Main Menu

Leaders take the points

Coalville Town 3 Jaguar Coventry 5

BodyKraft East Midlands Premier Division

Coalville found top of the table Jaguar Coventry had just a little too much for them as the visitors continued their push for promotion to Midlands Division One.

County Drains-sponsored Town started reasonably well, with Ryan Mason and Chris Vernon linking up well with the midfield quartet of Andy Newman, Phil Sign, Sam Crowie and Brian Robinson.

Both sides continued to test each other out, and it wasn't long before Adam Johnson was forced into a good save to deny a Jaguar forward. But Coalville's resolve didn't last long. The visitors won a penalty corner and the ball was worked around the dee for a Jaguar player to smash home.

But Coalville battled back, and with around five minutes to go before the break they got on level terms. Mason latched onto Sign's through ball, took it round his marker, and lashed the ball home.

That was half time, and Town had performed pretty well against a well organised and confident opposition. But they failed to keep it up. A few minutes from the restart, Adam Barnett's slip allowed a forward to get away and fire Jaguar back in front and they never looked back from that.

The visitors extended their lead even further a few minutes later with a lovely passing move leaving a forward with a straightforward tap in, and Johnson soon had to be sharp to keep another good effort out.

Coalville then began to get a grip again, as Barnett and Ian Wright began to get the ball out of the Town half by using Glen Marston and Mick Clarke on the flanks. Robinson soon had a chance, but scuffed his effort wide.

Town's pressure was growing, and they made it 3-2 when Crowie picked the ball up and tried a reverse stick effort. Mike Browbank reacted quickly and managed to deflect the effort and leave the Jaguar keeper going the wrong way as the ball found the goal.

But Jaguar found another gear again, and they soon sliced Town's defence open again to make it 4-2. A fifth goal came shortly afterwards from a well worked penalty corner, and the game seemed to now be out of Coalville's reach.

Coalville had time for a late consolation when Vernon picked the ball up on the edge of the area and blasted a thunderbolt into the top corner of the goal for his 23rd league goal of the season. But it was all in vain, and Town must now look to get back to winning ways when they visit Boots on Saturday.