Somel's stoppage time stunner sinks the Steelmen and sends Town back to the summit in six-pointer - Match report & Reaction: Bilston Town 0 - NTFC 1

Match report by Matt Jones

Bilston Town 0-1 Nuneaton Town

(Somel 90+5)

Att 412

Nuneaton Town travelled up the M6 to face title rivals Bilston Town in a crucial match on Wednesday evening.

With several of the forwards unavailable through injury, illness and suspension, it was a makeshift front 3 as Justin Marsden wound back the years to play up front, with Cody Mullan on his right, and James Harrison on the left. Nuneaton could only name 3 outfield subs, along with young reserve keeper Jackson Acton.

Bilston started the brighter, but Nuneaton held firm. Goalkeeper Matt Hill was forced into a save after 8 minutes as the effort from Bilston was on target. Nuneaton had their first good chance on 14 minutes as a corner into the box was headed back to Currithers, but, off balance, he hit the ball over the bar.

On 16 minutes the Bilston right back Tarique Hunter scythed down Harrison and was rather fortunate to escape with a yellow. 5 minutes later left back Haydn Hall also went into the book for a late challenge on Cody Mullan. From the resulting free kick Aaron Williams met Callum Carsley's excellent ball in on the volley, but goalkeeper Dom Cooper saved well.

Bilston won a corner on the half hour and the header was over the bar.

Corey Currithers went into the book for on 33 minutes as he fouled his player on the edge of the Nuneaton box, but the free kick came to nothing.

Bilston had a great chance to open the scoring on 37 minutes as their forward turned from a throw in and had a snapshot but it went wide. 4 minutes later another chance was wasted as a free header from a free kick was headed straight into Hill's grateful hands.

On 42 minutes in an all action end to the half, Trevor Edwards picked up a cross field ball and played through Dec Somel but his choice to go near post meant it only went into the side netting. Somel was himself late tackled two minutes later by Bilston number 4 Mitch Evans, and he also went into the book.

Half time:

Bilston Town 0-0 Nuneaton Town

The second half started with Nuneaton this time on the front foot, but Bilston always looking dangerous themselves.

On 51 minutes Cody Mullan got a sight of goal on a through ball but his shot was wide from the angle. At the other end Bilston won a corner and the header from it looped onto the top of the crossbar via a fingertip from Hill.

On 58 minutes Bilston number 5 Jordan Spragg completed the full set of yellows for the Bilston defence as he shoved over Marsden as he got away by the left corner.

Lewis Hayden made another appearance for the final 20, as he replaced Aaron Williams. This gave Nuneaton a bit more impetus to try and win the game, and chances started to come again. On 77 minutes Carsley whipped in a beautiful cross from the left which found Somel, but his turn and shot went agonisingly wide. Four minutes later James Harrison somehow glanced a free header wide from a great cross into the box from Edwards.

Nuneaton huffed and puffed but Bilston managed to run down the clock in stoppage time. And Hill was forced into a great save from former Boro player Shaquille McDonald in their last effort. But in the 5th minute of it, Marsden won a free kick midway into the half. Carsley delivered another ball into the box, the defender headed it away, but up stepped Declan Somel to lash the ball perfectly on the volley to the keeper's right and into the net before he could even move, to delirious celebration from the travelling fans (1-0). Nuneaton saw out the remaining minute or so with comfort, to earn a crucial win.

Full time:

Bilston Town 0-1 Nuneaton Town

Team: Hill, Edwards, Recci, Perkins, Carsley, Williams (Hayden 68), Currithers, Somel, Mullan, Harrison, Marsden

Subs: Hayden, J Acton, Bruce, Thorpe

REACTION:

Joint manager Darren Acton commented about the match:

'I thought it was a very good game, very entertaining, credit to Bilston they had a decent set up. I think they play the ball around quite well. I think we adapted to the way they played, the way we set up against them. There wasn't much football first half, it was just a big battle between 2 good teams.'

On the depleted forward line tonight and lack of options:

'We've had a few hiccups tonight, we had a late call where Danico (Johnson) is suspended which we didn't know about, Harry Jackson was ill, Josh (Whitehouse) picked up a knee injury on loan at Bolehall Swifts, and (Louis) Baker was working so we've had to adapt to what we've got tonight. The bench wasn't strong, even though there's a few good lads on there.'

On Dec Somel's late winner:

'Yeah it's the last kick of the game really, you never stop until that final whistle. Dec's scored a screamer into the top corner. Credit to him, he's worked hard and I think he deserved that goal. He was in the right place at the right time.'

On a free Saturday before next Tuesdays cup game at home to Paget Rangers:

'We're going to give them the weekend off, I think they deserve it. Then we'll look forward to Paget Rangers on Tuesday night.'