COVENTRY UNITED 3-2 NEWPORT PAGNELL TOWN: THE MOWDOG'S INDEPENDENT REPORT & SCREENSHOTS OF THE GOALS...

 Swans Sink On Their Butts As Coventry Grab The Swag…

Coventry United 3-2 Newport Pagnell Town

The Mowdog’s thoughts…

THE TOSS...

It was bright at the Butts but awfully cold and what occurred on the artificial pitch was certainly unexpected. An early setback was suffered by the hosts when central defender Colum Nugent was hurt, as the visitors opened the scoring and central striker Adam Miles was forced to fill in at centre-back alongside the admirable Alex Vineall. This served to unbalance United for quite a while and by the time they began to settle they had conceded a second goal from the penalty-spot.

VINEALL IS CAUTIONED AFTER CONCEDING A PENALTY...

Despite the Swans’ territorial advantage in that opening period, during which winger Kai O’Keeffe looked an ominous threat, the only other really decent effort on goal by the guests was an off target drive by the lively Kieran Barnes. Thus, as the hosts shook off their early malaise, midfielder Mitch Mollison looked more assertive in possession, skipper Dom Bolton was belligerent and Joe Blowers scurried about like a badger in a copse.

Visiting ‘keeper Lewis Patching was called upon to make three low saves, as Samir Muzaffar, replacement Harry Wilson and Mollison tested the tall goalie. Wilson’s effort was touched against the outside of the left upright by the custodian’s right glove.

However, goals count of course but after such a devastating beginning to the match, some of the Swans’ keep-ball tactics began to irritate a few of their supporters. An early goal, swept just inside the near post from inside-right by Joel Nketia from a Dan Walker assist, was soon added to by Walker himself, who shot a low spot-kick into the left corner of the net, following a trip on the tricky O’Keeffe by Vineall.  

NKETIA (14) SHOOTS...

...& SCORES...

WALKER FIRES IN HIS PENALTY...

...& IT'S 0-2...

When the interval for crumpets and Vimto arrived and the sun had lowered further, I could only think that it was a shame that Newport Pagnell hadn’t a John in their team because they had an Abraham and a Martin, which Marvin Gaye had once added a John to in his famous song…

After the shivery break…

Spectators with blankets snuggled beneath them, many I’m sure wondering how many more goals the Swans would snaffle from the unreal grass but how the game changed…

Indeed, Blowers became the focal point for his team, as the Swans seemed to fade into the lengthening Butts Park Arena shadows… He netted a brace, saw a shot deflected but then fired three decent efforts well off target as the visitors crumbled like the pastry on a poorly baked mince pie.

The three goals scored by United were emphatic and thus summarily rejoiced by the die-hard home fans but it was Blowers’ first strike which was the most memorable. Fine play on the right by Wilson led to a dangerous delivery which saw Stan Dube shoot from an angle but Nketia hacked it clear and Muzaffar’s rebound was cleared from the goal-line by the stretching Patching’s left boot. However, subsequently Wilson took possession again and his pass to the edge of the 18 yard box found Blowers and his fine right-boot curler from downtown found the right corner of the net.

TOO MUCH TIME FOR BLOWERS...

...WHOSE CURLING EFFORT FINDS THE NET FOR 1-2...

His second goal came from Miles’ head-down following a free-kick and the midfielder’s low 18 yard left-foot volley found the bottom right corner of the net.

AGAIN ISOLATED, BLOWERS TAKES DOWN THE BALL...

...& WHEELS AWAY AFTER SCORING THE EQUALISER...

Goal three was a free-kick, 19 yards out and well right of centre, which Muzaffar was determined to take and his right-footed effort curled across the goalmouth untouched as it bounced into the far corner of the net, leaving Patching watching…   

MUZAFFAR LINES UP A FREE-KICK...

...& WINS THE MATCH...

So, a real turnaround by the Cagemen (as I still think of Coventry United) but how on earth they didn’t increase their lead is a puzzle. Dube and Wilson were denied by the outrushing Patching but after denying Wilson’s effort the ball rolled to the unmarked substitute Dan Cassidy, who shot wildly over the target. Cassidy then took on Patching, knocked the ball across the face of goal for Dube to tap in but the forward just couldn’t get there in time.

As time ran out, a superb piece of defensive play by Ryan Oka-Zeh led to a rush, a smart pass to the very effective Abdul Bambah, who raced forward, played a one-two with the supporting Bolton but his measured shot was denied by Patching…

The final words…

It was odd how the Swans were unable to pick up their game after the interval but I guess credit should go to the Cagemen for upping their game so enthusiastically. Yet due to the late misses by United, there was still time for the guests to snatch a point but some desperate defending at a few free-kicks and long throws saw the hosts home to clinch a dramatic win.

Barnes did threaten for the visitors with a couple of shots off target after the recess and the busy Nate Gosnal-Tyler saw an angled shot tipped away smartly by home goalminder Harvey Randle. I have barely mentioned the United gloveman, offering some proof of the Swans’ lack of penetration, despite earlier forging two goals ahead…

Credit certainly must go to Wilson’s performance, for he looked effective on the flanks for Coventry, whilst Dube was elusive and Muzaffar often a danger too. Miles mostly defended with aplomb and a few times during the second period he made positive runs forward, almost champing at the bit to get back into familiar territory.

Credit must go to the Cagemen, for they knuckled down and dragged victory from the Swan-beaks of defeat…