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Seconds left with nothing

North Notts 2nd XI  2  Coalville Town 2nd XI  0

Bodykraft 2nd XI East Midlands Premier Division

Coalville were left feeling aggrieved after this game by some bizarre umpiring decisions by the home umpires that ultimately cost Town at least a share of the spoils.

The early exchanges in the game were relatively even as both sides had chances. Darren Ward went close to scoring for Coalville, while Joel Barker was forced into a fine save at the other end to keep North Notts out.

Mick Clarke, Stuart Jobburn, Carl Marshall and Steve Partner were largely keeping the North Notts frontmen quiet, while Tony Crowie and Darren Conway were working hard in the centre of the park to feed Rich Wright and Brent Clamp on the flanks.

Town soon had another chance from a penalty corner, but Niki Arnold saw his effort well saved. The sides went in goalless at the interval.

The second half continued in a similar vein, but then the bizarre umpiring began. First Coalville were awarded a penalty corner when Conway's shot at goal was stopped on the line by a defender's foot. Town players complained that it should have been a penalty stroke - and the umpire's reversed the penalty corner to a free hit.

A few moments later, Partner was shown a yellow card when, for a split second, he entered the field of play from the sideline in place of Sam Crowie meaning Town had 12 players on the field. That mistake was punished with the sin bin for Partner, leaving Coalville with only 10 players for a 10 minute period.

And in that time, North Notts struck twice with well taken goals. Coalville showed some spirit, and Wright went close with a couple of efforts but it wasn't to be, and Town travelled back down the M1 with nothing to show for their efforts. They'll be hoping for better fortune when local rivals Loughborough Town visit King Edward VII College on Saturday