More of the same for lack lustre Wrens

The Ravens, FA Vase finalists and Midland Alliance champions last season, have made a more than satisfactory start to life in the Evo-Stik NPL, and didn’t really need to break sweat to see off the lack lustre Wrens.
All that could be said in Rainworth’s favour was that their performance was not quite as bad as that at Quorn, when they surrendered a two-goal lead to lose 3-2.
And, despite the fact that the Wrens went with three forwards, all of them with proven scoring records, Town keeper Sean Bowles hardly had anything more than routine work to disturb his reverie.
Sadly the game ended in tragedy, with Coalville substitute Ryan Robbins suffering a dreadful injury in added time. Three quarters of an hour later Robbins was still awaiting the emergency ambulance which showed even less urgency than the home side in responding to a 999 call, leaving officials of both sides angered at the delay in the unfortunate player receiving the treatment he needed.
A goal in each half settled the outcome in the Ravens’ favour with Shane Rowlston allowed a free back post header from a corner in the 19th minute, and Danny Quinn flicking home from lively Anthony Carney’s run and cross six minutes into the restart.
Chris Timons stepped up from the bench to replace Cameron Fearon in the heart of the Rainworth defence, and Lee Cooksey was sacrificed from midfield to allow for three strikers, Nathan Adams making his home debut alongside Ant Lynam and Sean Cann.
Although eligible after missing the last two games through suspension, regular skipper Steve Kennedy sat it out on the bench as an unused substitute.
After a fairly even opening 10 minutes good pressure from Matt Moore won Coalville a corner which was played deep to Carney, who volleyed over from inside the left of the area.
Bowles was called into action a minute later, charging out of his goal to win a race for possession with Adams by a whisker, and then Sean Cann’s delivery into the area found Ricky Hanson who was unable to control.
Joe Carter took the ball off the toe of Carney in the box but a minute later Coalville were ahead, Rowlston left to his own devices at the back post and accepting the opportunity to the delight of the large Town following.
Callum Woodward was booked for chopping down Cann in a 24th-minute break by the home side, but it was not until the half-hour mark the the Wrens won even a corner.
Joe McCormack thwarted Quinn with a great double save in the 40th minute. But Rainworth were twice unlucky at the end of the half, when firstly, after neat play by Danny Bacon and Cann, the resulting cross was just too high for Hanson at the far post. Then in added time Lynam’s low drive from tight left of the area was blocked on the line and would not fall kindly for Bacon.
Lee Briggs replaced Carter at left back for the second half, but it was Adams dropping back to dig out in defence who robbed Moore on the edge of the area.
Mark Camm brought a good save out of Bowles in the 50th minute, but within another minute the Ravens had doubled their lead. Carney worked the ball in brilliantly from the left before slipping the ball to the near post where, from among a crowd of players, Quinn got the vital touch to turn it over the line.
Adams’ willingness to put himself about saw him again robbing Lewis Dodd as Coalville went looking for more goals, and they thought momentarily that they had got one in the 58th minute, but from yet another Ravens corner Quinn’s close range far post header dropped the wrong side of the upright, with the away fans’ premature celebrations quickly dampened.
Rainworth made a change on the hour, withdrawing Paling and pulling Hanson back from midfield to right back, allowing substitute Josh Barker to make his home competitive debut.
Barker was soon in action supplying his former Lincoln Moorlands team mate Adams following some good work by Hanson, but Adams’ attempt was miscued straight to Bowles.
McCormack spared Timons’ blushes after a poor back pass by racing out of his box to close down Moore.
But the game ended in tragedy when, almost two minutes into indicated added time of three, Robbins embarked on a weaving run, inviting the foul from Briggs which earned him a booking. The substitute fell awkwardly, an emergency ambulance was called for, and after consulting the managers and captains referee Mr Hopton called time.
With most of the clubs around them picking up a point Rainworth dropped one place to 20th, just one place above the relegation zone.
And with Tuesday’s opponents Loughborough thrashing Market Drayton 7-1 the Wrens will have their work cut out if they are not to embark on another long winless run.
RAINWORTH: McCormack, Paling (Barker 60), Carter (Briggs ht), Hannigan, Timons, Hanson, Bacon, Camm, Adams, Lynam (Gee-Pemberton 80), Cann. Subs not used: Cooksey, Kennedy.
COALVILLE: Bowles, Wells, Brown, Miveld, Parker, Rowlston, Woodward, L. Dodd (Hamilton 72), Moore, Quinn (Robbins 70), Carney (J. Dodd 80). Subs not used: Dimidph, Everitt.
REFEREE: Nicholas Hopton of Derby.
ATTENDANCE: 154.
GOALS: Coalville—Rowlston 19; Quinn 51.
CAUTIONS: Rainworth—Camm 38 (encroachment at free kick); Briggs 90+1 (foul on Robbins), Coalville—Woodward 24 (foul on Cann); Miveld 44 (foul on Adams).
MEN OF THE MATCH: Rainworth—Nathan Adams. Coalville and overall—Anthony Carney.