1st Team Folly Report

October 2008

4th October H v Long Wittenham (North Berks Cup 1st Round)
Looking to put last week’s defeat behind them, Coleshill came up against Long Wittenham in the North Berks Cup. The players looked bright in the warm-up and well up for it in the changing rooms, the attitude looked and felt right. With the wind blowing straight down the pitch in Coleshill’s favour, they started very well forcing five or six corners within the first 10 minutes of the game. Both Sly and Francis were effective down each wing and the midfield three of Higgs, Moss and Rowe were using the ball intelligently, finding the feet of the front men Ashford and Sealey. It felt as though it was only a matter of time before the first goal came Coleshill’s way. Eventually it did come. After a good move down the right hand side, Francis swung over a cross that was not dealt with by the Wittenham keeper and Ashford was on hand to stab in his 5th goal of the season. Even though Coleshill were dominant, Wittenham did break well on occasions with Tim Barton causing a few problems with his pace and power. Ruddle and Quinton were equal to this threat and kept Titcombe in the Coleshill goal as a spectator the majority of the time. Coleshill continued to play some neat passing football creating some good chances throughout the first half…. with Rowe hitting the inside of the post from just inside of the box after a goalmouth scramble. 1-0 at half-time was a little harsh on Coleshill as the chances were there for a much more comfortable lead. As the second half started, the wind had picked up further and it was clear that this was to be a cliché “game of two halves”. The Coleshill team failed to gain any real control over the ball and for most of the second half both teams were camped in the Coleshill half. Wittenham certainly had the tools for the conditions with Cooper possessing a massive throw that could reach the back post with ease. The game had turned ugly due to the weather conditions and it was now a case of backs to the walls defending from Coleshill as each goal kick came straight back towards them, or worse, out for a throw in and a “Cooper special”. Eventually the pressure told as Wittenham got over a cross from the right that was touched home with 15 minutes to play. Wittenham didn’t let up, and continued the barrage on the goal with Coleshill limited to a few counter attacks that did show that they could get the ball down and play despite the conditions. As the game drew to a close, another Cooper throw was launched into the box that was flicked home from the near post into the far corner of the goal. 2-1 down, Coleshill rallied but failed to find the equaliser their second half performance barely deserved. The best opportunity falling to Sly whose snap shot inside the box was neatly saved by the keeper. Again we served up a disappointing result. The work rate and effort could not be faulted; the first half football was neat and tidy. But we failed to adapt to the bad second half conditions and eventually it was our inability to deal with this, and our inability to get the ball under control that was our undoing. The conditions were the same for both sides; this can’t be used as an excuse. Losing can become a habit and the players must react to this defeat and produce a performance that we all know they are capable of.
MoM – Paul Titcombe (kept it to two during second half)
Result: Coleshill 1 Long Wittenham 2

September 2008

27th September A v Benson Lions (Charity Shield 1st Round)
Coleshill travelled the long distance to RAF Benson to take on the Lions in the Charity Shield with what was probably one of the strongest squads the first team have had in a number of months. Fozzy and Vic had the luxury of leaving Martin Francis, Lynton Ruddle and Luke Regan on the bench with a full side out on the park. The squad was understandable buoyant and were looking to build on the second half performance from last weeks game. The game started in a sloppy way. Although the Coleshill defence rarely felt threatened, the team as a whole were far from their best. Every area of the side was showing bad touches, indifferent passing, terrible marking and poor decision-making. A mere shadow of what the side were capable of. Having said that, Coleshill did show the odd glimpse of quality... They had a handful of good chances to get there noses in front, most notably two from Gary Ashford one which he headed wide and another delightful effort that hit the bar from his standing foot. As the first half wore on it was clear that most players were not on their game, the defence were too far off their men, the midfield had failed to stamp their authority on the game and the ball was coming back from the front men too easily. The half-time team talk was quite stern and Fozzy and Vic sent the team back out with a renewed enthusiasm. But that soon faded as the same pattern set in. Players became frustrated with themselves and others and slowly some seemed to lose interest in the game. Players who are normally very influential during the game were quiet and not having the usual impact. Benson hit the bar and the striker had one nicked off his head by Dale Foster as they began to come into the game more. Benson got their break midway through the second half as a good move coupled with poor defending enabled the Benson striker to plant the ball past the helpless Tullett in goal. Coleshill, searching for an equaliser, always looked dangerous when going forward. Even though they were barely out of first gear and chances were coming and going. Chris Quinton having the best chance, following a corner the ball broke loose to him and he lashed it towards goal, only for it to be blocked on the line by the Benson No.7. Coleshill pushed three upfront in search of a goal, leaving them a little exposed in midfield and Benson got their second goal 5 minutes from the end as they broke away. The final whistle went, Coleshill were out of the Cup after a disappointing performance. The work rate could not be faulted. The team worked hard, the effort was there and the attitude was OK. What was missing was quality, something the team does possess in abundance. Hopefully this turns out to be a bad day at the office and not something that will be the norm. In reflection, after the game, the half-time team talk was harsh. If we’d come in 2-0 up (and we could have!) the game and team talk would have been completely different… but that’s the way it goes sometimes! Roll on next week and the North Berks Cup.
MoM – Benson No.7 (we never got to grips with him)
Result: Benson Lions 2 Coleshill 0

20th September A v Faringdon Town Reserves
After a disappointing start to their league campaign the 1st team made the short journey to local rivals Faringdon Town to take on their reserves looking for their first league win of the season. The first two league games had threatened a similar pattern to last season – poor player availability, poor attitudes and complacency, moaning at each other and the referee had all crept back into the squad. In what was Dale Foster’s first league game in charge after returning from honeymoon, he and Vic were determined to put a stop to this and get back to the good attitudes the players were showing in pre-season. Coleshill started the game fairly lively and were in control for the first 20 minutes of the game. Although having the lions share of the possession, Coleshill rarely threatened the goal and Faringdon were allowed back into the game as Coleshill seemed to take their foot of the gas slightly. It was Faringdon who had the first serious attempt on goal after the Coleshill defence overplayed and lost the ball in a dangerous position allowing the Faringdon winger to get over a good cross which Troy Redman luckily failed to connect with cleanly. The remainder of the first half was even with neither side really testing the goalkeepers, especially with Simon Tullett having a commanding game in the Coleshill goal claiming everything in the air. Coleshill lost two players shortly before half time, Lynton Ruddle and Simon Edwards both taking heavy knocks, that were frustratingly missed by the referee, who were replaced by James Rowe and Luke Regan. After re-organising following the injuries, Coleshill started the second half very well. As suggested at half-time, the passing was kept short and the midfield three of Greg Higgs, Paul Moss and James Rowe dominated the proceedings, all showing excellent touches. It wasn’t long before Coleshill took the lead. After some neat build up play, Coleshill forced a corner that was swung in by Greg and met by a storming header from Chris Quinton – straight from the training ground! The next ten to fifteen minutes of the game was one-way traffic. The Coleshill midfield totally controlling the game with some very attractive one and two touch passing coupled with the pace of Adam Sly causing all sorts of problems for their defence. It was Sly who scored the second after being put through and coolly slotting past the keeper. Next to score was James Rowe with a speculative shot from the edge of the area that beat Longman at his near post after some more neat play on the right from Coleshill. Coleshill, frustratingly slowed in the last twenty minutes of the game, but rarely looked under pressure as Quinny, who was outstanding all game, Buggy and Fozzy winning everything in the air and limiting Faringdon to long range efforts. Anything that did happen to creep through was ably managed by the superb Tullett in goal. Overall a very satisfying result and performance and one that should kick start the stuttering beginning to the season.
MoM – Adam Sly
Result: Faringdon Town Reserves 0 Coleshill 3

13th September H v Benson AFC
Result: Coleshill 2 (S. Blake, D. Sealey) Benson AFC 2

6th September A v Sutton Courtenay
Result: Sutton Courtenay 1 Coleshill 1 (G. Ashford)

August 2008

12th August H v Lambourn Sports (Faringdon Thursday Memorial Cup 2nd Round)
Coleshill 1st team lost 1-0 to holders Lambourn Sports in the 2nd round of the Faringdon Thursday Memorial Cup. Danny Sealey hit the inside of the post with a header when the scores were level and substitute Simon Edwards hit the bar to be denied the equaliser. Coleshill dominated the later stages of the match, with Greg Higgs having another
outstanding game, but they couldn't force the equaliser they most thoroughly deserved.
Result: Coleshill 0 Lambourn Sports 1

5th August A v Lower Stratton (Faringdon Thursday Memorial Cup 1st Round)
Coleshill 1st team played Lower Stratton in the 1st round of the Faringdon Thursday Memorial Cup with a new manager in Dale Foster and fielding some new faces. They got off to a fantastic start when debutant striker Danny Sealey headed home at the far post from a teasing cross from Martin Francis. Lower Stratton equalised when confusion in the Coleshill defence allowed goalkeeper John Painter to be lobbed. However, Coleshill bounced back and were soon ahead again when the other debutant striker Gary Ashford converted another Martin Francis cross. Gary Ashford then scored with a delicious lob to give Coleshill a two goal advantage at the break. Gary Ashford completed his hat-trick with another quality finish at the start of the second half. However, Lower Stratton kept plugging away and pulled one back from a free kick on the edge of the box. Substitutes Simon Edwards, Mathew Bugden and Dale Foster were all given a run out and it was Matty Bugden who set up Simon Edwards to score another debut goal. Martin Francis completed the scoring with another fine finish. Gregg Higgs and Paul Moss were outstanding in midfield.
Result: Lower Stratton 2 Coleshill 6