Coggeshall Town welcomed Mark Ashford and his Witham Town side to West Street for the second time in four days after Friday night’s FA Cup showdown. Graeme Smith decided to make two changes from Friday’s starting eleven with Luke Wilson missing through injury, replaced by Josh Pollard and Tevan Allen being replaced by Connor Hubble.

As the SeedGrowers looked to win their first game and score their first home goal of the 2018/19 season, they started on the front foot and after just a matter of minutes, had appeals for a penalty turned down. After just six minutes, Coggeshall took the lead scoring their first West Street goal of the season. A free-kick, won by Kevin Coyle was delivered in to the box by Hubble. Collins’ in the Witham goal was unable to hold on the free-kick and gifted striker Ross Wall with a perfect opportunity to head home from just a matter of yards.

Moments after taking the lead, Coggeshall had a chance to extend their lead. A cross field pass from right to left, released the dangerous Condon however his fierce effort was smartly saved by Collins. As Witham looked to respond to going behind, they had several set pieces without testing Coggeshall shot-stopper, Bransgrove. Witham did have their penalty appeal turn down, as they felt Pollard handled the ball in his own area, however Referee, Marriott disagreed.

The boys in red and black continued to look dangerous every time they entered in to Witham’s half. This time, it was full-back Kevin Coyle who stung the hands of Keeper Collins, who diverted his save in to a dangerous area however no one was their to capitalise for the SeedGrowers. As the first half went on, it began to come very stop-start with both sides unable to keep their fluency after a fast paced opening twenty minutes.

With twenty five minutes on the clock, Witham lost their captain, Tirivanhu to a head injury as he collided with striker, Wall. As the match drifted towards half-time, Witham’s best chance of the match so far fell to midfielder, Owusu. Owusu collected the ball wide on the left hand side, he cut inside on this right foot, however his effort sailed past the far post, to the delight of Bransgrove.

Half Time: Coggeshall Town 1-0 Witham Town

The second half started, just like the first half with the SeedGrowers on the front foot, looking to extend their lead and they soon created a number of chances. Aaron Condon went close several times, and probably should’ve extended Coggeshall’s lead but was unable to find the target with his left foot.

Condon went close again, twelve minutes in to the second half after his right footed effort smashed against the crossbar from around twenty yards out. At the other end of the pitch, Witham again had their appeals for a penalty waved away by Marriott as Sam Ashford fell to the floor, claiming he was fouled by Bransgrove.

With twenty minutes played of the second half, Coggeshall were finally rewarded for their dominance and extended their lead. A corner from Daniel Cunningham was flicked on at the near post by the dangerous Wall, to Nnamdi Nwachuku who tapped the ball in to the net from a matter of yards. As the SeedGrowers looked to manage the game until the final whistle, manager Smith made two quick changes with Tom Monk and Teven Allen being introduced for Condon and Cunningham respectively.

Witham failed to test the Coggeshall defence in the second half until the seventy-eighth minute. A free kick from wide on the right hand side, found the head of striker Menga who’s powerful header forced Bransgrove in to a fantastic save, touching the ball over the bar with his finger tips. Smith then made his final change, with striker Kieran Bishop being brought on in place of goalscorer, Wall.

As the match entered the closing stages, Coggeshall had several chances to extend their lead and in truth, Witham were lucky to keep the score line to only two. Kevin Coyle rattled the cross bar with an acrobatic effort, whilst Monk and Bishop were unable to capitalise on their half chances to score their first goals of the season.

Full Time: Coggeshall Town 2-0 Witham Town

Attendance: 203

Coggeshall Town:

James Bransgrove, Tyler Brampton, Kevin Coyle, Daniel Cunningham, Dexter Peter, Joshua Pollard, Aaron Condon, Connor Hubble, Nnamdi Nwachuku, Ross Wall & George Cocklin.

Substitutes:

Jamie Shaw, Lewis Soraf, Tevan Allen, Kieran Bishop, Tom Monk.

Witham Town:

Luca Collins, Jack Isherwood, Liam Whipps, Tyler Corlett, Pat Ahern, Andrew Tirivanhu, Johnny Ashman, Sam Owusu, L’Heureux Menga, Danny Norton, Sam Ashford.

Substitutes;

George Powell, Nathan Cook, John Watson, Rio Hause, Jack Kemsley.