Coleshill Town 0 v 1 Highgate United Reserves

[Alan Beckett]

Saturday 16th January 1971
Midland Combination Division Two
Coleshill Town 0 v 1 Highgate United Reserves
Scorer: Nicholls.


Team: Peter Garnell GK, David Back, Oscar Deeming, Martin Curtis, Geoff Statham, Clive Lyons, Malcolm Stokes, Butch Bradley, Roy Sanders, Roy Phelps, Eddie Hanlon. Confirmed.


COLESHILL CHRONICLE WROTE
Coleshill Go Down
Coleshill Town slipped a little nearer the middle of the Midland Combination Second Division when they were beaten by Highgate United on Saturday. Coleshill opened with plenty of dash and indeed promise as Sanders loitered around to pounce upon through balls that twice forced United's keeper King to dive daringly at the leaders feet. The visitors relied on the skills of Lane to get them mobile but he was taken care of by Back, who was already relishing his new post of full-back. With this situation firmly tied up at the rear, Coleshill looked happy and should have made progress in the 20th minute. For a few brief seconds the Highgate goal enjoyed a charmed life, the ball was swept over to find both Hanlon and Sanders unattended and as King advanced Hanlon shot but the keeper managed to partially save, the ball ran loose to Bradley whose shot was charged down, Sanders tried his luck but again the ball came back off a defender to Roy Phelps who shot over the bar. Coleshill were beginning to take control and were desperately unlucky when brave determination saw Hanlon force his way through and as King approached, the winger timed his high lob shot perfectly only to see the ball move away to safety off the face of the bar. Highgate took the lead in the 25th minute when they forced their first and only corner of the game from which three defenders attempted but failed, to get the ball clear, it was taken by Nicholls who sent the ball flying through the angle of the goal. Coleshill came back with Sanders chasing through on the left and sent over a most inviting ball that alas, found "no customer" and so his effort fizzed out to signal half time with United holding a slender goal lead. Highgate resumed looking the better side and for the time being held the upper hand but their forwrds failed to break through a confident Coleshill defence who must have been wishing their polished ideas could have brushed off on their colleagues up front. Hopes of better things loomed when Coleshill threatened to come out and try their luck and a well directed corner from Hanlon found the head of Bradley, his effort grazing the visitors crossbar. Phelps had the crueliest luck possible when the ball was touched back to him, he slammed a tremendous shot in which had King well beaten but the ball cannoned across goal where King managed to push it round the post for a fruitless corner. Coleshill were now pushing hard and some splendid play along the right flank employing Stokes and Sanders for Bradley to half hit a spinning ball across goal where Hanlon raced on to only shoot wide with King on all fours. Eddie Hanlon has not enjoyed the best of luck this season and it is high time Town's fleet footed winger got amongst the goals and so help the side to regain both form and confidence up front. Towns unhappy afternoon ended when Clive Lyons had King beaten all ends up with a splendid high cross-shot, the ball being kept out of the net by the hand of left back Clive for a penalty kick. Roy Phelps the spot king took the kick for King to save but as the keeper had moved the kick was signalled to be retaken. Phelps was subjected to a certain amount of "ungentlemanly conduct" and refused to take the shot which was finally handed to Mal Stokes who shot wide.


P21 W9 D5 L7 F42 A30 Pts23 Pos 4/18