Midland Alliance
Gornal Athletic 0 v 4 Coleshill Town
Scorers: Leon Weller, Chris Gumery, Barry Fitzharris, Chris Lloyd.
Attendance: 94.
Team: Paul Hathaway, Leon Weller, Dan Dineen, Luke Edwards, Jack Mullin, Nick Ellis (Dan Charlton), Chris Lloyd, Jon Powis, Barry Fitzharris, Chris Gumery (Jordan Archer), Connor Leek (Scott James). Sub not used Danny Douglas.
SUNDAY MERCURY WROTE
Coleshill Town were convincing 4-0 winners at Gornal Athletic.
Coleshill made the best start of a season in (well I need to do some research but) many, many years when they put four past Gornal Athletic. Last season Gornal were one of the best footballing sides to visit Coleshill but their manager moved on and has took a lot of players with him, so Athletic are not the side they were but even so a 4-0 win away from home is impressive. Coleshill have played better during pre-season but they have an air about them, confident in their ability, pace in attack, goalscorers all over the pitch and normally, a solid defence! The latter had some hairy moments but a combination of some poor finishing by the home side and some desperate lunges by the visitors, managed to maintain the clean sheet. A very entertaining game could well have finished 9-4 with chances galore being squandered.
With Westfields winning 5-0 Coleshill were denied the privilege of being top of the league but surely they have the accolade of scoring the first goal of the season! With less than 3 minutes on the clock Coleshill were awarded a free kick close on 30 yards from goal. Leon Weller has scored some spectacular free kicks but this one was hit as straight as an arrow finding the corner of the net beating the home keeper who was at full stretch. Coleshill played some good stuff and should have gone further ahead on a couple of occasions but it was the home team that came closest to scoring as Luke Edwards was caught in possession but the Athletic forward pulled his shot wide and then Paul Hathaway made a great save and Edwards blocked a goalbound rebound. Chris Lloyd then sent in a peach of a cross which Chris Gumery somehow managed to head wide when it looked easier to score. Gumery made up for his mistake by charging down the goalkeeper's attempt to clear and the ball fizzed into the net for 2-0. Gornal went close with another effort before the best goal of the game. Leon Weller did well down the right and pulled the ball back to Lloyd who sent in another fine cross and this time Barry Fitzharris was on hand to head home 3-0. Jon Powis went close bringing out a fine save from the home keeper and Dan Dineen managed to spoon the ball into the keepers hands with the goal at his mercy, and all this before the half time break.
After such a hectic opening 45 minutes the second half was a bit of a disappointment! Coleshill stood off and Gornal came more into the game. Hathaway made another good save, the rebound fell nicely to an Athletic forward who should have scored but pulled his effort wide. Gornal's right winger volleyed over when well placed, another effort that should have hit the back of the net, then Lloyd headed over the bar from virtually on the goal line. Lloyd was back to finally put the game beyond doubt when he jinked in the box before hitting a fine left foot shot across goal and into the far corner of the net. There was time for Jack Hullin to get in on the act but his header was cleared off the line.
Coleshill couldn't have asked for much better to get the season up and running but there will be much stiffer tests to come, not least on Tuesday night at home to Alvechurch.
AN UPDATE
My records are not perfect! There are many years where I have very little information but with the data I have researched over many years I am confident to inform you that Saturdays 4-0 win over Gornal Athletic is the best opening day result since 1947 when Coleshill beat Curdworth 9-0, also away from home.
Coleshill were in Division 1 of the Sutton & District League. Scorers that day were: Russell 2, Powell 2, Chadwick, Creadle, Chisholm and 2 Own Goals.
Leon Weller scores the 1st goal of the season after only 3 minutes
Goalscorers Chris Gumery, Barry Fitzharris, Chris Lloyd and Leon Weller.