OLD HALESONIANS 3 NUNEATON 3

With a break from the Coaching Solutions East Midlands Premier Division, Nuneaton halted their losing streak with a well-earned draw in an away friendly against Old Halesonians.

A change of formation gave Nuneaton a more solid look and the return of Paul Whitehead in midfield gave the away side more bite, despite his lack of match fitness. However it was Old Hales who opened the scoring with a clinically finished short corner, which they repeated, not long after to give themselves a two goal lead.

This didn’t reflect the flow of the game and Nuneaton soon pulled the goal back their play deserved. A simple passing move led to Ali CLARKE popping up at the far post to slot home from close range and keep the home team close going into half time.

Nuneaton then turned the screw early in the second half when Dave ECCLES latched on to a superb through ball from Roger Stokes to level the match. Old Hales bounced back and went ahead again as seems to be the way with Nuns at the moment. Unlike recent weeks though Nuneaton kept playing their passing hockey and skipper Marshall was causing the home team constant problems moving up from right back into attack.

It was left to Ali CLARKE to get his second of the match, this time from even closer range following good approach play and it was Nuns who finished the match looking the more likely to grab a winner.

Next game is back to league action and this sort of performance will be what is needed if Nuneaton are to drag themselves out of the relegation spaces.

** QUIZ NIGHT – AMBLESIDE – 7.00pm – THIS FRIDAY – SEE SOCIAL PAGE **

NUNEATON II 2 SOUTH NOTTS II 3

This was another top of the the table clash in the Coaching Solutions East Midlands Division One from which the home side were unlucky not to get at least a point.

The home side started well, playing some fast, controlled hockey and were not prepared to allow the table-toppers to dominate affairs. Both sides had chances to take the lead but the first half remained scoreless.

Nuneaton started the second period briskly and took a deserved lead after fifteen minutes, when Ian Lawton's shot was stopped on the line by a defender's foot. Chris JESSON despatched the ball past the wrong footed keeper.

The away side then stepped up a gear and were level within five minutes, finishing well after some careless defending.

The confident hosts puhed forward looking for a winner and with ten minute' to go, Ian Lawton's pass found skipper Alan OWENS at the far post and he swept the ball into the empty net.

Thinking that the game was won, Nuneaton relaxed, only to be punished twice by the away side after lapses in the home defence.

This was unfortunate for the home side who deserved something after a fine performance,but the seconds can take heart from this solid display and hopefully reverse the result in the next league match.

** QUIZ NIGHT – AMBLESIDE – 7.00pm – THIS FRIDAY – SEE SOCIAL PAGE **

JAGUAR COVENTRY 3 NUNEATON III 4

The thirds travelled to Coventry and immediately took control of this Coaching Solutions East Midlands Division One clash.

Within five minutes of the start, the ball was skilfully worked up the left side of the pitch and passed to Ken LAPSLEY on the 25 yard line, who powered in beating the keeper and finished off with his trademark reverse stick.

The home team rallied back by scoring an equaliser from a short corner, but this spurred Nuneaton to lift their game and Paul Sidwell started firing in dangerous crosses from the right.

One such cross found Ken LAPSLEY in his usual position and he swiftly restored Nuneaton’s lead.

Within minutes a goalmouth scramble allowed Ken LAPSLEY to calmly pick up his hat-trick by slotting the ball between the keepers legs, but the home team drew it back to 2-3 before half time.

Some skilful defending from the likes of Lucky and Close kept Nuneaton ahead, but another Sidwell cross was met by Oliver GAZELEY at the far post, enabling him to score his first goal for the thirds.

The home team tried to rally by scoring a third goal, but strong goalkeeping by Leetham kept out any further attempts and Nuneaton came away with a much needed three points.

** QUIZ NIGHT – AMBLESIDE – 7.00pm – THIS FRIDAY – SEE SOCIAL PAGE **

NUNEATON IV 5 LOUGHBOROUGH V 5

The spoils were shared in this ten goal thriller as the two mid-table sides sought points to climb the Coaching Solutions East Midlands Premier Division.

The visitors were quick to dominate the early stages of the game, and justly went ahead when Nuneaton were unable to clear a short corner after the initial shot was saved. This prompted a series of attacks that the home side rebuffed but as the half wore on, the momentum started to change.

An injury to a Loughborough defender reduced them temporarily to ten men and Nuneaton took full advantage with a short corner tap-in by Patrick MOORE and then a fine solo run and slotted goal by Chris BURNARD.

Growing confidence led to Nuneaton over committing and being caught on the break shortly before halftime, as the teams reached the break on level terms.

Despite being urged to maintain the tempo of the first half, the hosts were sluggish in the early stages of the second period, and Loughborough again took the lead before Nev HOLMES squared the match after a short corner scramble.

A period of suicidal defending then saw Nuneaton gift two further goals to the opposition and with fifteen minutes remaining and the visitors restored to eleven men, the result looked beyond doubt.

At this point, Nuneaton suddenly found the high tempo game demanded by the skipper at halftime, and a fiercely struck hit from the sideline was deftly converted at the near post by Pat MOORE.

Nuneaton were now in the ascendancy and after more good work by Rixon and Burnard, Pat MOORE completed his hat trick with a clipped shot over the prostrate keeper.

With better defending, this is a game that Nuneaton should have won comfortably, and unless players show more resolve, there could be a nervy end to the season.

** QUIZ NIGHT – AMBLESIDE – 7.00pm – THIS FRIDAY – SEE SOCIAL PAGE **

SIKH UNION IV 7 NUNEATON V 0

Table topping Sikh Union had too much pace and skill for the Nuneaton defence in a one-sided Coaching Solutions South East Division Two game.

Nuneaton were under pressure right from the start of the game, from a mixture of quickly played one-two, aerial passes as well as the players running at them with skill and pace.

The opening goal was scored by the young Union centre forward who took the ball past four defenders before slotting the ball home. He had a fine match giving the Nuneaton defence major problems throughout the match and scored five of the home side’s goals.

The visitors did succeed in creating a few scoring opportunities, but once again they were not taken, and the score at half time was five nil, with all of the goals coming from either a well-worked move or a fine piece of individual skill.

It is a measure of the team spirit in the side that despite being out-classed, Nuneaton tried to get back into the game. Union did hit the post twice and Eric Thomas superbly saved a penalty stroke.

Even so it was two poor sixteen yard hits which gave the hosts the opportunities for two further goals. Although Nuneaton did get into the opposition circle more in the second half, no real scoring opportunities were created and the final score was probably a fair reflection of the difference between the two sides.

** QUIZ NIGHT – AMBLESIDE – 7.00pm – THIS FRIDAY – SEE SOCIAL PAGE **

NUNEATON VI 2 NORTHAMPTON LIONS IV 0

An excellent performance from the youngsters allied with an outstanding display of goalkeeping saw Nuneaton home in this Coaching Solutions South East Division Two league game.

The home side started with a bang and pushed the visitors back from the outset. The first goal came after a well worked move left Peter SIDWELL unmarked by the post to force home. The second followed soon after; this time a lovely through ball from veteran Nigel Lawton found Phil WHEATLEY who slotted the ball past the advancing keeper.

This second goal awoke the visitors and they decided that they needed to impose themselves, otherwise a heavy defeat was on the cards. This they did but for the rest of the first half a resolute defence keep them out.

The second half saw Lions redouble their efforts and Ian Mason pulled off a string of fine saves to thwart the visitors. This, allied to an outstanding display by Nigel Lawton meant they were not able to breach the home defence.

Yet again Richard Morris, Sam Marston and Craig Gilchrist all performed well in defence and Mark Lawton had his best game of the season in midfield.

** QUIZ NIGHT – AMBLESIDE – 7.00pm – THIS FRIDAY – SEE SOCIAL PAGE **