NIL RETURN

Kings’ midweek encounters are rapidly turning into missions of no return, as they finished pointless from their first ever visit to Coalville Town, their cause being all the more hampered by the dismissal of Kyle Connolly early in the second half for the second of two bookable offences. Coalville were the last team this season to lose an unbeaten league record and It was easy to see why. Their penetrating attacks always carried a potent threat and Kings’ defence, particularly custodian Melvin Minter, were kept busy throughout the evening with a string of timely interventions. The first half was end to end stuff with Kings more than matching the attacking endeavours of the hosts, Jordan Parkes orchestrating some enterprising approach play, but all too often the incisive end product was sadly lacking. Coalville too were finding the Kings rear guard a tough nut to crack and the resumption of the Jorell Johnson and Calum Adebiyi centre back pairing was proving a resilient barrier. In the end, it was an element of good fortune that enabled the hosts to break the deadlock in the 35th minute. A blocked
McGlinchey shot ballooned into the air and fell conveniently for the shooter to follow up and cleverly head over the stranded Minter. There was no further action of note before the conclusion of a half that left Kings reflecting on missed opportunities that would
ultimately prove costly. Kings manager, Chris Cummins re-shuffled his forces at half time introducing Alex Anderson for Louie Collier but within minutes of the restart the Kings supremo was forced to re-organise again when a wayward lunge by Kyle Connolly resulted in the defender’s early departure. To their credit, Kings responded positively to the reduction in personnel and mounted a period of sustained attacking play. One surging run by Callum Adebiyi almost let in Mitchell Weiss only for the striker to be denied at the last by a saving tackle from Ravens’ man-of-the-match Stuart Pierpoint. Saul Williams, too, had a similar opportunity when combining well with Weiss only for Coalville keeper,
Deeney to make a smart save. Inevitably, Kings numerical disadvantage and pursuit for parity left gaps at the back. These openings were ruthlessly exploited by the host’s effective attacking force when Kalern Thomas cut in from the right and finished with surgical precision into the far corner. Kings battled on gamely but were undone again five minutes from time when a perceptive through ball split the defence and allowed substitute Kairo Mitchell to complete the scoring and leave Kings reflecting on their midweek woes.

By Derry Edgar