SUTTON COLDFIELD TOWN 1-1 COALVILLE TOWN: MATCH REPORT & IMAGES...

Missed Chances Plague Both Royals & Ravens

Sutton Coldfield Town 1-1 Coalville Town

One team was lacking confidence, the other was on an upsurge. There was an artificial pitch to suit the passing game and a pleasant evening of late summer weather too, all combining to set up an intriguing match at Coles Lane. What was served up however was confusing at times, whereby both teams made errors, there was much desperate heading and a number of shots failed to trouble the two goal-minders, Mason Springthorpe and Matt Coton. True, Sutton’s Springthorpe made a couple of fine saves, notably the one from a Danny Jenno free-kick on the cusp of half-time, but generally the shooting by both teams was often sadly off target. An eager start by the Royals had been quelled by the Ravens in the final quarter-hour of the opening period, during which they ought to have wrapped up the points, tied a bow in the parcel, labelled it and posted it to Owen Street, for during the final moments before the interval, not only did they score but they might have netted on three more occasions too. They didn’t though.

MOODY...

THE RAVENS...

THE ROYALS...

Despite their awful finish to the opening half, the Royals, driven on by skipper Aaron Birch, who was like a marauding Viking scowling at the prow of his longboat, took the game to their more uncertain guests and were the ascendant team as the match wore on, netting an equaliser but then squandering several scoring opportunities with wayward shots. They were also awarded an indirect free-kick when Coton picked up a back-pass but home left-winger Gurjit Singh saw his powerful drive deflected either by Coton’s lunge, or Kyle Bryant’s thrust which was more like that of a special teams player for the Baltimore Ravens, who was attempting to block a ‘point after touchdown’ kick. Subsequently Coalville left Brum with a point and overall I guess that neither outfit could legitimately grumble too much about the outcome.

THE TOSSING OF TOWERS & BIRCH...

The aerial power of home defender Jak Barnes worried Coalville a few times during the opening stages and after an early Birch shot had drifted off target, a couple of Barnes headers caused concern in the Ravens’ defence. Coton caught one effort but was forced to punch clear another, both from Reece Webb’s free-kicks. Long throws by Lee Smith would also test the visiting rearguard later in the half but the guests finally broke their shackles and left-sided attacker Blair Anderson cut inside Brian Smikle but lifted his effort way too high. A quick throw by Coalville allowed Tom McGlinchey a chance from an angle on the right but his low delivery rolled across the goalmouth to safety.

PARTODIKROMO LIES HURT...

Sutton’s Mickael Partodikromo was soon injured and was replaced not by Bobby Moseley, as was announced over the loudspeaker system, but apparently by Nehemiah Zazi, whose best contribution to the offense would come later in the second period. The game drifted on with some head-tennis, lots of running, lots of losing possession and a number of inaccuracies but suddenly a near post centre by the Ravens’ solid left-back Cleveland Taylor led to a flick at goal by Danny Creaney going behind for a goal-kick. The impish Watson let in Anderson for another cut inside and shot but again the winger’s radar was off and the ball rose. And rose… Barnes stretched for the ball with an errant boot when Coton raced to claim a through-pass by the hosts but the ‘keeper was warned by the referee for, er, looking displeased, as Barnes escaped even a wagging finger for his raised boot. Ah, consistency, it’s what we like…

HOME DUGOUT...

AWAY DUGOUT...

COTON SEARCHES FOR A STRAY SUTTON BOOT...

Just prior to the opening goal, both Creaney and McGlinchey hacked at a Bryant centre from the right with the result that the ball bobbed gently into the grateful arms of Springthorpe but when a Jermain Hollis centre from the right caused more difficulties for Sutton but was initially dealt with, an ensuing left-side centre was nodded back inside by Creaney to Watson and he squirmed and slithered and then switched the ball onto his right boot from whence it was poked through a confusion of legs from 12 yards and the shot rolled apologetically into goal off the base of the left upright, with Springthorpe seemingly unsighted.

0-1...

WATSON THE SCORER...

Coalville roared forward from then until the break with first Bryant making an interception before smacking a rising 23 yard drive wide of the right post, then neat feet by Watson saw him curl a shot into the belly of Springthorpe and soon a rebound went begging when a lunging Watson header from McGlinchey’s right-flank centre was kept out well by the falling Springthorpe. Smikle then remained strong when a fine Creaney header from another right-side McGlinchey cross flew towards the right corner of the net but the right-back, covering his team’s left post, managed to head the ball clear. As the half ended, Watson was deemed to have been fouled 23 yards out, just left of centre and it was Jenno who stepped forth to lash in a drive at goal which caused Springthorpe real problems but somehow his acrobatic leap allowed him to scoop the ball away and Coalville failed to benefit from the rebound.

The interval arrived and not too soon for Coldfield, who had somehow survived the rack they were being stretched upon…

After the break for a pot of tea and toasted soldiers, it was the Royals and their inspirational skipper Birch who took quite a firm hold on the proceedings, with Coalville having to rely on occasional breaks forward. Singh copied Anderson’s earlier trick of cutting inside from the left but lifting his shot too high, Anderson latched onto a Taylor pass but Springthorpe sprang forth and touched the dangerous low centre away, before Singh drove the ball across the Coalville goalmouth at the opposite end. However, when Smith dispossessed McGlinchey, 30 yards out, the calm midfielder switched feet and drove in a low 24 yard effort which cannoned off the foot of the right post on its way into the net. So, both teams had scored off an upright at the same end of the ground. More consistent than a lot of refereeing then…

1-1: SMITH THE SCORER...

Marcus Tudgay was having a tough time with either Jenno or Coalville’s long-thrower Dean Freeman on his back but he did shoot straight at Coton, before a wild Zazi shot zipped well over the target. A Creaney header at the other end saw Anderson take possession left of centre and fire a good low 19 yard shot at the near post, where Springthorpe was forced to smother the ball behind for an unproductive corner. Soon though, Anderson appeared to be fouled on offense, yet the officials ignored the claims made and Sutton broke well but Webb’s low shot from the left passed the wrong side of the right upright. Still asking questions, the Royals attacked again and a fine one-two between Singh and Birch resulted in a good chance missed by the winger, who shot wide of the right stick. 

A SMALL SCUFFLE...

MORRISON-DERBYSHIRE & WATSON WAIT...

McGlinchey, not really effective after the interval, was replaced for the Ravens by Will Mellor-Blair but defender Bryant made a positive rush for the visitors, making it all the way to 12 yards from goal at inside-right but his hurried left footer rolled past the near post. A Webb shot was sliced somewhat and thus missed the target, Watson failed to get enough purchase on a long Coton kick which dropped over his right shoulder, the hurt Smikle was replaced by Sutton’s Joe Sinton and Freeman deserved and received a caution for a tug back on the escaping Tudgay. Indeed, a nod back inside from near the right upright by Tudgay, as the hosts attacked again, led to a Barnes header which bounced wide but close to the left post as players from both crews stretched sinews in vain to either convert or prevent a goal.

SPRINGTHORPE: MADE A COUPLE OF FINE SAVES...

ANDERSON LOOKS TO DELIVER A CROSS...

Massiah McDonald was being suggested by some Coalville fans as a due replacement and sure enough he entered the fray in place of the skilful Watson but it was the hosts who really pushed on again. Following a right-wing corner Zazi powered a shot wide of the right angle of crossbar and post, before a Ravens defensive tackle became a back-pass which Coton unwittingly picked up. The resulting indirect free-kick was pushed for Singh to strike from 12 yards and it took the combined forces of Bryant and Coton, rushing like infantrymen into World War 1 no man’s land, to deflect the rising effort over the goal-frame. From the next right-side corner, Barnes flattened Bryant in a collision and the wounded Raven stayed down but the referee chose to play on until the hosts were hovering menacingly around the 18 yard box before whistling play to a stop… Badly done.

CAUTION FOR FREEMAN...

A strong right side run by McDonald ended with an inaccurate pass inside towards Creaney, Ollie Bassett replaced Anderson and the substitute soon miscued a shot from 18 yards, after Coldfield had managed to block two low Coalville shots in succession. Barnes headed a Sinton corner too high at the other end, McDonald responded with another strong run at inside-right but he pulled his shot just wide of the left stick and then received a caution for making some kind of complaint. It only remained for Zazi to blaze a great chance wide of the right upright as the hosts looked to snatch a late victory, before the game ended all square.

Certainly Birch was the feature player for Sutton, along with Zak Martin who was wholehearted and effective at left-back. Smith’s goal was crucial but his unhurried passing was good to witness, whilst Webb supported significantly. Barnes was a danger aerially, in attack but despite a few shots at goal, Singh, like Anderson for Coalville, found accuracy tough to achieve. Luis Morrison-Derbyshire partnered Barnes solidly enough in the Royals’ defence and Zazi grew into the match, although credit must go to ‘keeper Springthorpe for contributing the aforementioned saves. 

Coalville were served well by Jenno in defence, Bryant too but skipper Steve Towers found the midfield area difficult to dominate due to the hustle, hassle and harassment of the Coldfield workers. Hollis was the one who mirrored some of Birch’s work for the Royals but like the hosts, the finishing by the Ravens was lacking quality too, despite Jenno’s free-kick and one header each by Creaney and Watson which had been kept out by either Springthorpe or Smikle. 

Once again the parking inside the Coles Lane ground had been awkward due to the pitch being rented out by the home club until around 7pm, when parents began to drive their youngsters home and a scramble for a treasured car-parking space for match spectators began…

Ah, well, it’s what they do…  

TEAMS:

SUTTON COLDFIELD TOWN:

MASON SPRINGTHORPE, BRIAN SMIKLE, ZAK MARTIN, REECE WEBB, LUIS MORRISON-DERBYSHIRE, JAK BARNES, MICKAEL PARTODIKROMO, LEE SMITH, MARCUS TUDGAY, AARON BIRCH (CAPT), GURJIT SINGH.

SUBS:

FRANCINO FRANCIS, JOE SINTON, ASH VINCENT, NEHEMIAH ZAZI, BOBBY MOSELEY. 

COALVILLE TOWN:

MATT COTON, KYLE BRYANT, CLEVELAND TAYLOR, DANNY JENNO, DEAN FREEMAN, STEVE TOWERS (CAPT), TOM McGLINCHEY, JERMAIN HOLLIS, DAN CREANEY, NAT WATSON, BLAIR ANDERSON.

SUBS:

MASSIAH McDONALD, WILL MELLOR-BLAIR, OLLIE BASSETT, JOE PEGG, JAMIE HANNIS (GK).