The Mikes 1-1 Coventry United

There was no fairy tale return to Church Road for new manager Neil Kitching, as ten men Boldmere came from behind to earn a point against Coventry United. Kitching’s first home match in charge showed one charge from the away draw at Long Eaton United with Jack Skinner replacing Rikardo Reid in attack.

The first half hour passed by without incident before Nkosizile Maphosa gave the visitors the lead. United kept the ball alive and the pressure on following a long throw-in, culminating in Maphosa swivelling inside the box to turn in a long-range shot. Boldmere’s task became even harder just before half-time, when midfielder Stephen Palmer was sent off for a studs up challenge on the halfway line.

J’Cee Abraham replaced Barry Healey in a straight swap at left-back at half-time, but Kitching switched things around shortly in the second half with striker Declan Arber introduced for his debut in place of Cameron Gayle, moving to a wing-back system. There was also a debut for Jakob Burroughs just after the hour mark for Brad Lindsey. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Boldmere were the better side at the start of the second half with Arber coming close with a deflected effort from the edge of the area, that ‘keeper Reece Francis did well to keep out with his legs. Arber combining with fellow sub Burroughs keep the visitor’s defence honest. Coventry were a threat on the counter attack through the direct running of winger Chris Camwell and sub Ryan Baldwin, signed in the week from Grantham Town. Camwell drew a neat save from Lewis Fenney at his near post and again had to be at his best to deny McCauley Manning. Captain Matthew Gardner volleyed wide at the far post and could and perhaps should have turned in Baldwin’s cross-cum-shot at the far post as United started to dominate proceedings. Baldwin was a bundle of energy and Fenney was equal to his latest effort, down low to his right. But then Skinner looked to have equalised with just over ten minutes to go, finishing emphatically from an Abraham pass but was denied by the assistant’s raised flag. With ten minutes to go, Boldmere’s spirited second half performance was rewarded with the equaliser. Captain Joe Lyng striding out from defence to feed Skinner in the right-hand channel. Continuing his run into the box, Lyng met Skinner’s cross with a commanding header to leave Francis with no chance. Manning wasted a good chance to win it for the visitors, lashing over after the ball fell loose in the box from a long throw-in. An off the ball incident in front of the dug-outs, sparked a melee on 90 minutes, which resulted in bookings for Francis and Simeon Tulloch, but there was still time for further incident, in a game that started slowly. Having had two penalty appeals turned down, Boldmere were on the end of a soft penalty decision in injury-time. However, Fenney diving to his left kept out Aaron Williams’ spot-kick with his legs. Fenney though saved the best to last, climbing high to his right to claw out the same man’s towering header with the last action of the match to earn Boldmere a point and move off the bottom of the table.

The Mikes: Lewis Fenney; Cameron Gayle (Declan Arber 53); Barry Healey (J’Cee Abraham 45); Brad Lindsey (Jakob Burroughs 64); Harry Craven; Joe Lyng; Simeon Tulloch; Stephen Palmer; Jack Skinner; Owen Parry; Kartel O’Neil-Martin. Subs not used: Jack Burgess; Kyle Byrne.
Coventry United: Reece Francis; Harry Sawyer; Ben Vallance; Aaron Williams; Lewis Ison, Nkosizile Maphosa; McCauley Manning; Jake Holt; Matthew Gardner; Joseph Cairns; Christopher Camwell. Subs used Kyle Carey; Ryan Baldwin; Luke Downes. Subs not used: Dominic Alleyne; Devonte Irving-Young