Coleshill Town 2 v 4 Moor Green

[Alan Beckett]

Saturday 18th December 1976
Midland Combination Division One
Coleshill Town 2 v 4 Moor Green
Scorers:
Town: Colin Holder, Malcolm Phelps.
Green: Lolly, Clamp pen, Peacock, Brosnan.


Team: Peter King GK, Chris Dight, Mark Gardner, Paul Hannon, Paul Garnell, John Newey, Roy Phelps, Colin Holder, Adrian Beard, Malcolm Phelps, John Allcock. Sub Eddie Hanlon.


COLESHILL CHRONICLE WROTE
Coleshill Well Beaten
There was no third time lucky for Coleshill Town on Saturday when they completed a hat-trick of defeats against Moor Green. Bad luck played no part in this game on a heavy snow covered pitch, as Coleshill played in a fashion which gave the visitors an early Christmas gift. The two front men for Coleshill had to cut out most of their chances on their own. Allcock ran all afternoon and only on the odd occasions did Malcolm Phelps recieve the type of high crosses he needs to be lethal in the box, Holder showed a complete lack of pace and on to many occasions played other people into trouble. Coleshill's tactics of defending in numbers folded up under the free-running Moor Green forwards and the genuine defensive players very often could not get to the ball. Moor Green played quick, simple football and at times had six attacking players, the skill and pace of Walsh and Pace on the flanks was never contained by the Town defence, Ryder was always prompting from midfield and with Brosnan, Lolly and Peacock getting a goal each. This must prove to the Coleshill management that men must be put forward and two wingers must be played if they are to get the goals to release them from the basement of the league. As early as the 3rd minute Moor Green put their cards on the table when after a move involving Walsh and Brosnan, full back Clamp shot over. Allcock went on the first of what was to be many lone runs up the left but lost control in the 18 yard box, with no Town players to pick up the pieces. In the 11th minute Lolly found himself in space in the penalty area, pulled the ball down, turned and drove the ball home for the first goal. Moor Green pushed more men forward and King in the Town goal had to make saves from Millward and Peacock, and a Ryder shot was deflected for a corner. Malcolm Phelps just pushed the ball past the post in the 18th minute after good build-up by Dight and Hannon. Phelps went close again with a header and a header from Allcock was caught under the bar by Walker. Coleshill looked to be getting back into the game, and were winning far more balls in the midfield, Holder put Malcolm Phelps away and only a great tackle by Clamp put paid to a scoring chance. In the 31st minute the Town defence fell into disarray, Newey brought down Lolly and Clamp scored number two from the spot. A low cross from Pace was held at the second attempt by King and from a mis-kick by Newey across the goal, Lloyd shot first time just past the post. Lloyd came forward on a run from the right, got to the goal line, not once being really challenged by the defenders, squared the ball and Peacock knocked the ball home from close range, Dight being unable to do anything about it on the goal line. One minute later Beard slipped the ball through to Holder, he found Allcock, who's low hard cross bounced off Walker's chest and Holder nipped in to score for Coleshill. In the remaining four minutes to half time both sides went close again. Pace hit a very hard shot that looked to be on target but it hit Roy Phelps and bounced clear, while with Malcolm Phelps closing in on him, Walker had to race out of goal to kick clear. From the kick off of the second half Moor Green went forward and King had to spread himself to save a shot from Pace. An Allcock cross bounced off Millward for a corner and from the cross Garnell shot past the post from inside the six yard box. Allan Lloyd again found Pace on the wing, he turned Gardner inside out, hit a low cross and Peacock pushed it just the wrong side of the upright. At this point Pace seemed to be completely unstoppable . After another jinking run he pushed the ball past big John Newey, ran round him, knocked in a low cross, from which Brosnan, sliding in at the far post, scored number four in the 52nd minute. Pace was involved in yet another attack when he chipped the ball over King who had advanced to the edge of the 18yard box, and Lolly scooped the ball past the angle. Malcolm Phelps replied for Town. He ran on, holding the ball cleverly and waited just too long, failing to find Allcock in front of the net. Lloyd picked the ball up in his own area, then ran on 70 yards, passing three Town players, crossed for Millward and only a last-ditch tackle by Newey stopped him from scoring. On the hour King made two splendid saves from Pace and Walsh. Moor Green were turning the Town defence inside-out, but a drive upfield by Hanlon produced a great shot from him and Walker saved well. After 75 minutes a high cross from Allcock dropped into the goalmouth. Clamp kicked off the line high in the air and as the ball dropped Malcolm Phelps headed home, but his effort was disallowed. But ten minutes later Phelps got a "real goal" scoring from close range after a left wing run by Eddie Hanlon and an angled pass into his path by Holder. John Allcock, still running hard in the dying minutes, showed some nice control beating three men in front of the stand, finally losing possession for a throw-in. In the final minute a Holder free kick was well held by Walker.


P13 W2 D3 L8 F17 A28 Pts7 Pos17/18