Five Star Performance in Local Derby - Match Report and Reaction: Coventry Copsewood 0-5 NTFC
Loyiso Recci scores Nuneaton Town's second goal of the game from the penalty spot.
Saturday 7th September 2024
Coventry Copsewood 0-5 Nuneaton Town
(Baker 31, Recci 50, May 76, Whitehouse 86, Spruce 90)
Nuneaton Town made the short trip down the A444 to Coventry Copsewood for a local derby on Saturday afternoon. Copsewood were playing a first home game of the season having played all games away due to their pitch being used for cricket.
In to the team came cover players, Dominic Perkins (formerly of Rugby Town and Sporting Khalsa) and Kaden May (formerly of Wolves U23, Walsall Wood and Hednesford Town), to cover the suspended Liam Daly and injuries to some of the first team regulars. Jackson Acton, son of Nuneaton Town joint manager, Darren Acton, joined the substitutes’ bench, whilst Josh Whitehouse and Dylan Wallis returned to the squad.
Copsewood could have been ahead within 2 minutes as Brandon Bache in the Town goal was forced to make his first save from a shot on the left. The resulting corner was headed wide.
Town recovered and Danico Johnson had his own chance on 6 mins, curling just over the bar from the left.
On 11 minutes, the first card of many came with Cutts chopping down Cody Mullan on the edge of the box. Kaden May curled the free kick just over.
On 13 minutes, Copsewood should have gone ahead again as Kavanagh got away on the break, but the shot was saved by Bache, and Ellis' rebound went over the bar.
Nine minutes later, another Copsewood chance went begging as a fortunate deflection fell to Ellis again but it was put wide.
Wells got through again for Copsewood on 25 minutes but Bache blocked the tame effort with his feet.
Nuneaton made Copsewood pay for their missed chances as they broke the deadlock on 31 minutes. Cody Mullan found Aaron Williams in the box and his effort towards the corner was deflected home by Louis Baker sliding towards the goal (1-0).
Copsewood were not done yet and a bending cross into the box from the left somehow evaded everyone's toes, However, Town saw out the remaining minutes of the half to take a somewhat fortunate lead into half time. Gordon for Copsewood was sin binned for dissent 5 minutes beforehand.
Half time:
Coventry Copsewood 0-1 Nuneaton Town
The second half kicked off and, within seconds, a free kick was won. The ball cleverly worked to Johnson down the left who turned his defender and cannoned a shot off the post.
Just three minutes into the half, Johnson got away down the left again with just Okundaye to get past. He did so but was dragged down. Penalty to Town and a yellow card for the Copsewood centre back. On the 50th minute, Loyiso Recci duly slotted the ball to the keeper’s left sending him the wrong way (2-0).
James Spruce replaced Johnson on 64, with an eye on Tuesday's game.
On 66 minutes, Louis Baker took on Gordon down the wing and, having beaten him, the Copsewood player left a leg in there to bring him down for a second yellow, and was sent off. Baker himself was booked for a late challenge two minutes later.
The sending off turned the game further in Town's favour, and a third was scored brilliantly on 76 minutes. Kaden May received the ball on the left, chopped inside his defender and, with the outside of his left boot, curled it beautifully in off the post (3-0).
That turned out to be May’s last contribution to the game, who was warmly applauded for his efforts as he was replaced by Justin Marsden. Josh Whitehouse replaced Louis Baker straight afterwards.
Josh Whitehouse immediately looked like a young man trying to stay in the squad as he got two quick chances, but both were blocked. However, he got the goal his efforts deserved on 86 minutes. James Spruce got through on goal down the right and he found an unmarked Whitehouse to his left on the cutback. Whitehouse made no mistake with the finish (4-0).
Nuneaton weren't done there and were looking to add further gloss and ruthlessness to the scoreline. Spruce was unlucky to miss the target by inches on 88 minutes. With Dylan Wallis getting a few minutes replacing Trevor Edwards, Dominic Perkins was yellow carded for kicking the ball away at a throw in.
From the throw in on 90 mins, Spruce attempted to play in Whitehouse again, but the block from the defender fell straight back to Spruce in a dangerous position in the box and he fired into the roof of the net (5-0).
Town still pushed in stoppage time but no further chances came and 5 was how it finished. Nuneaton, again, much better in the second half than the first.
Full time:
Coventry Copsewood 0-5 Nuneaton Town
Att 350
Team: Bache, Edwards (Wallis 89), Currithers, Recci, Perkins, Mullan, Williams, May (Marsden 79), Hendrie, Baker (Whitehouse 80), Johnson (Spruce 64)
Subs: Spruce, J Acton, Marsden, Josh Whitehouse, Wallis
Darren Acton said after the game:
“Another good performance especially after the game being called off Wednesday. It gave the lads a chance to recover more, and I think we took that into today.”
On the difference between first half and second:
“We just needed to hold the ball up more up front and bring players into the attack more. When Neeks (Danico Johnson) holds it up or takes players on, we look more threatening. So we told him he needs to do more of that. We won the penalty from him doing that. I said to the lads we just need to tidy up with the passing.”
On the three late goals to take the game away from Copsewood:
“They went down to 10 men so they were going to open it up for us. We had that extra man and we used it well. We dominated and scored 3 good late goals.”
On the new players and injuries:
“We're just getting cover players in at the minute. There's a few away still. Injury wise, I'm hoping Jackson’s back soon. I'm hoping a few others are too, including Stringer. We'll be a stronger team again. It's just getting this next week or two out of the way. The lads that came in today, Dom Perkins and Kaden May, did a fantastic job.”
On Saffron Dynamo at home on Tuesday:
“We'll go into Tuesday, at home. I know there's probably going to be a good support there again. Every game’s tough in this league. We take each game as it comes and again just want to thank the fans who have come down today and were fantastic.”
By Matt Jones
Next Match:
On Tuesday 10th September we welcome Saffron Dynamo to the Oval. Kick-off 7.45
pm
