Biggin 0 Coach Rangers 2
Summer League
At: Drury Lane
Kick-off: 7-00 pm
Admission: none; Programme: none
Attendance: 40 (headcount)
Weather: sunny
Duration (40): first-half: 40:42; second-half: 41:07
This was my second visit to Biggin’s unique and undulating Drury Lane pitch and Coach Rangers inched nearer to becoming Summer League Champions with a hard-fought 2-0 victory thanks to goals from Callum Woolley and Kevin Millward.Coach went into this evening’s game top of the Summer League table with 56 points from 22 games, eight points clear of second-placed Bradley who had a game in hand. Biggin stood in 7th position on 31 points from 22 games.
Attacking the Drury Lane end of the ground in the first half, Coach took the lead in the 4th minute. Craig Frith’s long throw from the left wasn’t cleared and Callum Woolley volleyed home from six yards out.
Coach created several decent changes during the first half and Biggin keeper Stuart Millward needed to produce diving saves to keep out shots from both Richard Smith and Simon Wint.
In the 68th minute, Biggin were awarded a free-kick 25-yards out which fortunately for Coach was fired over the wall and bar by Andrew Wilton.
Needing a second goal to secure the win, it was a mistake that allowed Coach to double their lead in the 73rd minute. Stuart Frith’s slip allowed Kevin Millward to break into the area and slot home at close range (see photo right).In the closing stages, Stuart Frith tried to make up for his slip and headed a free-kick just wide of the Coach net.
There was more than the win for Coach to celebrate after the final whistle as Bradley lost 1-0 at Doveridge. So they just need a win from either of their last two games to claim the title.
Biggin (red and white stripes / red / red): 1. Stuart Millward, 3. Joe Beech, 2. Matthew Alsop, 7. Roger Tomkinson, 6. Jim Annett, 10. Andrew Wilton, 8. Paul Williams, 14. Stuart Frith, 5. Thomas Fenton, 12. Josh Critchlow, 9. Matt Critchlow. Subs: 17. Ian Currington (for Matt Critchlow, 35).
Coach Rangers (yellow / black black): 1. Simon Hellaby, 6. Paul Godfrey, 15. Dave Shipley, 11. Martyn Taylor, 14. Craig Frith, 10. Dec Bacon, 5. Richard Smith, 8. Simon Wint, 12. Wayne Taylor, 9. Callum Woolley, 7. Kevin Millward. Subs: 3. Darren Handley (for Taylor, 66), 17. Terry Ford (for Woolley, 78), 13gk. Sean Jones (not used), x. Wayne Travers (not used).
Referee: Ian Fraser.
Goals:
0-1 Callum Woolley (4)
0-2 Kevin Millward (73)
Cards:
None
