Coton Green were looking to continue their good form with a result against Nuneaton Griff at New Mill Lane yesterday afternoon. The Green Army have bounced back over the last few weeks following a tough start to the new year with consecutive wins coming into this match. The Tamworth side have been building something since the appointment of manager Nick Oakley last season and are challenging for a play-off spot over the next few months. They have made New Mill Lane a fortress so far with ten wins from fourteen matches and could get a home play off match if they can keep up their good form. Nuneaton Griff are also building something at step six under manager Aaron Cheshire and have been a tough side to beat of late. The Heartlanders were coming off three consecutive wins coming into this match and have gone a bit under the radar in a competitive division one. The visitors have a track record of causing eye catching results against play off chasers and beat Heather St John’s at home a few months back. Pre-match The atmosphere around New Mill Lane was positive and welcoming with both sides wanting to build on their recent form. The people at both clubs were friendly and approachable with any media queries yesterday. It’s a nice set up at the ground with a well-presented clubhouse near the pitch. The pitch looked in good condition and both Coton Green and Nuneaton Griff bought a good following along for the match. Starting line ups The starting line up for Coton Green included Lewis Landers starting in goal and Cameron Lee captaining the team at centre back. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with Harry Dixon playing up front and being supported by Tyrike Richards-Burke and James Henry on the wings. There were two changes from their match against Kirby Muxloe last weekend with John Baker coming into the team and playing in the number ten role. The starting line up for Nuneaton Griff included Divin Emmanuel starting in goal and Tom Hall captaining the team at centre back. The formation looked like a 5-3-2 with a front two of Danny Edmonds and Charlie Morgan being supported by Josh Dixon from attacking midfield. There were two changes from their match against Wednesfield last weekend with James Bryson coming into the team and playing as part of a back three. First Half The match got off a cagey start in the early stages of the first half with both sides settling into it and working each other out. Coton Green had a half chance early on when Jamie Ashmore found some space in the box before having a shot well saved by Divin Emmanuel who pushed it away for a corner. Nuneaton Griff grew into the match as the first half went on and started to build some momentum in front of goal. The formation worked well and gave them a foothold to cause Coton some problems. Danny Edmonds was making some encouraging runs into the box and holding up the play well to bring players into the match. Reiss Martin also impressed at left wing-back and was making things happen down the left-hand side and taking players on in the final third. Coton struggled to create clear cut chances in front of goal for parts of the first half and it was not quite clicking in front of goal. None the less, the effort and endeavour was there, and they were working hard off the ball to limit the chances for Nuneaton. Cameron Lee stepped up at centre back and was reading the danger well to take some of the pressure off Coton. The pressure from Nuneaton eventually told and they found the breakthrough to take the lead. A brilliant run down the left by Beau Friel created some space in the box where he squared it Danny Edmonds who rounded Lewis Landers in goal before finishing into the bottom left corner. The Green Army showed character to keep going in the first half and not let the match get away from them. Dean Morris was working hard off the ball to break up the play and track back to stop Nuneaton making it 2-0. Coton were mainly reduced to half chances for large spells of the first half with Nuneaton looking well organised at the back. The back three were doing a good job of closing the space with Tom Hall and James Bryson impressing and helping to clear the danger. Coton were clinical when the chance came for an equaliser and took it well to make it 1-1 a few minutes before half time. A free kick into the box looked set to find the top left corner before Divin Emmanuel pushed it away. The second ball fell to James Henry who produced a quality finish into the top right corner. Nuneaton were pushing to make it 2-1 just before half time and had a huge chance when Charlie Morgan saw a shot go wide from a throw in into the box. They also threatened from a few corners and Dean Morris did well to block a shot on goal to keep it at 1-1. Second Half The chances in front of goal were a bit more limited throughout the second half with both defences stepping up and playing well to make it a tight match. Coton Green took the lead in the early stages when Harry Dixon raced through on goal before finishing well into the bottom right corner to make it 2-1. Nuneaton Griff showed character and kept going in search of an equaliser and were putting pressure on the Coton goal. Danny Edmonds had a shot well saved by Lewis Landers on the hour mark. The visitors were looking to break down an organised Coton side in the closing stages of the second half with the Green Army looking to catch Nuneaton on the break. Harry Dixon had a good chance to seal the match when he fired a shot over the bar in the 70th minute from a promising position in the box. The best chance for Nuneaton came when they hit the far post in the latter stages which was a bit unlucky from the visitors’ perspective. Coton Green were able to see the match out for a huge three points to strengthen their position in the top three with both Kirby Muxloe and Cradley Town losing yesterday. Full Time Coton Green showed resiliency yesterday and they had to work hard to get their third consecutive win in division one. The Green Army had to show another side to their game against Nuneaton to get the result. They were clinical when the chances came and withstood a good amount of pressure from the visitors with Cameron Lee and Dean Morris impressing off the ball. The Green Army have a run of fixtures against quality sides over the next two weeks. They are away at Leicester St Andrews in mid-week before games against Nuneaton Griff (Away), Nuneaton Town (Home) and Coventry Copsewood (Home). Nuneaton Griff will feel a bit disappointed not to get something from yesterday’s match, but the future is bright for the Heartlanders. Aaron Cheshire is putting together a competitive team in division one that can cause a few eye-catching results along the way. There’s quality with Dan Edmonds and Beau Friel providing an attacking threat and the likes of Tom Hall and James Bryson giving them that stability at the back. The visitors have a track record of producing upcoming managers with Mitch Thomson previously managing there and going on to have success with Atherstone Town. Their upcoming fixtures include Wednesfield (Away), Coton Green (Home), Leicester St Andrews (Home) and Kirby Muxloe (Away). FT score: Coton Green 2-1 Nuneaton Griff Man of the match: Cameron Lee (Coton Green) Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League Comments are closed.
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February 2025
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