West Midlands Police 3 v 1 Coleshill Town

[Alan Beckett]

Saturday 30th December 1978
Midland Combination Division 1
West Midlands Police 3 v 1 Coleshill Town
Scorers:
Police: Ellis, Mouter, Evans pen.
Coleshill: Bruce Griffin.

Team: ? Giedd GK, Bruce Griffin, Steve Whipps.


CASTLE BROMWICH NEWS WROTE
Coleshill Tumble To Police
Away to fellow Midland Combination First Division strugglers West Midlands Police, on Saturday, Coleshill failed to take advantage of an early goal by Griffin and tumbled to another defeat. It was the Police who looked the more enterprising from the kick off, but a sudden breakaway by Coleshill led to Griffin volleying home a cross by Whipps. Tinkler was prominent in a Police reprisal raid and from a free kick he shot narrowly wide. In the 10th minute a cleverly floated free kick by amputee was met by Ellis, whose brilliant header found the top corner of the net, giving keeper Giedd no chance. On level terms the Police exerted more pressure and Brown should have put them in front after Ellis had teed the ball up, but with only Giedd to beat he mi-kicked and the chance was wasted. Holmes was instrumental in creating many problems for Coleshill’s defence as he continually overlapped on the right and Gardener ran through Coleshill’s rearguard, only to be fouled by a fine save from Giedd who had expertly narrowed the angle. Coleshill were again forced to back pedal in the second half and Ellis proved to be the tormentor as he built up a series of strong Police attacks. Evans went close to scoring from a cross by Ellis and the latter then laid on a perfect pass to Mouter, who cheekily lobbed the ball over Giedd to make it 2-1. Coleshill had little answers to the forward efforts of the Police and Ellis was unlucky to see a shot shave the post. Shortly afterwards Giedd saved the visitors again, holding a strong shot from Mouter. Evans maintained the Police dominance setting up a chance for Ellis, but Giedd was to the fore with yet another smart save. Coleshill countered for Whippa to try a first time shot, but the ball was just off target and it was at the other end that the excitement continued with Giedd performing heroics in thwarting another effort by Ellis. In the 75th minute Coleshill gave away a penalty and Evans made no mistake with his spot kick. Near the end, Weir brought off a fine save from Whillock, but Coleshill were well beaten.


SOLIHULL NEWS WROTE
Police On Top As Strugglers Clash
Police enjoyed a rare victory in this bottom of the table meeting. Coleshill were the only side below Police before Saturday's match and they are now four points adrift at the bottom. In the opening stages however, it threatened to be a different story. A long ball out of the Coleshill defence split Police and a cross from the right was met on the volley by Griffin, who hammered in an early goal. In the 10th minute, Police pulled back. Mouter floated a free-kick over to meet the head of Ellis, who found the top corner of the net. Ellis, on fine form, put Brown through and he could have put Police ahead, but he miss hit his shot with the goal at his mercy and the keeper out of position. Holmes was overlapping well on the right to torment Coleshill defence with his crosses. Gardner ran clear of the Coleshill back line for a shot which was saved by Giedd narrowing the angle. Early in the second half, Ellis put Mouter through. From outside the box he saw the keeper off his line and chipped the ball over him into the far corner to give Police the lead. Ellis and Mouter both came close to scoring. Ellis' shot scraped the bar and Mouter had a shot saved. The keeper thwarted Ellis twice more, first from a shot and then from a free kick. A Coleshill player was judged to have handled in the box in the 75th minute. Evans scored from the spot kick to ensure Police's victory.

P17 W1 D3 L13 F12 A31 Pts5 Pos20/20