CITY TRIUMPH AT LEAGUE LEADERS

Hard-earned yet deserved win at Coleshill Town...

CITY secured an excellent three points with a 1-0 victory at League leaders, Coleshill Town.
We made our intentions clear from the start with a lively opening to the game as an early free-kick from George Forsyth found its way to Nathan Hayward whose strike from just outside the area flew over the crossbar.
Having looked the most likely side in the opening exchanges, our hosts had a great chance to open the scoring on seven minutes when skipper, Halsall, found Leek who was off target from a good position.
In wet and windy conditions, our hosts started to get a foot-hold into the game and they were looking sharp on the break as Hicks put another effort over.
With 16 minutes on the clock, a teasing corner from Alex Tomkinson caused problems for the home defence as the ball just evades George Forsyth.
Then new-boy, Bekir Halil, who was making his City debut having arrived from Hinckley AFC during the week, did well to win the ball before turning sharply and getting in a effort that crept just wide of the target.
There were a couple of smart saves in quick success from Nathan Vaughan to keep us on level terms before Wayne Thomas did well to clear the danger from a home corner.
With ten minutes of the opening period remaining, Dave Reynolds did well to cut in from a wide position before seeing his strike well saved.
As the half came to a close we were seeing plenty of the ball in attacking situations as Lee Hughes went close then Reynolds used his strength to make room for a strike that was saved.
At the other end Thomas was dominant in the heart of the City back-line to thwart the home side’s attacking ideas.
Goalless at the break, it was City who created the better chances but it was proving to be a tight affair between two good sides.
An early free-kick for the home side was well defended by the City wall which stood firm to do its job.
A teasing ball into the danger zone from Halil caused concern but it just evaded both Hughes and Reynolds in front of goal as the home side breathed a huge sigh of relief.
We were proving to be a constant threat on the counter-attack and as Tomkinson made positive strides forward, he elected to shoot rather than pass and the ‘keeper was able to make the save.
We continued to press for the opening goal and Reynolds was unlucky when he managed to get in a strike on target that was kept out by the ‘keeper.
On the hour-mark, Forsyth’s free-kick picked out Thomas, up from the back, but his header went well wide.
The home side still posed a threat despite our dominating the possession and a ball over the top almost saw them profit, however, Jamie Smith was alert to cover.
City had the ball in the next with just over 20 minutes to go, but the offside flag halted Hughes’ celebrations before they had even started.
There were chances at either end in quick succession as both sides searched for a winning goal.
After the home side went close with an 83rd minute header that beat the reach of Vaughan but landed inches wide of the post, City took the lead just two minutes later when Forsyth tried his luck from the edge of the area and the ball went in off the post.
It sent the travelling City contingent plus players and staff into raptures.
There was still plenty of work to do, though, as our hosts pushed for a leveller late on. Vaughan got down well to deal with a low strike before Matt Birley also did well to thwart a late raid.
In the end we managed to hold on to claim a deserved yet extremely hard-earned victory. Well done City!

CITY: Vaughan, Weir, J. Smith, M. Smith, Thomas, Hayward, Halil (Birley), Forsyth, Hughes (Baldwin), Reynolds, Tomkinson. Subs not used: Gwynne, Moran, Danks.
GOAL(S); Forsyth.