AFC COVENTRY RANGERS 3-1 AFC BIRMINGHAM: THE INDEPENDENT, HONEST MATCH REPORT...

 Rangers Win Out, Following A Weird Opening Period…

AFC Coventry Rangers 3-1 AFC Birmingham

The Mowdog’s thoughts…

It didn’t rain at the Tech ground. Remarkable for me.

It was a weird game to witness though. Not only because the team strips were so similar, or that no cats, foxes or badgers ran across the pitch. Not even for the fact that Fola Fagbemi remembered that he wasn’t playing basketball this time…

No, it was because the opening half was an untidy confusion of stoppages, a period which featured the main official as the central character which I’m sure he didn’t want to be at all. Things contrived to harass him, not least the tussle between Rangers’ Joe Gardner and Brum’s Owain Taylor, who preferred the type of jersey worn by some NFL players, kinda sliced off just below his ribcage. 

He was involved in an altercation with Gardner early on, both were warned, then he slid into Luke Comasky unwisely shall we say, minutes after his talented fellow midfielder Terrel Jeffers had been sin-binned, presumably for dissent. The referee red-carded Taylor, although a second yellow really ought to have sufficed, for he had already been cautioned for conceding the penalty which had brought parity for Rangers. At least a second yellow would likely result in a one match ban, not a three-match suspension… 

WHEN THE TOSS BECOMES THE PUNCH...

Brum had begun strongly with Jeffers prominent and central striker Sam Collins a confident and willing forward, soon taking the lead when Rob Barnett’s shot bulged the home net. However, Rangers’ shooting was as accurate as a tampered with fairground rifle which prevents even a true marksman from winning a goldfish in a bag. ‘Over the bar’ was the customary trajectory before half-time.

JEFFERS, 2ND FROM RIGHT: CLEVER ON THE BALL...

Things did improve for the hosts and Fagbemi became a threat for Rangers, leaving visiting skipper and central defender Dylan Robinson looking like a World War 1 platoon sergeant valiantly attempting to rally his men and defend their trench. Goalkeeper Tom Parsons certainly made some good saves but in truth, Brum did not deserve a point from this contest, although Rangers’ offense laboured to win it.

ROBINSON, LEFT, EXPRESSES, ER, FRUSTRATION...

Ryan Alexander…      

The Entertainer… He was excellent, struck the base of an upright with one shot, although he was rather off target on three occasions too. He was fouled for the second penalty award, inviting Robinson to mistime his tackle, after which the Brum skipper was cautioned for his misdemeanour…

Alexander’s performance, with sleek running, which often featured clever, even cheeky skills proved to be the main attraction of the game. He was well supported by Connor Halton’s graft and Gardener’s foraging too, so that after the break, the ten men of Brum were unable to cope with Rangers’ midfield superiority.

Sam Collins…   

This guy was a sensible and reliable attacker, whose fine rush on the attacking right flank was the catalyst for Brum’s goal. His low centre fed Jeffers whose 8 yard shot was cleared from the goal-line by the alert Comasky, who once again displayed speed, common sense and some decent distribution from right-back. However, the ball fell just right for the lurking Rob Barnett and he rapped a rising drive into the upper reaches of the goal-net.

ROB BARNETT, 2ND FROM RIGHT HAS SCORED FOR BRUM...

No reward for Collins but he was neat, quick and switched-on throughout…

COLLINS & CHESTERS...

The ‘over the bar’ crew…  

Farrell, who smacked two penalties past Parsons, one into the bottom right corner of the net and the other higher but into the left side of goal, managed to lob a good chance too high following Halton’s long pass. Fagbemi drove over too from Comasky’s fine assist but Curtis Cutts really did have a tough time with his finishing. 

1-1 AFTER FARRELL'S FIRST SPOT-KICK...

The right-sided, left-booted and strong forward volleyed, lifted and curled shots off target before the half-time squash and strawberries. Parsons blocked his far post header too from Rory Turnbull’s accurate centre. 

FARRELL CELEBRATES HIS SECOND PENALTY BY FOLLOWING THE REFEREE...

Cutts, never afraid to lash the ball goalwards, forced a near post save at the near post from Parsons, pushed a low effort across goal and past the left stick after the recess, then forced a plunging save by Parsons with a free-kick shot from downtown.

Fagbemi was on hand to score Rangers’ second goal, when Comasky’s right-flank centre dropped to him off defender Zach Holden. The striker rapped the ball past the helpless Parsons. Holden then prevented Fagbemi from scrambling in another goal from Farrell’s assist, before the forward headed over the crossbar from 4 yards. 

2-1: SPOT THE POINT GUARD...

Fagbemi was also involved in what happened after Alexander’s shot rebounded from the right post, for Farrell’s low drive was really well saved by Parsons, only for the ball to run to Turnbull, whose delivery was headed straight at parsons by Fagbemi.

Gardner prodded wide from more fine creative play by Alexander, then Farrell was put away late on by replacement Ebenezer Fasoranti to complete his hat-trick but he would be denied splendidly by the advancing Parsons. Another substitute, Emmanuel Edogiawerie fired wide from 25 yards and in the closing moments, the ball bounced wide off Turnbull from a corner routine.

ROBINSON & FASORANTI...

Brum’s offense…

Chances were few and far between, partly due of course  to the ten, even nine men periods they were forced to endure. A Rob Barnett free-kick clipped the crossbar but underworked home goalie Ross Davies easily caught Matt Higgins’ rebound header. Substitute McKenzie O’Sullivan crossed from the left in the latter stages but Turnbull’s challenge on lively replacement Musah Abubakari was enough at the far upright to prevent a goal. 

NOT A LOT TO DO, SO DAVIS HUGS THE BALL FOR A WHILE...

Busy winger/wing-back Finbarr McCarthy clipped a late free-kick too high and really, that was it for the guests.

Trouble…

Cautions for one of the Brum coaches, Comasky of Rangers and visiting skipper Robinson were added to Taylor’s booking, subsequent dismissal and Jeffers’ sin-binning. There were regular lectures at players by the main official and things appeared at one point to be getting out of hand but at least the referee stuck to his task, although AFC Birmingham were clearly unimpressed by his first period antics in particular… 

It clouded over somewhat at the Tech. 

But it didn’t rain…

TEAMS:

AFC COVENTRY RANGERS:

ROSS DAVIS, LUKE COMASKY, RORY TURNBULL, CONNOR HALTON, GEORGE SWAIN (CAPT), PHIL CHESTERS, JOE GARDENR, RYAN ALEXANDER, CONNOLL FARRELL, FOLA FAGBEMI, CURTIS CUTTS.

SUBS:

CAM PRINGLE-ANDREWS, JORDAN POWELL, EMMANUEL EDOGIAWERIE, EBENEZER FASORANTI, DAN TURNER.

AFC BIRMINGHAM:

TOM PARSONS, ANDY BARNETT, ZACH HOLDEN, OWAIN TAYLOR, DYLAN ROBINSON (CAPT), MATT HIGGINS, ABDUL ADAMS, ROB BARNETT, SAM COLLINS, TERREL JEFFERS, FINBARR MCCARTHY.

SUBS:

MUSAH ABUBAKARI, ASH BROWN, JACK FORD, MCKENZIE O’SULLIVAN, JAYDEN HUNTER.