Rugby Town 3 v 1 Coleshill Town

First Team Match Reports 2002-2003

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Rugby Town 3 v 1 Coleshill Town

Postby Alan Beckett » Tue Dec 03, 2002 11:42 am

SATURDAY 23rd NOVEMBER
MIDLAND COMBINATION PREMIER DIVISION
RUGBY TOWN 3 V 1 COLESHILL TOWN
Scorers:
Rugby: W.Hadley, M.Thompson, S.Rule.
Coleshill: Stuart Howard.


Teams:
Rugby: I.Brooks, N.Martin (R.Whittle), C.Lawes, J.Jardim, J.Woodley (P.Gibbons), I.Morgan, S.Rule, W.Hadley, M.Thompson, D.Aston (W.Pulford), E.Grey.
Coleshill: Darren Bray, Lee O’Brien, Allan Thomas (Frank Woodburn), Matty Devine, Simon Bradbury, Carl Smith, Stuart Howard, Christian Crisp, Lee Dempster (Lee Dempster), Mally Powers, Mitchell Thompson. Sub not used Tony Gormley.


MATCH REPORT
Coleshill faced their biggest test since Tony Gormley took over as manager in the visit to league leaders Rugby Town. Gormley made only one change to the side that defeated Alveston. New signing Carl Smith came in for his first full game at the expense of Lee McCarthy who had a re-occurrence of an old toe injury. But immediately after the game, Mally Powers, who seven days ago had given his support to the new management, decided to seek a transfer and join his former colleagues at Kings Heath.

The pitch was very heavy following continues rain and made it difficult for both sides to play attractive football. Coleshill seemed overawed in the first 45 minutes and never reached the heights of the previous two games, giving Rugby far too much respect. Even so Rugby didn’t have it all their own way. Coleshill were dealing comfortably with the home teams attacks until Lee O’Brien chested down a cross and the Assistant Referee flagged for the use of an arm. Wayne Hadley finished confidently from the spot. Coleshill battled back and hit the woodwork twice in a matter of minutes. First Mally Powers slipped his marker and thumped the ball against the post and from an indirect free kick inside the box Carl Smith rattled the bar with a crisp drive. Rugby had the majority of possession and were the more powerful of the two teams especially in midfield. Coleshill keeper Darren Bray had to make a couple of saves and punched clear on two occasions but the Coleshill defence was coping well until just before the break. Carl Smith slipped and lost the ball just outside the box and Martin Thompson took advantage to run clear and slot home Rugby’s second. Defender Allan Thomas had to leave the field with a hamstring injury that looked serious and may be out for some weeks.

Tony Gormley’s half time team talk was based on conserving energy by keeping the ball as Coleshill had done in their two previous matches, and the team responded with a much better second half performance. Stuart Howard pounced on a through ball with the Rugby defence static on 66 minutes to reduce the arrears and Coleshill looked the more likely to score the next goal. Rugby played within themselves but found it difficult to lift the pace with Coleshill now up for the challenge. However, the contest was over on 75 minutes when Steve Rule hit Rugby’s third with the aid of a deflection. Coleshill never gave up and there was still time for Mitchell Thompson to see his effort go over the bar when well placed inside the six-yard box.

If Rugby are the current bench mark, then Coleshill are not too far away, but with so many players leaving Gormley needs to replace the now paper thin squad with quality signings. Not an easy task especially at this time of the season when players are settled in with their respective clubs.

Coleshill take a break from the league again with the next two games being cup matches. Next Saturday Coventry Marconi visit Pack Meadow in the Coventry Evening Telegraph Cup, and the next Saturday Coleshill travel to meet Pilkington XXX in the Challenge Cup. Both games are at the last sixteen stage of the respective competitions.
Man of the Match: Carl Smith.

A VIEW FROM THE OTHER SIDE
A Match Report From Rugby Town

Rugby Town extended their winning sequence to eleven straight wins with a gritty display against a hard working Coleshill team, captained by former Town defender Simon Bradbury. A Wayne Hadley penalty plus strikes from Martin Thompson and Steve Rule gave Town the victory, to go eight points clear at the top of the Division as the weather took it's toll on a number of other matches. This win gives Town a nice cushion in the League, as they are in Cup action for the next fortnight. Rugby were soon into their stride as Elliot Grey caused concern for Coleshill in the first minute and appeared to be sent flying as he went into the penalty area, but Referee Craddock waved play on. In the 10th minute a right wing cross from Carl Lawes was handled in the area by Lee O'Brien. Wayne Hadley struck his spot kick into the top right hand corner of the goal to give Town the lead. Although the visitors defended in depth at times, they also broke quickly in numbers. Mathew Divine was unlucky to see his shot strike Ian Brooks' left hand upright and a period of pressure resulted. Steve Rule was penalised for a dangerous challenge and an indirect free kick was awarded, 12 yards out. Town escaped as the short free kick was hammered against the crossbar and successive follow up shots were blocked by some resolute defending by Ian Morgan, Jason Woodley and Joao Jardim. Bradbury was given a yellow card for a wild challenge on Grey as both teams battled to gain control of the game. Dave Aston tried to emulate his scorching goal against Masseys with a strike from a similar position, but this time he screwed his shot wide of the target. On 22 minutes, Town went close to adding a second goal when the ball dropped to Jardim inside the box from Hadley's corner, but he only succeeded in lifting his shot over the bar. A counter attack from Coleshill nearly paid off as the Town defence was outnumbered but the final effort curled across goal just out of reach of an oncoming forward's diving header. Nicky Martin was forced to go off soon after a heavy challenge as Ryan Whittle came on. Thompson spun quickly to send in a drive which Darren Bray did well to tip round the post and five minutes later the Town striker made it 2-0. He advanced into the penalty area, shrugged off one challenge and as Bray came out, he slotted home with a cool finish. In the early stages of the second half, neither team created many chances. Rugby's defence, marshalled by Woodley, looked strong, although Town's Captain limped off on the hour mark to be replaced by Paul Gibbons. On 62 minutes, Whittle broke on the left and hit a low drive, which Bray could only parry and Aston moved in, only for Bray to deny him with a block from close range. Wayne Pulford got his chance with 25 minutes remaining as Town tied to step up a gear but Coleshill pulled a goal back on 67 minutes. Christain Crisp played a ball through the middle and as the Town defence hesitated, Stuart Howard nipped in to hit a low shot past Brooks into the corner of the net. A fine move resulting in a slice of good fortune gave Town a two goal cushion again. Grey received the ball from Gibbons and his cross was palmed away by Bray to Rule, who chested it down before unleashing a volley from 20 yards which took a deflection on it's way into the goal. The midfield "firefighter" received plenty of applause about his wonder strike. Coleshill pushed forward to try and get something out of the game. Bradbury's ball across the box was nodded over from close range by Crisp and Mitchell Thompson fired over from a tight angle. Over the 90 minutes, Town ran out deserving winners with the heavy pitch having a big say in the standard of football played.

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