Midland Football League

Premier Division

Saturday 15th April 2017

Tividale FC 0-2 Coventry United FC

Tividale still United but again defeated

There are times when you look at something and think well there is nothing else we can add. In a league were decent match reports are few and far between this is one of those times.  

The season is drawing to a close and Tividale FC have had a tough campaign to be fair and are currently rooted to the bottom of the table.

This league has proven to be brutal at times and freak results have popped up on many occasions proving that on their day any team in this league can weed out a result against any opposition. United for one will have to be very mindful of that as they go into this game and remain very patient for the chances to come.

The referee gets the game under way and the game starts off very scrappy as both teams try to get an early foot hold in the game. The first 10 minutes sees both teams squander a free kick opportunity each before United have to make an early change in the 16th minute after Gift Mussa went down in the middle of the pitch and after treatment goes off and is replaced with Jean Dakouri.

With the game still not settling down, Tividale win a free kick just outside the area that’s taken by the  Darragh Bustin that sees United’s keeper Richard Morris gather with ease in the 18th minute.

The first clear cut chance of the game though falls to United from a Lewis Ison long throw in. Robert Prinzel latches onto it and stabs the ball goal wards and the Tividale keeper Luke Kriskinan’s gathers comfortably in the 21st minute. Then in the next minute from a neat pass from Pierre Moudime, United’s Scott Hammond sees his shot go straight to the keeper for an easy save. United continue to press forward when in the 25th minute Pierre Moudime does really well moving with pace down the right before he lays the ball off to Joshua O’Grady and his first time shot goes high over the bar.

United soon after thought they had a good shout for a penalty when Joshua O’Grady looked to have been felled inside the area but the referee just waved play on in the 29th minute.

Although United look the more likely team to score, Tividale’s Dan Smith is showing plenty of energy and pounces when United’s Jean Dakouri dwells on the ball and nicks it off him and duly forces a good low save out of the keeper Richard Morris in the 32nd minute. The first booking of the game goes to United’s Robert Prinzel after his mistimed challenge fells his opponent and the resulting free kick is wasted in the 40th minute.

The first half is drawing to an end and Tividale force a little bit of pressure of their own when Dan Smith heads just wide of the target from a Nathen Jones corner in the 43rd minute and then he sees another shot in the 44th minute go just wide after being deflected out for a corner that’s easily dealt with.  

United manage another chance just before the referee blows up for half time when a Joshua O’Grady corner sees Robert Prinzel send his header onto the top of the bar and out for a goal kick in the 45+1 minutes.

Half Time:- Tividale FC 0-0 Coventry United FC.

The second half gets under way without any further changes. United come out with a bit more purpose after manager Terry Anderson’s half time talk and are soon creating a great chance to score. Another long throw in from Lewis Ison picks out Joshua O’Grady and his snapshot whistles just over the bar in the 47th minute. Joshua O’Grady soon sees another effort go straight to the keeper Luke Kriskinan’s after some great United build up play in the 51st minute. United keep the pressure on and they soon power forward again in the 52nd minute with Joshua O’Grady playing the ball into the feet of Muziwandile Nduna. Muzi then turns sharply and shoots in the same motion as the ball flies past the Tividale keeper and into the net for the opening goal of the game.

United finally break through a stubborn Tividale defence and Tividale try to respond immediately with a free kick in a great position that sees the No7 Nathen Jones send his shot just over the bar in the 53rd minute.

The next 15 minutes sees neither side creating any clear cut chances as the game has become a little scrappy again.Tividale are forced into a change when the Liam Smith has to go off injured and is replaced by the Jake Brigdale in the 69th minute. The next opportunity for United comes in the 71st minute from a big kick from the keeper Richard Morris. His kick finds Joshua O’Grady 25 yrds out and after a neat turn and shot the Tividale keeper Luke Kriskinan’s is called in to make a good save to thwart him.

Then the next few minutes sees Tividale force United’s Richard Morris into making a couple of good clearances from two free kicks in good positions that reminds United that the slender lead they currently have may not be enough to guarantee the 3pts at this stage.
The 78th minute sees the referee blow up for a penalty to United when Craig Stevens was on the receiving end of a bad bounce of the ball and it hit his hand in the area. There were no complaints from Tividale as Tommy Glasscoe stepped up to take it and made no mistake with a powerful drive to give united a 2-0 lead as the keeper dives the wrong way.

That goal should eased the pressure on United. The game is now into the last 10 minutes and United decide to make another change when they take off Scott Hammond and send on Ryan Makwenje in the 81st minute. Ryan’s first contribution is to be tackled by the Tividale’s Karl Gardner  that earned him a yellow card for his troubles in the 85th minute. 

Tividale make their final change of the afternoon in the 86th minute when they take off Karl Gardner and send on Matt Preston.
That apart from a United corner that is easily dealt with brings the game to an end as the referee blows up for full time after adding roughly 5 minutes and United claim the 3pts.

Full Time:-Tividale FC 0-0 Coventry United FC.

Tividale FC:- Team 1. Luke Kriskinans, 2. Tom Hurdman, 3. Darragh Bustin, 4. Karl Gardner (15. Matt Preston 86),  5. Freddie Watts, 6. Craig Stevens, 7. Nathan Jones, 8. Liam Smith (14. Jake Brigdale 69), 9. Daniel Smith, 10. Harvey Walker, 11. Elliott Hartley.

Unused Subs 12. Shane Grainger, 13.Lewis Handley, 16. Chris Hill.