COPSEWOOD LIFT THE COVENTRY CHARITY CUP BY KEV MONKS
Coventry Copsewood were lifted the Coventry Charity Football Cup tonight at the Ricoh Arena with a 2-1 victory over Stockton.
The Midland Combination Premier Division side were nearly ahead in the opening minute when a Curtis Jackson header crashed against the bar from a free kick.
As in keeping with Coventry Charity Cup Finals, this was a full-bloodied match with both sides making some crunching tackles in a bid to control the midfield and whilst Copsewood were winning corners, Coventry Alliance side Stockton had efforts on goal through Josh Cole and Craig Watkins.
In the 23rd minute, Gregg Sherrington sent a left footed twenty yard drive over the bar and three minutes later his Stockton team-mate James Harri got through only to be denied by Copsewood keeper Scott Furlong.
The second half was a far more livelier affair with Curtis Jackson and Harri both having chances in the opening exchanges of the second half.
Jackson who was causing the Stockton defence a number of problems got down the right in the 49th minute but Lee Malin parried his shot before the rebound was sent wide.
When Copsewood attacked next, it was to give them the opening goal. A 56th minute ball from the right was played in to DAVID SCARR, who was playing despite suffering a breavement. The midfielder was, named as the Man Of The Match by Coventry Charity Cup Committee's David Kite, just inside the area when he managed a shot a second attempt that crept past Malin on his right and just inside the post.
Two minutes later, Jackson broke with Malin against partially blocking the shot but this time former Coventry City youngster TIM PARTRIDGE was on hand to fire into an empty net.
Despite being two goals down, Stockton kept asking questions of the Copsewood defence. Watkins fired over, Harri's ball across the area avoided everybody before Rickie Lee Moore's sent the ball towards the goal only for Lee Hunt to clear away.
No-one could have deny Stockton their goal which came in the 88th minute when JOSH COLE splendidly rose to head in a free kick and set up a grandstand finish but it was Coventry Copsewood who won the match and lifted the Coventry Charity Football Cup.
Coventry Copsewood
Furlong, Murphy, Atkins, Hunt, Adamson, Mead, Wimbush, Partridge (Sekadde 80), Scarr (Sproule 86), Gordon (Civzellis 60), Jackson.
Stockton
Malin, Langley, Watkins, Luke Cole (Moore 68), Hart, Lee Scott, McGarvey, Wilkinson (Lee Golding 84), Josh Cole, Sherrington (Lewis Scott 78), Harri
Referee Joe Archibold: Assistants Chris Pemble and Paul Hedges Fourth Official Duncan McCauley
HT Copsewood 0-0 Stockton FT Copsewood 2-1 Stockton
Goals David Scarr 56, Tim Partridge 58, Josh Cole 88
Man Of The Match - David Scarr
Picture copyright of Covsupport News Service. Credit CNS/Steve Barnett
For more pictures, please click on http://covcharitycup.homestead.com/Finalpictures.html