AFC COVENTRY RANGERS 0-2 ROMULUS: THE INDEPENDENT MATCH REPORT...

 Roms Punish Plucky Rangers

AFC Coventry Rangers 0-2 Romulus

The overall impression…

FARRELL DISCOVERS THAT JASON LANNS HAS GLUED HIS HEEL TO THE BALL...

This pre-season game was lively enough, especially during the opening period, when both goals were scored and Roms’ ‘keeper Stu Parsons made two or three decent saves to keep out efforts by Rangers Connoll Farrell, twice and also Dan Monger. Both teams overcame the long grass and daisies to provide some decent stuff at times but after the break, despite some useful possession and passing by both teams, especially by Roms, the numerous substitutions confused matters and the introductions of replacements basically ruined any chance of rhythm by the two teams. However, this was a pre-season match and an opportunity for players on trial to impress and thus the game would inevitably become dishevelled and untidy. 

Certainly during the opening period, Roms moved the ball with pace on occasions, with midfielders Brett Fellows and Fraser Doyle usually involved and the number 4 lurking deeper to salvage possession. Central striker Kory Burke was a willing forward for Roms but after central defender and skipper Cal Lee had nodded the guests ahead, it was the other Roms forward, Trey Bertie who nabbed a second for his team from an angle.

A snap shot and a free-kick by Farrell tested Parsons at the other end and the gloveman’s save from Monger’s free-kick was all the better because it had taken a deflection en route. Ryan Alexander battled on in the home midfield, despite taking a knock early in the encounter, whilst the strong and speedy home striker Fola Fagbemi was often a threat to the visiting defence. 

After the break, the Roms’ 19 became the possession playmaker but chances were missed by Jack Whelan, Jarrell Hylton (?) and Ty Brown in particular, as well as Umar Zaman. Neither Parsons, nor replacement Roms’ ‘keeper Connor Hill had to make a real save during the second period, although shots by Fagbemi,  Monger and the Rangers replacement 17 were decent enough.

Home goalie Ross Davies wasn’t unduly worried during the match either but the form of Luke Comasky, known as a forward but playing as a right-back was exceptional on the night. His tackling, pace and anticipation were all good and he still had the energy to make forward runs to support Fagbemi…

1st half…  

BERTIE & COMASKY...

The Roms began with more thrust but after a Fellows free-kick had drifted too high, an error in their defence allowed Farrell a shot which Parsons clawed sideways. However, a right-flank free-kick for the visitors was won aerially at the far post by the head of Lee and his downward header found the net. Fagbemi tried hard to get in front of my camera to prevent me from capturing the goal but I think I just about managed…

0-1: LEE THE SCORER (FOREGROUND...)

Strangely, despite some neat possession by their guests, Rangers manufactured a couple of openings, the first when skipper Jordan Powell back-headed a left side throw across goal but in attempting to collect the ball, Parsons collided with a fellow defender and the ball was loose for a moment before the defence covered. A hard, low drive by Fagbemi deflected off visiting defender Callum Reed for a corner and a decent free-kick shot by Monger from downtown struck left-back Jon Haines and forced a fine diving save by Parsons.

Odd as it may seem, Roms’ second goal came on the break, after Alexander had been dispossessed near the visitors’ penalty-box. A long ball by Chad Degville-Cross sent Bertie racing away at inside-right, covered by Rangers’ number 5. The striker did well to get in an angled shot and it flew into the far bottom corner of the net.

0-2: GOAL BY BERTIE...

Shaken, Rangers nearly conceded four more times but the number 4 curled a shot wide, following a short corner, Bertie drove well off target from a good position, Burke clipped the top of the right angle of upright and crossbar and Doyle miscued wide from 18 yards after Powell had been dispossessed.

As the half waned, Rangers won a free-kick but Fagbemi was taken to the ground by Rudd but after the referee had whistled for the previous offence. Fagbemi then did a fine basketball impression of the Atlanta Hawks’  center Clint Capela dunking from a Trae Young assist, as he bucketed the ball onto Rudd’s skull. He wasn’t even punished…

POWELL CALMS FAGBEMI DOWN BUT A FINGER STILL POINTS...

Farrell’s powerful free-kick was expertly tipped over the target by Parsons, who then tipped away Farrell’s subsequent corner. A late scramble in the Roms’ goalmouth might have produced a Rangers goal but Liam Doyle, Alexander and Farrell were rebuffed by some staunch last-ditch defending by Lee and company.

2nd half…

READY FOR THE 2ND HALF...

For Roms, a cross from the right by Hylton clipped the stanchion behind the far post, then neither Zaman’s wayward chip nor a miss by Whelan who shot over the target from a clear position, following Hylton’s astute pass brought any reward for the guests or any real challenge for home ‘keeper Davis. A far post header late on by Brown passed wide of the right post and Hylton had one effort cleared away from the goal-line by Davis and a defender combined.

The hosts managed another Monger free-kick which was deflected upwards and went out for a goal-kick as Fagbemi challenged the goalkeeper in the air, before Fagbemi’s worthy low drive went wide and the number 17 clipped the outside of the right stick from 18 yards. The lively number 14, playing on the left-flank fired one delivery across the face of goal too.

RUDD & FARRELL...

Final thoughts…

A really decent welcome for me from Kevin Kingham and it was pleasing that Roms’ Jason Lanns was in good form too and he kindly sent me a list of his players’ names and numbers later in the evening, for which I must thank him. Kevin gave me most of his players’ identities too…

The clouds became dark late in the match and in truth, the game faded rather too but Comasky was still functioning well for Rangers and credit must go to him for a fine performance.

COMASKY, LEFT: PLAYED REALLY WELL...

Phil Chesters had defended stoutly for the hosts but all of the MFL Division 3 outfit Rangers players were industrious against a squad of Premier Division players who just seemed to have that extra edge, quickness and confidence…

MONGER ATTEMPTS TO ENTICE THE BALL TOWARDS HIM...

THE NAMES I WAS GIVEN:

AFC COVENTRY RANGERS:

ROSS DAVIS, LUKE COMASKY, DAN MONGER, (ALSO NUMBERS 4 & 5), PHIL CHESTERS, FOLA FAGBEMI, RYAN ALEXANDER, CONNOLL FARRELL, JORDAN POWELL (CAPT), LIAM DOYLE, MAX HOWARD.

ALSO NUMBERS 14, 15, 16, 17 AND A NUMBERLESS SHIRT…

ROMULUS:

STU PARSONS, CHAD DEGVILLE-CROSS, JON HAINES, (NUMBER 4), CALLUM RUDD, CAM LEE (CAPT), BRETT FELLOWS, FRASER DOYLE, KORY BURKE, TREY BERTIE, AARON ASHFORD.

ALSO:

UMAR ZAMAN, JACK WHELAN, JARRELL HYLON (?), TY BROWN, KHAIL HARRISON, CONNOR HILL (GK) & NUMBER 19…