Nothing changes after going top, says United's Anderson - Coventry non-league latest - The Coventry Observer

Nothing changes after going top, says United's Anderson - Coventry non-league latest

Coventry Editorial 27th Jan, 2020 Updated: 28th Jan, 2020   0

THE RACE for the Premier Division title in the Midland Football League continued to hot up after Coventry United’s 2-0 win over Worcester City put them joint-top of the table.

Terry Anderson’s side currently sit neck and neck on 44 points with Newark Flowserve, trailing by a slightly lower goal difference, while as many as four other teams are still in contention.

Saturday’s result helped the Red and Greens earn some revenge for their FA Vase exit at the hands of City just over a fortnight ago, thanks to Tyler Haddow and Josh O’Grady goals at Butts Park Arena.

United were unable to break the deadlock despite enjoying the lion’s share of possession and chances in the first half, though Reece Francis still had to stay alert to pull off a spectacular acrobatic save to keep out Craig Jones’ header.




Sustained pressure going into the second half eventually paid off when Haddow lifted a header over Worcester custodian Dan Jezeph and into the net from O’Grady’s cross.

Matthew Gardner squandered a chance to double the lead when his penalty was blasted over the bar, though O’Grady soon made amends by wrapping a free-kick around the wall and into the bottom-right corner.


United manager Terry Anderson has reiterated that the task at hand will remain the same despite the club’s current standing, saying: “It’s great that we are joint top but it doesn’t make a difference in this league.

“We’ve got so many games to go. It will probably change through the next eight or nine weeks, we’ve just got to hope that we are up there challenging at the end of April and that’s what we want to do.”

United are away to South Normanton Athletic on Tuesday night (7.45pm), before a trip to Walsall Wood on Saturday (3pm).


A SECOND 0-0 stalemate in the space of four days completed a drab week for Coventry Sphinx on Saturday.

The weekend’s trip to fellow strugglers Tividale resulted in a point apiece, just days after John Woodward and Shaun Thomas’ men had been locked in a goalless draw with South Normanton Athletic at Sphinx Drive in midweek.

While the two points will prove useful in the long run, it keeps Coventry in 16th place in the short term.

Tuesday night’s (7.45pm) home game against Boldmere St Michaels will provide a challenging test prior to Saturday’s (3pm) home game against bottom-side Selston.


JASON Evans’ first-half strike helped GNP Sports claim a third win in four matches after a 1-0 triumph against Stapenhill on Saturday.

Firing home on the stroke of the half-hour mark, Evans helped complete a week where the club picked up seven points from a possible nine in Division One – following a 2-1 win over Stafford Town in midweek and a goalless draw at Nuneaton Griff the previous weekend.

Stapenhill now play host to Shamir Alam’s tenth-placed side on Saturday (3pm), who will make the trip to Derbyshire hoping to cement their place in the top-half of the table.


A LATE equaliser from Stafford Town denied Coventry Copsewood all three points in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Allard Way.

After a quiet first half, Callum Martin found the net on 51 minutes, moments after hitting the post, to put Copsewood on course for a swift return to winning ways.

But Morgan Bailey’s 86th-minute equaliser gave Stafford a share of the spoils, following a half that was dominated by the visitors.

After hosting Hinckley AFC on Tuesday, Joe Conneely and Neil Collett will prepare their troops for Saturday’s (3pm) away day at Ashby Ivanhoe.


COVENTRY Alvis are through to the semi-finals of the Les James Challenge Cup after eliminating FC Stratford in a 3-1 win at The Arden Garages Stadium.

Jamie Burkacki’s charges had to do it the hard way against their Division Two rivals, cancelling out James Gifford’s opener through Dildale Linton’s leveller before the break and then winning the game with second-half goals from Adam Bourn and Riley Keasey.

Alvis, who are eighth in the league standings, will now be confident of picking up three points on the road at rock-bottom Redditch Borough on Saturday (3pm).


CUP progression was a theme of the weekend as Division Three side Coventry Plumbing reached the last four of the Birmingham Saturday Vase.

Connoll Farrell and Jordan Powell were both on target against ten-man Enville Athletic, putting Plumbing in the frame for a semi-final tie against Tipton Town, Solihull United or the winner of the remaining quarter-final tie between Alcester Town and AFC Somers.

After tonight’s league game with Coventrians was called off, Plumbing now turn their entire attentions to a Les James Challenge Cup tie away to Birmingham Tigers on Saturday (1.45pm) – with a quarter-final tie against Inkberrow on the line for the winner.


COVENTRIANS’ battle with WLV Sport was also called off last weekend, which gives the club extra preparation time for a home game against Welland on Saturday (2pm).

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