Cadbury Athetic 2 v 4 Coleshill Town

[Alan Beckett]

SATURDAY 9th DECEMBER 2006
MIDLAND COMBINATION PREMIER DIVISION
CADBURY ATHLETIC 2 v 4 COLESHILL TOWN
Scorers: Shay Morgan 2, Josh McPherson, Michael Campbell.

Coleshill were determined to stop the mini slump in form, a draw and two defeats in the last three games, against a Cadbury side that were in the middle of a fine run themselves, only one defeat in the last six. Injuries are starting to take their toll with David Brush, Danny Carter and Rob Hipkiss the latest players to miss games. But Des Wilkes, Josh McPherson, Michael Campbell and Shay Morgan all returned to the team having missed the mid week defeat to Dudley Town.

The pitch was very heavy and it must have been touch and go whether the game went ahead. Coleshill started well but conceded the first goal from a corner in only the seventh minute, Adam Ainge jumping the highest. The home team's No9 nearly increased the lead but Mark Ward made a great tackle to prevent Ainge scoring again. Ward had to leave the field due to injury but was prevented from coming back on by the Referee and Cadbury took advantage of the gap in defence and No11 should have done better than dragging his shot wide of goal. Coleshill had to dig deep to get back into the game but by half time they had took it by the scruff of the neck. Morgan had a header saved and a Richards effort was punched clear before Town equalised on 25 minutes. A great move involving Campbell, Dance and Richards worked a space for Dance to cross to the far post where Scott Wilson headed down for Campbell who hit an powerful shot past the giant keeper. Two minutes later Raddy Richards turned his man and ran at the defence. His shot was going to make the keeper work but Oluwaseyi (Shay) Morgan stuck out a foot and deflected the ball into the net past the stranded keeper. Morgan was causing all sorts of problems and his turn and shot from 25 yards went just wide, then he was on the end of another great move involving Campbell and Richards, forcing a save for a corner. Coleshill finished the half well on top but struggled to recapture that form in the early stages of the second half. Cadbury's No2 tried his luck from 35 yards and Chris Butler had to tip the ball over the bar to be on the safe side. Ryan Gardiner made a great saving tackle as Athletic pushed to get back into the game but it was Coleshill who finally found the net again on 80 mins. Town had a spell when the home team couldn't get out of the own last third but the final ball was missing until the keeper punched a cross to Josh McPherson who smashed the ball back from 25 yards with an unstoppable effort that rattled into the net. Two minutes later Shay Morgan ran at the home defence and shot across the keeper for his second of the game and a lead of 4-1 to Coleshill. In the last few minutes Cadbury forced a succession of corners and finally got their reward when Daryl Beale headed home.

Job done and with no more mid week games until the hectic festive programme Coleshill have a chance for their walking wounded to recover.


Team:- Chris Butler, Mark Ward, Des Wilkes, Ryan Gardiner (Josh McPherson), Rob Ellis, Scott Wilson, Josh McPherson, Raddy Richards, Michael Campbell, Oluwaseyi Morgan (Carlos McIntosh), James Dance. Sub not used Carl Smith.