Newtown Villa came into this game riding high at the top of the league with a 100% record. The Coalie had a couple of new faces, Sonny at left-back and Derek in the middle, and it looked a pretty solid team. The Coalie had a fantastic start when after just a few minutes Sav sent a long kick to Jez on the left-wing. Jez swung in a peach of a cross with his left peg(!!) and Bran was on hand to poach a brilliant goal. Bran is now leading goal scorer with 4 this season.
The game settled into a familiar pattern with Newtown Villa having most of the possession without really creating any golden chances and the Coalie breaking quickly when they got the ball. Sonny looked very lively up the left on his Coalie debut and Derek added some considerable bite to the midfield. Just before half-time Newtown Villa broke and for the first time in the game got beyond the Coalie defence. They scored off the post to make it 1 v 1 at half-time.
The game was a tense affair in the second half but the closest either team came to scoring was when Joe hit the post with a low shot across the goal. It was a very good game and 1v1 probably a fair result.
The Team : Sav, Brian (Ray 60 mins), Scholes, Tim, Sonny, Chalkie, Derek, Jon, Joe, Jez, Bran.
Next week we are at home to Graffam...2.00pm Kick-off.
Middleton came into this game expecting to win. They started the day second in the table with only one defeat so far this season. When things didn't go their way they got all a bit 'monkey'!!! Don't you just love beating teams like that!
Things looked rough for the Coalie on saturday morning with veteran defender Brian having to step in to ref the game, reducing the team to the bare 11 players. Sav was missing (presumed shopping) so Scholesy was volunteered to replace him in goal. The Coalie started brightly with Danny chipping a cheeky free-kick over the wall to Chalkie who was just beaten to the ball by the Middleton keeper. A few minutes later the same pair teamed up to create the first goal. A pinpoint free-kick and a deft header from Chalkie put the Coalie one up.....come on!!!
Middleton equalised and looked dangerous, but the Coalie defence were superb as ever. Jez and Jimmer provided the speed and presence at centre back and Simon and Sam mopped up in the full-back roles. Reluctant keeper Scholesy (he loves it really) was as heroic as ever and denied Middleton despite a couple of one-on-one situations. Middleton equalised from a throw-in, but the Coalie pushed forward and it was a brilliant Lee Jacobs reverse header from Simon's curling free-kick that put the Coalie back in front. The Coalie made in 3 v 1 by half-time with a (deflected?) strike from Bran, after Jimmer nodded a corner on.
The second half was a classic Coalie defensive performance, and it has to be said a brilliant performance from the ref! Middleton were increasingly frustrated as they poured forward but failed to score. Several Middleton players and Geoff were booked, although Geoff's yellow card was later rescinded when he claimed 'They deserved it!' The Coalie picked up injuries with Sam, Simon and Jon all hobbling by the end, but with no subs the galiant Emsworth gladiators had to battle on. It was a brilliant defensive performance in the second half and one of the best games for a long time. It finished 3v1....what a result! Oh did I mention that the back five were brilliant!
The Team (scores out of 10): Scholes (10), Simon (10), Jez (10), Jimmer (10), Sam (10), Jon (10), Bran (10), Danny (10), Chalkie (10), Geoff (10), LeeJ (10).