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14 October 2006

Leaders too strong for Town

Northampton Lions 2nd XI  4  Coalville Town 2nd XI  2

DTZ 2nd XI East Midlands Division One

Coalville slumped to their second consecutive defeat in DTZ East Midlands Division One as top of the table Northampton Lions proved to be too strong.

The game was fairly even for the first quarter of an hour as both sides sounded each other out. Town were being pinned back in their own half at times, but did look to have threat going with the trickery of Niki Arnold and Tony Crowie.

After 20 minutes the deadlock had been broken. Town won a penalty corner following a foul on Glen Marston. The ball was played out to the top of the area where Arnold was able to fire the ball home into the bottom corner to give Coalville a welcome lead.

But the home side came back and were soon level. A free hit on the edge of the area was deflected by a forward and past Paul Marston in the Coalville goal.

Northampton then won a penalty corner, and as a player was given room to get a shot in on goal it took a good save from Marston to keep Town level. But two minutes before the interval, Lions did get in front. Another penalty corner saw another player given too much room and he was allowed to flick home from around eight yards out.

Town knew their passing in the first half had been poor, and sought to try and do better in the second period. But, unfortunately if anything the passing got worse and Coalville were soon guilty of not being able to put more than three passes together.

As is to be expected, if you can't keep possession and keep giving the ball in dangerous positions, the opposition will eventually take advantage. Northampton added a third with a well worked move and Town knew they had a mountain to climb.

To Town's credit, Coalville did manage to get back into the game with 10 minutes remaining. Another penalty corner was awarded and Arnold fired home with another good strike into the corner.

Again, though, Northampton came back strongly and Town were soon thankful to Steve Partner, who did superbly to clear a goalbound effort off the line. But with two minutes to go, Lions got a fourth to wrap up the game when Mick Clarke was outmuscled at the edge of the dee and the player was able to flick the ball past Marston at his near post.

Town host Northampton's other side, Northampton Saints, on Saturday.