SENT TO COVENTRY AGAIN

COVENTRY COPSEWOOD 1 STAPENHILL 3
MFL 1 @ ALLARD WAY
19 OCTOBER 2019 --- 3PM

COVENTRY COPSEWOOD V STAPENHILL MFL1

A comfortable victory for the visitors from Stapenhill against a young and enterprising Copsewood side told only part of this interesting day.  In the modern era of pre match research there is often little to discover before arrival that you have not seen and it just remains to experience it yourself.
However in the search to complete the four top level non league sides in the city a second journey in recent weeks would be made to take a look at the Copsewood ground, but of course after these recent trips the other 3 or 4 sides at step 7 and 8 have come onto the radar also but they will be for another day after Alvis completes the immediate set.  Today would turn out to be a discovery day of old and an all round pleasant visit to Coventry Cospewood FC and its immediate surrounds which offer a more than agreeable afternoon out in the West Midlands.
Travel inwards to spire town station was all good and on time ,so a little success, of course from there it went downhill when my favourite train operator Cross Country, I'm convinced I will miss a letter out of that final word soon, supplied the usual sardine tin which by the time we departed Burton our fishy friends were jumping out of it was even too much for them.  Arrival in Birmingham and the option to take a stopping train to Coventry was taken for a little off train viewing of the surrounding area, this would be a late departure.

FIRST HALF ACTION AS STAPENHILL GO ON THE ATTACK

Upon arrival the station concourse brought me back to a bus companies vehicles I had not seen for ages Travel De Courcey who were operating a shuttle to The University of Warwick for their open day and did remind me that I was always surprised Nookie Bear and Roger were not behind the driving wheel, if you are under fifty you will probably have to look that one up see if you can find the clip were the ventriloquists lips move more than when he speaks!  A steady walk across the bustling city centre saw all sorts of groups vying for your attention and as I averted my gaze from the naked horse mounted Lady Godiva I would soon arrive by the impressive façade of the Transport Museum to connect with a 13 to Willenhall.
The operator National Express Coventry operated offer a no ticket contactless fare which promised to charge you the maximum fee of £3.90, we shall see but a good frequency took us along to the Allard Way junction.  Bus drivers here certainly appear to have the newly discovered 'deaf driver syndrome' as this applied also on my departure on the return journey after my 'thank you' for their service.  Walking the five minutes to the club and the sports grounds were soon arrived at they are the former recreational facilities for GEC and with its art deco type club house offering up a cold non alcoholic beverage and bag of scampi fries who could resist a look.  The foyer area is all very 1930s much like some of the old National Bus stations and well worth a visit before moving to the modern bars upstairs.

ARRIVING BY STEAM TRAIN AT THE GROUND

The site offers a golf course, bowling green, cricket ground, netball court and football pitch but the surprise was the Cospewood Miniature Railway which was operating today for a private function.  As ever the enthusiasm that these old chaps, and it is of course us chaps generally, offer is always a thing of beauty to behold, again it is to the males of the species.  So for you hoppers who alike to arrive close to the ground by train here is another one for your list.
As ever more local knowledge was offered and it would appear that just a short goal kick away, quite literally, Stoke Aldermoor was the location for the filming of the Mini Cooper car chase seen in the sewer pipes in the 1968 film The Italian Job and on further research in the previous week a plaque had been unveiled to the fifty year anniversary after research had discovered the exact location of what were these apparently unused sewer pipes.

A VERY AGREEABLE SETTING

A relaxed welcome at the ground upon departure from the club found a fiver admission with a shiny and very creditable programme included too, the long changing room block offers a snack bar and functional club room with TV and I guess it doubles up for the cricket club as well.
The ground offers a very pleasant diversion from the busy Allard Way and nearby city with tree lined main side with golf course behind, extending from the clubhouse is a covered terrace which sits a little way behind the near goal but would be needed when we suffered heavy downpours in the second half.  The far side offers a smart stand with seats from Highfield Road and a couple of
memorial bench seats tucked into the front row towards the far goal the walkway merges with a pathway round the back of the stand and continues to the far touchline which I guess is out of bounds but it is offers a nice view back towards the main stand.  Also noticeable is the excellent playing surface.

RYAN KING MAKES IT 2-0 TO STAPENHILL

Game wise Stapenhill were riding high and with Coventry Copsewood in the lower reaches it looked a difficult one for them   The opening exchanges were fairly even but slowly the away side looked like the team who would take the lead and on 27 minutes this happened.  It would be the ever
dangerous Ryan King down the left who crossed low for Ash Garner to fire into the goal at the back post.  Stapenhill looked increasingly dangerous and on the half hour mark Callum Riddell struck the bar from 20 yards.  Eight minutes before the break King would dart through in the inside left and fire past the Coventry keeper to double the visitors lead at half time.

STAPENHILL THIRD GOALSCORER LEWIS CAMPBELL CHASED DOWN BY DAVE FREEMAN

The second period saw Coventry put together some lovely football and it was noticeable the positive contribution from substitute Isa Abrahamu whose pace and willingness to take on the Stapenhill
defence was proving dangerous.  The visiting side however were the stronger all round team and equally looked to play good football in what I was finding an highly enjoyable affair but in a breakaway after some an excellent Copsewood play the game was put to bed when The Swans secured their third goal with a lovely chip over the home keeper by Lewis Campbell with fifteen minutes remaining.

STAPENHILL KEEPER RISES TO THWART A COPSEWOOD ATTACK

Into the final stages and for the visitors Harry Lansdowne went on a lovely run and his end product found the post when he deserved better but probably the goal of the game was reserved until 87
minutes when Abrahamu cut in off the left and fired a superb curler around Dale O'Connell in the visitors goal, it was a consolation strike that the home side richly deserved for their 'footballing' efforts.
I enjoyed the home sides contributions to play the game in the right way but on this day Stapenhill were just stronger and more confident in front of goal and over the ninety minutes secured a deserved victory for their trip back to Staffordshire.

LEWIS CAMPBELL [3] RECIEVES THE PLAUDITS FOR STAPENHILLS THIRD GOAL

Convenient trip back to the city and a few stops to the north side of Coventry and a departure to the big yellow 'M's' at the former Alvis site, as per the visit a few weeks ago, would allow shopping traffic to depart.
A delayed Virgin train that disgorged Coventry City fans coming back from down south was delayed by nearly fifteen minutes on departure but a two minute sprint across New Street allowed for a departure to Derby for a change onto the very late East Midland Railways service, again a sprint across the station, and arrival back at base around 8.30pm.
An enjoyable day that offered up a lot more than I expected in some more than agreeable surroundings I hope to catch up with both sides again soon if this is the style of football they are trying to achieve.