HAMPTON FC 3-1 COVENTRY ALVIS: THE INDEPENDENT MATCH REPORT + MORE IMAGES...

 Alvis Bogged Down At The Boggery…

Hampton FC 3-1 Coventry Alvis

The Mowdog’s Thoughts…

Having been in Norfolk all week, I was unable to find enough fuel for my car in order to drive to Bridgnorth for their FA Vase tie v Lye Town, due to frenzied and panicky petrol buying by gullible people in the Solihull area. I needed a local game to see therefore and this match seemed an attractive one to take in.

Certainly Alvis dominated occasionally from midfield, where Tom King and Lucinee Donzo were allowed too much space in the early periods, although King was left to influence Coventry’s offense alone when Donzo left the match hurt later on, assisted by a short and industrious cameo appearance by Ilja Fjodorovs.

REF: "SO THERE I WAS, IN A QUEUE FOR FUEL ..."

It was no surprise that Hampton’s enigmatic Collins Ajayi assisted central striker Tom Mitchell for the opening goal during the first-half, for he had looked lively on the flanks. Indeed, he might have scored twice after the interval.

MITCHELL, LEFT: A BRACE ON THE DAY...

Alvis striker Kyle Jaynes was denied once before the break by a block from home defender Brad Hall, whilst all four of his second period opportunities stemmed from the inside-right channel, although home goalie Matt Allely was only forced into one save. However, a close offside call disallowed a goal by the Alvis front man, although in truth, I wasn’t in line with the incident as I assume the lines-person was…

The officiating was actually a little unusual at times, some decisions being slightly delayed and only whistled for seemingly after appeals by players, although perhaps the advantage rule was being applied in fairness to the referee… One lines-person in particular was constantly being urged to help the main official out more but I’m just relaying what happened, not expressing an opinion. 

Subsequently, two second period goals won the game for the hosts, one being a fine shot by home skipper and defender Jack Slevin, related of course to the angelic Stourport midfielder Martin Slevin, one of the nice guys of non-league football.

Visiting forward Keighan Bowles had taken his equalising goal well, assisted naturally by King but when Mitchell converted from home replacement Hamza Siddique’s fine assist, the game was up for the plucky Tankmen, who just didn’t have enough on the day to deserve a point.

SIDDIQUE (16): FINE ASSIST FOR MITCHELL...

Kyle Jaynes… 

A real offensive-line leader, Jaynes was always willing and on another day would doubtless have scored but he was denied by Hall, as mentioned above during the opening period then was flagged offside when he did find the net. He miscued from Jarro Scott’s right-side pass and smashed two angled efforts at goal, one being splendidly turned aside at the near post by home goalie Allely and the other fizzing past the near stick.

JAYNES BEING MARKED BY ROBINSON...

No arguing with the forward’s attitude however. 

Tom King…

The Alvis technician had an early shot caught, then shot wide from downtown after the recess and saw another shot fumbled then gathered by Allely as Jaynes lurked for a rebound. He did assist for Bowles’ equaliser however, with a lobbed pass towards the right edge of the 18 yard line. 

Bowles collected the ball then cleverly barged between home players Will Simons and the excellent James Morris, before shooting low into the left corner of the net past Allely from 16 yards.

1-1: BOWLES, LEFT, HAS REGAINED PARITY FOR ALVIS...

King continued to create occasionally for the visitors but in the second-half Lucas Van Spelde shot wide and two interceptions by busy home midfielder Ciaran Connaire came to Hampton’s aid. Alvis’ lively replacement Mason Williams fired straight at Allely, a low centre bounced off Williams and wide then he was denied by a fine tackle from Morris late on.

Jack Slevin…

Basically, his goal was excellent…

A left-side but deep free-kick by Benham was flicked on by the head of replacement Tom Fenton towards the right corner of the 6 yard box but Slevinho was hovering there and he simply smacked an unhesitating angled drive across the face of goal into the top left corner of the net, for a spectacular goal to put the hosts 2-1 ahead.

SPOT THE SMILING SLEVINHO...

I’m glad I caught that on video…

Tom Mitchell…

The striker scored a brace and saw visiting ‘keeper Matteo Ninna save well from a rebound, after Ajayi’s low drive had struck the inside of the left stick and flown across to the right side of the 6 yard box. 

MITCHELL (9) HAS PUT HAMPTON A GOAL AHEAD...

His other chance was when he tried to lift the ball over the advancing Ninna but failed, although the nearby lines-person was flagging for offside anyway.

His first goal owed much to rushing of Ajayi on the right, whose centre from near the byeline was cleared straight to a shockingly unmarked Mitchell 15 yards from goal. His low left-footer deflected off a defender and bounced past the astonished Ninna. 

11 IN THE BLUE SHIRT IS BOWLES, WHO WOULD SOON EQUALISE FOR COVENTRY...

The introduction of replacement Siddique was the catalyst for settling the match in Hampton’s favour. The young substitute won possession in midfield, shoved a pass wide to Fenton on the right and continued his run intelligently, receiving his colleague’s return pass and getting clear to the right byeline past Coventry defender Tyreece Campbell, before sliding a smart pass across the goalmouth for Mitchell to convert at a stretch.

3-1 & UNBRIDLED JOY...

Hampton’s other offense…

Before the break, the elusive Ajayi cut inside from the left in the opening moments but his 20 yard drive was palmed away for a corner by Ninna, then the winger shot too high. After the recess, he fired against the ‘keeper’s legs then struck a post, as described above.

YEAH, MCDONALD-TAYLOR CAN BOOGIE...

Dan McDonald-Taylor, a replacement, caused several problems for Alvis but fired his one real chance wide of the left upright, from a Mitchell assist. Left-back Matt Robinson steered a volley over the target from 10 yards, both Simons and Morris headed straight to Ninna, Simons also drove a shot too high and Benham had a decent free-kick attempt from downtown tipped over the crossbeam by the alert Ninna.

Final comments…

Danny Cairns and Tommy Probert battled hard in the Alvis defence, replacement Williams was a danger late on and Fjodorovs commanded the deeper section of midfield with his right boot in the final stages of the encounter, despite having lost possession when Ninna saved from Ajayi.

MILLER (10): A QUIET GAME...

Jarro Scott replaced the injured but impressive Alvis right-back Stephen McKenna and did well enough but when Donzo was hurt too, King was left with too much industry to shoulder. Thus injuries to key players hurt the Alvis cause… 

HANDSHAKES AT THE END...

A decent three points for the Stripes but what a superb strike by Slevinho…

We liked that…

TEAMS:

HAMPTON FC:

MATT ALLELY, BRAD HALL, MATT ROBINSON, JACK SLEVIN (CAPT), JAMES MORRIS, LUKE BENHAM, CIARAN CONNAIRE, WILL SIMONS, TOM MITCHELL, HARLEE PRESTON, COLLINS AJAYI.

SUBS:

TOM FENTON, DAN MCDONALD-TAYLOR, NORRIS TOBIAS, HAMZA SIDDIQUE.

COVENTRY ALVIS:

MATTEO NINNA, STEPHEN MCKENNA, TOMMY PROBERT, LUCINEE DONZO, DANNY CAIRNS (CAPT), TYREECE CAMPBELL, LUCAS VAN SPELDE, TOM KING, KYLE JAYNES, KENRICK MILLER, KEIGHAN BOWLES.

SUBS:

ILJA FJODOROVS, JARRO SCOTT, MASON WILLIAMS, HAMED ALAMIN, EDGARS NIKOLAJEVS.