NUNEATON 1 NORTH NOTTS 6

The future now looks bleak for Nuneaton to remain in the Coaching Solutions East Midlands Premier Division after a 6-1 defeat at home to the hands of promotion candidates North Notts.

After a good, solid start by the home side, it did not take long for North Notts to get into the groove as with their first short corner, they took an early lead with an unstoppable drag flick into the top corner.

Shortly afterwards they doubled their lead with an exact replica goal to go in to the break 2-0 to the good.

The second half saw a bright start by the Nuns with some good runs from Owens and Clarke down the flanks. Unfortunately, the visitors were too strong in defence and cancelled out any attacks the home side made.

Nuneaton were eventually rewarded with a short corner and took full advantage with a well-rehearsed routine, Paul WHITEHEAD crashing the ball into the bottom corner.

This only spurred the Nottingham side on and they scored a further four goals to put Nuneaton out of the game and a mite closer to relegation.

The scoreline did not reflect the hard work and passion the Nuns showed, as the game was a much closer affair and the team will now need all their resolve over the remaining games to rescue themselves from a precarious situation.

NUNEATON II 1 SIKH UNION II 1

This was yet another draw for Nuneaton who have now drawn the last three league games but still remain fifth in the Coaching Solutions East Midlands Division One league.

The game started like most this season, with the home side slow to get out of the blocks and being put under pressure by a good Sikh Union side who took the lead midway through the first half.

Nuneaton struggled to string passes together in the first half but started much better in the second period and managed to make the away side's defence work much harder. However, it was another twenty minutes before the home side tested the away keeper, and after relentless pressure, Nuns hit the equaliser from a good shot by Simon PENNINGTON giving the keeper no chance.

Nuneaton continued to press, but were unable to score the winner. This was a fair result for both teams who sit together in the league with the same points and same games played.

LICHFIELD II 5 NUNEATON III 0

Nuneaton thirds travelled to Lichfield knowing that they faced a tough time against a side who had not lost all season and had only conceded five goals during their Coaching Solutions East Midlands Division One league campaign.

The visitors did well to match them for most of the first half conceding only from a penalty corner after the first shot was well blocked but the defence were unable to clear the loose ball and the resultant shot was guided in on the far post leaving keeper Norrington no chance.

The second period was a different story as the faster and more accurate passing of the league leaders wore down the Nuneaton players and, as holes began to appear, the Lichfield forwards took advantage despite some excellent saves from Norrington and strong tackling from sweeper Ian Nixon.

Nuneaton were unable to respond, even when the home side had a player sent off for pushing Nuns new Australian signing Aaron Dobos.

To their credit Nuneaton kept battling and working despite knowing that the cause was lost and Ken Lapsley and Paul Sidwell up front caused problems with the little possession that they received but it proved a fruitless task and Lichfield now have enough points for automatic promotion with several matches still to play.

OLD SILS IV 1 NUNEATON IV 4

After a miserable run of results since the Christmas break, Nuneaton returned to winning ways with a deserved victory in the Coaching Solutions East Midlands Premier Division.

The large, wide pitch at Solihull School suited the visitors’ expansive game and with Matt Cawthorne and Steve Tallis providing formidable threats down the right, it was a matter of time before Old Sils resistance was broken.

A well-planned corner routine resulted in Dave ELLINGWORTH tapping in from close range and this was shortly followed by Nev HOLMES despatching a penalty flick after Pat Moore’s shot was stopped on the line by a defender’s foot.

Old Sils responded with a number of attacks which threatened the Nuneaton goal, but solid keeping by Mike Loveless and some poor finishing from the hosts’ forwards, saw the guests enjoy a 2-0 halftime advantage.

The second half was a much more one-sided affair with Nuneaton dictating the tempo of play, and Pat MOORE opened his account with a deft touch to a fiercely driven short corner. He then doubled his tally with a pirouette and first time shot after a sumptuous Ellingworth through ball.

Old Sils clawed a goal back from a penalty after some sloppy defence left last man Tallis with little option but to plant his foot on the goalbound ball, but there was still time for Nuneaton to forge a number of chances as the game wore on.

Matt Pegg was unlucky to see his first time effort rebound off a startled keeper’s pads, whilst a last minute penalty was deflected round a post by the defender’s shin.

Ably assisted by the veteran John Tilley and youthful Richard Morris, Andy Mahon was back to his imperious best giving the defence a much more resolute look than in recent weeks.

MELTON IV 3 NUNEATON V 1

A competitive match in Coaching Solutions South East Division Two, which was very well umpired, ended in another disappointing defeat for the fifths.

Melton had a second team player recovering from injury in midfield and early on it looked as if he was going to run the game. This has been a season of coping with difficult situations for the fifths and gradually they began to shackle him and the match became an even contest.

There had been chances at both ends when the Melton ‘star’ put them ahead with a short corner strike of the highest quality.

The second half continued to be keenly contested although with Nuneaton tending to give the ball away, particularly with hits out of defence, Melton had the greater pressure. Apart from the clearances the defence stood up to it well and Melton had few shots on target all of which were comfortably dealt with by Eric Thomas who once again had donned the keeper’s pads.

With ten minutes left it was no more than the visitors deserved when the equaliser came. A good pacy attack down the right resulted in a well struck cross which Sid ORPIN tucked away.

Nuneaton then tried too hard to get a winner. Their final pass had frequently been too close to Melton’s experienced defenders and with too many players pushing forward, they were caught on the break. With extra players forward the Melton scorer was left with an easy tap in.

With three minutes left Melton were awarded a short corner. It was well cleared by Thomas but Nuneaton’s forwards were slow to cover back and the ball was picked up by Melton who once again made the men over count.

Having fought their way back into the game Nuneaton were disappointed to have let it slip away again. Nuneaton tried to reduce the arrears but the Melton defence made sure the time was played out.

NUNEATON VI 3 ASHBY IV 1

The Nuneaton youngsters saw off an experienced Ashby side in this Coaching Solutions South East Division Two clash by their excellent passing play and strong running.

An early goal from Tom COSTELLO was the result of a right sided attack with the youngster being in a good position to fire home when the ball was crossed.

Nuneaton continued to dominate the first half with Peter Sidwell and Mark Lawton putting in good work rate in midfield with plenty of passes to open up the Ashby defence. However, good goalkeeping kept Nuneaton at bay.

Ashby equalized in the second half through a good goal from the edge of the “D”, but this only inspired Nuneaton to work harder and a second goal was finished off by Chris LYNCH - scoring his first goal for the club - when the ball found him free in the area.

Cory Burton, Sam Marston, Luke Horvath and Mike Parker all played well in stopping Ashby before they could get near to the Nuneaton goal and the game was sealed near the end when Josh WAGG turned and slotted home with minutes to go.