Coalville Down – but certainly not out!
Coalville Town – 0
Southwell City – 1
F Eckert 15’
28th July 2024
A huge crowd turned out at the Mander Cruickshank Solicitors Stadium for the penultimate outing of the United Counties Groundhop weekend, just shy of eight hundred spectators enjoyed the good weather as Southwell City scored the only goal of the game at Coalville Town.
For the visitors a great start to the new Division One season as a Felix Eckert free kick after just quarter of an hour was enough for the Nottinghamshire outfit to take all three points, but for those adorned in the familiar black & white, this was all about just playing competitively, as a football club!
Having spent the past few seasons at step three, a statement this summer confirmed the first team were folding and resignation from the Southern League came as a shock to the sporting world, but a quick turnaround saw a triple relegation instead to the UCL setting the home faithful’s mind at rest.
The hosts created most of the early chances without really testing City custodian Isaac Pattinson, but he was instrumental in the goal on fourteen minutes, his long punt downfield resulted in his opposing number one Tom Reeve rushing out and bringing down Eckert just outside the penalty arc.
Whilst his Leicestershire team mates held their breath, the referee brandished just a yellow, citing defenders in covering positions, but it mattered not as the player fouled dusted himself off before curling a beauty into the keeper’s right-hand corner to break the deadlock.
Coalville had a half-hearted penalty appeal waved away but the closest they came to levelling was a result of Reece Hookway cutting in from the wing and firing low towards the near upright which forced Pattinson down low to push to safety.
At the opposite end Eckert saw another good effort bending towards the far corner until an outstretched glove pushed past the post, after half-time the game descended into multiple stoppages for fouls & substitutions, as much as Town pushed, their opponents held on. F/T: 0-1
Competition: United Counties League Division One
Venue: Mander Cruickshank Solicitors Stadium
Kick-Off: 12:00 noon
Surface: Grass
Programme: £2
Attendance: 792
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