Coleshill Town 3 v 2 Barnt Green Spartak

First Team Match Reports 2007-2008

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Coleshill Town 3 v 2 Barnt Green Spartak

Postby Alan Beckett » Mon Jan 28, 2008 5:36 pm

Saturday 26th January 2008
Midland Combination Premier Division
Coleshill Town 3 v 2 Barnt Green Spartak
Scorers: Steve Smith, Matty Robinson, Michael Campbell.

It's been a long wait but when Coleshill took the field for the first time in three weeks they had two new signings. Steve Smith made his debut following a move from Walsall Wood and former Romulus player Ashley Robinson came in on the bench. On the down side Coleshill were without Stuart Adamson (1 match ban) Ryan Scott (3 match ban) Neil Kitching through illness and Richard Kavanagh work committments. Michael Campbell and Danny Carter had been impressive in a friendly against Stratford Town mid-week, so they were the preferred pairing up front, Raddi Richards came in for Kitching and Josh McPherson dropped into the back four to allow Steve Smith to take up a central midfield role.

Coleshill had started like a house on fire in recent games, scoring with only seconds on the clock but the roles were reversed as Barnt Green took the lead in 90 seconds. A long ball caught the defence flat footed, not for the last time either, and Lee Ross took advantage to power down on goal. Keeper Craig Johnson covered his near post forcing Ross to shoot across him but Ross shot with the outside of his foot and found the only spare space, the top corner of the net. Lack of games showed as Coleshill struggled to string passes together and the strong wind across the pitch didn't help. James Dance saw a shot go wide and Steve Smith hit a free kick straight at the visitors keeper but it was Green who carved out the better chances. Django Farrell shot over when well placed then Johnson made a double save from Farrell and Ross when a Lee Hunt headed back pass fell short.

Manager Carl Adams made a double substitution at half time, Ashley Robinson and Loz Shannon for Hunt and Carter and it did help as Coleshill looked more threatening, Dance and then Ash Robinson heading wide from Shannon then Sutherland crosses, but Ross got clear again only to shoot wide and on 53 minutes the home defence was carved open again for Farrell to cross for the unmarked Ross to sweep into the net, 2-0. Town were given a lifeline on 61 minutes when Michael Campbell brought down a Shannon cross and shot at goal. The Green keeper made a good save to parry away from goal but Smith followed up and squeezed the ball home from the narrowest of angles. Adams decided to go for it and put Matty Robinson on in a three man attack. The move more than paid off as on 73 mins Smith took a corner Ash Robinson headed on for his namesake Matty to head in at the far post, 2-2. On 78 mins the comeback was complete as Campbell chested into his stride and powerfully struck home from just inside the box. It was harsh on a battling Spartak side but their goalscoring hero Ross should have gained his team a point in the final minutes, only to send his shot inches wide of the post with the keeper beaten.

Could this be the turning point in Coleshill's season. A bit of balls shown at last. No sign of Southam or Highgate in the fixture list yet so those crucial games seem destined for the last dozen games and when they do come around Town need to be there or thereabouts to be in with a realistic promotion chance.

Team:- Craig Johnson, Andy Sutherland, Raddi Richards, Josh McPherson, Lee Hunt (Loz Shannon), James Dance (Matty Robinson), Steve Smith, Simon Volante, Michael Campbell, Danny Carter (Ashley Robinson), Kristian Kelsall. Sub not used Brian Gray.

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