Coleshill Town 1 Bridgnorth Town 0
Aspire Midland Alliance
At: Pack Meadow, Packington Lane
Kick-off: 7-45 pm
Admission: £5; Programme: £1 (24 pages)
Attendance: 32
Weather: cold, dry
Duration: first-half: 46:00; second-half: 49:00
Free-scoring Coleshill found lowly Bridgnorth a tough nut to crack and had to settle for victory by a single Luke Edwards goal scored just before the interval.
Midweek trips this season for me have been a little on the scarce side but, tonight, I just fancied getting out to somewhere not too far away. Looking through The Football Traveller there was only one real choice and that involved return visit to Coleshill Town’s Pack Meadow ground, where I’d seen Town lose 2-3 to Solihull Borough way back on Saturday 17th February 1990.
Coleshill is located a couple of miles north east of the M6/M42 intersection but I decided to head there via Lichfield rather than chance the rush hour traffic on the motorway through Birmingham. From the southbound A446, I took the first Coleshill turn (A4117) and continued straight through the town up the High Street. Shortly after passing the George and Dragon pub, Packington Lane was on the left (signed Packington 2 ¼ miles) and the ground was a further half-mile on the left just after speed restriction ended.
The ground was through an impressive set of gates, emblazoned with ‘Coleshill Town F. C.’ and the pitch ran lengthways. Down the near right-hand touchline on half way was the new stand, containing four rows of bench seating with dugouts in front. Opposite was the older stand with two rows of green wooden benches. The club and changing room building was located in the near left-hand corner and incorporated a ‘Tuck Shop’ hatch. The complex also boasted a smaller second pitch complete with dugouts and training lights.
The programme included a nice history of the club which mentioned that Coleshill, founded in 1894, were in fact the oldest non-league club in Warwickshire. They completed in local football before joining the Midland Combination in 1967. In 1974, they gained promotion to Division One, the top division which became the Premier Division in due course. Apart from one season, 2000/01, they enjoyed an almost unbroken 25-year stint in the Combination top flight culminating in the winning the title in 2007/08 season. Coleshill were promoted to the Midland Alliance and finishing the debut season in the higher league in a creditable 11th position.
The winter break did Coleshill no harm at all and, in fact, they have won five and drawn two of their last nine league and cup games. Goals have flowed, particularly at home with their last three games at pack Meadow finishing 8-0, 4-0 and most recently 3-0. They went into this game with Bridgnorth in 10th position with 40 points from 26 games and last Saturday won 5-1 at Biddulph Victoria.
This trip to Coleshill was Bridgnorth third game in a run of four games following defeats last Saturday at Rocester and on Tuesday at Malvern. Being in 18th position on 25 points from 28 games, they have relegation worries as both Highgate and Rocester below them have games in hand.
Coleshill got the game underway attacking the goal at the south end of the ground, the one in front of the tall conifers. I opted for a seat on the back row on the new Packington Lane stand so the home side were playing from left to right in relation to my vantage post
The home side posed the early threat and Neil Davis headed wide from Jon Powis’ corner. Davis made two appearances for Aston Villa at the start of his career and went on to play for a number of clubs including Walsall, Hednesford Town and Newport County.
After soaking up the early pressure, Bridgnorth started to get forward. Phillip Hurdley played a deep diagonal ball forward from the right. It fell to skipper Jason Pike at the far post who couldn’t get his shot on target. The move encouraged the visitors and they that that they were “starting to get a grip on the game”.
Coleshill (in green and white) really should have taken the lead in the 26th minute. Rob Evans broke down the right and fed the overlapping Chris Charles. The defender picked out Powis inside the area who ballooned his shot not only over the bar but the tall conifers as well.
The home manager pointed out that his side “can’t score 3 or 4 every week” – a reference perhaps to the big scores recently recorded by his side.
Just after the half-hour mark, Pike dribbled to the edge of the Coleshill area before deciding to shoot over the bar.
The deadlock was eventually broken in the 44th minute. Lawrence Rawlings’ left-wing corner wasn’t cleared and defender Luke Edwards fired home what proved to be the winner from around 8 yards out.
Buoyed by the goal, Coleshill quickly got forward down the left. A cross fell to Davis who turned and hammered the ball just over the bar.
Bridgnorth made a bright start to the second half and won three corners in quick succession. They went close just before the half mark. Steve Darlington propelled a long throw into the area from the right and Zac Jackson volleyed over the bar.
During the second half I got talking to Mark McIntyre, the Bridgnorth secretary and a real fountain of knowledge on Shropshire football and also Bradford Park Avenue. I remarked about a past and present connection with Bridgnorth and my old club Stafford Rangers. Current Town boss Andy Marlowe played for Stafford in the mid-1990s and a previous manager, Kevan Bowen, left Bridgnorth for Stafford around the same time. Bowen certainly lifted the club off its knees on the field and deserved great creadit for doing so.
Chances were very scarce in the second half and it wasn’t until the 89th minute that Coleshill could have put the outcome beyond doubt. A deep diagonal cross from the right fell perfectly for unmarked Ryan Scott at the far post but he fired into the sidenetting.
In stoppage time, Matty Robinson got the better of George Williams and hit a well-struck shot from the left side of the area which the diving Craig Johnson did well to parry.
With time running out, Bridgnorth were awarded a free-kick 30 yards out. However, the ball delivered by Ben Jeavons into a packed area was cleared.
Coleshill Town (green and white stripes / white / white): 1. Craig Johnson, 2. Chris Charles (capt), 3. Luke Williams, 4. Luke Edwards, 5. Ryan Scott, 6. Ben Porter, 7. Rob Evans, 8. Jon Powis, 9. Neil Davis, 10. Matty Robinson, 11. Lawrence Rawlings. Subs: 12. Leysio Recci (for Evans, 62), 14. Chris Gumery (for Davis, 62), 15. Lewis Moss (not used), 16. Barry Fitzharris (not used).
Bridgnorth Town (blue/blue/blue): 1. Darren Walters, 2. Zac Jackson, 3. Phillip Hurdley, 4. Steve Darlington, 5. George Williams, 6. Ryan Guryn, 7. Kevin Thompson, 8. Jason Pike (capt), 9. William Meredith, 10. Chris Sturridge Pacer, 11. Ben Jeavons. Subs: 12. Andy Marlowe(not used), 14. Anwarsadat Oluugbon (for Meredith, 60), 15. Paul Cross (not used), 16. Dan Kibblewhyte( not used), 17. Steve Broome (not used).
Referee: S. Lane.
Assistants: A. Scriven and R. Osborne.
Goals:
1-0 Luke Edwards (44)
Cards:
Coleshill: Ryan Scott (YC, 71), Chris Gumery (YC, 81)
Bridgnorth: none
