Highgate United V Coton Green (Premier Division)

​Highgate were looking to bounce back from a tough loss to high flying Nuneaton Town in the FA Vase. The Gate lost 8-0 to the UCL Premier Division South leaders on Saturday and were looking to get back on track against newly promoted Coton Green yesterday.

The Solihull side got an encouraging 2-1 home win against Tividale a few weeks back and were looking to build some momentum at step five under the new management team of Ant Hasker and Craig Walton.    

It’s been a promising start to the season for Coton Green following promotion from division one last season. The Green army have adapted well to life at step five and notably beat Romulus 5-2 a few weeks back.

The visitors were coming off an impressive 2-0 win at Hellenic League side Worcester Raiders in the FA vase and were looking to keep their good form going against Highgate. 

​Starting line ups

The starting line up for Highgate included Spike Whitehouse starting in goal and Kyle Hayden captaining the team from midfield. The formation looked like a 4-3-3 with Mason Stevens playing up front and being supported by Josh Newbold and Urio Hijambazapo on the wings.

There were five changes from their match against Nuneaton Town at the weekend with George Elwell coming into the team and playing in holding midfield.

Coton Green’s starting line up included Lewis Landers starting in goal and Matt Hunt captaining the team at centre back. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with Ollie Roome playing up front and being supported by James Douglas and Josh Beeson on the wings.

There were four changes from their match against Worcester Raiders on Saturday with Tyrike Richards-Burke coming into the team and playing at left-back. 

First Half

Coton got off to a quick start and were making things happen inside the opening fifteen minutes of the first half. James Henry found some space down the right-hand side before squaring the ball to Ollie Roome in the box who couldn’t quite connect with it on 3 minutes.

​The visitors looked sharp in and out of possession and found the breakthrough when a brilliant ball found Josh Beeson who produced a quality header into the top right corner for 1-0 on 10 minutes.

It was all clicking for Coton who had the momentum in the early stages of the match. They created another notable chance when James Henry broke free before having his shot well saved by Spike Whitehouse in the 12th minute.

Highgate gradually grew into the match as it went on and were working hard off the ball throughout the first half. Kareem Majzoub was reading the danger well at centre back and helping to clear the ball away to give them a foothold in the match.

The Gate were struggling to break down a well organised Coton side in the opening half hour and were limited to half chances in and around the box.

Dean Morris and Todd Sherwood were brilliant in holding midfield for the visitors yesterday and did well to shield the back four and control the tempo of the match. They were helping to build up the play and start off attacks for Coton and stood out in the first half.  

Another player who impressed for Coton was Tyrike Richards-Burke who looked a threat down the left-hand side. He was making things happen and taking players on for the visitors.

A free-flowing move from the visitors saw a good ball played to Ollie Roome who laid it off to Tyrike Richards-Burke in the box who put in a dangerous ball across the face of goal to James Henry who couldn’t quite send it goalwards on 22 minutes.    

Highgate had a decent chance on the half hour mark when Josh Newbold found some space in the box before firing wide.

​The Solihull side were struggling to build some momentum up front but there were some positives such as Mason Stevens helping to hold up the play and Josh Newbold looking a threat in the final third.

Ollie Roome was making things happen up front for Coton and showed some good movement from a free kick into the box. He found some space before having a shot hit the crossbar on 34 minutes.

The pressure from the visitors eventually told and they were able to make it 2-0 near the end of the first half when Ollie Roome made a brilliant run into the box before producing a quality header into the bottom left corner in the 41st minute.

Highgate showed character and were searching for a way back into the match in the closing stages of the first half. The hosts got into some promising positions in the final third but were struggling with that final ball into the box.

Second Half

Coton continued their momentum in the early stages of the second half and looked a threat from a couple of dangerous corners delivered into the box. Harry Higginson found some space before Highgate were able to clear it away from goal.

Highgate looked more of a threat in the second half and played with a front two which helped them build some pressure on the Coton goal. They created a good chance when Jack Ward struck a free kick that was well saved by Lewis Landers who tipped it round the post for a corner on 58 minutes.

The visitors did a good job of standing up to the pressure in the second half with Harry Higginson impressing at centre back and looking dominant in the air.

The clear-cut chances in front of goal were limited compared to the first half and it was a bit scrappy with both sides cancelling each other out.

Coton put in a professional performance to not let Highgate back into the match who were pressing for a goal but struggled to find the breakthrough.

A good corner from the visitors found substitute Tom Kinsey at the front post who guided his header over the bar in the 80th minute.  

A goalkeeping mistake made it 3-0 to the visitors on 85 minutes. Spike Whitehouse was caught playing out from the back and substitute Adam Nazir was alert to win the ball back and finish into the bottom right corner to settle the match.

There was a late chance for Highgate to get a consolation goal in stoppage time when Kyle Hayden found some space on the edge of the box before having a shot well saved by Lewis Landers in the 93rd minute.

The Green Army were able to see the match out in injury time for their first away win in the premier division. The result makes it two wins from their first three league matches at step five.

Upcoming fixtures

Highgate have a huge home match against Romulus next Tuesday before a busy run of league matches in early September.

The Gate play Northwich Victoria at home next Saturday before matches against Stourport Swifts (Away, Tuesday 9th September), Stone Old Alleynians (Home, Saturday 13th September) and Hanley Town (Away, Tuesday 16th September) over the next few weeks.  

Coton will be looking to keep their momentum going with a run of home games against Tividale (Saturday) and Studley (Tuesday, 2nd September) over the next week.

Their schedule also includes upcoming away games against Brocton (Saturday 6th September) and Dudley Town (Tuesday 9th September) before a home match against Whitchurch Alport (Saturday 13th September) over the next couple of weeks.         

FT score: Highgate United 0-3 Coton Green

Man of the match: Ollie Roome (Coton Green)

Attendance: 61

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League