Coleshill Town 1 v 0 Birmingham City - Birmingham Senior Cup

[Alan Beckett]

Monday 12th January 2026
Birmingham Senior Cup
Coleshill Town 1 v 0 Birmingham City
Scorer: Bassit Mandey.
Attendance:
Supporters Club Man Of The Match: Cameron Belford.

Teams:
Town: Cameron Belford, Daniel Brookes, Harry Sweeney, Jack Hallahan (Joe Fitzpatrick), George Cleet, Taylor Carter-Byrne, Theo Rowe (Danial Gyasi), Bassit Mandey, Marvellous Onabirekhanlen (Tristan Dunkley), Ben Usher-Shipway, Lewis Allison. Subs not used: Harry Craven, Alex McSkeane.

City: Will O'Sullivan, Caleb Sanders, Cameron Eubank, Trae Briscoe, Zach Willis, George Wynne, Zaid Betteka, Louie Rea, Alezandro Da Silva (Jayden Nunes-Wickham), Aurelian Guernier (Cobi Maddox), Yusuf Ahmed (Jack Quirk). Subs not used: Szymon Terenowicz, Cody Pennington.

MATCH REPORT
By Ian Pugh
Bassit’s Strike and Cameron’s Heroics See Coleshill Upset Birmingham City
The winter had thrown everything at Pack Meadow — snow, driving rain, freezing nights and even a bout of mumps — but none of it could dampen the sense of occasion when football finally returned. More than 200 fans packed in, turning a cold evening into something warm and electric as Coleshill prepared to face Birmingham City in the Birmingham Senior Cup.

Sponsored by Electric Centre LTD, The first half unfolded like a chess match. Both sides felt each other out, cautious and compact, with Coleshill perhaps nudging ahead in the number of chances and shots but never quite finding the killer touch. Defences were alert, midfield battles were tight, and the crowd settled into the tension of a game that felt like it could be decided by a single moment.

That moment arrived just after the hour. In the 53rd minute, Marvellous Onabirekhanlan won the ball in the centre and slipped a perfectly timed pass through to Bassit Mandey. Bassit took the ball on with the calm of someone who knew exactly what was required: he held off two defenders, steadied himself and guided a low finish beyond the keeper’s left hand and inside the post. The roar that followed felt like release — not just for the goal, but for a community starved of fixtures and eager for a result.

Cameron Belford pulled off four superb saves, the most dramatic a fingertip stop that turned a fierce free kick onto the post and away from danger, allowing the defence to scramble clear. His composure under bombardment earned him Man of the Match and, more importantly, preserved the slender lead.

When the final whistle blew, Bassit’s strike did more than win the game — it etched his name into club folklore as the 11th Coleshill player to score against a professional side — a milestone that brought hugs, handshakes and a fair share of pride. The players celebrated with the supporters who had braved the elements, and the sense of achievement was plain to see.

Coleshill now progress to the next round of the Birmingham Senior Cup, where Rugby Town awaits. For a squad that has weathered postponements and a packed schedule, this victory is both a reward and a springboard: a reminder that grit, a moment of individual quality and a goalkeeper in top form can turn a testing season into a night to remember.


MATCH REPORT FROM THE VISITORS
Birmingham City Under-21s were beaten by Coleshill Town in the Birmingham Senior Cup Second Round on Monday night.
Despite a plethora of chances in the game, a young Blues side could not convert and were punished by the home team’s only clear-cut attempt.
Blues started with intent and had the first opportunity of the game. Yusuf Ahmed’s perfectly weighted pass found Alvaro Ruiz-Rente in behind. The striker tried to cut the ball back to Aurelien Guernier, but Daniel Brookes intercepted well and cleared the danger.
Ruiz-Rente caused another problem for Coleshill when he sharply turned past Taylor Carter-Byrne and forced the captain into the referee’s book.
Blues’ next chance of the game was created by Zaid Betteka’s individual quality. The winger weaved past two Coleshill defenders and had a shot deflected off target.
Danny Barham’s side continued to have the majority of the chances; Guernier cut inside and tested Coleshill goalkeeper Cameron Belford, who parried wide.
The home side would have took the lead against the run of play two minutes later, if not for Louie Rea’s goal-saving intervention to clear for a corner.
The young midfielder was involved at the other end of the pitch when he picked up a loose ball and fired low with his weak foot, but Belford was equal to it.
Despite Blues’ pressure in the first half they went behind five minutes after the interval. Bassit Mandey broke through the defence and slotted past William O’Sullivan to give the home side the lead.
Blues’ first attempts of the second half were a brace of free-kick's from Rea, both of which were hit with power and had to be pushed away by Belford.
Barham’s side were inches from equalising five minutes from time when Betteka whipped a quality effort that hit the inside of the post.
It was a difficult result to take for Blues, who were dominant but could not find the clinical edge to match their array of chances.


N.B. Bassit Mandey joins a small group of CTFC players who have scored against Professional teams.

CTFC PLAYERS WHO HAVE SCORED AGAINST PRO TEAMS

1988 - BIRMINGHAM CITY - JOHN TAYLOR
2009 - BURTON ALBION - MATTY ROBINSON
2010 - BIRMINGHAM CITY - DANNY CARTER
2012 - BURTON ALBION - DANNY CARTER
2012 - BURTON ALBION - JAMES TRAVIS
2014 - WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS - RICARDO REID
2018 - ASTON VILLA - REECE LEEK
2018 - ASTON VILLA - PIERCE KEIMBI
2023 - COVENTRY CITY - KYLE JARDINE
2023 - COVENTRY CITY - IHSAN REHMAN - Although match was abandoned it still counts
2024 - WALSALL FC - JOE PALMER
2026 - BIRMINGHAM CITY - BASSIT MANDEY
Only ONE player has scored against two different teams - DANNY CARTER
Only ONE player has scored Two goals in the same game - JOE PALMER