Coleshill Town 2 v 3 Kingswinford - Birmingham Junior Cup

[Alan Beckett]

Saturday 8th January 1972
Birmingham Junior Cup - 4th Round
Coleshill Town 2 v 3 Kingswinford - After Extra Time (2-2 at 90 mins)
Scorers:
Coleshill: Roy Phelps 2.
Kings: Porter, Bayliss, Ball.

Team: John Comley GK, Roger Coxall, Paul Hannan, Les Owen (Clive Lyons), David Wheeler, John Bown, Oscar Deeming, John Allen, Roy Phelps, Eddie Hanlon, Bob Willock.

CASTLE BROMWICH NEWS WROTE
Coleshill Throw It Away After Bright Start
Kingswinford, the holders of the Birmingham Junior Cup, went into the next round, but in unconvincing fashion, Coleshill were the better side, but threw the match away after having a stranglehold on it. Frankly, they deserved a replay, but should never have needed one, had they taken their chances. Town were 2-0 up within five minutes and seemingly, set to crush United, whose only offering in the opening stages was a series of crunching tackles when their defence came under pressure. It was justice that Roy Phelps opened the scoring. He was carving through Kingwinsford’s back line when Stanley bundled him off the ball. Allen touched the free kick into his path and Phelps’ curling drive was in the net before goalkeeper Phillips moved to do anything about saving. Kingswinford paid for another rough tackle. Allen was unceremoniously grounded by Harrison. Hanlon floated over the free kick, and Phelps timed his run perfectly to nod home. But after 20 minutes, it was all square again as Coleshill were shattered by two goals in a minute. The first was something of a freak. Porter struck a harmless looking free kick goalwards and Deeming, and keeper Comley seemed to have it covered. Deeming let it run through to Comley, but as the ball hit the treacherous mu, it skidded past the keepers grasp. United went straight back on the attack and Town had several chances to clear, but instead the ball broke to unmarked Bayliss, who tapped it home. The remainder of the first half restored an air of sanity to proceedings after this start as both sides settled down. The only incident of note was when Hanlon was booked, and extremely fortunate not to receive his marching orders from referee John Nash (Northfield), following an infringement against Ball. At the back, Paul Hannan had a brilliant game, while Les Owen was his usual steady self. It was from a Hannan free kick that Town almost regained the lead. His well-flighted cross deceived Phillips and seemed to be dropping into the net, but Phelps, in his anxiety to make sure, headed it over the bar. Owen left the field with a leg injury, Clive Lyons coming on as substitute. So for the second time in the competition, Town were taken to extra time. It seemed Phelps had done it again when, in the 92nd minute, he rose to head home a Hanlon cross, but the goal was disallowed for an infringement on Phillips. Kingswinford seemed to be lasting the pace better and took a grip on midfield in the final quarter of an hour. They gained composure and kept calm, while Coleshill became frustrated. Harper, United’s most impressive player, set up the winner. His overhead kick dropped into the path of Padgett and Comley tried to push his shot around the post, but instead he turned it straight to Ball, who made no mistake.