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Trapdoor opening for thirds

Coalville Town 3rd XI  1  Northampton Saints 3rd XI  3

Bodykraft 3rd XI East Midlands Premier Division

Time continues to run out for Coalville's third string to save their season as defeat against Northampton Saints leaves them with only two games to pull themselves out of the relegation places.

After last weeks emphatic win at Mansfield and battling display at Warwick University, Coalville came into this game hopeful of picking up some more crucial points. But this defeat leaves them needing, realistically, to win both of their remaining games - against bottom side Coventry & North Warwick and Chesterfield, who lie just above Town.

Town started this game sluggishly, and paid the price, falling behind when a well crafted move left Greg Tongue helpless in the Coalville goal.

Saints doubled their advantage midway through the first half to leave Coalville with a real mountain to climb. To their credit, Town battled back after this, with Carl Clay seeing an effort go narrowly wide and Matt Taylor just failing to get on the end of good play from Chris Pearson.

Early in the second half Coalville did get one back when Pearson cut into the area and fired home past the Northampton keeper. Town now did have their tails up, and felt they should have had a penalty stroke when the ball hit a defender's foot on the line, but their appeals went unheard by the umpires.

And with that, Saints moved up another gear and scrambled a scruffy third goal late on to secure three points that ensures safety for them, but leaves Town with it all to do.