Main Menu

10th March 2007

Thirds make it 17 games unbeaten

Derwent 3rd XI  0  Coalville Town 3rd XI  2

DTZ 3rd XI East Midlands Division One

After clinching promotion last week, Coalville continued their push for the DTZ East Midlands Division One title with a hard fought win over a strong Derwent side.

The hosts, who lay in third place, had a good blend of youth and experience in their side which ensured it was a tricky game for Town. Derwent arguably started the game the stronger and Greg Tongue in the Coalville goal had to make a superb save to keep the hosts out.

Derwent then did find the goal when the ball was drilled into the dee and deflected off a stick. But the Derwent skipper then showed some admirable honesty when he admitted the ball had deflected off a Coalville stick and therefore wasn't a goal, allowing the umpires to reverse their original decision.

The game continued to be played in a good spirit, although skipper Darren Conway had a few choice words for his side at the break. This seemed to do the trick as Coalville came out a better side after the interval.

Town were soon creating chances and Gareth Toyer managed to blow a golden opportunity to fire Coalville in front when he failed to connect with the ball when the goal was gaping. Dave Mee then went close when a strike at a penalty corner cannoned back off the post.

Just when it started to look as though Coalville weren't going to make a breakthrough, up stepped skipper Conway to drill another penalty corner low into the bottom corner of the goal.

Coalville then began to get control of the game, with Brent Clamp in midfield playing particularly and Chris Pearson's trickery posing problems for the Derwent defence. Town soon saw another shot come back off the post.

The Coalville defence of Adam Whitehall, Simon Calkin, Simon Wyatt and Andy Greaves continued to play solidly as Derwent tried to hit on the counter.

Late on Coalville doubled their advantage when Clamp was on hand to turn the ball home following a scramble in the dee to secure a hard-earned win. A win at home to relegation haunted Barton on Saturday will see Coalville crowned champions.