Coalville Town keep rolling as Midland League's cup week bites

Four days after 650 people packed into The Volt for a 1-1 draw with Heather St. John's, Coalville Town returned to winning form with a 1-0 victory at Anstey Town, Tom Mangan converting a 27th-minute penalty that proved the only goal of an occasionally fractious afternoon at Beaumont Park. The game lost two players to red cards in the second half, Anstey Town's Tom Barsby and Coalville substitute Ryan Sahota both dismissed after a flashpoint midway through the half, but the Ravens held firm to extend their unbeaten run to three matches. Farah Abdi was named man of the match for the second successive game, a run of form the club's own report described him as fast becoming pivotal to. The win came in the same week Coalville Town confirmed the signing of centre-back Lewis Warnaby, who made his debut at Beaumont Park, with the Mansfield Town academy product arriving after a spell at Sherwood Colliery and dual-registration appearances for AFC Hinckley.

The midweek card belonged largely to the Midland League Cup. Coalville Town travelled to Saffron Dynamo's Kings Park and won 2-0, a result Saffron's own account put down to a much-changed home side giving a good account of themselves against strong opposition. Coventry Copsewood advanced past Premier Division opposition in Darlaston Town, their youth team also making it four wins in a row with a 4-0 victory over Bolehall. Heather St. John's progressed with a 3-0 win in which two under-18s and two reserve players were drafted into the first team, while Gornal Athletic hosted a Black Country derby against Dudley Town having added Aaron Bishop on loan from Redditch United in time for the tie. Lutterworth Athletic exited at the first hurdle, going down 1-3 on penalties to G.N.G. Oadby Town after a 2-2 draw at Ausden Clark Arena, Adam Shaw scoring both their goals.

At the top of Division One, Leicester St Andrews remain the story of the early season after beating league leaders Gornal Athletic 2-1 at Garden Walk, Zak Adams scoring early and Charlie Andrews saving a penalty to protect the lead. Ahead of the clash, Gornal Athletic had been active in the transfer market, adding forward Cole Wells from Bilston Town and Harry Crook, formerly of Bromsgrove Sporting among other clubs, while confirming the departure of Callum Powell.

Elsewhere, Cradley Town marked Cam Milne's 200th appearance for the club despite a 1-0 defeat at Saffron Dynamo, where Carlton Beardmore's finish settled matters and a red card for a Cradley defender compounded their afternoon.