COALVILLE FLUFF CHANCES BUT ED’S A REAL HERO
COALVILLE will rue their chances missed in the first half as Shaw Lane continued their unbeaten run and took all three points.
The Ducks are now seven unbeaten as they keep pushing for a play-off place.
But it was the Ravens who had the better of the play and chances in the first 45 minutes.
A double save by Ed Wilczynski on 21 minutes kept the home side level.
A curling shot by Cleveland Taylor stung the keeper’s chest while the follow-up was held from Nathan Watson’s miscued shot.
Daniel Creaney had an effort palmed away for a corner three minutes later by the Polish keeper.
Another effort, on 39 minutes, was saved by Wilczynski following a long-range effort by Kyle Dixon.
Coalville coach Steve Walker admitted: “We should have been two or three goals up by halftime.
“Their keeper has made a couple of great saves and he’s been named man of the match, which says it all.”
After the break it was a different story and it didn’t take long for the home side to find the back of the net.
Paul Clayton tucked home from five yards after an Alex Byrne cross from the left was deflected into the path of the targetman a minute after the restart.
Top scorer Damian Reeves made it two on 54 minutes with a header inches out from the goal.
A corner by Byrne was flicked on by James Pollard over goalkeeper Elliott Taylor and Reeves couldn’t miss.
Coalville still had chances and Watson smashed an effort on to the crossbar from a free-kick on 68 minutes, while at the other end the Ducks could have put the game to bed but were also denied by the crossbar.
Reeves headed against the frame from a Byrne cross on 78 minutes and then, heading into added time, Byrne did the same with his shot from the left side of the box.
Coalville eventually became frustrated and a poor challenge on Byrne by the unreliable Kyle Dixon a minute later saw the midfielder shown a needless straight red. “In the first half we were well under par,” admitted Shaw Lane manager Paul Quinn.
“We wanted a response and credit to them they came out and for the first 15 minutes they took it to Coalville.
“Wilczynski has had to make two or three good saves first half and that’s what’s he there to do.
“He stepped up to the mark today and that’s what we need when called upon to help us progress.”