COVENTRY UNITED 3-2 PAGET RANGERS: match report by The Mowdog...

Stokes Fires Up Coventry To Edge Out the Comeback Rangers

Coventry United 3 Paget Rangers 2

On a decent, flat surface, United recovered from a slightly sticky start, when Paget’s Marcus Brown looked lively in attack, to lead deservedly at the break, then dominate the early stages of the second period; they scored a fine second goal, then replaced their impressive midfielder Chris Cox, possibly because of a combination of a knock and an earlier caution. This, along with the introduction of smiling substitute Kurt White, appeared to galvanise Rangers and they struck back, testing home ‘keeper Joe Connor and clawing back to parity. Dan Stokes however, was in no mood to relinquish the opportunity to score a hat-trick and he nipped in to turn home Patrick Suffo’s delivery and despite a late corner for the visitors, including the arrival of the Paget goalie in the home penalty-box, the Cagemen survived to win a contest which ended thrillingly. Many thanks to the Coventry staff for allowing me inside the Cage to take pictures and film the goals…

Paget kick off @ Coventry...

In the pink: Joe Connor...

A bit of shirt-pulling by Jonathan Ashfall of Paget on United’s Cox led to a low, short free-kick from the right for the hosts, which surprised Rangers, but Andrew Woodall’s drive rose too high from 16 yards. Justin Haughton’s low corner, weakly struck towards no colleague at the near post somehow rolled beneath home midfielder Dan Lucas’ foot and bounced off goalie Connor’s feet but with the visitors, mostly through the strength and pace of Brown, looking lively in attack in the early stages, Coventry’s defence was working hard. Brown’s left-wing centre looked perfect for Haughton to head but he attempted to lift a foot instead and the chance went begging, then United were really close to opening the scoring. A fine crossfield pass, left to right by the ageless Suffo to Stokes led to the quick striker beating a defender on the right byeline and testing visiting goalie and skipper Peter Maguire with a low near post shot but the rebound to Stokes saw the unselfish forward pass to Nathan Stoute, in for Brian Ndlovu, but his close range shot was hacked from the goal-line by Rangers defender David Arrowsmith, who was a feature player for the guests.

Did they pose for this?

Home defender Steven Young and midfielder Cox were forced to defend stoutly as Brown continued to cause the occasional problem and then a fine tackle by Ben Vallance saved his team as Brown galloped onto schemer Terence Carpenter’s pass through the middle. Suffo collected a poor Paget clearance but shot well over the crossbar from distance, an effort which was followed by polite applause from spectators, like he was playing bowls on the lawn. A foul by Cox on Ashfall was allowed to pass by the referee, who played an advantage, then Cox made a really good tackle on his opponent to concede a throw but the official then cautioned the Coventry man, to Suffo’s annoyance and indignation, an incident which would have an interesting parallel later on. Woodall took a quick shot from a 28 yard free-kick for the hosts, which took a high bounce, forcing Maguire to push the ball over his crossbar, then after fine defending again by United’s Young, a long centre by Vallance was not headed well by Stokes beyond the far upright.

Cox cannot believe he's just been cautioned...

Kabonga the Controller (2)...

The combative Dan Cullen in the Rangers midfield was cautioned for a rough tackle on Woodall, who was always looking to pass the ball for the hosts, before the United midfielder shot wide from 25 yards, as Coventry began to dominate more. Connor stopped a shot by Brown, who had forced his way forward at inside-right but when Cox’s low free-kick from the left to the near post was read quicker by Stokes than marker Carpenter, the impish forward’s finish rose high into the net off Maguire. Once again, the near post delivery had caught the guests napping. Before half-time was signalled, Maguire made a meal of saving a Cox drive and Ashfall ran straight into one of the Coventry coaches, displeasing the fellow, which I joked with him about as the second period was about to start.

The ref books Cullen but won't look at him;
so dramatic...

Stokes (the one without the headache) has just opened the scoring for Coventry...

Connor fumbled a back-header by Peter Williams, who again generally defended with aplomb for United but the ‘keeper escaped further punishment and then Coventry really turned the screw on Paget and the danger sprang several times from Cox, who was working the right flank cleverly, even though his coaches were urging him to play a more modest role at times! He caused Rangers’ left-back Rackeem Reid to hack him down, earning the Paget man a booking, then helped to push Suffo to the byeline for a cross which nobody could capitalise upon. Incredibly, Cox mugged Arrowsmith, who simply grabbed the intense United midfielder around the waist like he was grabbing a mate for balance at Solihull Ice Rink, but Woodall saw his chance, latched onto the loose ball and forced a low block by a combination of Maguire and centre-half Dean Morris. The referee, amazingly, did NOT show the obvious yellow card to Arrowsmith, which was an inexplicably crass decision, after Cox had been booked for a similar, if less cautionable offence earlier. Badly done Mr Aires…

Players pose for a new waterfall statue in the centre of Rome...

Ashfall thinks The Cage is a place for rap and garage music to be enjoyed...

From the ensuing corner, again taken short by United and again not spotted by Rangers, Stokes erred and Paget cleared. Then Coventry scored a fine goal, which stemmed from the right flank; a long crossfield pass from deep right by the inventive Cox was brilliantly headed over a covering defender by the switched-on Suffo and Vallance read the intention, driving onto the ball inside the penalty-box, beating the sliding challenge of Morris and passing across the 18 yard area for the supporting Stokes to stroke home from 8 yards, with marker Matt Price unable to get back. Well created, clinically finished…

2-0 and Stokes again (9)...

Cox leaves the field after what Harry Redknapp would describe as a "Good shift..."

Three substitutions then changed the game somewhat, for Coventry had been quite ascendant; Paget withdrew Price and Haughton and introduced Graham Bond and Kurt White, who had earlier joked with me about maybe having a goal to record on video later in the game. How prophetic was that… Cox was replaced by Robert Prinzel for United but quite suddenly, a pass inside from the right by Billy Fagg ended with Carpenter dropping a couple of yards off Young, as the home defender watched Fagg’s movements and the Rangers midfielder clipped a 12 yard left-booter into the left side of goal as Prinzel ran to challenge and with Connor almost certainly unsighted as he dived to his right.

Suffo (8) laments Carpenter's carved out goal...

Suffo made a strong run but sliced a 24 yarder well wide then Lucas lost possession in midfield and Brown, quiet thus far in the second-half, ran towards the right but lifted his hopeful drive way too high. The warnings were there for all to see by now and Paget sensed success, for after one header by, I think, Arrowsmith had looped and dropped past the left upright from a corner, the now really effective Cullen rose high to head Reid’s left-side centre goalwards, only for Connor to jump at his left post and nudge the ball away for a corner, which Bond got his head to, but was unable to direct towards goal for Rangers. Sean Kavanagh replaced the hurt Stoute for the hosts, Mitchell Dunbar appeared for Rangers, in place of Fagg but Coventry broke on the right with Prinzel and Kavanagh, but the latter was dispossessed, before Suffo threatened to shoot, following a strong run but he passed right to Prinzel, who hammered a first-timer from 16 yards past the near upright. The game was ridiculously open in these latter stages and became exciting to watch, for soon Brown turned Williams at inside-right and smacked a rising shot towards the near post, which Connor turned over his crossbar in spectacular style. Unfortunately for the goalie, the resulting right-wing corner was struck towards White, at the near corner of the 6 yard box, marked by Young and he leaned and ducked, twisted and bucked, nodding the ball on and over the home defence, whereupon the ball dropped just inside the left upright and the equaliser had gone in…

White told me he'd score if he went on as a replacement.
He did.
And he rolls on the floor in delight.
He didn't tell me he'd do that though...

As the attacking continued, a remarkable passage of play ensued and brought the winning goal for Coventry. Home skipper Tristan Kabongo had tackled resolutely for his team, especially after the interval and it was another challenge by him which set the ball rolling. Suffo’s free-kick was cleared with difficulty by Rangers but Reid fed Brown in a promising position, only for Kabongo to wrestle the ball away, offering Williams possession, who was returning from attacking duties. The defender ran on, Kavanagh was free to his left, but he chose to pass right to Suffo, whose low pass into the penalty-box was met by a deft Stokes flick at the near stick and the ball deflected into the Paget net.

Game-winner Stokes wonders why nobody wants to hug HIM...

Stevy Djedje replaced Suffo for United, who soon lost possession again but Ashfall drove way too high then a poor clearance by Paget ‘keeper Maguire offered Kavanagh a chance, which he struck at the near post but the goalie recovered to save and make up for his error. Kavanagh then ran the ball towards the left corner-quadrant to waste time but somehow, without warning, tricked his marker instead and went for goal, firing an angled right-footer, which grazed the Rangers crossbar. Breathless stuff! And then the visitors were gifted a last-second corner, when Connor punched a cross from the right-wing away and the left-side flag-kick brought visiting goalkeeper Maguire forward to add an extra body inside the penalty-box; the delivery was headed away but Rangers crossed from the right again, Cullen leaned to volley a shot but Connor was there to save and throw out to Stokes on the right. He pushed a pass for Prinzel on the half-way line, who tried to shoot as Maguire ran back into goal like his house was on fire, only for the ball to drift wide.

Coventry held on to claim their first points of the season but the contest had been a good one to witness and I would imagine that most spectators walked away with a smile… Maybe even Patrick Suffo too… Woodall and Cox were the driving forces behind United’s midfield play, Vallance was really effective at left-back and the central defenders did well enough; Suffo showed flashes of class and experience but Stokes displayed sniping at its best. Paget worked so hard and Brown will be an asset this season, as will the defensive pairing of Morris and Arrowsmith and also midfielder Carpenter, who was always looking to offload a neat pass.

It did not go unnoticed that Paget wore Coventry City sky-blue today (!) but it was Stokes’ day, if not Stoke’s day, who were beaten at home by Villa. Now that WAS a shock…

Carpenter and Vallance show due respect at the end...

Teams:

Coventry:  Joe Connor, Tristan Kabonga (Capt), Ben Vallance; Andy Woodall, Peter Williams, Steven Young; Chris Cox, Patrick Suffo, Daniel Stokes, Daniel Lucas, Nathan Stoute.

Subs: Stevy Djedje, Rob Prinzel, Wendell Moyo, Gift Mussa, Sean Kavanagh.

Paget:  Peter Maguire (Capt), Billy Fagg, Rackeem Reid; David Arrowsmith, Dean Morris, Justin Haughton; Jon Ashfall, Matt Price, Terence Carpenter, Marcus Brown.

Subs: Graham Bond, Sam Chilton, Kurt White, Mitchell Dunbar.