FOOTBALL: PROMOTION hopes at the Butts Park Arena took a severe dent on Saturday as Coventry United lost 4-0 to Coleshill Town on the road.
Despite beating Long Eaton United 5-0 the week previous, Terry Anderson’s men couldn’t repeat their efforts from seven days earlier as promotion hopefuls Coleshill made light work of the city side.
With a full squad to select from, Anderson’s made made a tentative start as both teams attempted to work each other out.
United created the first opportunity of the game when Gift Mussa’s drive from distance fell into the arms of Coleshill keeper Paul Hathaway.
A further chance for Lewis Ranmin went begging before the hosts opened the scoring on 21 minutes when Reece Leek broke the offside trap and slotted his effort past Scott Dutton.
Town were unlucky not to double their lead moments later when Luke Barlone’s angled effort smashed off the post.
Mitchell Piggon headed a clear chance into the arms of Hathaway when it looked easier to score before Reece Leek’s effort failed to double Town’s lead on the stroke of half time.
Leek continued to apply pressure at the start of the second half, the forward forced Dutton into a series of good saves to keep United firmly in the game.
Following another missed chance by Piggon, Coleshill swiftly doubled their lead when Barlone pounced on a loose ball to smash home an empty netter on 63 minutes.
A tame dozen minutes followed before Coleshill put the game beyond United’s reach when Ryan Edmunds picked up a loose ball inside his own half.
The No7 raced down the lines before reaching the byline, where he skipped past Prinzel, before slotting his effort beyond Dutton to complete a fine solo goal.
Salt was rubbed into United’s wound when Dean Rathbone scored from the post on 82 minutes.
United are now sixth in the league table having secured 30 points from 17 games.
