COVENTRY UNITED 4-2 EYNESBURY ROVERS: THE MOWDOG'S INDEPENDENT REPORT & SCREENSHOTS OF THE GOALS...

 Rovers Punished By Busy Coventry…

Coventry United 4-2 Eynesbury Rovers

The Mowdog’s thoughts…

United deservedly won this match, although when the score was 1-1, the hosts did lose their way somewhat, until goals two and three settled the nerves against a hard-working Eynesbury outfit on a cold afternoon at the Butts Park Arena.

In fact, the visitors scored twice but the only other real opportunity they managed to create was when Marcel Rzeszutek had a low, angled first period effort blocked by Coventry goalie Harvey Randle. Rovers had equalised Joseph Agunbiade’s goal for United when a set piece fell at defender Max Kimpton’s feet a few yards from goal and his hard shot cannoned off the unfortunate Randle into the home net.

ABOVE: ROVERS EQUALISE WHEN KIMPTON SHOOTS IN, OFF 'KEEPER RANDLE...

Their second goal, a mere consolation near the end, was an own goal and it stemmed from substitute Josh Sugden’s header, which looked to be going wide of the left post until it bounced off Adam Miles past a surprised Randle and into the right side of the net.

MILES WISHES HE WAS, ER, MILES AWAY...

The Coventry midfield…  

Joe Blowers was effervescent throughout the game and had four goal attempts too. The first was a touch from Dan Cassidy’s centre which forced Rovers’ ‘keeper Caleb Chandler to turn the ball aside, then Blowers fired wide, before breaking away only to be denied by the advancing handler’s right boot. After the interval, Chandler fumbled a low Blowers effort past a post…

In fact, Blowers assisted for the first United goal, fastening onto Stan Dube’s pass at inside-right and shoving a short cross towards Agunbiade, whose right-footer deflected off the unfortunate Rover, Ben Hickling and rolled into the right corner of the net.  

ABOVE: AGUNBIADE'S SHOT DEFLECTS OFF HICKLING FOR 1-0...

Agunbiade forced a low save from Chandler before the break  and stretched to lift a far post effort off target during the second period. Chandler also turned aside a low Dube shot after the recess and parried a very late effort by home replacement Felix Donor who will feature later in my report…

The playmakers in the Coventry midfield were Karabo Motshweni, whose languid style was generally enjoyable to watch and often his long passing was accurate. Second period substitute Mitch Mollinson was typically clever in possession but he always looked to thread a smart pass through the Eynesbury defence. Clearly, innovative players like those two would invariably see some passes intercepted but their vision was good to witness at this level.

The second period breakthroughs…

The hosts emerged from an untidy opening period after half-time with two goals which sank Rovers’ hopes. The first came from the head of the willing Cassidy, who reached forth to lift a header past Chandler from one of Harry Wilson’s decent right-flank centres but goal three really was a pleasure to watch.

ABOVE: CASSIDY'S HEADER PUTS UNITED 2-1 AHEAD...

Dube moved onto Wilson’s short pass just inside the Rovers half on the right flank and set off on a smart run from downtown, getting past Hickling and gliding into the right side of the penalty-box, as Kimpton defended him. As the United winger neared the byeline with two more Eynesbury defenders trying to cover, he measured a low shot with the inside of his left boot and it rolled rather neatly into the bottom left corner of the net.

ABOVE: DUBE'S RUN ENDS WITH A SMART GOAL & IT'S 3-1...

The Donkor arrival…

The replacement entered the field for a short debut not too long before the end of the match and he immediately settled to await a right-flank corner. Home skipper Alex Vineall leapt to nod on the delivery and the ball fell to Donkor in front of goal. The forward’s instant touch squirmed between the unlucky Chandler’s legs and entered the net. Joy for Donkor, who, like Agunbiade, was playing his first game since moving to Coventry United during the week.

DONKOR SCORES WITH HIS FIRST TOUCH OF THE BALL & IT'S 4-1 TO COVENTRY...

The final words…

Coventry’s most effective moments arrived when Motshweni, Blowers, Dube and Mollinson were anchoring offensive movements, supported well by Wilson on the right but others, like Liam Merrick, Miles, the irrepressible Abdul Bambah and skipper Vineall played their industrious parts well enough.

Rovers did work manfully but lacked penetration, especially when striker Rzeszutek limped from the field and subsequently, despite the efforts of Christopher Teng Chye Khoo, midfielder Adrian O’Hara and skipper Jonny Hall, their contributions weren’t enough to shake United’s resolve.   

There was some decent support for Rovers, vociferous too, competing with the Coventry lads’ choir which chanted in front of the grandstand…

Thanks to Coventry United again for the warm welcome…