KENILWORTH SPORTING 0-2 COVENTRY COLLIERY: THE GAME REPORT + SCREENSHOTS...

 Colliery Strike Twice Early To Secure Victory…

Kenilworth Sporting 0-2 Coventry Colliery…

The Mowdog’s thoughts…

During a hot Tuesday evening on a hard, unforgiving surface these two teams which had scored a lot of goals in their three previous matches, were unable to replicate their goalscoring feats against each other. Six of Sporting’s goals had come from midfielders Jordan Powell, the skipper, and Ryan Alexander but on this occasion, neither was able to really threaten visiting goalkeeper Nathan Pearce.

Colliery’s Bryan Badu Wa badu had scored five goals in just two previous games but he was unavailable for this contest, although seven-goal striker Ty Wilson was on the teamsheet for the guests.

The two Coventry goals were netted quite early in the game, one from central defender Jamie Tiff and the other from midfielder Kieron Martin who was making his first start of the new term. However, the encounter was often untidy, physical and lacking a fair bit of accuracy but the weather conditions and baked pitch certainly affected the creativity on show.

Doubtless, Colliery were worthy winners for they shot at goal regularly whilst home striker Joe Cairns would rue missing one fine chance, striking an upright in a breakaway attack during the second period. 

Apologies to Cairns are due because my video clip was poor of the aforementioned effort, as it came from an offensive Colliery set-piece, which was hammered clear by Sporting for Cairns to chase, getting past Tiff. Consequently, the camera had been zoomed towards the Colliery attack and there was no time to reset the focus as the play switched so quickly to the end nearer to where I stood. My bad… 

It was uncomfortable physical activity for all the players in truth and they did so well to show commitment until the very end.

Fortunately, the substitutes and coaching staff members were able to find some shade on their side of the pitch… 

The start made by Colliery…

Will Burns had gone close twice and Wilson once for Coventry before Tiff netted. First, Burns forced a low save from home goalminder Declan McFall and then glanced a header across the face of goal from skipper Conor Halton’s free-kick. Wilson nudged a low effort into the side-netting at the right post, following another Halton delivery. 

BURNS GLANCES A HEADER OFF TARGET...

An Alexander challenge on James Foley, who had reached the right bye-line, wasn’t spotted but a foul by James Chappell in midfield soon was and subsequently from that free-kick, Colliery scored.

BOOT ON ANKLE?

The impressive Will Hawkins crossed the ball from deep right, Kenilworth’s Curtis Cutts leapt but couldn’t quite reach the ball and Tiff, behind him, powered a downward header into the bottom right corner of the net.

TIFF RISES TO HEAD THE BALL...

...PAST MCFALL...

...FOR 0-1...

The defending by the hosts was wanting when the visitors went 0-2 ahead shortly afterwards. Joe Wright passed short to midfielder Kieron Martin who made ground towards the 18 yard box, centrally, marshalled by Chappell but Martin suddenly veered left and stranded his marker, then beat defender Tom Hackett. Martin’s resulting low 18 yard shot rolled into the left corner of the net, evading McFall…

KIERON MARTIN VEERS LEFT...

...& SHOOTS PAST MCFALL...

...FOR 0-2...

After a fine Cairns volley flew just too high at the other end and fellow forward Brad Allibone forced a low save from Pearce, Colliery responded with a couple of goal attempts by Wilson. First he drove a shot too high and then smacked a fine effort from downtown at inside-left, forcing a good parrying save by McFall at his right post. 

PEARCE SAVES WELL FROM ALLIBONE (8)...

The second period was a tough watch at times, as the sun lowered and substitutions were regularly made, interrupting any flow which had materialised. Two Colliery replacements were even replaced themselves, due to injury…

Wilson shot just too high for Coventry, then Cairns broke clear to strike a post but really, apart from a shot on the turn by home substitute Dan Turner which flew wide of the right stick, the goal chances fell to Coventry’s Wilson.

CAIRNS' SHOT WOULD STRIKE THE INSIDE OF THE RIGHT POST...

He shot low and wide of the left upright, then wide from an angle on the right, before dragging an effort past the left post and finally forcing a good plunging save from McFall.

WILSON'S FIRST-HALF SHOT...

...IS WELL SAVED BY MCFALL...

The game petered out frustratingly for Kenilworth but much of that irritation was caused by Colliery replacement John Agbo who not only held the right side of the defence sturdily and tight during the closing stages but the defensive throw-ins he took relieved quite some pressure for Coventry. A couple of his throws from around the half-way line actually forced corners for his team when in truth, Coventry were labouring somewhat and needed the ball well away from the likes of Cairns and Powell. 

COMFORTABLE CATCH FOR PEARCE...

The final words…

The visiting defence held firm, in which the outstanding Hawkins, the incorrigible Wright and the combative Tiff were resolute, often well supported by wingbacks Brad Taylor and Liam Cawley. Cairns received little support for Sporting, despite his industry and the movement of colleagues Allibone and Powell.

Halton largely nullified threats from the home midfielders, with Foley looking smart on the ball at times and dangerous too. 

The replacements who did last a little while for the guests, Agbo, Prince Amankwaah and Junior Mpofu all put in shifts, whilst other substitutes Ben Winkless and Bobbie Martin lasted but a few minutes each.

For Kenilworth, wingbacks Jake Comasky and Callum James were forced to defend rather regularly whilst the back-three of Cutts, Owen Suddick and Hackett were constantly in action. Cutts was mostly dominant but so rarely were Kenilworth able to force offensive set-pieces, that his presence and effectiveness in the opposing 18 yard box didn’t materialise…

Thanks to Kenilworth for the kind welcome, as always…