COLESHILL ARE RUTHLESS IN FA CUP WIN

This weekend marks the start of this seasons road to Wembley. Yes, it's FA Cup time again! I have chosen to cover the tie at Coleshill Town who are playing Nuneaton Griff. So I will visit a new ground and see Nuneaton Griff for the first time too. Coleshill are currently 2nd in the Midland Football League, Premier Division while Nuneaton are competing in the division below them.

I am taking the train to Birmingham and then make the small rail journey to Marston Green. I can see the end of a runway at the adjacent Birmingham airport while getting out of the train. I then walk out to the front of the station to the bus stop to wait for the No.70 bus. This takes me over to Coleshill via Chelmsley Wood. I notice on the way that Chelmsley Town's ground is situated on this route.

When I get out on to the High Street in Coleshill, it's 1:40 pm and there are not many people about, in fact the major activity today seems to be 2 weddings taking place. There are some nice old buildings here in the centre of this small market town of approximately 6,300 souls, just inside Warwickshire. There has been a settlement here since Roman times apparently and the town was famous for it's coach houses at one time about 300 years ago, so must have been situated on a major route at one time (probably to Coventry).

After having a quick look round the town and stopping off at the local chippy for a good value chicken burger, I walk down the road to the ground at Packmeadow Lane. The ground itself is situated on the left of the road and soon I am walking through the stylish metal gates, with the clubs name on them. It's a neat looking ground with the car park immediately in front of me and the pitch just on my right. The club house and changing rooms are on the far side of the car park, with a burger/refreshment van in front. Along the both sides of the pitch are 2 small stands and to the east of the ground is another pitch, probably for training.

I take my place at the far, southern end of the ground and when the teams come out, Coleshill are in their white shirts and blue shorts, while Nuneaton Griff are in their change strip of all red.

Coleshill are starting this new season in great form. The other week they won 8-2 at newly promoted Brocton and have scored 14 league goals in 4 games so far. I have predicted a 6-2 win for the home team today if they hit top form.

For the first 10-15 minutes, it's an even contest. However Coleshill take the lead when their powerful midfielder, Jonathon Jones heads home from a corner. Just 6 minutes later it's 2-0 when Daniel Douglas heads in from a long throw. After this, Coleshill look dangerous whenever they attack and duly score again when Douglas scores with another header.

                  (Tom Weale on the ball in another Coleshill Town attack)

Nuneaton nearly hit back when their No.9 goes close with a free-kick but Coleshill score number 4 when new signing, Tom Weale puts away a well placed shot in the corner with Griff's keeper, Dave Watson well and truly stranded. Straight from the kick-off Coleshill sweep down field and their No.9 sweeps home the ball from a left wing cross.

So as a contest this match is well and truly over and can only be a damage limitation excercise for the visitors.

I see from the programme that Coleshill Town have revived a lot of their youth teams and will have 2 women's teams too for this season. It's announced at the break that the attendance today is 92.

It's soon evident that Coleshill are in mood to rest on their laurels and on 53 minutes, number 6 is scored following a defensive mix-up after the No.9, Benjamin's header rebounds out from the corner of the bar and post, as shown below.

For a while Nuneaton Griff get back in to the game but without really threatening the Coleshill goal.

This is short lived though and one of the Coleshill substitutes, the pacy Simeon Cobourne, picks up the ball in midfield and races through to score (as shown below).

This same player scores again a few minutes later. The Nuneaton goalkeeper looks round and asks me how much time is left till full time. After telling him it's just 5 minutes he then asks me what the score is, as he has obviously lost count now. Unfortunately for him, Coleshill have enough time to score 2 more.

Before that, Aden Moore of Nuneaton has a goal disallowed for offside. Then after 88 minutes, Cobourne scores the last goal of his quick fire hat-trick and then another substitute, Withers scores the final goal in injury time when in a one on one situation with the Nuneaton stopper.

Later, I read that Nuneaton had fielded a weakened team today but it was still a very impressive performance by a fast and powerful Coleshill team. Their manager has certainly put together a strong squad and are certain to challenge strongly for silverware this season. The 2 players that impressed me the most were hat-trick hero, Simeon Cobourne who is only 18 years old and the No.8, Jonathon Jones who was very effective in a midfield holding role.

As for Nuneaton Griff, they did themselves a lot of credit by keeping to playing in an attractive manner, right till the end. In fact it was a very clean game. 

   

BOLDMERE TRIUMPH IN BANK HOLIDAY ENCOUNTER.

It's a sunny Bank Holiday Monday (is that a contradiction of terms?) and I have decided to take the train to Chester Road, to take in the local derby between Boldmere St Michaels and Coleshill Town.

Apologies to any followers of this Blog that I have been inactive for a while but I have had big problems with my mobile broadband. It's still not resolved but I have found time to use my computer on the wi-fi network at Worcester Library to write this post.

So it's quite cloudy when I leave Worcester but the sun is out by the time I get to Birmingham. This will be my 5th visit to the Trevor Brown Memorial Ground, having seen Bolmere twice and the Villa ladies team twice too.

There is a good crowd of about 100 people today and I see in the programme that Coleshill feature a few ex Boldmere players.

Boldmere hit the ground running and take the lead from a well placed shot from their No 11, Lee Osbourne. I remember seeing him play for Redditch Utd and Evesham Utd over the last 2 years, so Boldmere have acquired a quality player there.

Coleshill quickly counter but their forwards lobbed effort goes wide (as seen below)

Both teams are putting plenty of effort in to the game but the game needs someone to put their foot on the ball and bring a bit of quality in the final third of the pitch at both ends.

There are no more goal mouth incidents of note in the first-half and the stage is set for an interesting second period.

During the first-half I meet the Boldmere, Commercial Manager, Rob Clarke, who says the club would like some of my photos for their website and I agree to send some later on.

The second-half sees Coleshill pressing hard for an equaliser and Boldmere dangerous on the break.

  
Coleshill do hit the bar with one effort but otherwise the Boldmere defence are holding out well. In one breakaway, Craig Bannister, the Boldmere No 9 should score but instead shoots straight at the keeper.

There is an exciting finish and in injury time the dangerous Allen of Colehill leaps well to put in a good header on goal but it's well saved by the Boldmere keeper, (seen below).

Then a bit later, the Boldmere No 2, Gorle, scrambles another Coleshill effort off the line.

               (Lee Osborne is blocked out by the Coleshill defence)

So it's been a good match to watch in the end and Coleshill can feel a bit unlucky to not take any points from it. Both teams should feature in the top half of the table this season and I can recommend a visit to this lovely ground.