AFC COVENTRY RANGERS 1-0 BALSALL & BERKSWELL: THE MATCH REPORT...

 Strange Powell Goal Decides It…

AFC Coventry Rangers 1-0 Balsall & Berkswell

The Mowdog’s thoughts…

This pre-season match was well contested by a spirited Rangers squad and a really competitive Hornets’ crew who would be disappointed to have lost an encounter to which they contributed much endeavour.

The only goal was a strange one, stemming from a right-side shot by the rapid Rangers winger Alpha Romeo, sorry Wurie. He was as speedy as a sports car but the deflection of Wurie’s effort slowed it, looped it slightly and totally wrong-footed the nearby players but home skipper Jordan Powell, onside, saw the opportunity, moved forth and nodded a simple goal past rooted Balsall goalie George Gane.

The goal was scored with some half-hour left but although Gane made a couple of low and comfortable stops from Fola Fagbemi and one from Wurie during the second 45, a couple of chances went begging for Berkswell near the end too. Andy Sharman hooked a shot well wide from striker Dom Lambert’s head-down and a decent volley from left of centre by Ryan Cranage flew across the home goal. Parity was then so nearly gained when Pete Bailey moved into space 15 yards from goal but the advancing Ross Davis saved smartly at the expense of a corner.

CONNOLL FARRELL PONDERS HIS KNEE...

A few long throws in the final minutes by Lewis Proctor were dealt with well enough by Rangers, for whom once again Phil Chesters was steady and effective in defence.

In truth though there were few chances created in this physical match and indeed three harsh tackles drew warnings from the referee who reminded me of a science teacher I once had. Callum Mack and Wurie escaped punishment for Rangers, whilst Connor Holton also got away with one for the visitors. Eventually though, Balsall’s Tommy Black and Rangers’ Rory Turnbull were actually cautioned, so that in the two recent midweek games I have seen, there have been two red cards and two yellows… Unusual for pre-season, I’d say…

REF: "RORY, YOU HAVEN'T SEEN MY MCDONALDS DELIVERY, HAVE YOU?"
RORY: "NO MATE..."

TOMMY BLACK WONDERS: "WHOSE NAME SHALL I GIVE?"

The occasional goal attempts…

For Rangers, a long Curtis Cutts pass was latched onto by Connoll Farrell but with Balsall’s first-half goalie Jack McQuillan having raced way out from his 18 yard box, the AFC number 9 miscued his volleyed effort well off target.

Fagbemi’s diving header flew wide of the right stick, after Powell had nodded the industrious Joe Gardner’s corner back across goal and then the basketball-wannabe Fagbemi’s 16 yard drive was scooped wide of the left upright by McQuillan’s forearms.

The guests were not able to test Rangers’ first period goalie Jack Hartopp at all, despite some lively play by their forwards and some wispy running by ex-Ranger Luke Comasky. The only real chance was offered to combative midfielder Ollie Sillett from downtown, whose 35 yard free-kick was only just wide of the left vertical pole.

REF: "IF YOU CAN HIT THE GOALIE'S ARSE WITH ONE ATTEMPT, I WON'T BOOK YOU..."

Powell of course is always a dangerous customer aerially and he almost netted a second goal for Rangers when he rose at the right stick to head a left-wing Turnbull flag-kick only just too high.

Individuals…

Liked the Balsall central defenders Aaron Arnold and Proctor; both tough, both in the Curtis Cutts, Centurion tank mould but it was good to see the ex-Triumph Athletic army recruitment sergeant Tommy Atkins playing at the Midland League level for the visitors… 

THE SHEER PLEASURE OF KNOWING THAT LIZ TRUSS IS TO BE THE NEXT COVENTRY CITY MANAGER LIGHTS UP THE EVENING...

Lots of effort from Balsall then and Bailey looked tricky when he appeared on the scene after the break but Rangers were certainly well served by the dynamism of Gardner, the driving force of Powell, the genuine calmness of Chesters and sheer sprinting venom of Wurie.

REF: "WHY ARE YOU SCRATCHING?"
CONNOR HOLTON: "NO WORRIES, IT'S NOT CONTAGIOUS..."

Gane v Fagbemi…

The memorable moment for me came very late on when a fine pass, in mid-song by Liam Doyle, sent Fagbemi clear at inside-left. He neared the penalty-box and Gane began to advance, looking rather like a poacher after a farmer’s chicken. It was slow-motion stuff and really weird to watch, as suddenly Gane pounced on the ball when Fagbemi attempted to move to the right with it and suddenly, like the farmer’s chicken, the poacher had bagged it and Gane had won, er, again…

Yeah, Fola, maybe you ought to have dunked that one… 

ALPHA: "IT'S BECAUSE I WAS SO QUICK AND HE WAS SO SLOW..."

Final words…

Huge thanks to Kev Kingham for turning up in wedding attire, just to be featured in his new touchline gear… Gods, Antonio Conte should be worried, for this Kingham chap has some real style. Seriously though, thanks Kev for allowing me access to your team-list…

KEV IS ADMIRED BY GOALIE HARTOPP...

Thanks also to ex-Rangers coach Ryan Dowsing, who has been brilliant in giving me access to the identities of his players too…

However, Balsall’s efforts were not to be rewarded as Powell’s header would subsequently settle the affair…

SQUADS:

AFC COVENTRY RANGERS:

JACK HARTOPP & ROSS DAVIS (GOALIES), CALLUM MACK, RORY TURNBULL, JAMES CHAPPELL, PHIL CHESTERS, CURTIS CUTTS, FOLA FAGBEMI, JOE GARDNER, CONNOLL FARRELL, JORDAN POWELL (CAPT), ALPHA WURIE, JEAN PATRICK SILVA GOMES, ANTONIO WILLIAMS, GEORGE SWAIN, LIAM DOYLE, COREY PERKINS.

BALSALL & BERKSWELL:

JACK MCQUILLAN & GEORGE GANE (GOALIES), TOMMY ATKINS, LEO KINSELLA, OLLIE SILLETT (CAPT), AARON ARNOLD, LEWIS PROCTOR, CONNOR HOLTON, BEN CRANAGE, DOM LAMBERT, CONNOR HAYMES, LUKE COMASKY, KYLE SMITH, TOMMY BLACK, ANDY SHARMAN, CONNOR CAHILL, GEORGE LINDLEY, RYAN CRANAGE, PETE BAILEY.