HEATH HAYES 2-1 COVENTRY UNITED: what THE MOWDOG saw...

Calamity United Fall To Heath Hayes Hustlers…

Heath Hayes 2-1 Coventry United

The Cagemen began this game fairly assuredly, scoring early through defender Ben Vallance, although home goalie Mark Wiggins looked really disappointed not to have dealt with the bobbling 25 yarder, but then the visitors seemed dragged down by the windy weather, the threat of rain and Heath Hayes’ persistence. A few half-chances were scorned, notably by Brian Ndlovu and skipper Chris Cox, but in general the opening half was messy, careless and uninspiring from both teams, bar the odd touch of smartness from Coventry’s Marino Peixoto. United ‘keeper Rich Morris managed only one save, falling upon the ball at Matt Bickley’s feet but when Cox’s close range drive struck a home defender at the other end, one wondered whether the hosts would benefit after the interval with the elements slightly in their favour and the threat of rain ever more real. That’s how it turned out, for Ndlovu’s shot apart, which Wiggins saved low, the guests stumbled, erred and fumbled to defeat, as Ryan Burns and Joe Hartshorne shot goals in quick succession to leave the toothless Cagemen heartily beaten.

NO RAIN YET...

A promising start by Coventry led to Vallance collecting possession inside the Hayes half at inside-left and he moved forward, before trying a ground shot from 25 yards or so, which beat Wiggins’ rather awkward dive and nestled in the right corner of the net. 

VALLANCE THREATENS...

VALLANCE HAS SCORED...

...& IT'S 0-1 TO COVENTRY...

HAYES GOALIE WIGGINS ISN'T SO PLEASED, HOWEVER...

Soon, Peixoto’s flick enabled the ball to smack off Muzi Nduna’s face for Ndlovu to shoot well wide from 18 yards and then home skipper and left-back Jack Arrowsmith defended Cox well, as the United man moved forward. The injured O’Grady was being missed on the right-flank, replacement right-flanker Cox was being missed in the middle of midfield, where Gift Mussa looked rather like he was being attacked by gangs of muggers each time he competed for the ball, also missing was Richard Blythe’s usual creativity for his team and Nduna, although not going missing, was unable to affect the game offensively enough.

BRIAN 'NAUGHTY BOY' NDLOVU PRACTISES BEING A VERY NAUGHTY BOY... 

Wiggins held a lobbed Cox header from a deep Martin Hutchcox free-kick, before Ndlovu chased a pass but could only shoot an angled effort off target from the right. When Ndlovu was fouled, Peixoto’s 30 yard free-kick dipped too late, then Peixoto played a clever one-two with Ndlovu but the striker’s return pass was slightly overhit. Cox was then put clear with his long strides but his effort at shooting past Wiggins wasn’t struck with any venom and as a challenge by a quicker defender came in, the ‘keeper found the ball in his arms as he slid on the wet turf. Rob Prinzel, who played powerfully for most of the game, thundered into a fine tackle and then smashed the ball through inside-right, an area where Cox had loped into. The midfielder cut inside, but his low left-footer was simple for Wiggins to pick up.

Ndlovu, Peixoto and Nduna combined for Mussa to slam a shot wide from 25 yards, before, finally, the hosts managed an attack from a free-kick. Dimitri Dunkley won the ball aerially and Morris was forced to drop on the ball as Bickley lurked. Wiggins did well to save at Ndlovu’s feet from the ensuing Morris punt but from the corner, home defender Chris Horton’s flick on and Ndlovu’s set-up saw Cox’s goal-bound shot strike Alex Scott and rebound for another corner. Another neat touch by Peixoto allowed Mussa another 25 yard drive but this time, it drifted nearer the right corner-flag than the goal-frame.

Half-time arrived, the rain had just begun but Coventry hadn’t taken the few chances which had come their way after Vallance’s goal and a few wobbles had appeared in defence, although not enough to cause any real worries of concession. Hayes had kept at it, Joe Pickering was lively for the hosts but they had been unable to pressurise Coventry into any backs-to-the-wall defending. 

Soon after the restart, with the weather worsening, Liam Degville replaced midfielder Andrew Davis for the hosts and then Coventry missed their only clear-cut opportunity of the half. Cox’s over-shoulder clearance fell for Blythe, who got his pass right on this occasion and freed Ndlovu on the right. Naughty Brian bore down on goal and fired a low drive towards the near post, which took a nasty hop as Wiggins fell and the ‘keeper made a smart save to concede a corner. The flag-kick by Peixoto was nodded upwards by Cox for Wiggins to catch and the danger was over. Over for the remainder of the game actually, from Hayes’ point of view…

RICH MORRIS: WET & MISERABLE...

Hayes then began to make inroads into Coventry’s hesitant midfield and oddly shaky defence, mostly due, it seemed, to the nippy pace of Dunkley, Pickering and Hartshorne. A left-side centre was glanced on by Hutchcox and straight onto Burns’ forehead but Morris was relieved to see the ball bounce past the right upright. A Pickering free-kick fell to Hartshorne, left side of the 6 yard box and although his shot was going to Morris, Cox slid in to concede a corner and illustrate a slight lack of communication in the United ranks. Bickley was withdrawn to allow the more physical Stephen Allen to appear and rattle a few cages, before a foul by Tommy Glasscoe of Coventry led to Prinzel’s annoyance getting the better of him and he was cautioned, although he was struggling to control his emotions from that time. Degville slipped the free-kick right to Allen and his 24 yarder wasn’t too far over the visitors’ crossbar. 

PRINZEL SHADOWS DUNKLEY...

So, Burns and Allen (am I really thinking of an old American TV comedy sitcom?) had both sent in efforts at goal but after Wendel Moyo replaced Nduna, who had quietened considerably for United, Prinzel’s miscue allowed Dunkley a volley from 25 yards, which wasn’t far off target either. Dunkley, a small forward, even began to win aerial challenges against taller opponents, which was odd to witness. Pierre Moudime replaced skipper Cox, surprisingly, for the guests and Matt Brown entered the arena, to replace the hard-working, poorly supplied Ndlovu. Burns then missed a great chance to equalise, as Coventry were fooled in several areas of the pitch. First, Dunkley’s skills saw a shot blocked, before Arrowsmith cleverly lifted the ball over his shoulder leaving Moudime and Peixoto stranded, crossed into the penalty-area and Burns slipped between Vallance and Moyo, who were the only defenders around, but headed wide. The Coventry defence was in disarray and sure enough, following an error by the referee, who otherwise did a decent job, they conceded a shock equaliser, which had been coming.

Blythe’s tackle was clean, the opponent fell, didn’t dive, but the official awarded the hosts a free-kick from which they scored. The initial delivery was cleared but Burns simply bashed the ball, possibly with the outside of his right boot from 25 yards and the ball skidded against the inside of the right upright, popped across the goal and into the left side of the net. Morris was unhappy. And wet.

1-1: BURNS...

RICH MORRIS REPOSITIONS HIS UNDERGARMENTS...

Almost immediately, the disUnited defence was plundered again, as the ball was nudged towards Hartshorne at inside-right and he suddenly found himself clear for a second, as the Cagemen hesitated like hares in headlights and the striker poked the ball past the advancing Morris, who was even more unhappy. And wetter still. 

2-1: HARTSHORNE...

2-1 and Coventry looked shattered, mentally AND physically. Hartshorne was replaced by Steve Yates, yet despite being a goal behind, Coventry failed to find any offense at all, with merely a couple of loose deliveries by Vallance and Peixoto drifting out of play, as heavy rain lashed down on the visitors’ hopes.

THE WEATHER HARASSES COVENTRY UNITED...

Fair play to Heath Hayes, they took control of the final 20 minutes or so and created some chances, taking two at a crucial time, but more worrying for United’s coaching staff was the inept performance of a usually strong midfield crew, the inability to replace the unavailable O’Grady and Briscoe in attack and a failure to find enough security in defence with the absence of Burgess and Coleman. 

The morning after this defeat, Easter Day, Coventry United’s manager Edwin Greaves was sacked. His team still has the opportunity to win the league, with two games in hand and a home encounter with Nuneaton Griff in the offing. From The Mowdog’s point of view, I would like to thank Edwin for his decency, his willingness to offer me his views on games played, whether won, drawn, or lost and his genuine honesty. This honesty is appreciated by football people, such as Paul ‘Smudger’ Smith, Chris Jay and Craig Jones at Bromsgrove Sporting, to name just three. 

I wish him all the best in the future…

I recall a banner at Coventry United games: “In Edwin We Trust…” 

Strange game, football… 

TEAMS:

HEATH HAYES:

Mark Wiggins, Harry Phillips, Jack Arrowsmith (Capt), Ryan Burns, Alex Scott, Chris Horton, Matt Bickley,  Andrew Davis, Joe Hartshorne, Dimitri Dunkley, Joe Pickering.

SUBS:

Steve Yates, Liam Degville, Stephen Allen, Michael Stanton.

COVENTRY UNITED:

Rich Morris, Tommy Glasscoe, Ben Vallance, Gift Mussa, Rob Prinzel, Martin Hutchcox, Chris Cox (Capt), Rich Blythe, Brian Ndlovu, Marino Peixoto, Muzi Nduna.

SUBS:

Callum Burgess, Matt Brown, Wendel Moyo, Josh Blake, Pierre Moudime.