POLICE
BITE BACK AT THE RED LION GROUND
TO SECURE THREE VITAL POINTS
West Midlands Police travelled to meet Continental
Star knowing that their away record this season
showed only two wins, the first being a 4-1 win
at Southam United back in October and a 2-1 win
at Handrahan Timbers in late December.
Police
came from behind to take all three points on a dusty
pitch at the Red Lion Ground, Blakenall. With the
slope and the wind in their favour in the first
half, West Mids dominated and should have gone ahead
on 16 minutes, when Paul Shaw put Mark Delaney clear
on goal but his miss-hit shot went straight to Star’s
keeper Roger John.
Star
went ahead against the run of play, on 31 minutes
when a long through ball found Peter Logan who advanced
on goal and slotted the ball past Police keeper
Tony Workman.
A
minute before half time West Mids drew level when
Gavin Smith sent Mark Bellingham away down the left
flank and ’Bello’ cut inside and fired
home a fierce shot from the angle of the box.
The
second half flowed end to end and Tony Workman was
the Police hero on 75 minutes, going full stretch
to save what looked like a goal bound shot from
Logan. Then. three minutes later, West Mids striker
Mark Bellingham burst clear and although he looked
to have been fouled, he stayed on his feet to fire
just wide of the post.
The
match winning goal came on 85 minutes with a superb
solo effort from Bellingham, who burst clear from
the half way line and fired home with his trusty
left foot from 20 yards.
West
Mids were on the back foot for the final few minutes
of the match but held out for a well earned deserved
victory.
Match
Report by
Tony 'Scoop' Pearson
