FA Cup First Qualifying Round
Handsworth 2-0 Coventry United
Jack Harrison and James Oliver enabled magnificent Handsworth’s fairytale FA Cup run to continue by scoring the goals to defeat Coventry United and put them in the hat for a potential draw against a National North giant.
With Russ Eagle back at the helm after a lengthy absence due to a major operation, Handsworth celebrated their ‘greatest day’ at Olivers Mount for some years thanks to Harrison’s first half header and Oliver’s late tap-in.
Their performance was flawless against a Coventry side who lost the plot in the second half.
Who can blame fearless Handsworth – who have brought great excitement to the local football scene – if they dare to dream after that.
Handsworth have been the underdogs in all three of their ties (AFC Mansfield, Stocksbridge Park Steels and now Coventry) so far – yet they have come through them all and a dream second qualifying round tie against the likes of fallen Football League sides York City and Chester FC could await them.
The heart-warming story has certainly caught the imagination.
Although the Coventry City protest club brought a fair few fans, the superb turnout 368 attracted many from nearby and it helped create a wonderful atmosphere.
Handsworth may have started the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division campaign extremely well – but so have Coventry in the United Counties Football League Premier Division – South.
Coventry have won four out of their five league games and they raced out of the blocks at Olivers Mount.
Inside the opening 30 seconds, their best player and their number nine Riley Cole-Sullivan was denied by Ambers goalkeeper Ben Townsend.
Eagle’s heroes struggled to get out of their own half for a while as Coventry tried to seize an early lead.
But they were patience and eventually they began to exploit the frailties of their visitors’ vulnerable centre-halves.
Oliver was a menace and he left them for dead for Handsworth’s first chance.
He was only prevented from scoring by Coventy’s debutant brave young goalkeeper Tom Carter, recently released from MK Dons, who made himself to narrow down the angle and then block the shot with his legs.
Harrison’s goal was completely against the run of play though – and ridiculously easy as well.
Coventry clearly hadn’t been able to send some scouts to watch Handsworth as 17-year-old long-throw specialist Nana Nyarko hit the jackpot with his one of only launch of the afternoon.
Their defenders literally stood still, allowing the unmarked Harrison to literally walk into the six-yard-box and head home.
The visitors almost responded straightaway as five’s header hit the crossbar but from there on Handsworth’s game management was of the highest standard.
Coventry played right into their hands too.
The temperature was raised unnecessarily as well after the half-time whistle as a Coventry substitute became involved in a tangle with Andy Gascoigne.
The riled visitors spent more time surrounding the referee in the second half than trying to force an equaliser.
The closest they came was from a dangerous free kick.
Handsworth soaked up the pressure and attacked when they could.
It was a masterclass in how to see a game out.
But there was always niggling feeling if it remained 1-0 that Coventry could nick a replay.
Fortunately the second goal came.
Richard Tootle’s free kick was sent right into the middle of the penalty and Ben Vallance failed to see Carter coming out to collect it.
He managed to lob his own goalkeeper with an out-stretched leg and despite a desperate attempt to prevent a goal, Oliver appeared to tap it over-the-line.
If that didn’t finish off Coventry, the substitute Chris Camwell’s senseless red card after two quick-fire yellow cards.
That was made it game over and Handsworth were able to bask in the euphoria.
The Teams
Handsworth: Townsend, Nyarko, Tootle, Harrison, Roebuck (captain), Hobson, Oliver (Baldwin 76), Fewkes, Reece (Smith 65), Teasdale (Eagle 86), Dunne. Subs unused: Bennett, Bell, Jordan, Bacon.
Coventry United: Carter, Smith (Alleyne 82), Vallance, Williams (captain) (Camwell 71), Kelly, Perkins, Cairns (Haddow 62), Hayden, Cole-Sullivan, Carey, Soleman. Subs unused: Sawyer, Roscoe, Knight.
Who Was In Charge
Brad Maw (10/10)
How Many Were There
368
Man of the Match
Nana Nyarko (Handsworth)
If you have enjoyed reading Non League Yorkshire over the past few months, please consider making a donation to the not-for-profit organisation NLY Community Sport which provides sport for children and adults with disabilities and learning difficulties. CLICK HERE to visit the JustGiving page. There is a video at the bottom of the page showing our work.
NLY Community Sport, run by James Grayson and Connor Rollinson, has always had combatting social isolation at the top of our objectives when running our Disability Football teams.
Our work is playing an important role in reintroducing our players, who have disabilities and learning difficulties, back into society.
We have six teams, a mixture of Junior and Adult teams – Nostell MW DFC, Pontefract Pirates, Selby Disability Football Club and the South Yorkshire Superheroes (Barnsley) – across Yorkshire.
We have enjoyed great success over the past three years. Several of our players have represented Mencap GB in Geneva, including Billy Hobson from Selby and Greg Smith, whose story is quite inspiring.
You can learn more about the organisation HERE and on our Facebook page.
Watch the video below to see highlights from our three years as an organisation. The video was produced for our players at the end of March to remind them of good memories from the last three years.