MIDLAND FOOTBALL COMBINATION
PREMIER DIVISION

West Midlands Police (1) 2 Coventry Marconi (1) 1

Mark Bellingham netted a brace to take his goal tally to six as West Mids maintained their 100 per cent record with a hard fought win over Coventry Marconi in sweltering conditions at Tally Ho!

West Mids were forced to substitute two of their back four players early in the game. Paul Probert came off after five minutes with suspected broken ribs and was replaced by Jon Adams, and on 25 minutes, Wayne Healey came on when Mark Langley sustained a knee injury.

West Mids went ahead on 26 minutes when a long clearance by Police keeper Ross Bate was headed on by Steve Piearce to Bellingham who crashed home an unstoppable cross-shot that went in off the post.

Marconi equalised on 31 minutes when Healy brought down David Drennan with a clumsy challenge and Craig Civzeliz stroked home the resultant penalty spot kick.

In the seventh minute of first half stoppage time, Bellingham had three shots on goal saved and Piearce was upended in the penalty area but his penalty appeal was turned down by referee Andy Legg.

The winning goal came on 71 minutes when Piearce raced down the right flank and his cross aimed at Bellingham was handled in the penalty area by a Marconi defender. Bellingham stepped up to take the penalty kick and rifled the ball home although Marconi keeper Chris Daffern did well to get a hand to the ball.

On 84 minutes, Ross Bate was the Police hero when Ian McVitie struck a curling shot from the edge of the penalty area that seemed destined for the top corner of the net until Bate at full stretch tipped the ball over for a corner.

Both sides then tired as the heat took its toll and with nine minutes second half stoppage time played, West Mids held on for a narrow but well deserved victory.