After last weeks disappointing defensive display against Bowers & Pitsea, Graeme Smith introduced new signing Tyler Corlett in to the side from the start and there was also a welcome return to the starting eleven for attacking forward, Sam Bantick. Dereham, who sat bottom of the league coming in to the game have had an improved run of results in recent weeks, most notably drawing against Aveley last weekend.

As the league table would have predicted, the SeedGrowers dominated the game from the first whilst and had plenty of opportunities within the opening twenty minutes to opening the scoring. Bantick and Nnamdi Nwachuku had the best chances, with two each in fact however Pride in the Dereham goal was able to make two smart saves to keep the scoreline level. Despite their dominance, Coggeshall were struggling to breakdown a Dereham side which were posing a real risk when counter attacking. On one counter attacking move, Dereham did have appeals for a penalty however they were soon waved away by the match referee.

Bantick almost turned provider as his cross looked to have found the head of team-mate, Ross Wall however a last ditch defensive header from the Dereham centre-half saw the ball drift away from danger to the despair of Wall who was waiting to head home the game’s opening goal. Moments later and Wall did have an opportunity to open the scoring and it is one that he should have taken. Curtis Haynes-Brown played a delightful ball over the top of the Dereham defence, Wall latched on to the pass however his lobbed effort rebounded off of the cross bar and Pride then collected the loose ball, had Wall of rolled his effort on the floor past the jumping Pride he would have most certainly scored.

Half Time: Coggeshall Town 0-0 Dereham Town

Just like the first half, the home side were dominant and throughout the opening stages of the second half, were creating lots of chances. Conor Hubble had the first chance of the half from a Sam Bantick corner, however he was unable to keep his header on target as it went over the bar. Michael Gyasi was then introduced in place of Sam Bantick as Coggeshall struggled to get going as the half went on, Dereham seemed to grow with confidence whilst the SeedGrowers started to lose their fluidity in all areas of the pitch.

Desperate to spark his side in to life, Graeme Smith made an attacking change with Ace Howell replacing Syrus Gordon. It was Dereham who created the next clear goal scoring opportunity, however David Hinton smashed his effort wide of the goal when really he should’ve tested Sambridge. The SeedGrowers then made their last change with Ross Wall being replaced by Ayrton Coley as the Town looked to use their pacey forward line to beat the visitors’ defence. Dereham then had another opportunity to score after a defensive mix-up. Joe Gatting pounced on the mix-up, rounded Sambridge however to the delight of Coggeshall, his effort re-bounded off of the post.

As Coggeshall pressed for a winner Gyasi, Coley, George Cocklin and Hubble all had chances however none of them were able to make them count as the visitors stood tall and headed back to Norfolk with a share of the spoils.

Full Time: Coggeshall Town 0-0 Dereham Town

Attendance: 90

Coggeshall Town
Danny Sambridge, Tyler Brampton, Curtis Haynes-Brown, Syrus Gordon, Dexter Peter, Tyler Corlett, Sam Bantick, Conor Hubble, Nnamdi Nwahchuku, Ross Wall, George Cocklin.

Substitutes
Tevan Allen, Ace Howell, Aryton Coley, Jamie Shaw, Michael Gyasi.

Dereham Town
Elliot Pride, Daniel Beaumont, Owen Murphy, Shaun Wones, Jay Eastoe-Smith, Matthew Castellan, Rhys Logan, David Hinton, Ryan Crisp, Adam Smith, Adam Hipperson.

Subsititutes
Joe Gatting, Jamie Forshaw, Dion Frary, Tom McLeish, Adam Plumstead.