SOAR VALLEY 0 NUNEATON 3

In this crucial game in the Coaching Solutions East Midlands Premier Division it was the visiting side from Nuneaton that took control from the start of the match.

With almost the first attack of the game Nuneaton were awarded a short corner and with a well rehearsed routine the ball was switched to the right post where Andy PARKER was lurking to slot the ball home for 1-0.

With some good flowing moves down both sets of wings, it wasn’t long before the away side got into the danger area and were rightly awarded a penalty flick after Higginson was brought to the floor by the Soar Valley keeper.

Unfortunately the keeper guessed right and turned the ball round the post. After several more half chances went begging the score was only 1-0 at half time.

The second half was much of the same with Nuneaton pressing forward and they scored a second from a scrappy short corner. The ball finally fell to Dave ECCLES after a couple of rebounds and he gratefully accepted the chance to make it 2-0.

Nuneaton were then awarded a second penalty flick for a deliberate foot on the line but the keeper again saved the penalty from a hapless Ally Jones.

It was a frantic last quarter with Soar Valley pushing forward to recover the game, but this left gaps at the back. From a quickly taken long corner, the ball was struck towards the back post by Whitehead where Brian GORDON-STABLES was on hand to put the result beyond doubt for Nuneaton.

In the end it was a well deserved win and may provide hope for the rest of the season if Nuneaton are to stay in the division.

NUNEATON II 3 BARTON II 3

This Coaching Solutions East Midlands Division One match was certainly a game of two halves with the away side doing all the running in the first half and Nuneaton seeing very little of the ball.

It was only a matter of minutes before Barton took the lead after cutting through the Nuneaton defence and firing home past a helpless Peter Sidwell. Barton continued to press and would have gone two up from a short corner but for a great stop on the line by skipper Alan Owens.

This proved a temporary respite for the hosts as Barton continued to press and scored a well deserved second goal ten minutes before the break.

Nuneaton started the second half as an almost different side and went straight at the visitors, quickly rewarded with a well taken goal from Mark HUTCHINSON who took it past two defenders and fired beyond the onrushing keeper.

This gave Nuneaton even more heart and the score was levelled with another goal from Mark HUTCHINSON after good work from Andy Forryan down the right.

Barton's heads had dropped by now and with ten minutes remaining, Nuneaton had a third goal after Hutchinson unselfishly squared for the unwell Roger STOKES to lash the ball home.

Buoyed by this turnaround, Nuneaton continued to press forward, but with five minutes to go the home side pushed too many players into the opposition half and were punished for it with a Barton counter-attack.

The scores remained level until the final whistle but Nuneaton were disappointed to have let a victory slip from their grasp after such a sterling fightback.

NUNEATON IV 1 PLAYERS IV 3

Nuneaton suffered a home defeat to bottom of the table Players in the latest Coaching Solutions East Midlands Premier Division clash, but can once again be encouraged by the performance of the younger players.

Players spent the first ten minutes attacking the home goal as a strangely lethargic Nuneaton backed off and it was no surprise when the visitors deservedly took the lead.

More pressure saw Mike Loveless’s goal peppered with shots and Matt Pegg was on hand to clear a goalbound flick off the line. Another shot clipped the post and Nuneaton struggled to contain a surprisingly strong and quick opposition.

A slight tactical change brought instant reward as the home side dominated the rest of the first half and Glen WYRE flicked a rebounded corner shot high into the opposing net to level the scores.

Further opportunities went begging as the visiting keeper was called into action on several occasions, and Lapsley and Tallis both went close as the tempo increased.

Players scrambled a second against the run of play as the home side continued to pour forward in search of victory. Wyre saw another shot loop over the keeper and onto the roof of the goal whilst Rixon was dominant around the midfield area.

Players continued to ride their luck and managed to sneak a third to put the game out of Nuneaton’s reach.

Matt Pegg and Richard Morris were again solid in defence and have adapted well to the increased pace of fourth team hockey. Indeed, some of their older colleagues might benefit from a similar level of concentration and work ethic.

NORTHAMPTON IV 9 NUNEATON V 1

Nuneaton were simply outclassed in this Coaching Solutions South East Division Two game by a young, skilful, fit and fast Northampton Lions side.

The home team was additionally aided by a higher team player whose availability had meant him turning out in this side, so all in all, Nuneaton had defended well to restrict the score to three at half time.

Henry Casement in goal had made two fine saves and the rest of the team worked hard, but Nuneaton had mounted very few worthwhile attacks.

In the second half the Lions moved the able around at pace and Nuneaton’s inexperience and age began to tell. They began to make errors and poor Casement in goal received little protection and found himself on the receiving end of his own defence’s mistakes.

Despite this Nuneaton did mount some spirited resistance and troubled the Lions defence on several occasions, fully deserving their consolation goal scored by Matt TROTMAN.

However, five more goals for the hosts made it a poor day out for Nuneaton.

NUNEATON VI 3 LEICESTER WESTLEIGH IV 2

This Coaching Solutions South East Division Two league match was a cracking affair with plenty of goalmouth action and no little skill from both teams.

Nuneaton sixths had a surfeit of players this week and it was always going to be difficult not to upset the team balance but still keep everyone involved, and so it proved.

The game started with Leicester showing good early form which belied their bottom of the table position, soon calling keeper Ian Mason into action. In fact during the first half he needed to be very alert to avoid letting Leicester open the scoring.

Nuneaton made three changes and started to obtain more of the ball and from a right wing attack they found Josh WAGG unmarked in front of the goalkeeper and he very coolly deflected the ball into the corner of the net.

The home side then extended the lead after Geoff Wagg’s pass found Tom COSTELLO inside the area; his first shot was blocked but he scored from the follow up.

This fired the visitors up and they renewed their attacks and the centre forward deflected home following a goalmouth scramble.

The second half followed a similar pattern and Nuneaton continued to make a number of changes, rolling on subs at regular intervals. They won a number of short corners and took advantage from one as Geoff WAGG scored with a crisply hit drive.

In the dying minutes Leicester pull a goal back and this made it a very tense last five minutes as the home side were forced to hang on.

This was an excellent match played in a great spirit and well umpired.