Coleshill Town 1 v 1 Blakenall

[Alan Beckett]

Saturday 27th November 1976
Midland Combination Division One
Coleshill Town 1 v 1 Blakenall
Scorers:
Town: Ray Nabbs pen.
Blakes: Davies pen.


Team: Peter King GK, Malcolm Phelps, Ray Nabbs, Davie Marson, Eddie Hanlon, ? Brayson, Roy Phelps, John Newey, Paul Hannon, Mark Gardner, Paul Garnell. Sub Colin Holder.


COLESHILL CHRONICLE WROTE
A Valuable Point For Coleshill
Coleshill secured a valuable Midland Combination first division point thanks to a draw against a strong Blakenall team on Saturday. After Town's good display against Hinckley the previous week, Manager Pat Foley was forced to make two changes. Peter Garnell had to be replaced in goal after being recalled to the AP Leamington squad, not surprisingly after last week's display, and John Allcock was out with a broken nose. In their places came keeper Peter King who until recently had been playing for Tamworth, and Malcolm Phelps, a thirty goal a season striker who has had spells with Alvechurch and Nuneaton. Another new face named as substitute was Colin Holder, a midfielder with top line experience as a pro with Notts County and of late with Armitage and Brereton Social in the West Midlands League. The first goal chance of the encounter went to the visitors when a firm header from Davise was shot over the bar by Bowater, Coleshill then put three good attacks together. Nabbs sent Malcolm Phelps away with a good long ball through the middle only for the centre forward to lose it in the box, then Nabbs again with a well timed pass to Marson who in turn found Roy Phelps, the latter being fouled just outside the box, the resulting free kick being easily cleared. A free kick by Eddie Hanlon then found Malcolm Phelps ten yards out and his header flashed past the angle of post and cross-bar. The Brakes then came forward in numbers and caused the Town defence to fall into confusion, with Roy Phelps having to hit a hurried pass back to the keeper. In the 21st minute, after a run up the right by Roy Phelps, the ball bounced around the visitors goalmouth and as Davie Marson was about to touch the ball home from inside the six yard box, Whitehouse pulled him down by the ankles. With no hesitation the referee pointed to the spot. Ray Nabbs took the penalty which Whitehouse did well to parry, but Nabbs managed to reach the ball first and chip over the advancing keeper. With the advantage of their one goal lead, Coleshill failed to capitalise, sticking ridgedly to their 4-4-2 system which meant the two front runners having to graft for any openings they could make. At this point of the game, referee Parton decided to entertain with his whistle, never onec did he allow the game to flow and the pettiness of some of his decisions caused frustration on and off the field. On the odd occasions the referee did not interupt good attacks were made at bothe ends of the park, Blakenall having chances through Sedgewick and Bowater, bothe being dealt with easily by Town keeper King. Coleshillwent close with a well hit shot by Brayson after a short free kick by Hanlon, and a good attack between Roy Phelps and Hanlon resulted in Whitehouse making a good catch from a Marson centre with Malcolm Phelps in close attention. With the Town defence looking very solid, Blakenall's scoring chances were restricted to shots from well outside the 18 yard line, which either hit defenders or caused no trouble to King in the Town goal. In the closing minutes of the first half Malcolm Phelps shot past the post from 12 yards after a cross by Brayson, and then went on a chase for a long ball down the middle with the full back at his shoulder, hitting a good shot which was well saved by Whitehouse who spead himself bravely well off his line. After an early burst in the second half by Blakenall that forced Garnell to make two hurried clearances, Town came back when Nabbs sent Marson down the left wing, showing the nice touch of chipping the ball over the full back, he was fouled when Whitehouse raced out to pick up on the edge of the box. Then a pierce of pure football by Malcolm Phelps set up a chance for Nabbs, but a sliced shot gave the keeper the chance to get a cross and touch round for a corner. At the other end the rare sight of Garnell being beaten in the air by Sedgewick set up a real opportunity for P.Whitehouse but the inside forward hit a hurried shot wide of the mark. After just over an hour's play, both sides introduced their substitutes, after Nabbs had been brought down outside the 18 yard box. Substitute Colin Holder stepped up to take the free kick. With what can only be descibed as a block-buster he hit the back of the net, with the Town players celebrating a goal, but true to his form of the afternoon, referee Parton decided to have the kick re-taken, this time Holder's shot hit the wall and Hannon shot the rebound wide. Moments later a cross from Holder looked to be handled by Davies but the referee waved play on. After Blakenall had forced a corner, while waiting for the cross Noakes and Garnell clashed. Out of character Garnell retaliated. As in so many cases, the retaliatory foul was punished and the referee awarded the penalty. Davies took the spot kick and shot straight at the keeper, but once again this did not satisfy referee Parton who ordered the kick to be retaken. This time Davies made no mistake and shot home what was to be the equaliser. In the remainder of the game Coleshill pushed forward ceaselessly, with shots from Newey and two bold efforts from Hanlon, and in the closing minutes Malcolm Phelps set up what should have been the winner but he missed with the keeper floundering. Just before the final whistle King had to race out of goal to boot away a final fling by Blakenall. Let's hope the decision by the F.A. to appoint a Refereeing Supremo will spread right down to the grass roots of the game, and a few hard and fast rules are applied so that we won't have the doubtful pleasure of witnessing many more displays like this one, when players and supporters of both sides agree that only one person can be blamed for spoiling what could have been a far more entertaining match.

P10 W2 D2 L6 F13 A20 Pts6 Pos14/18