Coventry Dunlop V AFC Balsall (Division Three)

​Coventry Dunlop were looking to continue their good form in division three with a statement result against promotion challengers AFC Balsall yesterday afternoon. The hosts were coming off an encouraging win against division two side Hampton last weekend in the Coventry Telegraph Cup and had won their last three leagues matches.  

It’s been an encouraging start for Coventry Dunlop who have adapted well to division three following promotion from the Coventry Alliance Premier Division as league champions’ last season.

They had won six of their opening ten matches in the league going into yesterday’s match which included notable away wins against Silhill and Solihull Youth Academy under manager Dennis Zuill.    

AFC Balsall are another side who have started the season well in division three. The Hornets were one of the form sides in the league under manager Jake Clark with seven straight wins going into yesterday’s match. They rebranded over the summer and moved to the Massey Ferguson Sports Ground for their home matches this season.

The visitors could be a dark horse for promotion if they can build a run of form over the next few months. They had the second-best defensive record in the division going into yesterday’s match with only eleven goals conceded from eleven games.  

The Hornets also notably beat fellow promotion contenders Kenilworth Sporting and Walsall Wood earlier in the season and had lost just twice in division three.  

​Starting line ups

The starting line up for Coventry Dunlop included Junior Amankwah starting in goal and Olyaana Ahmed captaining the team from attacking midfield. The formation looked like a 4-3-3 with a front two of Kingsley Manyo and Jack Campbell-Watkins being supported by Olyaana Ahmed in the number ten role.

There were two changes from their match against Hampton last weekend with Elliott Watts coming into the team and playing in central midfield alongside Prince Amankwaah.

The starting line up for AFC Balsall included Connor Smith starting in goal and John Palmer captaining the team at centre back. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with Leon Edmond playing up front and being supported by Jamie Eden and Ousman Kolley on the wings.

There were five changes from their match against Coventry Phoenix last weekend in the Coventry Telegraph Cup with Danny May coming into the team and playing in holding midfield alongside Ryan Cranage. 

First Half

AFC Balsall started the match strongly and were causing Coventry Dunlop problems early on. They looked to make things happen in the opening twenty minutes and had the momentum in front of goal.  

The visitors took the lead on 9 minutes thanks to an unfortunate mistake from a free kick into the box. John Palmer struck a swerving free kick from the halfway line with the ball going past Junior Amankwah and into the net for 1-0.

​The Hornets looked sharp up front and were building up the play well following the early goal. A free-flowing move saw the ball played to Jamie Eden in the box who had his shot go wide of the right-hand post on 10 minutes.

Coventry Dunlop showed character to not let the match getaway from them at 1-0 down and gradually grew into it as the first half went on.

They found an equaliser on 14 minutes which gave them a bit of inspiration and confidence. Mahamadou Camara found some space in midfield before playing a floating ball to Kingsley Manyo in the box. He made a brilliant run off the shoulder before finishing into the top left corner for 1-1.

AFC Balsall retook the lead in the middle of the first half when a long ball into the box found Danny May who produced a header into the top right corner for 2-1 on 22 minutes.

Coventry Dunlop started to build some momentum in the latter stages of the first half at 2-1 down and were gaining a foothold in the match. Mahamadou Camara did a good job of shielding the back four and helped to build up the play from holding midfield.

This helped Coventry settle into the match and they were pressing for an equaliser just before half time. Their best chance came on 41 minutes when Olyaana Ahmed had a shot from the edge of the box go narrowly wide of the right-hand post.

Kingsley Manyo impressed up front as the number nine and was making things happen in the final third for Coventry. He did a good job of holding up the play and made some promising runs into the box.    

Second Half

Coventry Dunlop made a tactical change early in the second half with their formation changing to a 4-2-3-1. There was a triple substitution with Benjamin Asare playing up front as the number nine and Jack Archer and Isaac Asare playing on the wings.

This change made them more dangerous on the break with the speed of Benjamin Asare causing problems throughout the second half.

The hosts found an equaliser on the hour mark when Jack Archer cut inside from the right-hand side before producing a quality finish into the top left corner for 2-2.

AFC Balsall were tested in the second half with John Palmer leading by example at centre back and stepping up to clear the danger for the Hornets.

The visitors still offered a threat going forward with Ben Corbett making some promising runs into the final third. He did a good job of linking up the play in the number ten role yesterday and was driving the visitors on.

Coventry stepped up and made some crucial blocks and clearances throughout the second half. There was a clever tactical change with Ahmed Gumaa coming on and helping to shore up the midfield which made them harder to break down. Luke Wale also impressed at centre back and read the danger well yesterday.  

Coventry Dunlop were pressing for the lead and found the breakthrough when Benjiman Asare found some space in the box before having a deflected shot find the bottom left corner for 3-2 on 72 minutes.

AFC Balsall were committing players forward in search of an equaliser late on and got hit on the break when a free-flowing move found Jack Archer in the box who calmly finished into the bottom left corner for 4-2 on 90 minutes.  

The visitors had a good chance of pulling a goal back in stoppage time when substitute Ben Cranage found some space from a free kick before putting his header wide of the right-hand post.

The bench impressed for Coventry Dunlop yesterday and made a real difference in the second half against a good AFC Balsall side. Benjamin Asare and Jack Archer stood out up front.     

The visitors were caught on the break again deep into stoppage time.

Benjamin Asare made a brilliant run off the shoulder before running through on goal with just Connor Smith to beat. The Coventry striker made no mistake and finished into the bottom left corner for 5-2 late on.  

It feels like a statement result for Coventry Dunlop in division three and one of the highlights of their season so far.

Upcoming fixtures

Coventry Dunlop will be looking to continue their momentum against Birmingham Tigers (Away) next weekend before playing Coventry Alvis (Home) in the Birmingham Saturday Vase on Saturday 15th November.

They round off the month with a run of home games against Leamington Hibernian (League, Saturday 22nd November) and Central Ajax (Coventry Telegraph Cup, Saturday 29th November).

AFC Balsall will be looking to bounce back against Arden Forest Sporting (Home) next weekend before travelling to division two side Bolehall Swifts in the Birmingham Saturday Vase on Saturday 15th November.                     

They round off November with leagues games against Diamond Academy (Home, Saturday 22nd November) and Walsall Wood (Away, Saturday 29th November).   

FT score: Coventry Dunlop 5-2 AFC Balsall

Man of the match: Benjamin Asare (Coventry Dunlop)

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League