Coleshill Town 2 v 1 Northfield Amateurs Reserves

[Alan Beckett]

Saturday 11th September 1971
Midland Combination Division Two
Coleshill Town 2 v 1 Northfield Amateurs Reserves
Scorers:
Town: Roy Phelps, Phil Dunn.
Amateurs: Gibbs.


Team: John Comley GK, Keith Midgley, John Brown, Clive Lyons, Geoff Statham, Les Owen, Paul Hannan, Roy Phelps, Phil Dunn, Scott Coleman, Peter Garnell.


CASTLE BROMWICH NEWS WROTE
First League Win At Home
Coleshill claimed their first home league victory of the season, at the Memorial Park, on Saturday, a fine second half performance ensuring success after they had withstood pressure before the interval. Lacking cohesion in midfield, during the first half, Coleshill could thank goalkeeper John Comley and defenders Les Owen and Geoff Statham for keeping them in the game. Fielding the same side which shared four goals with Boldmere St Michaels Reserves, four days earlier, Coleshill were first on the attack, a great shot by Roy Phelps going just too high. Town’s moments of danger were spasmodic, however and Northfield pushed forward, helped by midfield superiority. On the hard ground, both defences made errors but Comley gave a confident display for Coleshill, saving well from Fred Castleford, Gibbs and Martin. Town were effective in breakaways and after shots from Clive Lyons and Phelps, had just gone astray, the latter gave Coleshill the lead, heading home from Statham’s free kick, in the 38th minute. With Scott Coleman working hard, Coleshill appeared to be gaining territorial advantage, but a minute before the interval, Gibbs equalised for Northfield, shooting the ball home on the volley. After the interval, Coleshill gained the initiative, Phelps went close to scoring with a powerful shot and then new signing Phil Dunn gave them the lead. Lyons broke through on the right wing and centered the ball, Garnell heading on for Dunn to nod into the net. With Coleshill in complete command, Statham and Dunn both had good efforts narrowly fail to score. Midway through the half, Northfield threatened and were unlucky when an attempted clearance by Comley saw the ball rebound off Owen, going well wide of an upright. Both sides went close in a thrilling finish, but Coleshill, with Comley continuing to shine, ran out worthy winners.



P8 W4 D3 L1 F13 A8 Pts11 Pos2/18