Coalville Held in Six Goal Thriller

A late equaliser from Phil Mooney earned relegated Skelmersdale a rare point, coming from behind twice to hold the Ravens.

In a game where neither side had much to play for, an entertaining encounter saw a below-par Coalville performance allow Skelmersdale to earn a deserved battling point.

Coalville raced into a two-goal lead thanks to an own goal from Josh Dobie and a sweet strike from Malachi Lavelle-Moore, but they were pegged back by two early second half goals from Bevan Burey and Steven Irwin. Nathan Watson restored the Ravens’ lead but an injury time Mooney strike denied Coalville the three points.

There were three changes from Tuesdays home defeat to Grantham, with Nathan Watson returning from suspension, as well as the inclusion of Kyle Bryant and Liam Walshe, with Alex Dean, Danny Jenno and Dean Freeman all making way.

Coalville got off to a bright start and opened the scoring in the 6th minute, Marcus Marshall latched onto Steve Towers’ lofted through ball and darted into the area. He then drove a shot towards goal, forcing Josh Dobie to convert the ball into his own net.

Minutes later, Steven Irwin almost found an equaliser as his cross from the left wing almost dipped into the top corner.

Lavelle-Moore had a chance to extend the Ravens’ lead as he raced onto Marshall’s through ball, but he blazed his effort over whilst under pressure from the retreating rear-guard of Skelmersdale.

Watson demonstrated his trickery in the 20th minute as he received a pass from Massiah McDonald before jinking past two defenders in the box and forcing Joe Hilton to tip over his left footed effort.

Malachi Lavelle-Moore doubled the Ravens lead in the 29th minute as Nathan Watson dispossessed Dobie high up the field before laying the ball into Lavelle-Moore, who turned on the edge of the area and curled his effort into the top right corner.

The hosts almost added a third before half-time as Marshall surged through the midfield, before passing to Rory Coleman, whose powerful half volley stung the hands of Hilton as he parried it to safety.

The Ravens were in full control of the first half as they eased into a 2-0 lead without playing anywhere near their full potential. However, the side fell victim to complacency as a sluggish start to the second period allowed the Blue Boys a route back into the game.

Bevan Burey pulled a goal back for the visitors in the 48th minute as Coalville failed to clear a free kick, with the ball bouncing the striker just inside the box, who smashed a low half volley into the bottom right corner.

Just 2 minutes later Skelmersdale found an equaliser, cancelling out Coalville’s seemingly comfortable cushion just 5 minutes into the half. Rumiruz Howarth whipped in a cross from the right flank and Steven Irwin rose highest to guide his header in off the post.

Lavelle-Moore almost immediately restored the Ravens’ lead but he lifted his shot straight into the hands of Hilton after getting on the end of Watson’s throw in.

Skelmersdale’s bright start to the second half continued as Burey disposed Torr and laid a pass into substitute Seb Bradshaw, who side footed wide from 20 yards.

Daniel Creaney and Ben Stokes were brought on in place of Massiah McDonald and Malachi Lavelle-Moore in an attempt to find a winner, with Creaney returning from a 3-week injury layoff.

Rory Coleman came within inches of regaining the lead for his side in the 69th minute as his wide free kick was tipped onto the cross bar by Hilton.

The Blue boys hit back with a chance of their own as Howarth embarked on a mazy dribble into the area before sliding a pass into Irwin, who poked his effort just wide of the near post.

As the game reached its latter stages Steve Towers picked out Daniel Creaney on the run, but he couldn’t find the target as he lashed his shot wide of the far post.

Coalville finally found the goal to send them back ahead 10 minutes from time as Kyle Bryant’s through ball found its way to Nathan Watson, who calmly rounded Hilton and slotted the ball into the net from a tight angle.

The Ravens produced a chance to seal the game in the 90th minute as Watson again won the ball high up the field and sprinted down the left wing, he then slid a pass into Creaney, who pulled up just as he was about to release the shot, unfortunately as a result of a re-occurring hamstring injury.

Coalville’s tendency to concede late equalisers was again on show as Skelmersdale found a leveller in the 94th minute. In the dying seconds, Jason Jeffries floated in a cross towards Michael Vaughan-Muscat, who powered a header towards goal, forcing Coton into a low save. Phil Mooney was quickest to react, tapping the rebound into an open net.