Missed chances proved costly for Bees in the cup
Studley 0, Coleshill Town 1
STUDLEY’S FA Cup run ended under the Friday night floodlights of the Midland Football League side as visitors Coleshill edged through with a solitary goal just before half-time.
But manager Mike Fowler was proud of his team’s performance with the Bees being denied at least a replay by two outstanding saves from visiting keeper Paul Hathaway.
The experienced shotstopper denied Ash Demulder midway through the first half and then produced a brilliant save to keep out a Romehl Critchlow volley as the home side chased an equaliser in the second.
Fowler said: “He has been a quality keeper at the level for years. There has been a six-yard tap-in which he’s got down to and then that volley from Romehl which went through bodies. Even after that though we had three or four really good chances.
“I felt like that was a proper cup tie. In the first half I thought they were a little bit better than us all over the park and we couldn’t get to grips with them. They got hold of the ball, had a bit of territory, and caused us problems. They had a couple of chances from set plays before they scored. They were dangerous because they have some big lads.
“In the second half we got the reaction, and I thought it was one-way traffic and to be honest I thought we should have got something out of it.
“I’m really proud how they reacted in the second half and the way they went about their business. I think everyone will leave the game thinking we should have got something. It’s disappointing but I’m pleased with the reaction.”
The Northern Premier Midland side started the stronger and went close to opening the scoring after just seven minutes when Lewis Collins fired over from six yards.
Alex Tomkinson directed his header from Robbie Bunn’s free-kick straight at the Bees keeper before Demulder was denied at the other end by Hathaway’s smart save, Zac Guinan putting the rebound over the bar.
Studley were given a let-off just shy of the 45-minute mark when Simeon Colbourne rounded keeper Bren Bunn only to shoot wide but then, in added time, it was Cobourne’s cross that was not cleared and Josh Willis headed home unchallenged.
Changes at the break seemed to lift Bees and they were much the better side for the remainder of the game only to find themselves up against a solid Coleshill defence and a keeper in fine form.
Hathaway somehow managed to claw away Critchlow’s volley from the edge of the area on 55 minutes with central defender Rob Evans having to deal with a torrent of corners and long throws into the visitors box.
Substitute Luke Carsley put a header wide when he did find space but Studley were unable to find an equaliser and their attentions now switch to the FA Vase and a home tie with league rivals Shifnal Town on Saturday (ko 3pm).
