Sutton Town 1 v 0 Coleshill Town - Mid Com Challenge Cup

[Alan Beckett]

Saturday 5th September 1970
Midland Combination Challenge Cup
Sutton Town 1 v 0 Coleshill Town
Scorer: Langford.


Team: Peter Garnell GK, Geoff Statham, Roy Phelps, Roger Coxhall (John Comley), Clive Lyons, Malcolm Stokes, Eddie Hanlon. Confirmed.


CASTEL BROMWICH NEWS WROTE
Brave Display But To No Avail
An unfortunate 49th minute mistake by goalkeeoer Peter Garnell enabled Sutton to score the only goal of the match, at Coleshill Lane, on Saturday, and Coleshill's brave display against First Division opponents was all to no avail. Neither side played impressive football, in this Midland Combination Challenge Cup encounter, but Sutton always looked the more likely to score. However Coleshill's hard working, strong tackling defence, held their opponents at bay and former Sutton centre half Geoff Statham was on top form. Coleshill strove hard to break through a good home rearguard, but missed the services of strikers Colin Davis and Roy Sanders, both of whom were unavailable. In the 19th minute, a superb shot by Langford found the net for Sutton but a linesman ruled another forward offside. At the other end a goalmouth scramble saw Roy Phelps just unable to fire the ball home for Coleshill. Sutton maintained the ascendancy and could have gone ahead in the 31st minute, but Johnny Brookes hammered his shot into the side netting, from close range following good work from Hill. After 39 minutes Coleshill brought on substitute John Comley for right winger Coxall, but Sutton continued to attack, poor finishing preventing them from having an interval lead. With four minutes of the second half played, tragedy struck Coleshill. A long range shot from Langford appeared to be well cleared by Garnell, but the keeper allowed the ball to roll through his grasp and into the net. The visitors endevoured to hit back and Sutton centre half Bob Bott cleared off the line, when a cross by Clive Lyons evade custodian Paul Cooper. Coleshill were forced onto the defensive, but a mixture of goos defending and a casual approach by Sutton saved the visitors from conceding another goal, Statham, who was without the usual support of Tony Seddon, gave a fine performance against his former team mates. Another ex Sutton player, Malcolm Stokes, was the liveliest of Coleshill's forwards but the depleted visitors front line was unable to make an impression.


COLESHILL CRONICLE WROTE
Sutton Scrape Through With A Gift Goal
Challenge Cup holders, Sutton Town, still undefeated in the Midland Combination First Division, found Division Two champions Coleshill Town, more than they bargained for in this First Round match on Saturday. Coleshill, without regulars, Seddon, Davis and Sanders, were far from disgraced in this Challenge Cup game. With a little more power up front Coleshill could have easily won but it was a "daft" goal in the 50th minute that sent Sutton into the Second Round. Langford shot a harmless 40 yard drive that looked safe all the way. But the ball passed straight through the legs of goalkeeper Garnell. Sutton looked stronger on the attack but Coleshill played cooly and confidently in defence. Sutton had the ball in the net on 20 minutes when a high cross-shot beat Garnell all the way but fortunately for Coleshill the whistle had signalled for off-side. Within minutes it was the home goal that survived when Hanlon drove the ball into a crowded goalmouth and in the melee that followed shots were fired in but cannoned away to safety. Sutton's best effort arrived just before half time when Hill made a speedy run but saw his cross fired well wide by Hewitt. Coleshill lost the services of outside right Coxhall, being replaced by deputy goalkeeper John Comley. Coleshill were well pleased to enter the second half with a clean bill of health but within five minutes found ill luck stepping across their path when Langford's long distance shot caught Garnell napping and thus send the holders through to the next round.