Town find all the Green lights in derby to go thirteen clear - Match report & Reaction: Coton Green 0 NTFC 2

Match report by Matt Jones

Coton Green 0-2 Nuneaton Town
(Somel 76, Mullan 87)

Att: 271

Nuneaton Town played a rare Wednesday night game as they headed the short distance up the A5 to Fazeley to face Coton Green. It was a match that had finally gone ahead at the 3rd attempt having fallen foul to the weather on the previous two occasions.

In came Dominic Perkins and Cody Mullan to the starting eleven, and Stuart Hendrie made a welcome return to the bench.

Coton Green, knowing that defeat would all but knock them out of the title race, started well, and 4 minutes in should have opened the scoring, Henry slicing wide with the goal at his mercy. James Harrison had his own chance on 11 minutes as a cross into the box was flicked towards goal by the forward and cleared off the line.

On 23 minutes Danico Johnson, who was looking his normal dangerous self, drove into the box, and his pull back along the goal line, just missing Harrison's toes.

Five minutes later James Spruce beat the offside trap to go through on goal but Coton keeper Landers was quick off his line to smother the chance.

On 33 Coton had their own breakaway but Callum Carsley did well on the cover to prevent the 2 on 1 resulting in a goal. Morris was booked for a late challenge on Cody Mullan shortly after. With 2 minutes to go til half time, Dec Somel had shouts for a penalty waved away before Johnson headed straight at the keeper. Hurdman's yellow for a late challenge on Johnson was the last action of significance of the half.

Half time: Coton Green 0-0 Nuneaton Town

Nuneaton were improved into the second half, as they looked to finish some of the chances they were making. Harrison had an effort from the edge of the box 6 minutes into the half but Landers held on.

On 61 Dixon managed to turn Trevor Edwards and had an effort on goal, which Brandon Bache saved low to his right, and smothered the rebound from Oliver Roome.

Stuart Hendrie returned on 66, replacing Harrison.

With only a quarter hour left on the clock, James Spruce won a free kick on the right side of the box, Carsley's cross was headed away but recycled back to him, and through good interplay between him, Spruce and Cody Mullan, Mullan found the head of Somel and into the corner the ball went to the delight of Nuneaton fans (1-0).

Aaron Williams replaced Johnson on 79, and then with 3 minutes to go, the game was sealed. A one two between Edwards and Spruce found Somel on the right byline, and he returned the favour to Mullan by crossing to him. With his back to goal Mullan turned his defender skillfully and found the top corner (2-0).

Nuneaton saw the game out to move a huge 13 points clear at the top and put further pressure on the sides below.

Full time: Coton Green 0-2 Nuneaton Town

Team: Bache, Edwards, Recci, Perkins, Carsley, Currithers, Somel, Mullan, Spruce, Harrison, Johnson

Subs: Lamb, Williams, Hendrie, J Acton, Thorpe

REACTION

Coach Dan Kembery reflected on the game:

'Another professional performance from us, I think we dominated the game for the majority of it. It was tough out there, it was quite a physical battle, but I think we were more than good enough to get over the line. To be fair to them they had a couple of chances in the first half, second half we nullified them quite well, and I think our quality shone through especially in the closing stages.'

Regarding the soft playing surface:

'It wasn't too bad, I was expecting it to be a bit more boggy, but it's always going to be different playing on grass when we're used to playing on the 4G at Bedworth. But I thought the lads handled it well, we had a really good warm up and carried it into the game.'

About the difference between the two halves and half time feedback:

'We just told them to keep going. I think with Coton they like to be direct and send it up the pitch as far as they can, obviously that's hard for us because we want to get the ball and play, so their style of play made it difficult for us to play the football we normally do. But the message was be patient and the goals will come, as it proved in the second half.'

About the trip on Saturday to Cradley:

'Obviously tonight prepared us for it playing on a grass pitch, Cradley will be difficult, they were difficult when we played them at our place earlier in the season. It'll be a challenge, but we've just got to keep focusing on ourselves, making sure we're doing the right things, backing ourselves, and the results will follow. So we just have to make sure we stay focused and take the game to them when we visit.'

About the two coaches of fans travelling to Cradley:

'Yeah the fans will be massive as always, it was a good day out at Bridgnorth earlier in the season, and again tonight they were brilliant, even the singing at the end was fantastic, and we're really lucky to have fans like that, so we'll look forward to Saturday with them, and hope we can get the three points.'