Reserves v. Coventry City 29/8/07

[Pedagogue]

Coventry City Reserves 1 2 Walsall Reserves
Played at Liberty Way Stadium, Nuneaton

Walsall (4-4-2)

Bertrand Bossu

Charlton Davies
Richard Taundry
Ian Roper
Netan Sansara

Edrissa Sonko
Mark Bradley (Capt.)
David McDermott (Chris Hanna, 82 min.)
Alex Nicholls

Joao Batista Mawete (a.k.a. "Junior") (Harry Harris, 89 min.)
Troy Deeney (Richard Davies, 94 min.)

Unused Substitutes
Leon Quarless
Tom Cox (gk)

Manager:- Eric McManus (assisted by Dicky Dosh)

Goal Log:-
11 min. - 0-1 - Mawete's shot was not held by the Sky Blues' 'keeper and Deeney followed up to score.
29 min. - 1-1 - Looose marking by Sansara and a slip by Taundry let in Wayne Andrews to equalise.
58 min. - 1-2 - superb control and shot from Matawe for a goal worthy of winning any game.

Sinners:-
47 min. - Roper cautioned for unsporting behaviour (foul)
54 min. - Sonko rather harshly cautioned for "scoring" after whistle had blown.

Comments:-
The young Saddlers' final competition game of last season was at Bescot when losing on penalties to the Sky Blues in the Birmingham Senior Cup Final. It was fitting, therefore, that this season's programme kicked off against the same opponents, this time in the smart new surroundings of a ground shared by Nuneaton Borough F.C. and Nuneaton Rugby Club. A winning start was some scant consolation.
Defence - at 6ft 5in (1.92m), Bossu is our tallest player but he does not dominate in the air. In front of him, Charlton Davies, Taundry, Roper and Sansara were sound enough. Bradley was always a powerful figure in central midfield but his partner, McDermott, was mostly anonymous. Sonko looked quite useful at wide right but Nicholls was less happy on the left. Up front, Deeney was his usual hard-working self while the latest version of "Junior" looked an interesting prospect - to the extent that you can judge in a reserve team match. He could have opened the scoring in the 8th minute but was thwarted by an excellent last-ditch tackle by Coventry’s Arjan de Zeeuw.
Walsall opened like an express train and a cricket score looked likely. However, Walsall's opening goal had the reverse effect and Coventry deserved their equaliser. Nevertheless, the Saddlers gradually re-asserted their earlier control with a quality winning goal. The game was quite well refereed by Amy Rayner (Mike Newell's favourite) but she blotted her copybook by cautioning "Mr. Sunshine", unnecessarily.
An interested spectator was Phil Robinson, the Stafford Rangers manager, who stood concentrating on the Coventry defence/Walsall attack in each half. Players out on loan, soon???

[OldPenkSaddler]

Excellent report as always, Leamore.

Can't believe DD is thinking of loaning out any of our 'attackers' though, we'd have no back up at all.

What was the triallist like and why did he change his name at half time? :wink:

[Mike T.]

Thanks Leamore. Not being "picky" but the official site has Richard Taundry at right back with Mannie Smith at centre back and no sign of Charlton Davies other than substitute. Did Charlton play right back in our continuing plan of playing people at full back in the reserves when they will play in midfield for the first team(hopefully) :wink:

[Pedagogue]

Thanks Leamore. Not being "picky" but the official site has Richard Taundry at right back with Mannie Smith at centre back and no sign of Charlton Davies other than substitute. Did Charlton play right back in our continuing plan of playing people at full back in the reserves when they will play in midfield for the first team(hopefully) :wink:

The official site is WRONG (surprise, surprise!) as at 7-30 a.m., this morning. It would be difficult to confuse Mannie Smith (black) and Charlton Davies (white). Even in my dotage, my eyesight hasn't deteriorated THAT much! :lol: :lol: I can assure you that the starting line-up, and the three substitutions made, are correct in my report.

Matewe's apparent name change refers to the fact that all his Walsall team-mates addressed him as "Junior". :?

[Duke]

cheers Bob . great stuff.

[Maverick]

Top Report.

No Picken anywhere then ?

[Registered Saddler]

Matewe's apparent name change refers to the fact that all his Walsall team-mates addressed him as "Junior". :?

I presume that's how they refer to anyone of Portugese/Brazilian/unspecified African descent.

[Stu]

Don't spose you know who was in the Coventry line up, just wondering what they've got floating around, espeically as Wayne Andrews is apparently up for grabs.

[Pedagogue]

Don't s'pose you know who was in the Coventry line up? Just wondering what they've got floating around, especially as Wayne Andrews is apparently up for grabs.

Ireland (gk), Robinson, Francis, Burtoft, de Zeeuw, Turner, Cain, Gooding, Simpson, Andrews, Davis, Burgess, Collett (gk), Ritchie, Ashraf, Grandison.