The D3D4 correspondents are back to give their match reports from the opening games of the season in League One & Two…
MATCH REPORT: Shrewsbury Town 0-1 Bradford City
Town got off their season to a losing start at home, despite looking the better side for most of the game.
A new era started at the New Meadow today, with John Askey tasked with rejuvenating the side after Paul Hurst left. His more attacking style of play shone through today, despite the loss and it was a game with a lot of positives.
The first half initially got off to a flying start, with both sides bombing forwards and aiming for an early goal to calm down the inevitable nerves. The Shrews looked like the more dangerous side, with Josh Laurent looking particularly impressive with some snappy tackling and calm passing. Bradford though took the lead against the run of play, attacking midfielder Jack Payne finished neatly after a threaded ball from pacey striker George Miller.
The story for the rest of the half was Town relentlessly attacking, and Bradford holding on desperately. Whalley was a menace on the wing, delivering boundless crosses and almost scoring a couple of times. Kieran Kennedy was also denied by a brilliant save after a well taken corner.
The second half started similarly to the way the first period ended, Town attacking fervently yet again while conspiring to miss endless chances. Josh Laurent and Omar Beckles both could have converted easy chances, but Bantam defenders put in some heroic blocks and tackles, as well as the bar rebounding some efforts.
Bradford nearly grabbed a second, with Eoin Doyle squaring for George Miller who somehow missed from about 6 yards out.
Substitute Alex Gillead led a final charge for the Shrews, crashing a dipping shot off the bar after a brilliant individual run.
All in all, extremely unlucky for Askey’s man not to get anything out of the game. You sensed the players were still adjusting to the nuances of the style of play Askey aimed to implement, which was undoubtedly much more attractive than what Hurst served up last season. A lot of fluidity, short passing and great wing play. The future doesn’t look too bleak. On to the next game!
Town: Joel Coleman, Kieran Kennedy, Mat Sadler, Omar Beckles, Shaun Whalley, Stefan Payne (Fejiri Okenabirhie, 81), James Bolton, Doug Loft (Anthony Grant, 66), Aaron Amadi-Holloway, Charlie Colkett Alex Gilliead, 74), Josh Laurent.
Subs: Steve Arnold, Haynes, Fejiri Okenabirhie, Lenell John-Lewis, Alex Gilliead, Ryan Barnett, Anthony Grant.
Bradford: Richard O’Donnell, Joe Riley (Eoin Doyle, 66), Adam Chicksen, Adam O’Connor, Sean Scannell Tyrell Robinson, 77), Jack Payne, George Miller, Kelvin Mellor, Hope Akpan (Sherwin seedorf, 86), Nathaniel Knight-Percival, Josh Wright.
Subs: Ben Wilson, Ryan McGowan, Eoin Doyle, Tyrell Robinson, Sherwin Seedorf, Kai Bruenker, Ellis Hudson.
Referee: Kevin Johnson
Man of the Match: Shaun Whalley
words Youssef Amin, D3D4 Shrewsbury Town writer
MATCH REPORT: Crewe Alexandra 6-0 Morecambe
What on earth just happened? Before the game, I was confident of a win against a relegation favourite but never in a million years could I have predicted that!
Any early-season tensions were relieved when good work from Jordan Bowery out wide eventually led to Charlie Kirk firing Crewe in front from close range after just 5 minutes. Swiftly after, Kirk turned provider to cross for debutant Alex Nicholls to guide a header neatly into the bottom corner and Crewe were “Crewesing” (sorry).
The rest of the second half went by without incident as Crewe continued to control the game despite an injury to captain George Ray, forcing Dave Artell into an early change. Both Kirk and Harry Pickering came close to adding to the scoresheet but neither could get past Barry Roche in the Morecambe goal.
The second half began with a slight scare for Crewe as Dave Richards was forced into a smart double save first from Liam Mandeville from distance, and then from Vadaine Oliver on the rebound. But eventually good Crewe pressing high up the pitch led to an error from a Morecambe defender. The ball fell to Nicholls in the area and he teed himself up to volley low into the corner to double his debut tally.
Morecambe’s best chances came with 20 minutes to go as first Oliver controlled a long ball and hit the post from distance before a flick on by Kevin Ellison fell to Oliver, but Richards stood in his way again. Both chances came within a minute of each other.
But just as Morecambe looked like scoring, Crewe hit them with the sucker punch that killed the game off. Midfielder James Jones side-stepped his marker and steadied himself for a cracking low-drive into the corner past Roche.
Morecambe then gave up and with just 3 minutes left to play, Chris Porter got himself a goal, heading in a floated Pickering cross at the far post. Into stoppage time and Jones fancied himself another, once again steadying himself outside the area before driving low once again into the same corner.
Seasons don’t start better than that for Crewe who dominated the entire 90 minutes. I’m much more optimistic than I was beforehand and confident of a top half finish, maybe even playoffs at a stretch. Morecambe however are in for a very tough year. If they play like that each week, they might not win a game at all, they were awful.
WE ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE!
words Joe Ellis, D3D4 Crewe Alexandra writer
MATCH REPORT: Oldham Athletic 1-2 Milton Keynes Dons
On a sunny afternoon in Oldham, the Latics got off to a slightly disappointing start as they fell to defeat at the hands of fellow league one relegation side MK Dons.
The first 20 minutes or so showed Oldham to be playing in much a similar fashion that had proved unsuccessful last season – with the inexperienced defence exposed by a weak midfield that struggled to take control of the game. The backline consisted of 4 very young players, with a combined age of just 78. This meant that it was essential for the midfield to help-out – a task that Giles Coke struggled with and meant that 18-year-old Tom Hamer was left exposed at the back.
In the 9th minute, Rob Hunt dragged Williams down in the penalty area and the referee pointed to the spot. Agard had the chance to give MK the perfect start to the season and made no mistake – Iversen got a hand to the ball but it was hit too hard for the Dane to keep out. Milton Keynes’ dominated the game and punished the home side’s lack of concentration when Agard found himself ahead of the Latics’ defence before squaring the ball Harley who tapped the ball home – 21 minutes gone, it was same old Oldham.
The home side looked to be building the side around journeyman striker Ishamael Miller, who looked to be a nuisance to the visitors’ defence – he was particularly effective at holding the ball up to feed it to the midfield and knock the ball on to strike-partner Surridge. Both Coke and Surridge went close and this more direct style of play from the Latics certainly helped build their confidence. They became bolder and were rewarded for this in the 41st minute when captain Dan Gardner fired into the bottom corner from 20 yards out. A fine shot by the midfielder.
Oldham looked the better side and continued to put pressure on until half time. However, they didn’t make it count and walked in 2-1 down at half time.
Coke was replaced by Nepomuceno at half time, which gave the home-side a new dimension. Most notably, it gave Hamer more confidence to rush forwards with the knowledge that Nepomuceno was at hand to provide more cover and support.
It was clear that a goal before half time had given the Latics a real burst of confidence and they looked to be up for a gritty battle. The MK Dons’ defence, however, was impressively organised and the home side struggled on numerous occasions to break them down. Nepomuceno and Branger-Engone were hitting crosses into the area but the MK back line stood firm against the ongoing pressure.
MK Dons had proved to be an effective counter attacking side in the first half and, despite pressure from the Latics, continued to test Iversen – the young goalkeeper looked to be solid and kept Oldham in the game when he denied McGrandles in the 79th minute. Surridge looked sharp on his debut and tested the MK Dons defence but the visitors held out to the end of the game despite the Bournemouth loanee’s best efforts to grab a late equaliser, along with Iversen’s appearance in the penalty area for two late corners – the game finished 2-1.
Oldham put in a solid display on the opening game, despite a disappointing score-line. Frankie Bunn has said he is pleased with the attitude of the players in the team and there was certainly a solid base of a team there – the introduction of Baxter and Peter Clarke (injured and ill) will sure up a young team with much needing flair and experience respectively whilst Jack Byrne and the introduction of some new faces before the transfer window shuts should strengthen the weak midfield on display in the first half of the game.
Meanwhile, MK Dons put in an impressive display with a particularly effective and well organised defence. The visitor’s looked confident and comfortable in possession and, should they continue in the same manner, will likely find themselves in a promotion spot come the end of the season. Although they will have to improve on their fitness if they are to challenge in a very physical league.
FULL TIME: Oldham 1 (Gardner 41’) – 2 MK Dons (Agard 9’ (pen), Harley 22’)
Attendance: 4764
Oldham: Iverson, Hamer, Edmundson, Graham, Hunt, Coke (Nepomuceno 46), Gardner, Missilou (Maouche 80), Branger-Engone, Miller (O’Grady 58), Surridge
Mk Dons: Nicholls, Williams, Lewington, Gilbey (Walsh), Pawlett (Simpson, 15)(Cisse 85), Agard, Moore-Taylor, McGrandles, Houghton, Brittain, Harley
words Chris Stringer, D3D4 Oldham Athletic correspondent
MATCH REPORTS: Barnsley 4-0 Oxford United
Oxford United travelled to Barnsley for a difficult opening game to the League One 2018/19 season but it was soon apparent that they would be heading home pointless.
Barnsley were sensational from the first whistle and pushed Oxford back immediately with intensive high pressing and excellent dominance in the middle of the park. New signing Kenny Dougall looked particularly impressive when in possession, acting as the deep lying play maker, pulling the strings and setting up several promising breaks.
Big man Kieffer Moore almost had them in front inside the first 6 minutes when he headed a free kick just wide as Barnlsey looked bright and up for the game.
Oxford on the other hand had no response, looking flat and out fought. Mamadou Thiam had been dangerous in the early exchanges and took full advantage as the U’s defence backed off by blasting the Tykes into the lead from 25 yards.
As if the Yellow’s task wasn’t hard enough their star man Samir Carruthers was taken off with suspected knee ligament damage after 21 minutes (reportedly out for 3 months now) and was replaced by Reading loanee Sam Smith.
Oxford were caught again soon after as Thiam hit home an almost identikit copy of his first goal leaving Oxford looking down and out with only 29 minutes gone.
Half-time couldn’t come soon enough for the Yellows as the home side continued to dominate and the break made no difference.
Too many Oxford players were anonymous with James Henry, Jamie Mackie and Luke Garbutt looking particularly poor throughout. Rob Hall added a bright spark coming on to replace Henry and forced Davies into a smart stop after a mazy run and shot from distance.
But on 77 it was all over as a lightning break from Barnsley ended with Brad Potts smashing home into the top corner before they grabbed another late on through Victor Adeboyejo.
4-0 didn’t flatter the home side one bit and in truth they deserved more. Oxford could be in for a long hard season based on this effort and will need to add a couple more players to a squad that looks rather thin on depth.
Still only one game played but a lot to do for the Yellows. Barnsley on the other hand look to be just what we tipped them to be in our League One preview podcast…title favourites.
words James Richards, D3D4 Football
MATCH REPORT: Crewe Alexandra 6-0 Morecambe
It’s Crewe-ell…
It is just over three months since Morecambe last travelled to Gresty Road for a League Two game. Then, having managed to weather the storm for 89 minutes, they succumbed to a goal scored for Crewe by their own former top scorer Shaun Miller. It plunged them into the relegation dog fight which they finally won literally at the eleventh hour at Coventry on the very last day of the season.
Today, on the first day of the new campaign, only four players who featured in the Shrimps’ first team in Cheshire during April lined-up anew against the Railwaymen: indeed, no less than four of them have left the club since then. The question which is in every football supporter’s mind right across the planet at the beginning of every new campaign, though, is this:
Is the current crop any better than the old one was?
Hopes were high before the game – but hopes are usually high for all fans, whichever club they support. But expectations sometimes don’t survive first contact with the enemy and the acid test is what happens on the pitch.
For Crewe, this is equally true – as Wordsworth might once have quipped. Their line-up also showed several changes since last time the clubs faced each other. Jim Bentley’s opposite number and former Morecambe team-mate Dave Artell has also rung the changes over the summer. The Railwaymen’s crowd would also be hoping for a more positive campaign this time out to that they experienced last term.
As all football fans know, it really IS the hope that kills you. New season; old slate wiped clean – here we go again. Being drawn away from home doesn’t have to be the end of the world. If you lose one-nil, the imaginary glass of optimism remains almost full. Two-nil and there’s the merest dribble of spillage – particularly if the lads put on a decent show. Three-nil though and the glass really has a lot of stuff missing from it. Four nil and there’s not much left. Five-nil and only the dregs remain – all the liquid and with it hope itself has disappeared. But at six-nil even the glass itself has gone.
And so it was at Gresty Road today. The 336 of us who had come to witness the first game of the season were all in fine fettle – and fine voice – prior to kick-off. Many of the multitude sported this season’s shirts – a gesture in itself a testament to the belief they had that this time around, the team they support will not be struggling to survive in the EFL next May as was the case this year.
Pre-season matches tell nobody much about what is likely to happen once the gloves are off for real. Beating non-League teams is one thing but Morecambe’s 1-3 reverse to Joey Barton’s Fleetwood last Saturday at home must have rung a few alarm bells somewhere; the Cod Army are admittedly in a higher division but the win was far too easy for them even bearing this in mind.
So what a difference an encounter with the reality of actual League Two football made today: all hopes for the next nine months were completely dashed in a mere ninety minutes.
Many of our number had already departed long before the ninety minutes were up and a lot of those who remained jeered their own players after this absolutely dreadful display.
Things started quite brightly for the visitors. The passing and movement was sharp if not incisive and the Shrimps had most of the ball. Harry Pickering welcomed Liam Mandeville to Crewe with an appalling tackle after three minutes for which he should have been booked. But novice referee Alan Young – apparently officiating in his first ever EFL game – let it go. If the foul was intended to intimidate Morecambe’s new acquisition, it worked a treat: he was virtually totally anonymous after being fouled and was taken off in the second half. To make things worse, in virtually their first attack, the Railwaymen went ahead. Alex Kenyon – not for the last time – failed to deal with a one-on-one situation on the left hand side of the Shrimps’ penalty area; Paul Green got past him and slipped the ball to Charlie Kirk who converted with ease. Three minutes later – with the Morecambe defence all at sea – Alex Nicholls headed a routine second one. But Jim Bentley’s men didn’t let their heads drop.
After seventeen minutes, new boy Rhys Oates only just missed Dave Richards’ right hand post with a header. Four minutes later, another Morecambe effort was blocked almost on the goal line. At the other end, though, the Shrimps looked shaky every time Crewe attacked. Kenyon was outsmarted again on the Alex left (no pun intended) after 27 minutes and was lucky to get a free kick to get him out of trouble. Three minutes later, Barry Roche worked wonders to palm away a cross-come-shot which was heading into the net from the Crewe left.
On 34 minutes, the referee again failed to punish a bad foul by Eddie Nolan on Vadaine Oliver, just as he failed to produce yellow cards when Dave Artell’s players deliberately kicked the ball away when penalised and one of them clearly handled the ball later in the half. Having said that, it would be unfair to blame Morecambe’s utterly abject performance today on the referee. As debutant central defender Andrew Tutte clearly struggled to keep up with the pace of the game, Crewe could have gone even further ahead during the first half. An unmarked Pickering missed the target with a wild shot after 40 minutes when he could and should have done better and Jordan Bowery had an even better chance just before the break but tamely shot straight at Barry Roche instead of burying the ball in the back of the net.
Having gone in at half time two goals adrift, the Shrimps not only failed to regroup in the second but actually gradually began to visibly come apart at the seams.
They had chances – which Vadaine Oliver squandered – early on and later in the game. Mandeville narrowly missed with a volley after 56 minutes but after giving away a sloppy ball which could have set-up Alex for yet another goal a few minutes later, he was hauled off. In the meantime, though, it was mostly one-way traffic. For the record, Crewe’s four goal haul in the second half was provided by Nicholls again after being easily fed by Kirk after just over an hour. James Jones netted with a long-range shot after 72 minutes. Chris Porter headed home from close range with just three minutes scheduled to play. And – just to rub it in – Jones scored his team’s sixth during injury time right at the end of the game.
So Morecambe end the first day of the season right at the very bottom of the EFL. Crewe, conversely, are right at the pinnacle of League Two. But will this still be the case nine months hence? Crewe’s destiny is difficult to predict but they won’t have many easier games then this one today. As for the Shrimps, if they don’t improve both immediately and dramatically they might as well throw in the towel right now: today’s performance was simply not of Football League quality.
Crewe Alexandra: 13 Dave Richards; 14 Alex Nicholls (Y) (7 Chris Porter 75 mins); 10 Jordan Bowery; 8 James Jones; 3 Harry Pickering; 15 Ryan Wintle; 20 Charlie Kirk (11 Callum Ainley 75 mins); 17 Paul Green; 12 Eddie Nolan; 5 George Ray (C) (29 Nicky Hunt 30 mins); 2 Perry Ng.
Subs not used: 1 Ben Garratt; 6 Michael Raynes; 24 Lewis Reilly; 16 Tommy Lowery.
Morecambe: 1 Barry Roche (C); 2 Zak Mills; 4 Alex Kenyon; 6 Andrew Tutte (15 Aaron Wildig (Y) 65 mins); 5 Steven Old; 27 Jordan Cranston; 18 Rhys Oates (22 James Sinclair 77 mins); 17 Liam Mandeville (12 Jason Oswell 62 mins); 8 Andy Fleming (Y ); 11 Kevin Ellison: 9 Vadaine Oliver.
Referee: Alan Young.
Attendance: 3559 (336 from Morecambe)
words Roger Fitton, D3D4 Morecambe correspondent
MATCH REPORT: Notts County 0-0 Colchester United
A good mid-summer crowd of over 7000 were in attendance as the Pies & the U’s started their 2018/19 league campaign on a hot day in Nottingham this afternoon.
Notts began the game on the front foot knocking the ball around confidently without really making inroads into a solid looking U’s defence. Notts new boy Enzio Boldewijn almost broke the deadlock on 20 minutes his goal bound effort from close range was pushed behind for a corner by U’s keeper Dillon Barnes.
Colchester came more into the game as the half wore on with new man Frank Nouble in particular looking lively. There was a chance at both ends before half time, firstly U’s centre back Luke Prosser had a header cleared off the line by Notts defender Shaun Brisley then County loanee and new boy Nathan Thomas wildly volleyed high & wide whilst well positioned in the box.
HT Pies 0 U’s 0
Notts again started the second period well with forward Kane Hemmings having a decent effort deflected wide for a fruitless corner. Back came the visitors & Notts had keeper Fitzsimon to thank for keeping his side level with a great save from U’s full back Jackson who had burst clear.
Notts turn next & a peach of a cross from Boldewijn found sub Kristian Dennis on the penalty spot 12 yards out & the striker blazed the ball over when it looked easier to score.
Thomas then had a fine volley expertly tipped over by the busy U’s keeper Barnes but Colchester weathered the storm & had two chances to win the game before full time, firstly defender Tom Eastman curled a delightful shot from the edge of the area that unluckily rattled the Notts crossbar & later substitute Mandron clipped the outside of the post with a snapshot.
FT Pies 0 U’s 0
A draw was probably fair although the visitors from Essex had the better chances, certainly not a boring 0-0.
words Ian Bradley, D3D4 roving reporter
MATCH REPORT: Northampton Town 0-1 Lincoln City
Lincoln got their season off to an excellent start as they triumphed over a wasteful Northampton at the PTS Academy Stadium.
It was deja vu for the Cobblers as they lost their opening fixture of the new campaign by a goal to nil for the second consecutive season, with Matt Green’s 48th-minute header consigning them to defeat this time around.
Both sides were quick out of the blocks but mirrored each other in spurning good chances to take an early lead. Northampton’s talismanic midfielder John-Joe O’Toole was unable to convert a tap-in opportunity when Lincoln goalkeeper Josh Vickers failed to claim a cross, and soon afterwards Neal Ardley had his free kick from 25 yards saved by Cobblers stopper David Cornell at the other end.
O’Toole’s inability to captialise on a good opportunity was to set the tone of the afternoon for Northampton, whose forwards simply could not don their ‘shooting boots’ to the frustration of the home support as a series of increasingly fortuitous gilt-edged chances went begging.
Daniel Powell did well to anticipate a poor backpass from Lincoln skipper Luke Waterfall on the half-hour mark, finding himself with just Vickers to beat and not a defender in sight, but the Cobblers winger poked a derisory effort straight into the gloves of the Imps Number One, wasting his side’s best chance of the match in the process.
A further blow to Northampton’s morale came minutes later when teenage midfield hotshot Shaun McWilliams was forced off with a hamstring problem. McWilliams’ replacement, Jack Bridge, lacked the same physicality as his injured teammate and Lincoln’s effective exploitation of this weakness allowed them to exert more control over the midfield area as the contest continued.
The Imps’ Harry Toffolo lashed a shot just over the crossbar from outside the box for Lincoln’s best chance of the first half, but it was to be the Cobblers’ Sam Hoskins who had the final attempt on goal of the opening 45 minutes when blasting a free kick wide from 20 yards.
Lincoln’s performance in the second half proved to be much less charitable to the poor finishing of their opposition, and indeed three minutes after the interval Northampton were made to pay dearly for their string of missed chances. Neal Eardley, a former Cobblers player now plying his trade for the Imps, was afforded time and space on the wing before swinging a pinpoint cross into the box which was headed home with aplomb by Matt Green.
Green’s goal had given Lincoln exactly what they had come for and the away side proceeded to defend in numbers for the remainder of the contest, with Northampton continuing to lack penetration in the final third. Andy Williams went close in the last moments of the match when his header from close range was well saved by Vickers, but in truth Lincoln never looked like surrendering their lead from the moment Green found the net.
The Imps were deserving of their victory on the balance of play and justified their position as the bookmakers’ favourites to win League Two; Northampton, though far from outfought, will need to rethink their approach if they are to push for the Top 7 finish warranted by the quality in their squad.
Cobblers boss Dean Austin was philosophical about his side’s defeat, saying:
“I think that seeing how Lincoln celebrated at the end, they know they’ve come and taken a scalp.
“We’ve just got to keep the faith, and keep working, progressing and learning, and keep believing in what we’re doing because there were a heck of a lot of positives out there today.”
Imps manager Danny Cowley was full of praise for the way his team overcame Northampton, saying:
“The positives are that we’ve kept a clean sheet and scored on the counter. We’ve played a really good team today. We rode our luck and got on the right side of a close game.
“We’ve got to be realistic- we’ve come from the National League, these clubs have come from League One. Look at the personnel… Kevin Van Veen didn’t even come on the pitch today and he went for four million pounds two [transfer] windows ago.
“They’ve got really good players. They’ll be right up there, not many other teams will come here [to the PTS Academy Stadium] and get results.
“We defended really well and I thought they ran out of ideas after eighty minutes.”
Teams and Man-for-Man Marking
Northampton (4-2-3-1): Cornell 6/10, Buchanan 5, Pierre 7, Taylor 5, Odoffin 7, McWilliams 5, Crooks 8, O’Toole 6, Powell 5, Hoskins 5, Williams 6
Subs: Bridge (for McWilliams, 22′) 5, Bowditch (for Powell, 78′) 5
Lincoln (3-5-2): Vickers 8, Wharton 7, Waterfall 7, Wilson 7, Toffolo 7, Bostwick 6, Frecklington 7, Eardley 8, McCartan 6, Akinde 6, Green 7
Subs: Andrade (for Green, 63′) 6, Anderson (for McCartan, 70′) 6, Rhead (for Akinde, 73′) 6
Referee: Lee Swabey
Attendence: 6242 (1453 away fans)
Star Men: Matt Crooks for Northampton and Josh Vickers for Lincoln
words Toby Foster, D3D4 Northampton Town correspondent
MATCH REPORT: Exeter City 3-1 Carlisle United
A new manager and a new era at St James park saw Matt Taylor’s men host the Cumbrians in the first game on a new EFL season in temperature nudging 30c in Devon.
After a fairly even first ten minutes, Exeter took the lead in the 16th minute when new signing Nicky Law exchanged passes with fellow debutant Jonathan Forte before firing the shot past Joe Fryer in the Carlisle goal,
City allowed Carlisle onto them after the goal as Carlisle looked to level the score. Carlisle were awarded a free kick about 20yrds out on the 23rd minute Carlisle’s Danny Grainger rattled the Exeter crossbar with a quality free kick which was unlucky not to nestle in the back of the net. However, it was soon 2-0 on 25 minutes with some good play down the left between Dean Moxey and Lee Holmes who found a good ball to Jonathan Forte who opened his City account for the season with a well taken goal.
Carlisle found a way back into the game just before half time after city failed to defend a cross into the box and Bennett planted a super header back past Christy Pym.
City went into the break leading 2-1
Exeter’s Lee Holmes broke into the box on 47 minutes and flashed a shot narrowly wide of the Cumbrians far post.
That would be to only real chance Exeter would create for a large portion of the 2nd half, Carlisle came out and really got to Exeter, closing them down well and stopping our midfield playing with as much freedom Bennett, Yates & Hope were really testing the City defence and manufactured a couple opportunities with nothing to show from them which nearly paid off when Hope darted into the box and worked a shot on goal which looked to be deflected by a defender however a goal kick was given.
In the blazing sun the pace of the game slowed as the players fitness and pre-season work-outs were tested. Subs were made by teams around the 60th minute with Carlisle Jamie Devitt replacing Slater & a double change by City with Forte being replaced by new signing Tristan Abrahams and Lee Holmes coming off for City’s fifth debutant of the day Lee Martin.
Carlisle kept the pressure on City’s defence, but the back four were solid with Troy Brown and Arron Martin playing particularly well as the centre back pairing. Supported well by Hiram Boateng and Nicky Law who ran and showed great football knowledge when not in possession. I must also mention Jayden Stockley who played just off Forte for large parts and used more as the muscle up top, his work rate was class as he made himself a nuisance to the Carlisle defence.
Carlisle again made changes in search of the equalizer Jones replacing Glendon and Campbell coming on for the very useful looking Yates who worked hard for Carlisle all afternoon. It nearly paid off when a run into City’s box almost brought the goal United were after but Pym got down well to the attackers’ feet and smothered the chance well.
Tristan Abrahams looked very lively since his introduction and his excellent work ethic and non-stop running were rewarded in the 93rd minute after a quick break started by Law who found Stockley who had great vision to find an unmarked Abrahams in the 18yrd box who riffled home City’s third of the afternoon and confirming all three points for the Devon side.
Wishing Carlisle all the best for the season hope the long trip back was safe and as quick as possible
Attendance- 4266 (Away 235)
MOM- Nicky Law
words Jamie Wyman, D3D4 Exeter City correspondent
MATCH REPORT: Coventry City 1-2 Scunthorpe United
Well here we go again as a new football season got underway on Saturday at a very sunny Ricoh Arena as the Sky Blues entertained Scunthorpe in the opening game in League One.
But before the match the very important matter of meeting up with fellow fans in the pub had to take place first, and after some refreshing lager and banter a group of us strolled to the Ricoh in the blazing sunshine, and we all were “fairly confident” that our team would start the new campaign off with a win and three points in the bag.
Notice I wrote “fairly confident” and not super or very confident ?
As the first game of a new season is a tricky one to predict, what with players still getting their fitness levels up, and new signings having to get used to new teammates and new surroundings, so anything can happen and usually does.
And me and my mates lukewarm attitude proved to be accurate as the visitors left the stadium with the win, securing the points with a 2-1 victory.
I don’t like to see my team lose any match if it’s the first match or at any time of the season, but all the players in sky blue put a shift in, and on another day would have probably won the game, but try as hard as they did it wasn’t meant to be but it wasn’t for lack of effort or commitment.
The City had four players making their debut, Ogogo, Hiwula, Mason, and Sterling, and all contributed well I thought and I can see all of these players performing even better when they settle in more. In midfield Ogogo got stuck in and his combative style goes well with captain and fellow tough tackling Michael Doyle alongside him, so opponents will know they’ve been in a match when they come up against these rugged pair.
The first half ended 0-0 but the stalemate was broken in spectacular style when Tony Andreu curled in a cracking free kick on 52 minutes, leaving the Iron keeper with no chance and putting the home side 1-0 up.
But just when I thought we’d go and get another goal up popped the visitors with an equaliser on 68 minutes, and on 81 minutes added a second and deciding goal to make it 2-1 and leaving me a bit bewildered to be honest as I thought we were more likely to get the win, but as they say that’s football.
Mark Robins said after the game his players looked spent on 75 minutes and will need a few more matches before we see the best from them. I agree with those comments as he needs more time with his squad and even though we lost the game I can see that when the team starts to gel the wins will arrive, we just need to remain patient and positive.
Robins is still wanting another defender and striker in to strengthen his squad, and if he does get who he wants my prediction in the pub of a play-off place remains, but we all know what lager can do to the brain on a hot day!
Play Up Sky Blues.
words Kevin Halls, D3D4 Coventry City correspondent
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