BOTH GAMES involving Coventry’s Midland League Premier Division sides failed to shake off the threat of Storm Jorge last weekend.
In the latest round of matches to be tarnished by the freak weather conditions, both Coventry United and Coventry Sphinx were out of action – with only two fixtures in the league going ahead.
Leaders United were due to go to Wolverhampton to take on AFC Wulfrunians, completing a frustrating week in which the derby with Sphinx was also postponed in midweek.
A revised date of Thursday, April 2 has now been set for the Coventry derby at Sphinx Drive (7.45pm).
John Woodward and Shaun Thomas’ Sphinx also saw a fixture against Black Country opposition in Sporting Khalsa postponed.
Both sides are scheduled to play two away fixtures this week, with United on the road at Kirby Muxloe in Tuesday night’s Midland Premier League Cup second-round tie (7.45pm), prior to Saturday’s league game at South Normanton Athletic (3pm).
Fourteenth-placed Sphinx are set to visit South Normanton on Tuesday (7.45pm), before going to Haughmond on Saturday (3pm).
GNP SPORTS were left to rue their luck after their Division One meeting with Leicester Road resulted in a 7-1 hammering.
In the only game in the division to go ahead, Shamir Alam’s charges were outclassed at De Montfort Park in a supreme show of finishing by the Hinckley hosts.
The league leaders were led by hat-trick hero Matt Langham, who opened and then completed the scoring to put GNP to the sword.
Joseph Lyne and Jack Harrison added to the 28th-minute opener to put Leicester Road in control of the game with a 3-0 lead at half-time.
Goals from Liam Read, Simon Allcott and a second for Langham continued the goal rush, before Harvey George-Siddall reduced the arrears with 11 minutes left to play.
A final strike from Langham to complete his hat-trick followed in the final minute to complete the rout.
GNP, who are 11th, are scheduled to face off against Uttoxeter Town on Wednesday (7.45pm) in the first of a home double header, prior to the visit of Studley on Saturday (3pm).
THE NOW familiar sight of a postponement against Cadbury Athletic was not so sweet for Coventry Copsewood lower down in the division.
Copsewood, managed by Joe Conneely and Neil Collett, had been hoping to improve on their standing of 15th against the side directly below them.
After Tuesday’s trip to Studley (7.45pm), pending drier conditions, Copsewood host Uttoxeter Town on Saturday (3pm).
A TRIP to Coton Green was called off to spell disappointment for Coventry Alvis in Division Two.
It continued a desperate run for Alvis which has limited Jamie Burkacki’s team to only 13 league fixtures this term and just six games in all competitions since the turn of the year.
A home meeting with Earlswood Town offers eighth-placed Coventry an opportunity to change that on Tuesday night (7.30pm), before welcoming Fairfield Villa to Green Lane in the semi-finals of the Presidents Cup on Saturday (3pm).
Victory for either side will set up a showpiece final against the winner of Knowle versus Northfield Town in the other last-four tie.
COVENTRY Plumbing claimed a well-earned point against Leamington Hibernian in Saturday’s last-gasp 1-1 draw.
The point moves Plumbing, who have only played ten times in the league this term, up to sixth on 22 points.
Kev Kingham’s side were forced to play on Bedworth United’s artificial pitch at The Oval to fulfill the fixture, one which Coventry goalkeeper Ross Davis played a starring role in.
He kept out a number of early opportunities to keep spirited Hibernian at bay during a lively opening in which the visitors twice hit the woodwork.
After a goalless first half, Leamington took the lead when Jordan Featherstone sent Davis the wrong way from 12 yards.
While the hosts failed to trouble the away side for most of the encounter, The Plumbers hauled themselves level when a cross-shot from Liam Doyle caught out Hibernian custodian Jack Marshall and floated into the top-left corner of the net.
A chance to steal all three points was wasted by Coventry when Connor Farrell’s acute-angle attempt was tipped into the path of Doyle, who was denied by Sam Smith’s heroic block to ensure parity at the final whistle.
After hosting Upton Town on Wednesday (7.30pm), Plumbing go to Inkberrow on Saturday afternoon (3pm).
EIGHTH-PLACED Coventrians hope to put an end to a month-long break when hosting Leamington Hibernian this weekend.
Should Saturday’s meeting (3pm) at the Colliery Sports Ground get the green light, it will have been four weeks since the Division Three outfit last step foot on the pitch – doing so in their 4-2 victory over Castle Vale Town.
Last weekend’s trip to lowly AFC Solihull had been the latest fixture to suffer the axe.
Coventrians have played the joint second-lowest number of matches in the division this term, completing just 12 of their fixtures, but still find themselves five places and points better off than Hibernian having played six games less.
