Report

Coddington 4 - 1 Newark Town

Town travelled to Stapleford Lane full of optimism following last weeks result, but were soon brought back down to earth by Coddington who gave an efficient if not spectacular display.

Martin Spindley and Rob Thacker were last minute call ups from the reserves when Town found they were without nine players. Missing were Tom Mallinson, Jamie Parr, Darren Townsley (all injured), Paul Ellison (suspended), Tommy Dowd (holiday), Stuart Franks (working), Chris Taylor, Matt Day and Adam Dobb. Darren Baldwin and Phil Turtle also returned after missing last weeks victory to increase the squad to twelve players.

Coddington set about Town from the kick-off, with The Blues unable to get hold of the ball for any amount of time. The hosts had created three or four decent chances without really troubling Hinder in the Town goal, when Town should have taken the lead. A neat threw ball found Mark Ellison in behind the defence but he couldn't make a clean connection on the ball with the oncoming 'keeper putting him under pressure.

A defensive lapse from the Blues gifted Coddington the lead soon after, when the striker found himself in plenty of space as the ball bounced through to him and an excellent finish gave Hinder no chance. After a short conference, the defence started to play 10 yards deeper to counter act the long diagonal balls from Coddington that had been catching them out, and as a result started to defend much better. Town stepped it up a little after this, with Mark Ellison and Phil Turtle linking well down the left. It was after one such move that Town won a series of corners, with Martin Spindley heading just wide from the final one.

Half-time arrived with the score at 1-0, and Town still very much in the game.

The first fifteen minutes of the second-half were, again, even with the game going end to end. Town's chance to equalise seemed to arrive as the Coddington goalkeeper saved a shot but only push it out to Mark Ellison who struck the ball towards goal, only to see it blocked on the line by Ian Wade, who knew nothing about it as he was facing the other way. From this incident, Coddington broke down the other end of the pitch and just when The Blues looked to have got the situation under control, a short backpass from Kurt Clarence was collected by a Coddington striker and put into the net to make it 2-0.

Instead of feeling sorry for themselves, Town instantly put together their best move of the match and brought the game back to 2-1 just a couple of minutes later. Some quick passing down the right managed to release Sam Wlford who deftly lifted the ball over the diving 'keeper. The next goal was going to be important, but Town were struggling for options due to their lack of numbers. It was decided that Thacker would come on for Parkinson, with Mark Ellison moving into the middle and Thacker going on the left. Coddington also realised how vital the next goal was, and their pressing and tackling meant Town had no time to relax on the ball and get their passing game going.

Another defensive error led to Coddington's third goal, when a poor clearence from Ian Purdy landed at an opposition players feet and a fouth was added with around ten minutes left.

In the end a deserved victory for Coddington, even if the scorline was slightly flattering. A lack of players meant Town were limited in what changes they could make to try and chase the game, and some bad defending contributed to their own downfall.