Main Menu

28th October 2006

Town slump to fourth defeat in a row

Coalville Town 1 Northampton Saints 2

DTZ East Midlands Premier Division

Coalville's miserable run of form continued as they slumped to their fourth defeat in a row at home to Northampton Saints.

Despite turning in a better performance than they produced against leaders Derwent the previous week, Town were still short of that killer touch against third-placed Saints, and two second half goals made Coalville pay the price.

Coalville started sloppily, and Northampton applied some sustained pressure for the opening 10 minutes. The Coalville defence of Andy Newman, Gareth Gamble and Mick Clarke stood firm, though, and Coalville came through unscathed.

They eventually began to find some rhythm, and Chris Vernon fired an effort just wide. Town continued to hit their opponents on the break, and Ryan Mason soon saw an effort blocked.

A Saints penalty corner soon saw a scrambled clearance from Gamble after keeper Paul Marston had managed to get a glove on effort, but the Town goal remained unbreached.

A foul inside the dee brought Coalville a penalty corner. The ball was played out, aimed for Vernon, but ended up on the stick of Mason, who shuffled past a defender before producing a reverse stick effort into the far corner of the goal to give Town the lead.

This gave Coalville impetus, and they soon went close to doubling the advantage. Vernon and Mike Browbank combined in midfield and Mark Newman picked the ball up on the right of the dee and hit a shot on goal, only to see the Saints keeper fortuitously deflect the effort onto the post and away from danger.

Coalville were nearly breached shortly before half time, but Marston this time stood firm to turn a flicked effort wide of the goal and ensure Coalville went in 1-0 up, and just about deserving the advantage.

Town created a chance shortly after the interval, but this time the Saints keeper spread himself well to block Ollie Knight's effort and also deny Adam Barnett on the follow up.

Coalville were then guilty of conceding possession cheaply, meaning another sustained period of Northampton pressure. A free hit on the edge of the dee was drilled into the area and a Northampton player deflected the ball high into the roof of the goal to level the game.

Town had further chances to regain the lead, with Browbank firing a penalty corner wide and Barnett again being denied by the keeper. The player then became scruffy, and Coalville saw two players yellow carded and Northampton one in the space of three minutes for separate offences.

Coalville hung on despite their man disadvantage, but Northampton had gained the initiative and with a little over five minutes left Town failed to clear their lines and a ball was fired across the face of goal for a player to dive in at the far post and turn the ball home. And that proved to be enough for Saints to pick up the three points, and leave Town still bottom but one, with a big game against the side just above them, but bogey side,  Jaguar Coventry, this weekend.