Bridgnorth Town Reserves 0 v 0 Coleshill Town

[Alan Beckett]

Saturday 21st August 1971
Midland Combination Division Two
Bridgnorth Town Reserves 0 v 0 Coleshill Town

Team: John Comley GK, Keith Midgley, Steve Ward, Les Owen, Clive Lyons, Oscar Deeming, Colin Davis, Paul Hannan (debut), Roy Phelps, Scott Coleman (debut), Eddie Hanlon. Sub Mick Hanlon.

CASTLE BROMWICH NEWS WROTE
Forwards Off Target Again
Showing changes from the team which lost to Highgate United Reserves two days previously, Coleshill Town created enough chances to have won easily, but had to be content with a share of the spoils. New signings Scott Coleman and Paul Hannan, both in midfield, brought a more fluent approach to Coleshill’s attack, while the return of Colin Davis should have seen the homesters on top goal-scoring for. The opposite was the case, for Coleshill squandered seven clear-cut opportunities, Roy Phelps missing five chances, Davis one and Coleman the other. Bridgnorth were on the defensive from the start and found that their robust, hard tackling tactics did not pay off against the neater football of Coleshill. The visitors goalkeeper, Turner, was injured during an attack in which Davis almost scored, while Duffy and Howells were forced to make hasty clearances. Clive Lyons layed on a chance which Phelps wasted and then Davis and Lyons combined to put Phelps through again but his shot went far too high. Bridgnorth had promising attacks, but with Oscar Deeming playing well as “sweeper” goalkeeper John Comley was seldom troubled. At the other end, Turner was often in difficulties, but some incredibly poor finishing by Coleshill cost them a big lead at the interval. On the resumption, Bridgnorth forced six corners in quick succession, but all were easily cleared by the home defence, which was solid despite the absence of centre-half Geoff Statham. Custodian Comley gave confidence to his colleagues with an immaculate display. At times Coleshill were put off by Bridgnorth’s physical approach, but it was one of their own defenders, Les Owen, who went down in the referee’s book, after he had upended inside forward Ganson. Play deteriorated and Davis, Phelps and Coleman missed further chances. A spasmodic Bridgnorth raid towards the end, almost produced a goal but Ganson prodded the spinning ball against the crossbar and Lyons cleared off the line.


P3 W0 D2 L1 F2 A3 Pts2 Pos?/18