HINCKLEY AFC 4-0 COVENTRY COPSEWOOD: THE MOWDOG'S INDEPENDENT REPORT, PLUS SCREENSHOTS OF THE GOALS & THE MISSED PENALTIES...

 Copsewood’s Resilience Finally Erodes…

Hinckley AFC 4-0 Coventry Copsewood

The Mowdog’s thoughts…

The 10th birthday anniversary celebrations for Hinckley AFC weren’t wrecked by their opponents, despite the fact that Copsewood defended resolutely. However, two late goals added the cream on the cake for the hosts and they even managed to squander the referee’s two gifts, a pair of penalty awards. 

Despite looking threatening on a few occasions, Coventry were unable to penetrate the home defence and force ‘keeper Matt Hill into any meaningful action and indeed, the best three attempts at goal by the visitors occurred before the interval. 

Tall Copsewood winger Eden Mukenge, who was prominent for his team drove too high and the very quiet central striker Sean Kavanagh (known to me from his Coventry United and Christ the King FC days) saw a low drive saved by Hill, although the referee missed a trip on a Hinckley player in the build-up.

The best chance fell to Brad Taylor with a header but he was unable to connect properly from a free-kick and AFC scrambled the ball clear.

Preston Bitemo…   

This Hinckley midfielder was as effective a midfielder as I have seen this term. He was tough to get past, spicy in the challenge, bothersome to the opponents and always seemingly able to find an accurate pass. 

BITEMO IN TYPICAL ACTION...

He was voted the team’s MVP by the home supporters and it was no wonder, for his performance was meritorious…

Hinckley’s offense…

The early goal scored by left-sided attacker Isa Abrahamu was almost inevitable, for right-back Matt Dawson had already marauded along the right-flank a couple of times, unstopped. He took a pass from Lewis Rankin, cleverly turned his marker Jean Patrick Gomes and shoved a low assist across the face of goal from the byeline. Goalie Olly Manuel thrust out a right leg to block the ball but failed and Abrahamu couldn’t miss from about a yard out. If Manuel had chosen to dive down to his right, maybe he might have grabbed the cross but we’ll never know for sure…

DAWSON'S CENTRE...

...GETS PAST MANUEL...

...& ABRAHAMU HAS SCORED...

Apart from the goal, too often AFC’s attacks broke down through inaccuracy or losses of possession but even so, Jack Edwards side-footed well off target, Manuel fell bravely at Abrahamu’s feet and following another rapid rush by the overlapping Dawson, his low centre flew untouched across the face of goal.

And then close to the break, home skipper Ky Green nodded a free-kick into Edwards’ path and he lifted a boot in an attempt to get a touch on the bouncing ball but Manuel had advanced 6 yards and he threw himself in the way. The ball bounced harmlessly wide of the left stick and Manuel collided with Edwards. The official decided that it was a penalty for the hosts…

MIDDLETON FLIES BUT MANUEL HAS CLASHED WITH THE FALLING EDWARDS...

Rankin stepped up but his low left-footed spot-kick was splendidly saved diving low and left by the aggrieved, athletic Manuel.

MANUEL'S FINE SAVE...

...& HE REACTS POSITIVELY...

Amazingly, not long after the recess for cakes, Abrahamu ran into the left side of the penalty-box and was tripped by the industrious Ryan Pedley and again the referee awarded a penalty. This time the ebullient Banter Dawson wanted to take the kick, grabbed the ball and then shot low but wide of the left upright and AFC still only led by a single goal… 

DAWSON'S SPOT-KICK...

...HAS FLOWN WIDE...

The strong finish by Hinckley…

The second AFC goal, along with a huge number of substitutions by the two teams effectively ended the contest, for the only efforts at goal by the visitors were produced early in the second period and in the final moments. Left-back Joe Anthony shot straight to Hill from 28 yards and as the encounter concluded, a speculative effort from way downtown by Copsewood’s replacement Harvey Billing drifted way off target.  

Three times Edwards had already been denied by the advancing, plunging Manuel and then the gloveman did well to turn Edwards’ flying header over the goal-frame. Manuel also saved as central striker Brady Middleton threatened but the ball ran loose for Abrahamu to feed back across goal from the left and with the Coventry defenders in apparent disarray, Rankin tucked home the ball at the far vertical. 

ABRAHAMU'S LOW CENTRE...

RANKIN'S CLOSE RANGE FINISH...

Manuel dropped onto a downward header by Joe Obi and Middleton drove into the left side-netting, before a right-flank centre bounced off the legs of the unfortunate Pedley at the far post, allowing Green to plunder goal three from a couple of yards out. 

GREEN SHOOTS...

...& IT'S 3-0...

Manuel dived left to turn away a shot from distance by substitute Declan Somel but after Dawson had nodded well wide, goal four arrived for the deserving Edwards. A long Dawson pass through inside-right saw both Edwards and replacement Joe Cairns causing problems inside the Coventry 18 yard box and the ball ran loose for Edwards to shoot past Manuel into the left corner of the net from the right corner of the 6 yard box.

EDWARDS GETS IN...

...& NETS GOAL 4...

The final words…

The referee was clearly unwell during the latter stages of the match and was unable to finish it but really, it was a curiously managed game by the officials. Two or three blatant trips on players were ignored by the referee and the Copsewood staff members were clearly unhappy because they felt that their forwards were being pushed in aerial challenges by home defenders Dawson, Green and Joe Obi. A game of opinions, soccer certainly is…

Drew Kear looked smart at left-back for the hosts, Zaki Evans was often busy, whilst Middleton pulled his weight in the home attack. 

Coventry’s defenders Miles McIntyre and Jamie Tiff were constantly having to work hard in front of Manuel but much of the scheming of Sam Ellis and Taylor came to nought, as the guests’ offense lacked penetration.

Subsequently, the league leaders marched on with another three points, leaving them now 15 points clear of Ingles and although Droitwich in third place have four matches in hand over AFC, by winning all of them they can only get to within six points of the leaders.

Happy 10th birthday to the club, whose attendance at this match was 390, a record for a regular league encounter…