Northern Premier League Midland Division Thursday 1 January 2026
Another excellent rearguard action harvested another three points for the Mikes: one hopes their home record will eventually match their away form! The Colemen’s squad contained no less than seven former Mikes – such is the nature of local derbies hereabouts.
The clearest chance of the game came with only two minutes gone, Connor Armstrong’s effort pushed away by an athletic Cameron Belford diving save. The two teams’ styles mirrored one another, working the ball out from the back; but the hosts had more of the territory throughout. Persistent bouts of heavy rain, and squalls of wind, made the ball hard to control, and possession of it constantly changed throughout proceedings. While male spectators watched in enthralled silence, some ladies present nattered throughout! The homesters had got in three attempts at goal by the break; but all three were off target, as the Mikes doggedly defended their net. Meanwhile, two drivers (from a crowd of over three hundred) were informed they’d left their lights on, or their windows open. Well done, the home administration, for keeping their eye on our property. Half time: 0-0.
The experienced Belford had to make a scrambling recovery, after a poor clearance, only three minutes from the resumption. The second period then continued in the same vein as the first; but once again, shots at the Mikes’ frame were off target, and Jonathan Brown had to make only one spectacular save throughout – see later. As the hour approached, Kye Bilton made a determined run from his full back berth, shrugging off four larger opponents before gaining a corner. From the resultant flag kick, the ball bobbled around the Colemen’s box. The third bobble fell to Tolani Omotola…who fired through the ruck to put Boldmere ahead.
Coleshill responded in determined style, Theo Rowe gaining free kicks twenty yards out, a sliding Brown challenge thwarting the bulky Onabirekhanlen (who’d replaced the diminutive McSkeane), the ball whizzing across the Boldmere goalmouth twice in quick succession. The dyke looked to have been finally breached on seventy minutes, when our old friend Ben Usher-Shipway was tripped by Charlie Manners in the box. Taking the penalty himself, Ben fired a hard shot inside Brown’s left-hand post…and Brown made a superb save, not only keeping the ball out, but holding on to it.
From now on, it was kitchen sink time, as Coleshill kept up their assault, the Mikes now making two substitutions, as they dug in to defend their slender advantage. Ten men were back in their penalty area on a number of occasions, and four men were held back when they had a free kick awarded up the field, in a repeat of the closing stages of play at Rugby Borough. As the rain sheeted down mercilessly, the final whistle was eventually blown…and the Mikes had now pulled themselves up to the edge of the relegation zone. Despite Coleshill having the greater share of the possession Brown was hardly troubled and a workmanlike Mikes performance had been rewarded with the three points.
Coleshill Town: Cameron Belford; Daniel Brookes; Harry Sweeney (Tristan Dunkley 76); Jack Hallahan; Tyreace Brown; Taylor Carter-Byrne; Theo Rowe; Bassit Mandey; Alex McSkeane (Marvellous Onabirekhanlen 62); Ben Usher-Shipway; Lewis Allison. Subs. not used: George Cleet; Joe Fitzpatrick, Louie Webb.
Boldmere St Michaels: Jonathan Brown; Kye Bilton; Jordan Gough; Daniel O’Connor; Aris Christophorou; Pedro Lima; Connor Armstrong; Jack Burgess; Fraser Doyle; Tolani Omotola; Charlie Manners (Ben George 81); Harry Crook (Kyle Byrne 80). Subs. not used: Pierre Phillips; Freddie Cockerell; Brett Lloyd.