Today Avonmouth were looking to play their first competitive match for 5 weeks & what a game to have – a top of the table clash against Coalpit Heath (B). Some of you may remember the first match earlier in the season, which was a very tight affair with Avonmouth scoring the winning goal in injury time - most supporters thought today would be just as close & they were proved to be right. The home team started on the front foot with some good passing moves but never created any real clear cut chances to score. Avonmouth struggled to get any grip on the game with the play often breaking down in midfield. This continued for the rest of the half with Coalpit probing for an opening but they came up against a resolute Avonmouth defence that were not giving anything away. The best chance came just before half time when a pass from Charlie Parker gave Mitch Harris the chance to shrug off one of his several markers & get into the penalty box, but he saw his shot produce a good save by the Coalpit keeper.
Half Time: Coalpit Heath (B) 0 Avonmouth 0
Heath again started the second half strongly & it was not long before they got a deserved lead. On 40 minutes the ball was collected in midfield & a good pass found the dangerous Ashton Coleman on the right hand side of the penalty area. There was a lot for him to do with several defenders in front of him but he unleashed an unstoppable shot straight into the top of the net. Avonmouth now had to find something extra to get back into the game but despite having plenty of possession could not carve out any real opportunities to score. Crosses where going into the Coalpit penalty area but where being dealt with by a strong home defence. Avonmouth had a penalty claim turned down but were being restricted to shots from outside the penalty box. Meanwhile as Avonmouth pressed for the equaliser Heath were always dangerous on the break & had a great chance to score a second when a good pass found one of their strikers but his shot just inside the box produced a great save by keeper Callum Davis. With time running out Avonmouth coach Tony Beecham knew he had to make a tactical change & so with ten minutes left pushed defender Jack Hewlett into midfield. This had the desired effect & his surging runs where now causing Coalpit problems. On 66 minutes one of these runs brought a corner. Josh Beecham put over an excellent cross, which managed to elude the keeper & following a goalmouth scramble the ball ended up in the back of the net with Hewlett running back claiming the goal. There was still time for a penalty shout by Coalpit & some shots by Avonmouth but the match finished in a stalemate.
Having no game for such a long period is not ideal preparation & Avonmouth were always going to struggle to find any real rhythm especially playing such a team as good as Coalpit. They are a team that always battle to the end & have players that can be a real threat going forward. The Avonmouth defence had to work very hard & it is always a good sign when a team does not play to their potential but still pick up any points, which was the case for us today. This also means that we keep our unbeaten league record this season & with only 6 games left are in touching distance of the coveted promotion to division 1.
Full Time: Coalpit Heath (B) 1 Avonmouth 1
