Town believe in Stuart Hendrie as late, late show steals the win - Match Report & Reaction: NTFC 3 - Cov Copsewood 2

Match report by Matt Jones

Nuneaton Town 3-2 Coventry Copsewood
(Harrison 15, Recci 45+2(p), Hendrie 90+8: Olundaye 36, Mukenge 59)

Attendance: 514

Nuneaton Town returned to The Oval on Saturday afternoon to take on Coventry Copsewood for the third time this season.

Stuart Hendrie returned from injury to make the bench, with Louis Baker also available.

Nuneaton started on the front foot, and just 5 minutes in a ball into the box fell to Callum Carsley who's goalbound shot was blocked, claims for handball were waved away.

On 15 minutes Nuneaton took the lead, as Danico Johnson went up for a header challenged by a defender, the ball fell to Aaron Williams, and he played through James Harrison on his left. Although the keeper got a hand to Harrison's shot, the ball looped upwards and dropped under the bar (1-0).

25 minutes in Johnson turned the ball round the corner to Carsley on the left excellently, and Carsley's whipped ball across the box was air kicked by Cody Mullan, and Harrison put it wide when he didn't have the time to adjust.

On the half hour Copsewood had their first big chance, Curtis Cutts latched onto a through ball and saw Matt Hill off his line and lobbed him, but it landed wide. A dangerous free kick a couple of minutes later went straight into the wall. But on 36 minutes Copsewood did get their opening goal, as a corner from the right found an unmarked Faith Olundaye at the back post who headed home (1-1).

As it was looking like the sides would go in level at half time Nuneaton played the ball forward from midfield, and Cody Mullan showed good pace to beat both keeper and defender to the loose ball, and was tripped in the box by the defender. Loyiso Recci exorcised the demons of his penalty miss at Ingles to slot home to Jack Hartopp's left, the keeper having dived right, in the last kick of the half (2-1).

Half time:

Nuneaton Town 2-1 Coventry Copsewood

The second half started with both sides looking to add to their goal tally. And on 53 minutes a ball into the box was laid off by Johnson to an advancing Carsley on the edge of the box but he fired over.

On 59 minutes Nuneaton conceded their second, and in disappointing fashion, as Hill rolled the ball to Perkins, and his pass to Carsley was pounced upon, and the ball back into the box found Eden Mukenge who turned the ball into the net for another equaliser (2-2).

Acton and Dodd rang the changes, as Stuart Hendrie and Louis Baker made their returns for Johnson and Williams. Half way through the second half Mullan got himself into a tangle with one of the Copsewood players, and was lucky to stay on the pitch, along with others, as a brawl ensued. Mullan received a yellow card and was hauled off minutes later for Harry Jackson.

Baker was looking dangerous, but was booked when he was given offside but had the shot anyway. But on 86 minutes he was denied a goal of the season contender by the linesman's offside flag as he lobbed Hartopp from outside the box, however he appeared to be onside, much to his and Nuneaton fans frustration. The offside flag denied him again just a minute later.

With 7 minutes of stoppage time gone Nuneaton won a corner. Carsley stepped up to whip it towards goal, and a melee of defence and attack tried to get their head on the ball, and the keeper happened to punch the ball straight onto the back of Stuart Hendrie, and the ball dropped into the net, and caused wild celebrations around the stadium (3-2).

It turned out to be the last kick of the game, and Nuneaton escaped with another last minute winner, and with top team Bilston dropping points, Nuneaton returned to the top of the table ahead of next week's crucial game away to Coton Green

Full time:

Nuneaton Town 3-2 Coventry Copsewood

Team: Hill, Edwards, Carsley, Perkins, Recci, Somel, Williams (Hendrie 61), Hayden, Harrison, Mullan (Jackson 73), Johnson (Baker 64)

Subs: Hendrie, Marsden, Baker, Jackson, Bruce

REACTION:

Joint manager Darren Acton shared his thoughts:

On the late winner:

'Yeah the lads kept pushing on and getting the ball forward, it was funny because Matt Hill was even wanting to go forward for the corner, we had to tell him to get back because it was 2-2! Obviously the ball has gone in the net. Did we deserve it? Not really, I thought Copsewood were very good, they played good football. They made it hard for us to break them down, credit to them as well.'

On the 3 games against Copsewood:

'Yeah we've had 3 good games against them, they pushed us all the way here both times, I know we won 5-0 there but even then they played some very good football. Credit to them they have come here, come with a gameplan, stuck to it, and unfortunately for them with the last kick of the game we go and score.'

About set pieces (scored and conceded one from them):

'We've been drilling into them about set pieces. We're going to be training on Tuesday night which is great for us to get a training session in. We're going to be working on them, set pieces are important, we've conceded a few goals off them, so we're going to be working on attacking and defending them.'

About returning players:

'Stu (Hendrie) has come back in, there's one or two others coming back in soon too, fair play to Kev (Willden) he's been working hard at getting the lads back fit. The bench is looking stronger every week, which is good going into a vital game next week.'

Preparation for next week's clash away at Coton Green:

'I'm sure they're looking forward to our visit, it'll be a good occasion for them and hopefully they get a good crowd. I think now we're both up there it's important we go there and get a result.'