Mile Oak Rovers 2 v 0 Coleshill Town - Sutton Charity Cup

[Alan Beckett]

Tuesday 14th Septemeber 1971
Sutton Charity Cup
Mile Oak Rovers 2 v 0 Coleshill Town
Scorers: Tony Cure, Johnny Bassett.


Team: John Comley GK, John Brown, Oscar Deeming, Clive Lyons, Geoff Statham, Les Owen, Eddie Hanlon, Phil Dunn, Roy Phelps, Scott Coleman, Peter Garnell.


CASTLE BROMWICH NEWS WROTE
Late Goals K.O. Town
In an interesting battle, at Price Avenue, on Tuesday, two goals within the space of 10 minutes broke a defensive deadlock and earned Mile Oak Rovers a place in the Semi-Final of the Sutton Coldfield Charity Cup. With both rearguards playing well, chances were few and far between, Coleshill just had the edge in midfield exchanges, especially in the first half, but seldom looked like scoring. A high lob by Scott Coleman found the net but Eddie Hanlon was penalised for an infringement. Left back and skipper Ray Earp was outstanding in the improved Rovers defence, but up-front, like their opponents, Mile Oak were seldom dangerous. The best chance fell to Pete Savage, but from point blanl range, he tapped the ball at Town’s goalkeeper John Comley. Coleshill were well served by Geoff Statham and Les Owen in the middle of the back four, but despite fine efforts from Phil Dunn, Roy Phelps and Eddie Hanlon, all of which went wide, they were unable to turn territorial advantage into goals. With both sides playing hard, the second half was a fine tussle, Mile Oak coming more into the game, helped by a slope. Rovers looked the more likely to score, despite a deceptive long range shot by Coleman, which keeper Pete Goddard did well to turn away. Ten minutes from the end, with extra time looking certain, Savage gained possession, following a throw-in and paved the way for Tony Cure to place the ball home. Three minutes later, Rovers swept away to score a second goal, Johnny Bassett netting from Keith Wakelin’s pass. Two late shots from Dunn, one of which hit the woodwork, failed to put Coleshill on terms and Mile Oak ran out worthy winners of a good match.