KENILWORTH SPORTING 3-0 CADBURY ATHLETIC: THE MATCH REPORT & IMAGES...

 Clinical Sporting Stifle Cadbury’s Expansive Game…

Kenilworth Sporting 3-0 Cadbury Athletic

The Mowdog’s thoughts… 

I was humbled to receive a warm welcome from officials and players of both clubs, which was unexpected. It meant a lot…

Cadbury, the Champions from last season really didn’t get going throughout this encounter, as evidenced by the very few chances created by them during a hot afternoon upon a hard playing surface. Kenilworth played the conditions more effectively to be fair and scored in transition three times, although the Cadbury coaches might just squirm a little when they watch the video clips of goals two and three in particular.

THE TOSS...

Young Sporting goalie Finn Osborn impressed with his confidence and his kicking but he made a superb save from visiting striker Tom Craine in the opening period, clawing the ball from the forward as the forward attempted to dummy the ‘keeper. Looks good on the video clip too…

Otherwise, Osborn wasn’t really too troubled, courtesy of central defenders Sam Delaney and Will Hawkins who headed and cleared a number of balls away from their defensive zone. Cadbury’s winger Adam Bourn was unable to threaten much and that must be down to the fine performance of Sporting’s Cam Welch, who generally came out on top in the speedy contest between the pair.

In truth though, the visiting defence found the pace and movement of home strikers Tyrone and Harry Wilson somewhat of a problem, although to be fair, skipper Dan Morris did take a painful early blow from the attentions of Jean ‘Char de guerre’ Dakouri. The bearded war tank does tend to tackle with some force on occasions… 

MORRIS TANKED BY DAKOURI...

The opening goal was netted by right-sided attacker Jason Evans, who took the ball at inside-right on a break and moved goalwards. Goaltender Fraser Oliver advanced but Evans drove his right-footer into the left side of the net with aplomb.

EVANS HAS SCORED...

OTHERS SEEM TO LIKE IT TOO...

The Cadbury offense… 

A few chances were set up in the opening and closing stages of the encounter but really, the coaching staff would surely be disappointed with the overall offensive showing by their team. Craine dropped a long cross-shot well off target in the first minute, skipper Morris drove too high from 15 yards and then Osborn made his save from Craine, who had been freed by Jeson Dinanga’s pass. And that was it before the interval but at least there was a better response after the restart and soon Morris’ near post header flew wide from Bourn’s corner.

Dinanga shot wide on the turn from 15 yards, replacement Liam O’Donnell nodded past a post from a flag-kick, Bourn’s cross from the right byeline clipped the near angle of crossbar and upright and late on, substitute Jack McGinn shot well over the horizontal pole.

And that was indeed that…

Replacement Jake Wicketts earned a caution for a rough tackle, as Dakouri had done in the opening exchanges but this was a tense, physical affair, not a nasty one.

MORRIS ATTEMPTS TO BAIL OUT WICKETTS...
(GET IT?)

...BUT IT'S A CAUTION ANYWAY...

The near misses for Kenilworth…  

An early lifted shot too high and a weak low effort, both by Evans, followed by a strong cross-shot wide by Tyrone Wilson were all that the hosts could come up with before the recess, bar Evans’ goal but after their half-time chat in the shade the hosts scored twice and threatened Oliver’s goal on other occasions.

A left-footer by Harry Wilson was deflected for a corner, Hawkins lunged and nearly nodded in a flag-kick at the right stick, a soaring 16 yard header by Tyrone Wilson from a fine free-kick by the industrious Jacob Dodds cannoned against the crossbar and a low Evans free-kick from downtown flew a foot or so wide of the diving Oliver’s right vertical pole.

TYRONE WILSON OVER COOKE...

WELL TIMED HEADER BY TYRONE WILSON...

An acute lob by substitute Kyle Jaynes drifted too high and a hilarious assist by Dakouri, who probably miscued his short forward pass into the penalty-box for Jaynes again saw the striker’s chipped shot rise over the target.

Goals 2 & 3… 

The second Kenilworth goal was scored by the rangy Harry Wilson and he chased a pass which had been struck through the inside-right channel. He was isolated with Cadbury’s Stuart Cooke, who had to be so careful not to commit a foul. Wilson managed to control the bouncing ball and entered the 18 yard box, shifted left and shot a low attempt past Oliver into the net.

HARRY WILSON LIKES THAT HE HAS MADE IT 2-0...

The third goal was a disaster really for Oliver but the assist by Dakouri was as remarkable as it was ludicrous. The combative midfielder won possession of the ball not too far from his own left corner-flag and simply leaned back to volley a punted clearance as far away from his own end as possible. The ball arced and dropped maybe 30 yards from the Cadbury goal, where Oliver had advanced to meet it and it seemed that he was preparing to head the ball clear but Tyrone Wilson was chasing with a keen expression…

The ‘keeper though suddenly seemed to change his mind about heading the ball and it struck the front of his shoulder, allowing Wilson to nab possession, veer left past the flailing goalie and shove a low shot into the empty net from well outside the penalty-area, despite the desperate challenge of Cooke. 3-0 and disastrous for Athletic… 

CONTENDER FOR LONGEST ASSIST OF THE SEASON & DAKOURI SEEMS TO LOOK A TRIFLE EMBARRASSED...
THE GOAL WAS BY TYRONE WILSON...

The final words…

The match was absorbing and I guess that Cadbury might play worse and win on another day but certainly Sporting were worthy winners, for apart from the goals they scored on counter attacks, other efforts went close too, whereas Cadbury’s offense stuttered, although to be fair to Craine, the service afforded him was scant.

Both of these teams should be challenging for honours this term, along with other outfits like Alcester, the only team with two wins from two matches played, also Knowle, dark horses AFC Coventry Rangers and Fairfield Villa. 

However, the players subsequently managed to get through the heat, just about coped with the baked surface and the attendance likely appreciated what was served up.

Josh McGinley can be a danger in the air for Cadbury but his only two efforts at goal were inaccurate on the day but skipper Morris held his team together fairly well alongside Cooke. Dinanga didn’t really threaten however, which was disappointing…

MCGINLEY WANTS HIS FUTURE STATUE TO BE IN THIS POSE...

MCGINLEY MAKES A PRODIGIOUS LEAP...

Dakouri, Freeman and Dodds were insistent in the home midfield and with Delaney and Hawkins powerful in defence, the rushes of the Wilsons and Evans offered useful outlets for the hosts. Skipper Rhys Lyons looked imperturbable in defence too, whilst there was one smart dribble by replacement Dave Obeng to enjoy in the final stages.

WORK DONE FOR TYRONE WILSON...

An interesting afternoon in Gypsy Lane, where the Dakouri Mark 6 Tank made its mark for Kenilworth…

THE DAK LEAVES...

TEAMS:

KENILWORTH SPORTING:

FINN OSBORN, RHYS LYONS (CAPT), CAM WELCH, WILL HAWKINS,  SAM DELANEY, JEAN DAKOURI, JASON EVANS, DAVE FREEMAN, TYRONE WILSON, HARRY WILSON, JACOB DODDS.

SUBS:

CHRIS GREEN, LUKE BURNLEY, DAVE OBENG, KYLE JAYNES, SEAN BURKE.

CADBURY ATHLETIC:

FRASER OLIVER, RYAN SPINK, STEVE RUCK, LEWAN TOBIN, DAN MORRIS (CAPT), STUART COOKE, ADAM BOURN, ANDREW COOPER, TOM CRAINE, JOSH MCGINLEY, JESON DINANGA.

SUBS:

WADE MALLEY, BRAD HENDRY, JAKE WICKETTS, LIAM O’DONNELL, JACK MCGINN.