30.12.23 vs Coventry Copsewood

The year draws to a close

Andrew Delaney31 Dec 2023 – 20:13SHARE


Sef Semlali’s first half goal helped Sutton United come from behind to earn a share of the points in a competitive match against Coventry Copsewood and so end 2023 on a six-match unbeaten run.

With Sutton sitting tenth in MFL One and Coventry Copsewood in eleventh, it was no surprise that this was a closely contested midtable battle.

Adam Civzelis put Copsewood ahead in the 19th minute with an impressive strike from the edge of the box as he cut inside to find the top corner of the net with his right foot.

Sutton responded with an equaliser nine minutes later, when Tom Cullen’s ball over the top had Sef Semlali outpacing the Coventry defense to execute a fine finish to beat the keeper.

There were very few clear-cut chances for either side, as Coventry’s Eden Mukenge fired in a dangerous cross from the left byline that evaded everyone in the box, and soon after Sutton did the same, when Tom Massey’s delivery from the right was narrowly missed by Kyle Hayden at the back post.

United suffered a set back just before the break when their pivotal centre back Matt Bishop hobbled off with a hamstring injury, after he had just executed a fantastic challenge in the penalty box to deny tricky winger Mukenge.

Sutton started the second half well and enjoyed plenty of possession, however, there were very few chances created to trouble Olly Manuel, in goal for Coventry. United’s best opportunity of the half fell to their man-of-the-match Massey, whose shot at the back post with the keeper stranded, was cleared off the goal line by a well-placed defender.

Copeswood edged the opportunities in front of goal and had an excellent chance to take the lead in the 73rd minute, when substitute Sean Kavanagh had a one-on-one with Sutton’s keeper, Connor Byrne, who saved with his outstretched leg before Kavanagh fired the rebound well over the target.

Sutton end December with two wins and four draws and can now look forward to opening the new year with a home fixture against AFC Bridgnorth on Saturday 6th January 3pm kick off.

Team: Sutton United
1. Connor Byrne
2. Jon Grigg – 74’ Jake Murrell
3. Alex O’Keefe
4. Matt Bishop – 44’ Tion Pearce-Copeland
5. Mark Moore
6. Kye Billingham-Belle – 74’ Pete Weston
7. Sef Semlali – 64’ Ben Friel
8. Tom Cullen – 60’ Lewan Tobin
9. Kyle Hayden
10. Tom Massey (c)
11. Joe Delaney

Management/Assistants:
Richard Heath
Liam Burke
Matt Gough
Chris Bratt-Rose
Amelia Small

Team: Coventry Copsewood
1. Olly Manuel
2. Sam A Ellis
3. Joe Anthony
4. Miles McIntyre
5. Ben Atkins
6. Jake Upton
7. Adam Civzelis – 64’ Sean Kavanagh
8. Sebastian Duffy – 88’ Jack Thomas
9. Bryan Kohyrelon – 74’ Bradley Taylor
10. Sam Ellis
11. Eden Mukenge – 74’ Ryan Pedley

Management/Assistants:
Petason Gordon
Paul Tierney
Dave Levik
Steve Shaw
Danny Lole

Match Officials: Tom Bartlett, Adam Gittens, Steve Chappell

Sutton UnitedStatisticsCoventry Copsewood
1Goals1
6Attempts8
2Attempts on Target4
56%Possession44%
7Corners1
13Fouls Committed9
0Yellow Cards1
0Red Cards0
Tom MasseyOpp Man of the Match
AppearancesGoalsAssistsOpp MOTM
Joe Gildea2525710
Sam Price18540
Leyton Hines5411
Sef Semlali24331
Tom Cullen14311
Tom Massey26281
Kieran McConville15230
Matt Bishop18211
Jon Grigg26120
Joe Delaney6121
Shane Smith8110
Kye Billingham-Belle27100
Brad Gregory5100
Alex O’Keefe6020
Jake Murrell14010
Lewan Tobin14010
Ethan Hanks11010
Kyle Hayden7010
Ryan Delport6010
Kaine Donald4010
Will Buchanan4010
Shevron Channer3010
Lewis James21001
Mark Moore20000
Reiss Wagstaff18004
Tion Pearce-Copeland16000
Will Jones16000
Connor Byrne8000
Harrison Coe8000
Ben Friel4000
Pete Weston4000
Remi Bell3000
Sam Simmonds3000
Hassan Said2000
Daniel Cooper1000
Louis Malin1000
Matt Hurrell1000
Matt Lewis1000
Shakeer Abdelkhalek1000
Total5143

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