F. A. Cup Preliminary Round
Saturday 30th. August 2014
Coleshill Town 2 (1) Bromsgrove Sporting 2 (1)
Bromsgrove Sporting travelled to Coleshill Town in the Preliminary Round of the F. A. Cup last Saturday. Coleshill who are riding high in the Midland Football League premier Division entered the game as firm favourites. Sporting had to make a couple of team changes due to Captain Scott Smith and Sam Wills being cup-tied.
Coleshill started the tie on the offensive from the outset and after winger Chris Lloyd had seen his fierce cross shot flash across the Bromsgrove goal and wide, Coleshill took the lead in the 11th. minute when the ball found Coleshill's captain, Shane Benjamin, on the edge of the area and his fierce shot gave Jake Bedford in the Bromsgrove goal no chance. Coleshill at this stage were dominating and perhaps should have made their domination pay.
Sporting survived the pressure and gradually got back into the game and forced 3 corners in succession half way through the half, with the 3rd. being headed over by Craig Jones, again Coleshill hit back and should have increased their lead when Benjamin's sublime flick on the half way line put in Dean Rathbone, who jinked past Chris Duggan and Jones only to flash his shot wide.
Sporting equalised when Captain for the day, Simon Fitter picked out Gary Hay with a great ball from the right, and the striker headed powerfully into the net. Again Coleshill hit back and were a little unlucky not to take the lead just after the half hour mark when a lovely 1 - 2 on the edge of the area put in Jonathan Jones, but Bedford made a great save with his legs at the expense of a corner. Coleshill continued to dictate for the rest of the half without really exposing the Bromsgrove defence.
Half Time - Coleshill Town 1 Bromsgrove Sporting 1
Bromsgrove came out after the break determined to make an impression, and nearly took the lead as early as the 4th. minute of the half, when substitute and returnee Daniel Morris, who had come on a minute earlier for the injured Chris Sockett, crossed from the left and Hay's header forced Jay into a save low down. Sporting forced a corner and Danny Ludlow found himself in space and fired home into the far corner.
Sporting were now getting on top and nearly went 2 goals up when a flowing move involving Hay and Ryan Mahon resulting in the latter forcing a fine save from Jay, the resulting corner saw Jones again head over the bar. Bromsgrove got a free kick near the half way line on the hour mark, and Fitter's audacious attempt nearly caught Jay out but he recovered to make a fine fingertip save, from the corner Reece Hewitt blasted over when well placed, Sporting were now dominating but just couldn't get that all important 3rd. goal.
Coleshill brought on Ryan Nash down the right hand side, and he immediately made an impact when in the 72nd. minute he got to the bye line and got in a great cross that found Benjamin unmarked in the 6 yard box, but somehow Bedford made a brilliant save to keep the score at 2-1, when it seemed the striker was certain to score. Coleshill equalised in the 76th. minute, when Nash was again the provider, when his cross-shot again was quite expertly saved by Bedford, only for this time for Dean Rathbone to nod home the rebound.
Coleshill were now forcing the pace in trying to force the winner and Bromsgrove were hitting them with a fast counter attack, The game had become a typical cup-tie. Sporting were bold in sending on Jozsef Jakab and Dave Almond in trying to get the winner and it almost paid dividends when in added time Jakab received the ball from a throw in and with a lovely piece of skill set up himself for a volley that flew just over the bar.
On reflection a draw was probably a fair result, and lets hope the replay is as entertaining.
Full Time - Coleshill Town 2 Bromsgrove Sporting 2
Coleshill Town - Chris Jay, Dean Cowley (Simeon Cobourne 46 mins.), Oliver Casey, Jack Hulin, Luke Edwards, Barry Fitzharris, Chris Lloyd (Ryan Nash 64 mins.), Thomas Weale, Shane Benjamin, Jonathan Jones, Dean Rathbone.
Subs unused - Dean Withers, David Stewart, Ashley Bradshaw, Leon Weller, Rob Jeffs.
Bromsgrove Sporting - Jake Bedford, Chris Duggan, Chris Sockett (Daniel Morris 48 mins.), Simon Fitter, Craig Jones, Aaron Williams, Luke Shearer, Ryan Mahon, Gary Hay (Dave Almond 86 mins.), Reece Hewitt (Jozsef Jakab 83 mins.), Dany Ludlow.
Subs unused - Peter Christmas, George Coley, Joe Brookes.
Referee - Mr. Kevin Allsop (Stafford)
Attendance - 175
