The Mowdog On The Road...: COLESHILL TOWN 3-3 BASFORD UNITED: FULL MATCH REPORT...

Competitive Workout Rewards Spectators With 6 Goals

Coleshill Town 3-3 Basford United

A much changed Basford squad was given a keen workout by a positive Coleshill group, which came on stronger after the break, by which time the guests had rested some of their more influential players, such as two-goal Courey Grantham and busy midfielders Kyle Dixon and Fabian Smith. Certainly the Town replacements Curvin Ellis and Simeon Colborne looked threatening after the interval, as did lively wide-man John Smigielski, who smashed in an angled equaliser. Late opportunities fell to Colborne twice and Ellis but I guess that overall a draw was acceptable to both clubs, after Basford had edged an earlier Under 21 clash 2-3. Obviously, several names were unavailable to spectators and I apologise for that lack of accuracy and any other errors in the following report but thanks to Basford’s Neil McGowan for helping out as much as he could.

THE TOSS...

Basford were ascendant before the break and the home ‘keeper looked a little tentative, as first a cross beat him, before Basford’s 12, under a severe challenge, bundled the ball too high from a yard out, then although the custodian dealt with a Dixon drive, one from the number 16 and a firm Grayson header, he dropped a corner onto visiting central defender Mason Rowley’s legs, which he was fortunate to get away with. He was relieved however that a Grantham drive and a Fabian Smith free-kick flew too high, although he might have touched that one. He was beaten three times though, including a penalty from the most wily forward in the game, Grantham. The striker was always a threat and it was a pity that after partner Jack Duffy had scored an early goal, a bang to the face saw the partnership break up, with the goalscorer rested for recovery for a while.

READY TO GO...

The hosts found penetration less easy and Saul Deeney in the Basford goal wasn’t really too tested, although he did really well to protrude a left boot to deflect a low shot from Coleshill’s 8. Home 10 had driven a shot into the side-netting and striker 18 had managed a deflected shot and even brought an early save by Deeney from a downward header, as well as taking a heavy knock. Rathbone had shot well over the goal-fame by the time a rare break allowed 16 into a shooting position but Deeney dragged him down and Rathbone netted the subsequent penalty to drag the score back to 1-2. Grantham was also fouled inside the opposite 18 yard box by the Town skipper (number 4) and half-time arrived with United having restored their two-goal cushion.

NOW THAT REALLY HURT...

The changes to personnel totally changed the pattern of the game and during this half, only some speedy runs by Calum Smith on the Basford right and some threat by the left-footed Jamie Walker worried the hosts, for replacement striker Harry Wakefield wasn’t able to affect the game too much, bar a couple of low attempts, which caused little worry to the ‘keeper, who also collected a lifted effort by Duffy.

FULL FLIGHT...

The hosts, in contrast, looked to have more of a thrust and replacement United defender Jheryl Pickbourne and his sidekick were given a tough half by the tall and skilful Ellis, whilst Colborne’s pace really rattled the visitors. Winger John Smigielski (we were told he was 'John the Rumanian'...) was a worry to the young substitute left-back too, for the useful Billy Bennett had taken a break by that time. The replacement goalie, possibly Jake Wood, did well to get down to Rathbone’s 20 yard free-kick but poor Basford marking at a corner saw the Town number 11 volley viciously over the crossbar from 6 yards. Wood could only stare as Coleshill won possession and Colborne’s lob dropped onto the roof of his net and after saving a shot by Smigielski, the ‘keeper saw his team attack, lose possession and suddenly Colbourne was threatening again, he slipped a wall-pass to Ellis, returned the ball to the big man, who then fired disappointingly wide when well placed.

"GODS, MY BOOTS HAVE CHANGED COLOUR..."

Colborne’s next fine run, in the inside-right channel saw his low shot deflected past the far post and then, in the final seconds, Basford’s 16 was mugged by Coleshill’s 16, he fed the tricky Colborne at inside-right but the lean striker’s shot was palmed out by the alert Wood. However, Ellis and Smigielski had regained parity by then and Basford breathed a collective sigh of relief that defeat had been avoided and that hairstyles hadn’t been badly affected by the lack of rain-showers on what became a very warm afternoon.

LATE CHANCE SURVIVED BY BASFORD...

The goals:

0-1:

A fine raking midfield pass found Basford right-back Robbie McNicholas, whose centre was attacked by Duffy, as Coleshill’s defender 5 and the goalie hesitated. The forward leaned down to head in from close range, leaving his marker, 16 behind him.

0-1: DUFFY...

& BASFORD LEAD...

0-2:

Bennett’s head-on led to a one-two between Grantham and Walters at inside-left but Grantham found cutting inside all too easy as his low right-footer from 15 yards beat the goalkeeper to his right.

0-2...

GRANTHAM THIS TIME...

BASFORD NOW WELL ON THE WAY...

1-2:

Deeney took 16 down, escaped punishment because this was a pre-season workout, then Rathbone sent the ‘keeper diving right and the ball moving low into the opposite corner of the white net from the resulting penalty.

1-2...

RATHBONE'S PENALTY...

1-3:

Grantham was always going to fall as Town’s 4 challenged his turn and the striker sent the goalie the wrong way as his spot-kick was placed into the bottom left corner of the goal.

PENALTY BY GRANTHAM...

1-3...

2-3:

Smigielski fed 11 and his low cross from the right corner of the penalty-box was diverted smartly into the left corner of the net from 10 yards by a long, curving Ellis boot…

2-3...

...COURTESY OF ELLIS THE TALL...

3-3:

Smigielski nutmegged his marker from the right touchline, played a neat one-two with Ellis and lashed a rising drive from the right corner of the 6 yard box into the roof of the Basford net.