Northfield Town 1 v 2 Coleshill Town

[Alan Beckett]

Saturday 26th February 1977
Midland Combination Division One
Northfield Town 1 v 2 Coleshill Town
Scorers:
Northfield: O'Connell.
Coleshill: John Allcock, Chris Dight.


Team: Peter King GK, Chris Dight, Bery Brayley, John Newey, Alan Wykes, Roy Phelps, Colin Holder, Ray Nabbs, Barrie Canning, Mick Patrick, John Allcock. Sub ? McIntosh.



COLESHILL CHRONICLE WROTE
MORE COLESHILL POWER
Coleshill Town turned in another first rate show and took their February tally to seven from a possible eight Midland Combination points with this impressive win over reigning First Division champions Northfield Town. With permission from the league, Northfield were allowed to play on their second pitch, their first pitch being a quagmire. Although not so bogey, but still very heavy, conditions were made worse bt a steep slope the length of the pitch, running from wing to wing. Northfield started brightly, with three early shots on the Coleshill goal, and Bert Brayley was the saviour on two occasions for Town with timely clearances from O'Connell and Calvert. Coleshill's first chance fell to Allcock who only managed a weak shot easily handled by Rotheroe in the Northfield goal. Northfield were tending to shoot too often from long range instead of capitalising on the good build-ups from misfield being manufactured by Allen and Castleford. With a third of the half gone, Coleshill's work-rate increased and so did their share of the chances. Micky Patrick, in his first full game for Town being at the heart of most of the forward play. He went close with a header from a Holder free-kick and had another shot bounce off Nelson with the rebound shaving the bar. Peter King in the Town goal had to make a fine save from Castleford and a better one from Calvert after the latter had waltzed around Holder and Newey just outside the penalty box. In the 41st minute Holder slotted a great ball between the home defenders and Allcock ran on to beat Rotheroe to the ball and shoot home for the first goal for Coleshill. Town were full of enthusiasm in the remaining minutes of the hal. Allcock going close again and Rotheroe having to make a fine save at the feet of Canning. Soon after the interval, Rotheroe was in action again beating a shot by Canning away for a corner after a timely pass from the ever-dangerous Patrick. After the early burst, Coleshill seemed to become complacent and almost paid the penalty. First O'Connell scooped a shot past the post and Calvert had a shot well saved by King after a delightful build up. The game now see-sawed from end to end, with increasing goal-mouth incident, and in the 73rd minute, Chris Dight - for the second time in two matches - crashed the ball home from 15 yards after Patrick had played the ball into his path. Soon after the goal, Wykes had to be substituted afyer carrying a leg strain for most of the half. His contribution, along with Phelps and Newey, had been a big part in a resolute Coleshill display. Northfield came close to pulling a goal back when Dight cleared the ball off the line for a corner. Coleshill went close again however, through the always dangerous Allcock when Rotheroe had to hack the ball away from him, and again after he had rounded the keeper wide in the box only to see Nelson scrape the ball off the line for a corner. With only six minutes left, King had to recieve treatment after a brave save at the feet of O'Connell. O'Connell came close again with a diving header over the bar. However, Northfield did manage to score their first goal for five games in the time added ironically for keeper King's injury, O'Connell scoring after Calvert had hit the bar.


P22 W8 D4 L10 F32 A40 Pts20 Pos10/18