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Goals galore as Lions tamed

Northampton Lions 5 Coalville Town 6

BodyKraft East Midlands Premier Division

One thing that no one can deny is that watching Coalville on away days is an entertaining experience as they picked up a second successive away win in an 11-goal thriller against a skilful young Northampton Lions side.

This result means County Drains-sponsored Coalville have now hit 14 goals in their two away games this season, and they'll be hoping to keep the goals flowing while shoring up a little at the back.

Coalville came under pressure early on as Lions pushed forward, with Town keeper Paul Marston forced into a couple of good saves. Coalville soon created chances of their own, with Chris Vernon denied by a good save from the Northampton keeper and Ryan Mason firing wide.

The score remained goalless for the first 15 minutes, but a mis-hit penalty corner gave Northampton the lead shortly after this, and the home team then extended their lead shortly before the break when Coalville conceded possession at the top of the their dee and a player smashed home into the top corner.

Things didn't look good for Coalville, but they fought back and got a goal shortly before half-time when Mark Newman turned home after good work from Vernon to set him away on goal.

At half-time Town decided to change their way of playing, pressurising the Lions defence rather than holding off 'half court' as they had for the first half. It didn't look like it was going to work when Lions made it 3-1 from the penalty spot after the ball had hit Mick Clarke's foot on the line, after a deflection off the helmet of Town keeper Marston.

But then came the big Coalville fightback. Just as they had done against Leicester Westleigh in their previous away fixture when they hit eight goals, Town blasted forward and it quickly became 3-2 when Vernon fired home after good work from James Woodard.

Town continued to apply the pressure, and Northampton soon cracked again. This time lovely work down the left by Liam McArthur saw him dance by a couple of challenges and slip the ball to Mason, who made no mistake from six metres out to level the scores at 3-3.

Coalville's tails were now up, and the pressure was relentless. Northampton's inexperience was telling and Coalville soon dispossessed their opponents in a dangerous position and won a penalty corner. The ball was played out and Vernon's shot was saved by the keeper, but the Town followed up and slotted home his second of the game to put Coalville in front for the first time.

The pressure continued, though, and Town went 5-3 up when Mason's flicked effort at goal was blocked by the body of a Northampton player, resulting in a penalty stroke to Town. Vernon kept his cool to flick home high and complete his hat-trick.

Northampton then woke up again, and the ball was soon crashing back into the Coalville goal to make it 5-4. But Town went straight back out, Mason dribbled past a couple of players before blasting a fiercesome strike into the top corner of the Lions goal to make it 6-4.

Coalville seem, though, at times unable to kill games off. Northampton came back again and made it 6-5 when a player slid in to just beat skipper Andy Newman to the ball to turn it home. It was then that for the final five minutes Coalville decided to hold onto the ball, starving Northampton of the ball, to secure a big win that takes Coalville up to fourth in the table.