Week to forget as Eastwood CFC exit UCL Cup at Coalville Town

Red Badgers director of operations Zander Shayler said: “The defeat at Hucknall on Wednesday was disappointing.

“We had chances early on but I’m disappointed we didn’t really have a go in the second half until the last five minutes.

“On Saturday we played better but never really troubled Coaville’s goal.

“We now have eight crucial league games, three at home on the bounce before ending the season with five consecutive away games, so it’s a huge time for the first team and the club.”

Eastwood arrived in Coalville having negotiated only Step 5 opposition in this competition, but their league form ticking upward since the quarter-final was drawn.

But Coalville made it uncomfortable from the first tackle to the last clearance, closing space early and rarely allowing Eastwood a second touch in dangerous areas, and in doing so recorded a fourth straight clean sheet.

The opening was cagey, with Coalville looking to get the ball forward to Morley at every opportunity.

The first real opening came in the eighth minute when Eastwood won a free kick in a dangerous position just left of centre.

However, the opportunity dissolved into the turf as Callum Cocks’ effort lacked conviction, dribbling tamely into the hands of Jake Williams.

The game sparked into life in the 10th minute when Jaylan Wildbore slipped a neat pass to Ronnie Morley inside the area, only for Elijah Morris-Wright to block the resulting shot.

Coalville kept the pressure on from the throw as Kane Bartholomew and Scott McManus worked a sharp one-two, with McManus whipping a left-footed cross into the box where Ryan Green rose between Cocks and Neo Saunders.

His header arced towards the corner until Sam Wilson, stretching full length, clawed it away. Morley lunged for the rebound and was beaten by a desperate clearance from Morris-Wright.

Bartholomew delivered again in the 11th minute, the ball hanging towards the back post where MJ Semahimbo arrived.

He cut inside Saunders with a tight touch and dragged his shot just wide of the near upright, studs scraping turf as he tried to steady himself.

Eastwood's response came through Theo Flanagan, who drilled a pass into Louis Nicholson on 18 minutes.

The forward flicked it neatly around the corner for Alfie Coe-Flynn, who barged through a 50-50 with McManus and returned possession.

Nicholson shot wide when others had peeled into better positions.

A minute later, Flanagan delivered once more; Williams punched under pressure as Nicholson tried to redirect with his right foot. The contact seemed to come off his chest and skidded beyond the post.

Tyler Dacres, a recent addition to the Eastwood ranks from Step 4 Basford, cut inside Jack Warner on the half-hour but struck straight at Williams.

Coalville answered in the 38th minute when Morley controlled a loose header from Morris-Wright and held off contact before setting Ryan Sahota for a shot 25 yards out. Sahota's effort swerved and dipped, missing the upright by a stride.

Just before the interval, Corey Alcock drove a straight pass over the top and after hesitation from Morris-Wright, Morley chopped inside and shot over with three black and white shirts arriving.

In stoppage time, Bartholomew's free kick reached Semahimbo, who flicked the ball up away from Saunders and volleyed on the turn, the shot flashing wide as the first drops of rain began to show against the dark of the stand roof.

The second half opened under a heavier sky.

Within five minutes, the rain had settled properly, flattening hair and darkening sleeves.

Morley produced the game's cleanest individual turn on halfway in the 52nd minute, dragging the ball back and releasing Sahota through the centre.

Sahota struck early from distance but found little purchase, the ball skidding into Wilson's gloves.

On 55 minutes, McManus launched a pass forward and Philip Watt could only head upward. Wildbore contested the loose ball, Sahota feeding the ball back to Wildbore 15 yards out as the forward dragged wide.

The entertainment factor deserted the game for 10 minutes around the hour mark, as worsening conditions dragged the play into something scrappier and ragged.

In the 72nd minute, Aaron O'Connor believed he had given Eastwood the lead when he finished neatly beyond Williams, but the assistant's flag was already raised.

The opener came three minutes later. Bartholomew intercepted a forward pass from Saunders and carried into space before sliding a channel ball into Mangan's path.

Mangan drove towards the edge of the box, drawing Watt across, and squared low.

Semahimbo received with his back half-turned, executed a tight pirouette and drag back, and shot. The ball struck the leg of Morris-Wright and deflected beyond Wilson.

Eastwood pushed forward in response and in the 88th minute, Morley controlled a looping headed clearance from Cocks and slipped a delicate pass into Steer's stride.

Through on goal, Steer skewed his attempt, the contact turning into a hanging cross towards Mangan at the far post.

Mangan could only head softly into Wilson's hands, the ball lacking pace.

Eastwood earned a late free kick from 20 yards. Bartholomew stood firm in the wall and Cocks' shot thudded against him.

Deep into stoppage time, Watt, now operating as an emergency centre forward, flicked on a long ball for Eastwood's leading marksmen, Tyler Blake.

Blake controlled and swivelled, shooting low, but Williams gathered and smothered to ensure the result.

Now four points outside the play-off places, Eastwood host Deeping Rangers on Saturday.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​