Rangers Display The Art Of Taking More Chances Than Your Opponents…
AFC Coventry Rangers 4-2 Copsewood
The Mowdog’s Thoughts…
So unsurprisingly it rained again, albeit not a lot at Mitchell Avenue this time but what did surprise was that Copsewood, despite grabbing the greater share of possession, failed to take most of their goalscoring opportunities. Indeed, home replacement central defender Phil Chesters nodded one into his own net for them, when The Wood trailed 3-0. The home forwards were more clinical after the interval, benefitting from a penalty award when Connoll Farrell tumbled as visiting goalie Ollie Manuel advanced to meet the striker. Manuel was incensed and was verbal in his complaints to the officials, who, er, ignored him.
A second goal by substitute Curtis Cutts and a brace of dunks by Fola Fagbemi tied up the AFC victory although a late consolation by the guests, capitalising on some hesitant goalkeeping made the score a little more acceptable for them.
I have found no joy in acquiring more than two of Copsewood’s players’ names, so apologies for the impersonal references by numbers worn.
The match was quite enjoyable to witness and at least the two teams attempted to pass the ball over the daisies… Certainly, The Wood’s number 2 might have netted before the break but a couple of second period free-kicks by 7 and 6 were both curled wide of the left upright from good positions and one of the dominant performers on the night, Rangers’ Ryan Alexander hacked one attempt from his own goal-line but really, the best efforts at goal were initiated by the hosts.
The First Period…
There was no doubt that The Wood were adept at keeping possession, for several of their unit made space successfully and before the recess in particular set up two or three chances. However, the number 4 had a flick into goal disallowed for offside, then shot wide on the turn from 15 yards, whilst the number 2 got under an unchallenged header at the left post and skied his effort. Ben Atkins, the Copsewood central defender, who towered over the speedy home forward Farrell, won one offensive header but the home ‘keeper stopped it easily. Home defender George Swain was cautioned for a foul so late that it arrived in November, but he later did well to block a low shot by the number 2.
Before the break, AFC had been limited to a couple of efforts from downtown by Fagbemi which rose too high and two shots by Alexander, before he was moved to right-back following an injury to Luke Comasky, who once again had started well in his new position. First, a hard 19 yard drive by Alexander flew wide of the right stick, then Manuel raced left to block the same player’s angled try. Manuel had otherwise had it fairly easy, bar an early delivery by hard-working home left-back Dan Monger which dropped over his left angle of crossbar and upright.
The Wood’s 12 had been cautioned for a late barge too, although he had set up one or two decent moves as Copsewood had looked to pass their way forward…
After The Interval…
There were lots of substitutions as expected and Copsewood’s players were shifted about quite regularly. Rangers’ replacements Cutts and the number 17 (Ebz?), as well as midfielder Conor Halton had shots at goal in the half, three of Cutts’ four attempts flying well off target, the other, his first, making it 2-0. Manuel dived right to keep out Halton’s low shot splendidly and then got down at his near post to block from Ebz with his lower limbs.
Subsequently though it was Farrell and Fagbemi who caused the damage to The Wood and Dunker Fagbemi even nearly got a boot to a low cross shot from the left byeline from Farrell.
The guests almost benefitted from a near post fumble by the home goalie after 16’s low centre but Alexander cleared under pressure and of course the defender’s later clearance from his goal-line became integral too. A final effort by the number 3, following a weak punch by the gloveman was deflected wide as the visitors fought until the end.
The Goals…
1-0:
Farrell fired a low, left-booted, strong spot-kick into the left side of the net, as Manuel fell the other way.
2-0:
Cutts broke onto a long pass from defence by Dan Monger and moved into the left side of the penalty-box. Farrell was free in the middle but Cutts simply lashed a low drive through Manuel and into the centre of the net.
3-0:
Home skipper Jordan Powell, who was in combative mood, won the ball deep, exchanged passes with Farrell and got into the 18 yard box, right side. He kept possession under pressure and somehow got in an angled shot from 6 yards which struck the underside of the crossbar, allowing Fagbemi to score from the rebound by reacting the quickest.
3-1:
An innocuous right-flank centre for which the home goalie advanced, but Chesters wasn’t aware of that and nodded the ball back to his ‘keeper, who, er, wasn’t there and the ball bounced into the empty net.
4-1:
A fine switch-pass left to right by Cutts put Farrell in possession on the right, he looked up, saw the waving basketball arm of Fagbemi and clipped a perfect left-booted cross onto the striker’s instep, 5 yards out and although Cutts tried to get to the ball too, Fagbemi’s volley flew into the roof of the net.
4-2:
A header from the left side of the 18 yard box by The Wood’s number 17 led to the home custodian advancing a few yards from goal to collect the ball but the Copsewood number 8 moved forward and the ‘keeper lost it, allowing his opponent to walk it into an empty net.
Final Words…
A fine display by Alexander, as already mentioned but his one brilliant run from defence through the opposing rearguard was his best moment, except that as he was about to shoot, Cutts swung his boot instead, sending a shot way off target. A shame…
Toby Curran had a strong game in the home defence, playing alongside first Swain, then Chesters, but Monger and Halton did well too and although Copsewood lost the match, their football ethic of passing and moving was often something neat and progressive to see. They maybe lacked a cutting edge on the night though…
RANGERS (AS FAR AS I WAS TOLD):
DEVON (GK), COMASKY, MONGER, HALTON, SWAIN, CURRAN, DAN TURNER, ALEXANDER, FARRELL, POWELL (CAPT), FAGBEMI, CUTTS, ‘EBZ’, KIERON MCANDREW, LATEEF GIWA, CAM PRINGLE-ANDREWS.
COPSEWOOD:
ER, OLLIE MANUEL (GK), BEN ATKINS (CAPT)…
