Video clips, including the goals from Newquay 2 Launceston 3...

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Great new tea-shop in Perranporth...

NEWQUAY 2 LAUNCESTON 3: match report by THE MOWDOG...

Peppermints Suckered As Clarets Taste Victory At Mount Wise

Newquay AFC 2 Launceston FC 3

It rained. Heavily. The wind hauled the long showers about the Newquay ground, upon which wood-shavings had been sprinkled on one small area, as if the local carpenter had lost his way and would return, er, dreckley… The players put on a brave display between them, passing the ball whenever possible and the visitors probably earned their victory because they possessed more offensive threat. The home forwards were more isolated from their playmakers, whilst the Clarets attacked with more pace and more personnel, yet a quiet, thoughtful opening half brought no goals at all. Perhaps the bright, brief, sunny interval energised the offenses however, for the game offered more goalscoring opportunities after the interval, and although the hosts struck first, a couple of errors by home goalie Sam Trudgeon handed the guests the initiative, which was added to with a correctly awarded penalty. A late strike by home skipper Luke Weldhen wasn’t enough for the Peppermints and the goalscorer’s non-celebration said it all.

Launceston attack in the sunshine...

Launceston passed the ball more quickly from the start, using left-back Chris Saunders and winger Chris Head most usefully but in left-footed defender Chris Menhenick, the Clarets were blessed with a calm and confident individual. Midfielder Andy Elcock was busy and thoughtful from the outset and Newquay’s central defenders, Tom Bartlett and Leighton Carhart were constantly forced to be alert. Incidents were few however, until Weldhen slipped a pass left for Cameron Bidgood, whose low 18 yard shot was saved at the second attempt by Clarets’ goalie Paul Hider. Head then raced away on the break for Launceston but was denied in the home penalty-area by Carhart’s timely tackle, before home defender Alex Cole sliced the ball into his own net, following a quickly taken Clarets free-kick but an offside-flag had already flapped in the breeze, nearly lifting the linesman up for a spot of parasailing. Ollie Gibson’s shot drifted wide for the Peppermints from 21 yards and at the opposite end, Sam Davey’s drive curled past the right upright from about the same distance, following a neat passing move.

Crabbe, 10, moves sideways...

Davey made a strong run, when a Newquay corner was cleared by the visitors but like Head’s break earlier, the opportunity was scorned. Home forward Matt Drummond did well to control the ball on his chest in the penalty-box but as he attempted to turn inside from the left byeline but he lost his footing on the slippery, rain-sodden surface and the visitors breathed again. Another fine Carhart challenge wrecked Lance Easton’s aspirations, as the Clarets threatened again, then Davey forced Trudgeon to fall and gather a low drive and as half-time neared, more passing by Launceston led to another Davey shot, which bounced at Trudgeon from 22 yards. The referee blew his whistle to end the opening half, which had produced little goalmouth action and I took a stroll in the uncertain sunshine, soon to be rudely awoken by some second period attacking by both crews.

Newquay attacking...

A lively Head run, well, on his feet, obviously, ended with a wayward centre from the left, which dropped behind the goal-frame, then Hider was forced to make two hurried kicks away from his zone, as Newquay knocked hopeful balls forward. Cole was replaced by Connor Jamison for the hosts and finally, one of the custodians was forced into real action; a fine pass forward by Menhenick led to Head cutting inside and firing a 16 yard shot, which Trudgeon beat away, falling left and from the second phase of attack, the impish but clever-footed Elcock clipped a 24 yarder just too high. Certainly the visitors had upped the offensive side of their game but after Liam Tilley had fired a sliced shot wide from 25 yards, Drummond and Weldhen combined in the Newquay attack for the latter to shoot wide of the left upright from the inside-left channel, 17 yards out. And then the hosts opened the scoring; the ball was moved left to Bidgood by Weldhen and the winger crossed well, his delivery evading all but Drummond, lurking at the back post, who poked the ball high into the net from a yard or two.

The increasingly effective Easton was then hauled down by Bidgood, 21 yards from goal, inside-right channel, perfect for the left boot of Menhenick, whose curling free-kick dropped only just over the Newquay crossbar. Incredibly, from nearly conceding a second goal from a left-wing centre, the visitors regained parity with a somewhat fortunate goal. Hider had been left scrambling across his goal-line as Callum McConie’s left-flank centre dropped beyond the far stick but Weldhen just couldn’t reach the ball, then the play was switched left by the Clarets. Tilley crossed the ball towards Davey by Head but as the striker jumped, Trudgeon missed the ball completely and it dropped, untouched into the far corner of the net.

Launceston have equalised...

Moments later, the visitors were ahead, when Tilley’s right-foot drive from 20 yards was stopped but patted down by the frustrated Trudgeon and there was Davey, the only player following in, to convert, as the ‘keeper attempted to recover the ball.

Davey has snapped up a rebound and the Clarets lead 1-2...

Trudgeon made a fine save low to his right from Elcock’s 19 yard effort but Tilley then headed a right-wing corner over the crossbar from a few yards out, as the Clarets asserted themselves more fully, then he drove in a great right-foot shot from 20 yards, which swung away against the right upright, with Trudgeon a spectator, although the goalie did really well to dive right and turn aside the 15 yard rebound effort by Head. Well on top, Launceston went close again, when Tilley passed from the right and Head’s first-time effort from 12 yards passed just outside the near post. Newquay were straining to stay in the game but might have equalised when Weldhen’s low drive was saved to his right by the slithering Hider, who scrambled to block Bidgood’s rebound shot with flailing legs, a chance which the winger would feel really ought to have been converted.

Smart footwork took Davey inside from the right but his worthy left-footer curled just beyond the left upright, before Launceston effectively won the match. Defender Gavin Welsh began the move, Easton, livelier by the minute it seemed, tricked his way into the penalty-box but a clumsy foul by McConie floored him, earning a just penalty, which Davey slotted into the bottom right corner of the net, as Trudgeon fell the opposite way. 

Davey takes the penalty responsibility...

...and is successful, taking the applause of er, the crowd?

Matt Sanders replaced Bidgood for the hosts but they received a conciliatory reward for their efforts, when a deep cross from the left was stretched for on the volley at the far post by Weldhen and the ball somehow flew up into the right side of the net from 7 yards or so. Too late though, for Launceston held on easily for the final moments, to earn a deserved victory against their really plucky opponents.

Weldhen has netted a second goal for the hosts...

I had originally planned to watch Truro v Burnham on the day but Godolphin Atlantic’s lack of rain cover had actually taken me to Newquay’s Mount Wise for the first time and I was not only welcomed warmly but I was dry, I was entertained and saw five goals. I returned to the Merrymoor in Mawgan Porth for a hot cuppa, then drove to Truro for a meal…

It’s what you do…

Handshakes at the end...

...and more heavy rain...

Teams:

Newquay:  Sam Trudgeon, Alex Cole, Callum McConie; Shaun Middleton, Tom Bartlett, Leighton Carhart; Ollie Gibson, Paul Hampshire, Luke Weldhen (Capt), Matt Drummond, Cameron Bidgood.

Subs: James Avery, Matt Sanders, Connor Jamison.

Launceston:  Paul Hider, Adam Jenkin, Chris Saunders; Chris Menhenick, Gavin Welsh, Andy Elcock; Chris Head, Liam Tilley, Lance Easton, Adam Crabb, Sam Davey.

Subs: Dan Jefferis, Rob Blake, Mike Burke.

      

NEWQUAY v LAUNCESTON general images...

The Bodging shelters at Mount Wise...

Too much information!

I peered over this wall during the previous evening...
Sad, huh?

One of the players erects some fencing.
He was due 7 weeks ago but came dreckley...

No argument, I was in Newquay...

The power needed to advertise soccer in Cornwall...

The Launceston 'keeper prepares to take a shower...

Ah, summer in Newquay...

The shipbuilder has gone home...

Had to be near the sea, cuz of lots of flags...

Hidden peppermint dips...

Loved the grandstand...

The terrace hides beneath the grass...

A gull informs us that Torquay have been relegated...

Net view...

Newquay goalie TRUDGEON saves a Launceston shot...

Trudgeon does well @ Mount Wise...

Lye Town 2 Sporting Khalsa 1: video clips for iPhone and iPad users...

CLICK HERE FOR THE LINK TO YOU TUBE AND THE LYE v SPORTING KHALSA VIDEO CLIPS...

And for laptop and PC users, the three goals from the game are featured below...

Cordy drives home Khalsa's goal: 0-1...

Wilkins nods Lye level: 1-1...

Anslow's smart finish for 2-1 and Lye go back to the top of the WMPL table...

LYE TOWN 2 SPORTING KHALSA 1: Match Report by THE MOWDOG...

Khalsa Do Lye No Favours In Grim Battle

Lye Town 2 Sporting Khalsa 1

This was a physically exhausting game for Lye, who needed the victory to return to the top of the WMPL table and Sporting Khalsa, not there to make up the numbers, were driven forward by a fine defensive performance by Captain Dan Forward, surely a name for a new cartoon superhero. Their efforts featured a truly brilliant save by their ‘keeper Kisiel Mariusz, they looked dangerous on the break at times and were verbally aided by one of their directors in the grandstand, whose non-stop verbal berating of anybody not involved with his own club made him a more valuable resource than the Holte End at Villa Park, Villa’s ‘12^th Man’… That’s the kindest way I can describe the guy’s antics! Caught on the break to trail at the interval, Lye were unable to create much at all, other than long balls forward, often cut out by Forward at the back for Khalsa. Eventually, Ben Wilkins, obscurely wearing 19, equalised after half-time, Khalsa’s Scott Sandland, if he truly was the chap wearing 8, was dismissed for a second ‘bookable’ offence, leaving his director fuming in the grandstand and of course, Ricky Anslow then finally managed to remain onside to snatch the winning goal for the Flyers. Still Khalsa battled and Lye, often with players lying hurt, like random soldiers in No Man’s Land at the Somme, somehow survived the test.

The toss...

The game began scruffily and remained so, with Ben Wilkins’ early low shot scuffing across the penalty-box for Anslow to turn onto and with Forward getting across to challenge, Mariusz dropped bravely to parry the effort. A long kick by Lye goalie Sam Pearson was turned on by James Spray for Steve Weaver on the right but after initially looking threatening, the wide-player slammed a cross-cum-shot (?) behind the goal-frame, near post. Another miscued, scuffed Wilkins shot (was he doing this to confuse the Khalsa defenders?) fell perfectly for Scott Gennard but the curse of The Badger came upon him and he too miscued, straight into the rather surprised Mariusz’s gloves, who also saved from the marauding Stu Ward, whose effort rose from the inside-right channel. Scott Sandland was busy and scurrying for the visitors and looking likely to cause damage on the left on the break and after using his hand on one occasion, made ground on the flank, only to lose possession; Pearson the home goalie took an almighty swing of the boot at the ensuing back-pass but succeeded only in slicing it just wide of his own right upright, but the hosts survived the corner.

Nearly a sunset in Lye...

An Anslow drive was blocked by Khalsa’s tough defence and the mouthy chap in the grandstand became apoplectic when the Lye officials complained that the referee’s shirt was black, like the backs of the Khalsa shirts, prompting ‘Khalsaman’ to become even more cynical: “Can’t you see the numbers on the shirts? The ref hasn’t got a number; how can you not tell?” There might have been some other, maybe foreign words within those sentences too, but for the life of me, I cannot recall what they were… If the Lye supporters were not wound up before the game, they now surely were… Hilarious. I see Coalville regularly and their shirts are also black but numbered too, and other teams also complain; it’s what you do…

Damien Whitcombe launched a long shot beyond the rusting corrugated shed roof, following a Matt Johnson corner and the guests survived two more flag-kicks, with home skipper Ben Jevons and Whitcombe again, unable to capitalise. Then, a break by Sandland on the earth-land, left, led to a pass inside for Liam Hughes, wearing 16 and he nudged it right like you do in a game of ‘Pass the Parcel’ and the rangy John Cordy struck a low first-time shot past the oddly positioned Pearson and into the Lye net from 18 yards. The ball of course rammed against the brick-wall behind the net, rebounded out and Hughes, following in, slammed the ball rather strangely against the right upright in a rather unusual unrehearsed celebration. The goal brought a bout of high-pitched laughter from the Khalsa contingent and Cordy ran across to the loud guy in the grandstand, who had clambered over the surrounding barrier and was whooping like a hyena with toothache and the two of them performed an embarrassed kind of two-fisted high-five thing. Loved it.

Cordy wonders how embarrassing his celebration had been...

Spray sent a sudden low shot at goal from 18 yards but Mariusz fell right to nudge it wide for a corner, which was again wasted by Lye, for Khalsa’s defenders, especially Forward, never backward getting forward, and Craig Radford were superb aerially. Ian Boswell, stout and strong in midfield was also attracting the loose balls, like a magnet for iron filings and Lye were resorting to hopeful boots upfield, as tactics lost their meaning. Ben Jevons drove his team on though and Anslow just failed to get onto his skipper’s flick, before the voice in the crowd nearly lost it, when striker Sam Pearson barged into Whitcombe so late that the last bus to Stourbridge had already left. A booking followed as the bellowing blagger advised the officials in no uncertain terms and allowed his rather considerable feelings to show. Great stuff!

Cordy begs the official to allow him to do the surgery...

Sandland was then late in his challenge on Johnson and he too was cautioned, something he would rue later in the match but the visitors then put together the best move of the game so far, working the ball out of defence from right to left with neat passes and Pearson drove in a shot from 20 yards, inside-left channel, which was going a few yards wide but his namesake dived right and pushed it for a corner anyway. As the half wore down, poor and careless defending by Lye was corrected by two really fine Ward challenges and the right-back surged forward but Anslow was offside again when the ball was delivered towards him. Anslow was yet again offside as he moved onto a Wilkins pass and the half ended with Khalsa gleeful and Lye disgruntled. I fielded several wayward balls from the mound behind the goal, as the Khalsa substitutes warmed up with some wayward shooting and almost immediately after the break, Lye scored the goal they so desperately needed.

This was a decent move, if you ignore the punt forward by either Jevons or Gennard, for Wilkins nodded the ball inside from inside-left to Spray, who passed left for the overlapping Johnson; Wilkins had run towards goal and met his left-back’s fine centre with his head at the near post, just in front of Mariusz and Lye had regained parity. The move had involved passing and a triangle of colleagues: it’s what you really should be attempting, despite the uneven surfaces at this level, surely?

Gennard miscued from 18 yards for Lye, goalie Pearson’s weak kick wasn’t punished by Sandland, whose shot was off target then the diminutive midfielder slid in late on the dramatic Whitcombe and was rewarded with a flash of yellow, then a flash of red, resulting in a green light to go, dismissed from the field. This really helped the hosts’ cause and soon, Whitcombe’s downward header from Gennard’s corner was blocked in front of the goalkeeper, although Boswell did launch a shot well over the home crossbar, following a long throw by left-back Reece Cotterill, whose temper was up, even starting to yell at his own ‘keeper, whilst taking another throw-in about 40 yards away from his team-mate. Spray was fed by Ward but could find no real power in his shot and Mariusz collected easily, as Forward made three heroic interceptions for his team. Then a fine move by Lye occurred at last; Johnson and Wilkins combined on the left and Anslow freed Weaver, then after stepping inside, the forward drove a rising 16 yard angled cross-shot beyond the far upright.

We could see him sneaking out...
Sandland is on his way to the chip-shop...

Nicky Campbell, I believe, replaced Khalsa’s Pearson and added some pace to the visitors’ play but from a deep free-kick by Lye’s Pearson, Spray nodded the ball on and there was Anslow, onside this time, beating the challenge of impressive right-back Jordan Uppal, to nudge a typical poacher’s finish past the advancing Mariusz and just inside the left post.

The angry Cotterill then ploughed into Gennard on the touchline and received a caution but he managed a shot for Khalsa too, after breaking infield, although the effort was wide and he really ought to have done better from the position he had found himself in. Simon Williams replaced Weaver for the hosts and the substitute headed Spray’s decent right-wing centre straight at Mariusz, almost immediately. Gennard, inside the penalty-area, was denied by a fine Radford tackle, Kev Nickle replaced Anslow for Lye and Mark Habbershaw replaced Hughes for the visitors. A lob by Khalsa landed on the roof of the Lye net, before Mariusz covered himself in glory, following a short corner between Gennard and Wilkins on the right; great positioning by Whitcombe saw him alone just 4 yards out and he must have expected to score but Mariusz threw out a left hand to divert the Lye defender’s header over his left-angle of bar and upright. A superb reaction save.

Mariusz then beat Nickle to Spray’s feed into the penalty-box, as Lye attempted to settle their nerves with a third goal and Nickle was adjudged to have committed a foul on the escaping defender by a linesman, even though the referee was closer and hadn’t spotted any infringement. Mariusz then smothered at Nickle’s feet again, as the replacement chased another Spray pass into the inside-right channel, before Boswell was cautioned for a clumsy foul as the game jumbled to a frenetic finish of misplaced passes and humped punts.

Three points were necessary for the hosts, although the visitors had really competed well, with Mariusz, Uppal, Forward and Radford especially effective and I appreciated the chat I had with Khalsa’s Mark Habbershaw in the parking-lot, after the game, for he reckoned he wanted Lye to win the league and his honesty and good manners were refreshing. Hopefully, I’ll watch one of their home games sometime this year…

Another casualty 'Lyes' awaiting attention...

Teams: (if correct on the team-sheets! Apologies for any errors…)

Lye:  Sam Pearson, Stu Ward, Matt Johnson; Damien Whitcombe, Scott Moore, Ben Wilkins; Steve Weaver, Scott Gennard, James Spray, Ricky Anslow, Ben Jevons (Capt).

Subs: Kev Nickle, Simon Williams, Jake James, Kalum Evitts, Lee Dimmock.

Khalsa:  Kisiel Maruisz, Jordan Uppal, Reece Cotterill; Craig Radford, Dan Forward (Capt), Ian Boswell; John Cordy, Scott Sandland, Kieron Northwood, Sam Pearson, Liam Hughes.

Subs:  Rob Holdcroft, Hayden Williams, Nicky Campbell, Mark Habbershaw.

  

LYE TOWN v SPORTING KHALSA: GENERAL IMAGES...

The Bodging, terrified, meets Scott Gennard of Lye Town, who really believes that my name is 'The Dog'...
This worries me.

Where to practise one's goose-stepping...

This really IS my garden shed...

A hint about who is soon to sign for Lye...

Unexploded WW1 bomb at Lye...

How lovely...

'Spot the Pain In the Crowd'
A new half-time entertainment...

Never hit low shots, for they look so shit when they rebound off the perfectly positioned wall...

Badger lover Scott Gennard picks Scott Moore's nose...

Not quite a huddle, as Khalsa look like a bunch of retired gents about to go to the pub...

Gennard whispers what its like to stick your hand up a badger...

Brilliant save by Khalsa's MARIUSZ from Lye's WHITCOMBE...

Really great save by the Sporting Khalsa goalkeeper...

Khalsa's PEARSON'S shot is saved by Lye's PEARSON...

The name game...

SCOTT GENNARD miscues in front of the Khalsa goal...

Gennard misses a good chance for Lye...

MARIUSZ saves at Anslow's feet to save Khalsa @ Lye...

Brave save by the Sporting Khalsa goalie...

Coalville 0 Gresley 2: VIDEO CLIPS FOR iPhone and iPad USERS...

CLICK HERE FOR THE LINK TO YOU TUBE AND THE COALVILLE v GRESLEY VIDEO CLIPS...

Below: THE GRESLEY GOALS FOR LAPTOP USERS...

O'Connell heads home the opening goal for Gresley: 0-1...

Makofo shoots such an easy penalty: 0-2...

COALVILLE TOWN 0 GRESLEY 2: Match Report by THE MOWDOG...

Timid Ravens Grizzled By Gresley

Coalville Town 0 Gresley FC 2

The skippers toss...

A very solid and adventurous performance by Gresley, featuring a splendid midfield effort by Eric Graves, a smart left-back showing by John Guy and an elusive pair of forwards causing mayhem, in Kieran O’Connell and Serge Makofo, combined to stifle a really weak Coalville, who could not test visiting ‘keeper Mats Morch once. Missing skipper Lee Miveld, the Ravens laboured and their defensive trio was constantly worried by the Gresley forwards’ movement, with Paolo Piliero delivering some fine crosses too. In defence, Liam Guest was a rock for the guests but in truth, Ben Saunders was unable to influence the game for Town and Gary Hay was totally anonymous. The late introductions of Jordan Nadat and Jed Davies enlivened the Ravens but it was still Gresley who threatened, with O’Connell a real pain for the firm of Coalville Solicitors, Jenno, McAteer and Kay, and Graves struck an upright too. The tepid and almost hypnotised Ravens saw their hopes of the league title simply waft away in the strong Leicestershire breeze and Gresley’s efforts were deservedly applauded by both sets of supporters.

Saunders and Roome bask in the sunshine...

Saunders directed an early low shot at visiting goalie Morch, who fell like he’d consumed one beer too many to secure the ball then Hay lifted a shot off-balance, off target but it was Gresley who looked the more positive and constructive in the opening stages, a situation Town failed to recover from. O’Connell took a throw-in, received the ball back high, jumped and caught the ball like an Atlanta Hawk basketball centre but was surprisingly not cautioned, then he knocked the ball away, as Coalville prepared to take a throw a few minutes later… Lucky fellow! Indeed there had been several tough challenges already too but the official, familiarly calling players by their first names, which annoyed some spectators, ignored them, until Glyn Cotton tripped the rampaging Guy and was shown a yellow card. Soon, O’Connell, one of the smallest players on the field, playing against three of the best headers of balls in the division, scored with his head. A long left-wing centre was headed back across goal by the influential Graves for O’Connell, alone, to nod in from a few yards. What a shame Graves hadn’t buried that one…

O'Connell is in there somewhere: 0-1...

Ant Carney, who struggled to find space throughout, did manage a leaning-back shot, which of course flew way too high then Gresley’s innovative forward Makofo, whose feet puzzled Coalville throughout, found room on the right but his low centre was hacked to safety by the troubled McAteer. Sean Bowles missed the ensuing corner, with a flailing fist, was involved in a collision and reacted angrily to Gresley’s Guest but hosts should surely not treat guests in that manner? The trouble soon eased, the official took no names and Coalville won a free-kick on half-way, which Cam Stuart, Town’s skipper, launched forward; Saunders challenged, the ball fell into a melee and Morch plunged to claim the ball, landing on an opponent, like he was playing on a bouncy-castle in the local park. He held on, though. Guest appeared to get his head to a fine free-kick from deep and inside-right by Guy but the ball skidded across the goalmouth and Reece Lester tackled the lurking Makofo. Then Piliero caused havoc with a right-side corner, which was eventually headed forwards by Guest and in the resulting chaos, Guy struck the ball, which appeared to bounce off Makofo in front of the confused Bowles.

Sam has a word with 'Mark'...

O’Connell and Makofo again pulled the Coalville defenders apart but Kay recovered to make an important block then when the ball was moved out to Piliero on the right, the winger clipped a shot just over the crossbar. With half-time approaching, Makofo made an incisive run on the left, cut inside from near the byeline and fell under Jenno’s challenge, earning a penalty, which he clipped and lifted slowly into the left side of the net, as Bowles fell the other way. The spot-kick was taken like a badly-filmed TV advert, but this was terribly real! Lester battered into the troublesome O’Connell, Carney’s good work was wrecked by Hay, who simply surrendered possession and Callum Woodward and Makofo became entangled in an unpleasant misunderstanding, for which, remarkably, neither was cautioned. The interval had arrived, Raven spectators expected the immediate introduction of ex-Gresley man Jordan Nadat, to liven up the home offense, but they didn’t get it, as the hosts blundered on for a while after the break.

Makofo has scored his penalty: 0-2...

All we saw at the start of the second period, was a wildly struck Stuart effort from 22 yards out, which drifted, er, 22 yards wide of the right upright. A free-kick by Stuart was just too high for McAteer to get a meaningful touch to at the far post and after Carney was fouled, Gresley’s Sam Grice was cautioned for the words spoken after the incident but from the free-kick, the visitors broke on their right flank. O’Connell, inevitably, was involved but with the fully committed Rob Spencer free in the middle, due to some awful covering back by Coalville, the ball was switched wider to Makofo, who was allowed to carry the ball at an angle towards goal; his flick inside saw McAteer block O’Connell’s jab and the Ravens survived. Graves lifted a shot well over the home crossbar as the guests continued to cause real problems for the Coalville defenders and then Spencer combined with Makofo on the left but drove the ball into the side-netting. Finally, with Coalville still not making a real game of it, Nadat and Jed Davies were introduced to replace the hugely disappointing Hay and the busy Cotton.

Davies and Nadat seemed to affect the game immediately, for they combined neatly to set up Woodward for a 25 yarder, which flew only just wide of the right post. Saunders sauntered to retrieve the ball for Morch, who was in no hurry and had strolled to his post to take a drink instead! The official had words… But still Gresley looked the more incisive, keeping possession too easily and avoiding tackles; McAteer was forced to head a centre over his own goal-frame, but soon Coalville moved the ball better, although Woodward piled into an opponent like he was involved in a game of playground British Bulldog and saw yellow… More neat control by Davies set up a cross but Saunders was unable to get to it, then O’Connell threatened again for Gresley and forced Kay to concede a corner. Davies then laid a pass into Jenno’s path for a 24 yard shot but that was also off-target, some 6 yards wide of the right upright.

More trouble...

Piliero saw an effort deflected for Gresley, following more dribbling by O’Connell and after Makofo lay down hurt, Jenno’s long ball took a touch off Guest for Saunders, inside-right, who attempted a 23 yard chip, which he failed to strike properly and the tame shot curled apologetically across an unmanned goalmouth at an angle of about 45 degrees. Morch kicked the ball out of play to allow medical attention for a colleague but Coalville took a normal throw-in, crossed the ball and Morch was flattened as he punched the centre away. Morch was mad with anger at the Ravens’ tactic and this stirred things up, as men argued, like nobody would offer to buy a round of drinks at the pub. Graves did well to win a right-wing corner for Gresley, which was curled onto skipper Jamie Barrett’s head but the effort rose too high then after Andy Hutchinson replaced the surprisingly ineffective Stuart for the Ravens, Piliero was really well tackled by Jenno, as he prepared to shoot at inside-left.

Carney: well marshalled by Gresley...

Another Piliero corner from the right was dropped by Bowles but the referee reckoned he had been fouled by Guest, which seemed really harsh. A long Morch punt freed Makofo on the left and he took his time, used O’Connell, who wanted to take the ball to a corner-flag but changed his mind and play switched to the right, and Graves. The midfielder passed to Piliero on the flank, who fed O’Connell inside him and he in turn slipped a pass to Graves for an angled drive, which smacked against the right upright. The rebound, left-side, fell for Makofo and his clipped effort curled just beyond the goal-frame, but in all honesty the Coalville defenders had been chasing shadows and really, Gresley should have been out of sight. More fine and slow possession by O’Connell and Makofo set up a Piliero shot, which flew wide, before Zibusiso Nyatito replaced Spencer: thanks for that! It only remained for Coalville’s heads to go down further and for O’Connell to provide Piliero with another attempt at goal, which was wayward, and the action ceased, with Gresley’s players in such ascendancy, one would never have thought that these Ravens were the same chaps who had dominated Leek Town just two days before…

I drove home wondering how desolate Lye Town’s ground would be tomorrow evening; another team fighting for a league title…

Kay and Piliero after the final whistle...

Carney shows appreciation for the guests...

Teams:

Coalville:  Sean Bowles, Danny Jenno, Cam Stuart (Capt); Glyn Cotton, Jamie McAteer, Liam Kay; Ant Carney, Gary Hay, Callum Woodward, Ben Saunders, Reece Lester.

Subs: Sam Saunders, Jordan Nadat, Jed Davies, Andy Hutchinson, Sam Moore.

Gresley:  Mats Morch, Matt Roome, John Guy; Jamie Barrett (Capt), Liam Guest, Eric Graves; Kieran O’Connell, Sam Grice, Serge Makofo, Rob Spencer, Paolo Piliero.

Subs: Brad Wells, Lucas Harrison, Mitch Hanson, Zibusiso Nyatito, Michael Lyons.