAMRA, SCOTT HAMMOND, TOM RAWLINGS, JASON EVANS.

SUBS:

NATHAN CADBY, JOE WRIGHT, CHARLIE COOK, BREN KING, EDDIE MOORE.

COVENTRY ALVIS:

JACK HARTOPP, STEVE McKENNA, DAN PURVIN, ABDUL MOHAMMED (CAPT), SIMON HICKS, DANNY CAIRNS, RYAN ISHERWOOD, SCOTT LINDLEY, RYAN PALMER, LEWIS LUDFORD, FRANKIE EVANS.

SUBS:

SAM KIRBY, DILDALE LINTON, ENOCH NKATIA, TYREECE CAMPBELL, TED TANTOY.