Walsall Sportsco 1 v 1 Coleshill Town

[Alan Beckett]

Saturday 18th November 1978
Midland Combination Division 1
Walsall Sportsco 1 v 1 Coleshill Town
Scorers:
Sportsco: Unknown.
Coleshill: Bob Whillock.


Team: Bruce Griffin (Bob Whillock). Billy Stevenson (debut), Steve Whipps, ? Colvin, Jeff Page, Paul Hevingham, Tim Holland. Confirmed.


CASTLE BROMWICH NEWS WROTE
Coleshill Begin To Gain Confidence
There is an air of new optimism in the Coleshill camp, following three successive away draws and manager Mervyn Parsons said after the fine performance at Walsall: “It would be very nice to finish off a good month’s work by defeating Cinderford at home this Saturday. I think the side is now most certainly capable of pulling away from the re-election zone.” With only young full back Colin Sarson unavailable, due to an injury received while representing the Birmingham County F.A. Coleshill had a full squad available and Billy Stevenson made a promising debut as a front runner. With a strong wind behind them in the first half Coleshill attacked furiously for the first 15 minutes. The pressure resulted in Sportsco having to defend desperately to keep their goal intact and from one fine cross by Whipps, Stevenson volleyed the ball just over the bar. Sportsco fought back to gain a corner which Colvin cleared well. Page joined the Coleshill attack to swing over some crosses which incoming forwards could not reach. At this stage Sportsco were reduced to 10 men, as two of their players collided and could not take any further part in the proceedings. Coleshill piled on the pressure for Griffin to shoot inches wide, but Sportsco did come more into the picture near the interval and Hevingham had to scramble one shot off the line. In the second half, Coleshill pressed more men forward and Sportsco escaped when Holland hit a very good cross which should have produced a goal. In a quick counter-attack Sportsco took the lead in the 64th minute and Coleshill now had to start all over again. Substitute Bobby Whillock replaced Griffin to lead the Coleshill attack and Holland was to the fore again, shooting just wide. Whipps was the next player to threaten but the ball flashed wide of the target. Coleshill eventually gained the equaliser in the 86th minute. Hevingham played a neat one-two with Holland in midfield and chipped the ball over the home defence for Whillock to hit a great drive into the net. Just before the final whistle Whipps made a strong run down the left wing, but his cross eluded both forwards and defenders alike.



P14 W0 D3 L11 F8 A25 Pts3 Pos20/20