AFC COVENTRY RANGERS 4-0 DSC UNITED: THE MOWDOG'S INDEPENDENT REPORT & SCREENSHOTS OF THE GOALS...

 DSC Hopes Wrecked By Late Farrell Strikes…

AFC Coventry Rangers 4-0 DSC United

(QF Birmingham County Saturday Vase…)

The Mowdog’s thoughts…

Despite some pleasing approach play, DSC were unable to trouble home ‘keeper Jack Hartopp too often, whilst Rangers scored early, added a second goal after the recess and capped the victory with two very late goals by replacement Connoll Farrell’s trusty left boot. 

A division below Rangers, United fought strongly throughout the match, spurred on by skipper Rabab Ali, who played smartly in his deep-lying forward role, whilst wide player Saed Saed made some decent runs and threatened the Coventry defence regularly.

In midfield, Kamal Richardson looked comfortable in possession, even on the uneven Tech surface and he really impressed on occasions but subsequently Rangers found the finishes they needed to drift into the semi-finals of the Birmingham Saturday Vase.

I didn’t get to see the DSC team-list until minutes before the start, so I hope I haven’t made too many errors in identification. I know I misnamed Nadir Islow as Saed during the commentary and for that I apologise to both players…

Rangers often played long passes towards wide players Joe Gardner and Alpha Wurie but in truth, skipper Jordan Powell was troublesome for the United defence with his aerial prowess and in fact, visiting gloveman Farooq Hussain made low saves from Powell too. Ranger Powell also struck the DSC crossbar with a lunging header from Gardner’s deft centre but he was destined not to score.

The tie was decent to watch and I can announce that not only did the referee perform rather well, the Rangers’ linesperson was honest and throughout the match resisted the urge to coach his players, although he did insist on me taking a posed picture of him in action, to show to his friends…

The offensive action…

The early goal for Rangers, a deft touch in the middle of the goalmouth by Andy Matthews’ right boot from a long, low centre by Wurie, likely caused a rethink by visitors DSC but they shook off the setback and played their way into the tie, which remained 1-0 until the break. 

MATTHEWS STRIKES...

1-0...

Richardson’s influence had led to a rush forward by Saed but the advancing Hartopp, outside his 18 yard box, stopped the danger with a foot. The rebound though enabled the lively Hamza Younis to fasten onto the ball and his decent chipped effort over the retreating goalminder was headed off the goal-line by the alert Rangers’ defender Owen Suddick.

RICHARDSON...

Coventry’s Ryan Alexander was denied by Hussain’s reactions, Wurie drove across the face of goal, Powell’s header struck the crossbeam as already mentioned and Hussain got down to block a low shot by Powell who was again assisted by Gardner. After Ali had threatened for the guests twice, Hussain saved with blocks from both Alexander and Powell again, whilst Younis’ shot from downtown was caught under the crossbar by Hartopp.

After the half-time stoppage DSC, despite some industry and occasional smart passing moves, only really managed a couple of goal attempts, both wide of the target, first by Younis and then by the effective Richardson.

The other three Rangers goals… 

After Hussain had denied Powell again from close range and Alexander had sliced the rebound well wide, James Ritson added goal two, jumping at the left stick to head Gardner’s deep free-kick firmly downwards into the net. This was a double blow for the guests, whose midfielder Mohammed Taj had been cautioned for the foul committed which led to the free-kick in the first place.

GARDNER'S FREE-KICK...

...RITSON'S HEADER...

...& 2-0...

After Farrell had broken clear at inside-left, Islow managed to nullify any chance of a shot by the Ranger but as he fell, the in-form DSC defender was adjudged to have handled the ball. Farrell rapped home the ensuing spot-kick low to the ‘keeper’s left.

FARRELL'S SPOT-KICK...

3-0...

Three became four when Farrell was sent rushing away at inside-right by fellow substitute Charlie Hynam who had mugged Saed. The still miffed Farrell used brute force to shove Kindle off the ball, who had actually read the situation (get it?) reasonably well and the Rangers’ forward promptly struck a low 18 yard shot into the right side of the net, leaving Hussain again helpless to save… 

PHYSICALITY BY FARRELL...

...WHO SHOOTS FOR 4-0...

Alpha Wurie’s Magic Minute… 

I kept the clip for folks to see what wingers are capable of, for Wurie first of all nutmegged an opponent, then lost possession in traffic infield, before powerfully heading the ball forward and then within seconds he chased out to the left flank to execute a fine tackle… His coaching staff members were likely impressed…

WURIE, LEFT OF IMAGE...

I liked that minute.

Just sayin’…

The final words…

Fair play to DSC for playing a passing game and especially well done to the players aforementioned who clearly stood out, along with Deniro Edwards on the right side of the defence, whose photo I took as he stood between me and a garden fire on the opposite side of the ground. His hair looked aflame… It was priceless…

FLAMING HAIR...

A 4-0 defeat was probably hard to take but surely comfort was gained from the way the team took on Rangers, from a division above.

Rangers were often decent, sometimes inaccurate and at times a little lacking in cohesion but Powell, Ritson and Phil Chesters stood their ground and Callum Regan was industrious in midfield. 

It helped of course that Farrell was a little irritated with Kindle and he of course rattled in the late brace which finally sank DSC…