Football
Excellent Earls stun the leaders

Earlswood Town 2 Bolehall Swifts 1

Midland Combination Premier Division

A GOAL in each half carried Earlswood to a fantastic victory against league leaders Bolehall on Saturday.

Earls had won just five times in 20 starts going into the contest and coming up against a Bolehall side who had lost just three times in the league, many an observer could have been forgiven for expecting the visitors to triumph.

As it was, the home side produced an excellent display to run out comfortable winners, with Bolehall's consolation not coming until the fourth minute of injury time.

Skipper Steve Darlington was missing for the hosts through suspension whilst Richard Prosser and Lewis Cosgrove were also unavailable.

It quickly became evident that Andy Rowe's long throws were a useful weapon for Earls who started well and were rewarded with the lead in the tenth minute.

Laurence Martin broke the deadlock after picking the ball up just inside the box and crashing a low shot into the net.

Mark Sheils dealt comfortably with the couple of chances Bolehall did create as Earls continued to look the more threatening, Reece Hewitt just missing the target when clean through.

There was a let off for Earls in the 39th minute when the underside of the bar kept the visitors out before Sheils had to make a smart stop.

Earls regained control at the start of the second half and went close again through Hewitt before Simon Volant saw an effort well saved by the keeper.

It appeared to be only a matter of time before the lead was extended and so it proved six minutes into the second half when Hewitt put the ball into an empty net after Darren Acton spilled a shot into this path.

Bolehall tried to get back into it but Earls defended well and the visitors' cause was not helped when they were reduced to ten men as full time approached.

Despite being a man down they did net with almost the last kick of the game through Mike Swann but it was not enough to ruin Earls' afternoon.

Earls entertain Pershore Town on Saturday (3pm).

A BAD tempered contest between the Reserves and Coleshill Town ended in a 1-1 draw.

Coleshill, unbeaten since September, lost two players and their manager to a red card but they did go ahead in the 33rd minute through Rob Seal.

Williams was dismissed before half time to reduce Coleshill to ten men and they lost Obi to a second yellow card shortly after the restart to give Earls the upper hand.

Kyle Turner hit the bar as they tried to find an equaliser which eventually arrived with five minutes to go when Hadley netted.