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Rivals edge it despite fightback

Leicester Thursday 3 Coalville Town 2 

Bodykraft East Midlands Premier Division

Coalville's fightback against local rivals Leicester Thursday came just too late to earn them anything from their latest Bodykraft East Midlands Premier Division clash.

Town, who have been on a decent run recently, started the game sluggishly against a Thursday lying in third place and still with ambitions of breaking into the top two despite the gap to Melton and Jaguar Coventry in the league's upper echelons.

The defence of Mick Clarke, Adam Barnett, Liam McArthur and Rich Wright were soon coming under pressure, but they couldn't keep the home side out and Town fell behind after around 10 minutes.

Things soon got worse. Coalville just weren't gelling and conceded possession cheaply to allow the ball to be moved forward quickly for a Thursday player to fire home past Adam Johnson in the Town goal.

Coalville started to try and get back into it, and Ryan Mason and Chris Vernon both saw efforts saved by the Thursday keeper. But shortly before half-time Coalville conceded a third and it looked as though they could be on the end of a real hiding.

But the second half saw a different story. It was Thursday's turn to go wayward, and Coalville suddenly found the right ingredient. Phil Sign and Sam Crowie began to tick in the middle of the park, which ensured Andy Newman and Brian Robinson on the flanks were beginning to see more of the ball.

Coalville got back into it when Vernon raced forward down the right and fired towards goal. The Thursday keeper saved the effort, but Crowie was on hand to fire home the rebound for his third goal of the season.

This gave Town renewed hope, and this hope was raised even further when Vernon smashed home his 22nd goal of the season to make it 3-2. Thursday were now rocking, and Mason again went close when his effort flashed across the face of goal.

But it wasn't to be for Town, they continued to pressurise but time eventually ran out and they had fallen to their first defeat in four games. Coalville will be hoping to upset the form books on Saturday when top of the table Jaguar Coventry visit King Edward VII College.