Silhill V Coventry Colliery (Division Three)

​Silhill were looking to continue their good form in division three with a statement result against league leaders Coventry Colliery at Sharmans Cross yesterday afternoon. The Solihull side had grown into the season and were coming off three straight wins in the league. They also ran division two side Cadbury Athletic close in the quarter finals of the Les James Challenge Cup last weekend before bowing out 1-0 away from home.  

One of Silhill’s main strengths so far this season has been their home form. They had won seven of their eleven matches at Sharmans Cross going into yesterday’s game against Coventry Colliery.

Manager Leon Blake is building a competitive squad at this level who can challenge for the top two. Standout results so far include the home wins against fellow promotion challengers Walsall Wood and AFC Balsall.

They have only played three away games so far in the league so their away form could be key in them finishing in the top two.

Coventry Colliery have been a welcome addition to division three of the MFL and were sitting top of the league with nine wins from twelve matches going into yesterday. They were looking to continue their unbeaten record under manager Rhys Lyons.

Their away form had been encouraging so far with three wins from four matches on the road which included beating the likes of Kenilworth Sporting and Leamington Hibernian.  

The visitors were looking to bounce back from a 1-1 draw away at BNJS last weekend with an eye-catching result against a fellow promotion contender. 

​Starting line ups

The starting line up for Silhill included Louie Sheppard starting in goal and Owen Fackrell captaining the team at centre back. The formation looked like a 4-3-3 with David Akpara playing up front and being supported by Kyle Porter and Alfie Merriman on the wings.

There were four changes from their match against Cadbury Athletic last weekend with Gilad Grant coming back into the team and playing in central midfield.

The starting line up for Coventry Colliery included Nathan Pearce starting in goal and Callum Regan captaining the team from holding midfield. The formation looked like a 3-4-3 with a front two of Tyrone Wilson and Jack Low being supported by Bryan Badu in the number ten role.

There were four changes from their match against BNJS last weekend with Liam Kennedy coming into the team and playing in holding midfield alongside Callum Regan. 

​First Half

Silhill got off to a quick start and took the lead inside the opening fifteen minutes of the first half.  

Gilad Grant made a brilliant driving run down the left-hand side before cutting inside and playing a well weighted ball to Alfie Merriman in the box. He controlled the ball before producing a quality finish into the bottom left corner for 1-0 on eleven minutes.

​The Solihull side looked like a side in form and were causing Coventry Colliery some problems early on. They looked sharp in possession and were working the channels well to test the back three of the visitors.   

Michael Palmer found some space down the right-hand side before producing a quality ball to David Akparra who was free in the box. The Silhill striker made a promising run but couldn’t quite connect with it on 18 minutes.

Coventry gradually grew into the game as it went on and started to settle into it in the middle of the first half. Their best chance for an equaliser came when Tyrone Wilson showed brilliant movement in the box before putting his header wide of the right-hand post on 20 minutes.

Both teams were well organised off the ball and cancelled each other out for large spells of the first half.

Silhill had six clean sheets in the league coming into this match and their organised defending restricted Coventry Colliery to half chances in the first half. Kian Davies was reading the danger well at centre back with Owen Fackrell leading by example and breaking up promising attacks.

The visitors had the best defensive record in the league with just seven goals conceded and the back three stepped up yesterday to keep them in it. Ben Tennant was constantly clearing the danger for Coventry to give them a foothold in the match.

It was not quite clicking for the visitors going forward though who struggled with that final ball into the box for spells of the first half.  
Silhill showed flashes of their attacking quality throughout the opening 45 minutes with Kyle Porter looking a threat down the left-hand side and taking players on.

They came close to making it 2-0 on 41 minutes when a free-flowing move saw Michael Palmer make a late run into the box before firing wide of the left-hand post.     

Second Half

Coventry Colliery changed their shape at the start of the second half with the formation going to a 4-3-3 which made them harder to break down. Joe Wright was moved further up into attacking midfield with Liam Kennedy looking to shield the back four from holding midfield.

The visitors kept battling away throughout the second half and broke up some of Silhill’s earlier momentum. Joe Wynne impressed at centre back and helped clear the danger to keep Coventry in the match at 1-0 down.

The best clear-cut chance for Silhill to make it 2-0 came on 62 minutes when David Akparra beat a few players before running through on goal with just Nathan Pearce to beat. The Silhill striker fired just wide of the right-hand post.

This felt like a crucial moment in the match and set up a nervy half hour for the Solihull side to hold on.

Coventry Colliery were pressing for an equaliser in the closing stages of the second half and came close when Jack Low was free in the box. Louie Sheppard instinctively closed the angle down before making a huge save to keep it at 1-0 on 63 minutes.

Silhill did a good job of holding the visitors at bay in the final twenty minutes with Jamie O’Neill helping to build up the play from holding midfield to give the back four a bit of a breather.

The visitors had the momentum though and came close to getting a point when Joe Wynne found some space in the box. He made a good run before putting his effort just wide of the left-hand post late on.

Coventry also came close from a couple of dangerous free kicks into the box throughout stoppage time.  

Silhill were able to hold on though for a huge three points yesterday to remain in the top two.

​Full Time   

It felt like an important match within Silhill’s season who will be hoping for a top two finish in a wide-open division three.

There’s arguably seven teams that could secure promotion this season from division three.

Silhill’s away form will be key in boosting their promotion hopes across their final thirteen league games.

Coventry Colliery can bounce back from yesterday’s loss, and it felt more like an off day rather than a downturn in form.

​It was not quite clicking for the visitors up front but they came close to getting something while not at their best which feels like a positive.

Upcoming fixtures

Silhill will be looking to continue their good form against Bustleholme (Away) next Saturday in the Birmingham Saturday Vase before returning to league action against Arden Forest Sporting (Away) on Saturday 22nd November.

They wrap up the month with a home match against Arden Forest Sporting on Saturday 29th November.

Coventry Colliery take a break from division three with a fixture against Wombourne Allstars (Away) next Saturday in the Birmingham Saturday Vase before returning to league action with a huge home match against Kenilworth Sporting on Saturday 22nd November.

They then travel to Coventry Phoenix in the Coventry Evening Telegraph Cup on Saturday 29th November.                   

FT score: Silhill 1-0 Coventry Colliery

Man of the match: Owen Fackrell (Silhill)

Attendance: 45

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League