COVENTRY ALVIS 2 - 2 COTON GREEN

 

      MIDLAND FOOTBALL LEAGUE, DIVISION TWO

    Alvis Sports & Social Club, Green Lane, Finham, Coventry CV3 6EG

                           9th April 2022,   3:00 Kick-Off

Today I have decided to watch the match that will determine if Coton Green will finish second in the MFL Div 2 as Cadbury Athletic have already secured top spot this season. Cadbury have opted out of promotion so Coton Green will be promoted in their stead if they get at least one point from their final game today at Coventry Alvis.

Their nearest rivals, Knowle FC are away to Barnt Green Spartak and need to win to have a chance of finishing second. This will be my first visit to this ground and I am looking forward to my trip as the weather forecast is good and it's not too far to travel.

I get to Coventry at midday and when I go for the way out at the station I end up in the new extension, which has finally been completed and it's very smart, with the exit leading out to the bus stops and the other way leads to the car parking area.

I walk out to the front of the station where there is a Tourist Information booth and pick up some leaflets about forthcoming events in this city.

I then walk to the City Centre and make my way to a cafe at the side of Coventry Market where they sell some reasonably priced meals and have my lunch there. It's popular with the locals as there is only one free table left.

As I don't have much time to have a look around I just go to a shop where they sell used electrical goods and have a look at what camera gear is for sale. Then it's back to the train station and I go to the side in Warwick Road to catch the No.9 bus to Finham where the ground is located.

15 minutes later and I have arrived in Green Lane and I find that Finham is a quiet southern suburb of the south of this city and the ground is set in a semi-rural location with houses to the north and fields lying to the south of the ground.

I soon find the sports club entrance and wander through. To my left is where the cricket pitch is situated but as the local season has not yet started, there are 3 football pitches marked out instead in this area. The road curves round to the clubhouse and to the right hand side of this can be found the car parking area. 

On the other side of the clubhouse is the entrance to the main pitch.

  I pay my entrance fee at the table and buy a club badge too (£3.50p) and have a quick chat with 2 friendly club officials, including the Chairman Don Corrigan.

I then make my way over to the far (southerly) side of the ground, where the team dugouts are located and also there are 2 stands, one with seating for 50 spectators and a larger one with just standing room only. It's a neat little ground, with floodlights, hard standing and railings on 3 sides, with the one end having just a wire fence behind the goal.

The teams come out in both their first team colours, Alvis in light blue shirts, dark blue shorts and light blue socks, while the visitors are in all red with white trimmings.

The early exchanges are pretty even and the first real chance comes Coton Green's way, when their No.9 has a shot blocked by the keeper and it falls to the Green's No.10 Chris Lloyd but he is off balance with his attempt, his shot bounces in to the ground and hits the bar and out of play.

An early goal would have relaxed any nerves that they may have been feeling I'm sure.

It's by no means a one-sided contest but 'The Green Army' are looking the more likely to score, although they miss a good chance after 27 minutes when Chris Lloyd cuts the ball back from the bye-line but the Coton No.11 fluffs his attempted shot in front of goal.

Alvis show they are still dangerous when they quickly break down the left and their forward shoots across the visitor's goal and just wide of the far post. A few minutes later and Coton's No.11 has a close range shot smothered by the advancing Alvis keeper.

Just when I think that this half will end goalless Coton score with a header by their No.3, Joseph Smith, who dives low to connect with the ball.

     (Joseph Smith , 2nd left, being congratulated by his team mates)
   

So it's 1-0 to the promotion chasers and on the balance of play it's a deserved reward for their efforts so far.

Coventry Alvis were founded in 1928 as the works team of the Alvis Car & Engineering Company and amongst it's products, they produced military vehicles, including tanks, hence the club's nickname of 'The Tank Men'. They played in various local leagues in the Coventry area and had good success in the Coventry Alliance before moving up to the Midland Combination and then the Midland Football League when it was formed in 2014.

So it will be interesting to see if Coton Green can build on their slender lead in the second half or will the 'Tank Men' of Alvis be able to give them a battle?

After 50 minutes, Coton Green threaten the home goal again but are thwarted by a tackle from the Alvis No.2 close to his goal. 10 minutes later and Coventry Alvis are back in the game when following a throw in from the left, they score with a shot from their No.10 I think. It's not that surprising as they seem to be a bit more lively after the interval.

Coton Green go close again on the hour mark when a looping shot hits the bar on it's way over and then Alvis sees their No.2 have a shot saved after being played in from the right.

It's the Green Army who score next when their captain Joseph Smith breaks through the middle to stroke the ball home for his and his team's 2nd goal. That's the captain leading by example!

Alvis are not going down without a fight and after 76 minutes their No.16 hits in a great shot for the equaliser following an attack down the left flank.

Coton Green go close again when the Alvis keeper has to make a good save at the feet of one of their forwards but the game finishes in a 2-2 draw which satisfies both sides.

'The Green Army' will now be playing in the MFL First Division next season and it will interesting to see how quickly they can settle in at this higher level. Coventry Alvis on the other hand are looking to end the season in a creditable 8th place and they still have the Coventry Charity Cup to go for after their great 3-0 win over MFL Div One side Coventry Copsewood in the quarter-final.

Before I leave the ground I go in to the toilet and I hear the Coton Green players loudly singing 'We're going up. we're going up...etc' in the adjacent changing room.

Entrance Fee:              £4

Match Attendance:       45

Match Programme:      none available

Entertainment Value:   8/10 

  

HAMPTON 0 - 4 COTON GREEN

 

      MIDLAND FOOTBALL LEAGUE, DIVISION TWO

     The Boggery, Hampton Sports Club, Field Lane, Solihull, B94 5DX

                      12th March, 2022      3:00 Kick-Off

Well my trip today is definitely a case of lastminute.com as my first plan was to visit the ground of West Midlands League club, Sikh Hunters who play at Long Lane Park north of Walsall.

Unfortunately when I was checking out the bus times late on Friday, I found out that because of road works taking place at Perry Bar, it was affecting the journey times. So I decided to go elsewhere and then later on 'The Hunters' secretary kindly informed me that the game was called off anyway due to a waterlogged pitch.

In the end Iv'e decided to keep things simple and pop down the road to nearby Solihull and visit Hampton for their clash v 2nd placed Coton Green who I have never watched before.

When I get in to Solihull on a fine but still cool day, I see that there is a street market with plenty of food stalls of varying cuisines. In the end I plump for a light meal in the cafe of the local Theatre and then get some cheese cake from one of the stalls in the market.

I get the X 12 bus from the town centre (15 minutes late) and walk in to the ground with 10 minutes to spare. When I go in to the club house, there are definitely more people here than when I last visited in January, which is good to see.

After using the toilet I go outside and pay my entrance fee and go to the left hand side of the pitch. I get talking to a lone spectator there and he says he's seen me before, probably at nearby Knowle FC last autumn. During our short conversation he tells me that the probable champions of this division,Cadbury Athletic, haved declined promotion so that gives Coton Green a big incentive to make sure of a 2nd place finish. 

The teams come out on the field with Hampton decked out in their usual home kit of red & white striped shirts, black shorts and red & white socks. Coton Green are in their 2nd strip of mint green shirts, blue shorts and socks.

As Coton Green (who come from that district in Tamworth) are doing so well this season, I predict an away win of at least 0-2. 

The first half sees Hampton doing well and trouble the visitor's defence on several occasions but Coton Green look dangerous on the break.

    I'm beginning to wonder if Hampton can spring a surprise like the last time I watched them when they won their local derby v near neighbours Knowle FC ?

For the last 20 minutes of this half, Coton begin to dominate the play and force a series of corners but the hosts manage to keep them out. 

Their defence finally cracks in the 41st minute when Coton's No.10, Harry Howard, goes on a mazy run through the middle before poking the ball past the advancing Hampton keeper, Mark Allely. 

It's a fine goal to break the deadlock and Howard is rightly ecstatic in his celebrations, especially as it's his debut appearance for the 'Green Army'! 

On the stroke of half time, Howard volleys the ball at the far post from a corner on the left but Charlie Noakes is credited with the goal as he's adjudged to have had the final touch before the ball crosses the line.

So the visitors at half time find themselves in the driving seat and it's going to take a big effort for Hampton to get back in this game, especially as they have a general difficulty in scoring many goals this season.

When play resumes, Coton Green are very much on top and determined to ensure they win today.

In the 52nd minute they surely put this game to bed when their No.3, Jay Payne, goes down the left wing and cuts the ball back inside for the skipper, Corey Powell to shoot home. Another fine goal for the visitor's.

          (Jay Payne on his way to passing the ball for the 3rd goal)

Mr. Payne is involved again with the 4th goal for 'The Green Army' as his assist enables their No.11, Chris Lloyd to place the ball in to the right hand corner of the net just 3 minutes later.

This purple patch just before and just after half time has produced 4 goals and their captain is urging them to score more.

Hampton to their credit do get more in to the game and go close with efforts in the 71st and 78th minutes.

Hampton are unable to breach the visitor's defence though and Coton Green come away with a comfortable win, which strengthens their position as their nearest rivals, Knowle, have drawn today at leaders Cadbury Athletic. This puts Coton Green six points ahead of them and 3 points behind Cadbury but having played 2 games more.

Hampton are now in 12th place just 4 points ahead of the basement boys of Bolehall Swifts but I think they should be safe of relegation, if they could only score more goals!

They have a nice ground at Field Lane and I wonder if they are looking to install some floodlights in the future?

Match attendance:         76

Entrance fee:                 £3 

Match programme:        none available

Entertainment value:     7/10