Guinan’s goals end Studley’s losing run

STUDLEY ended their four-match losing league run with a 1-1 draw at fellow MFL Premier promotion-chasers Uttoxeter Town on Tuesday.

The Bees had held a young Coventry City side to a 1-1 draw in the Birmingham Senior Cup on Friday night only to go out 6-5 on penalties. They now face a tricky trip to Atherstone Town this weekend looking for that elusive win that will re-ignite their challenge.

Against the Sky Blues, Studley had enough chances to win the game, particularly in the latter stages when the visitors were forced to hang on.

Both sides had chances early in the game with Dan Noke heading a corner wide for the hosts and Aidan Dausch directing an effort straight at Bees keeper Brendan Bunn.

With the interval looming, Coventry had a glorious chance to break the deadlock when skipper Marco Rus exchanged passes with Rylie Siddall but then, after charging into the area, put his shot over the target.

Zac Guinan had a weak effort easily saved by Sky Blues keeper Lucas Kibrya soon after but it was City who took the lead on 52 minutes when a mazy run from Evan Eghosa saw him ease into the Studley area before he squared to Siddall who slotted the ball home from close range.

The lively Eghosa flashed an effort across goal soon after before Guinan had an effort deflected over the bar at the other end.

That began a period of pressure from the Bees with a Noke header being diverted just wide by defender Dermi Lusala and they bagged a deserved equaliser on 75 minutes when Guinan’s shot hit a defender and flew past the keeper.

With six minutes to go, Studley almost found a winner when Tyler Bruck’s free-kick picked out fellow substitute Jamie Meddows but Kibrya did well to block the shot.

That meant the game went straight to penalties and with both sides scoring from their opening five kicks, Coventry’s Elliot Betjemann netted what proved to be the winner with Meddows’ effort being saved.

On Tuesday, Guinan fired Studley into an early lead at Uttoxeter but the home side bagged an equaliser on the hour through Ben Price.

There was cup success elsewhere though with both FC Stratford and Moreton Rangers going through to the next round of the Hellenic League’s Marsh Supplementary Challenge Cup.

Two goals from Timothy Oyanda steered FC to a 2-1 victory over Evesham United Development on Tuesday night while Moreton Rangers were 3-2 winners at Newent Town with Felix Robertson scoring twice and Jack Fountain adding the other.

The Division One rivals had also chalked up good wins in the league at the weekend when Oyanda was again on target in FC’s 4-1 defeat of FC Bristol and Sam Sherpa-Moore notched a brace in the 4-2 defeat of Newent.