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12 June 2007

Town suffer first defeat

Coalville Town  1  Melton 2

Leicester Summer League

Coalville slipped to their first defeat in the Leicester Summer League against a strong Melton side.

Melton pressurised from the start, but Coalville defended solidly with the back four of James Woodard, Carl Marshall, Gareth Turner and Steve Partner settling down well early on to keep Melton away from the Town goal.

Phil Sign soon began to get control of the midfield and sprayed passes all over the park, bringing his fellow midfielders Liam McArthur and Sam Crowie more into the game. But the Melton defence shut out the Coalville forward line on most occasions and chances were few and far between.

It was from a Melton penalty corner midway through the half that Town somehow conjured the opening goal. Melton attempted a drag flick but Turner got in the way and blocked the effort and cleared quickly out of defence.

Gareth Toyer picked up on the ball and dribbled towards goal, drawing the keeper and squaring it for Malcolm Gillion to slot home.

Town went in a goal to the good at the interval, but the second half saw the game change. Coalville had a few chances to extend their lead with Ryan Mason seeing a reverse stick comfortably saved and Adam Barnett also being denied.

Midway through the half, Melton broke forward down the Coalville left and split the Town defence, squaring the ball for a forward to slot home at the far post.

Matt Taylor went on a few mazy dribbles after this, but Coalville failed to create any further chances. With the clock running, it was going to take something special to win the game, and Melton managed to find it. The ball was played out to the Coalville right and a player entered the dee before rifling a fierce drive into the top corner of the goal past the helpless 'on loan' Nick Eden in the Coalville goal.

Coalville squad: Nick Eden; James Woodard, Glen Marston, Carl Marshall, Gareth Turner, Steve Partner; Phil Sign, Sam Crowie, Liam McArthur, Matt Taylor; Ryan Mason, Gareth Toyer, Adam Barnett, Malcolm Gillion