Thurlow Nunn Premier Stowmarket Town 1 Coggeshall Town 2 Stowmarket Town tasted defeat at home in the league for the first time in more than 18 months as Coggeshall Town struck late to take home all the points, writes Alex Moss.
In front a bumper crowd of 337, the two promotion rivals were heading for a draw at Greens Meadow, after Luke Wilson’s fifth-minute header was quickly cancelled out by Josh Mayhew just four minutes later.
But eight minutes from time ex-Stow captain Danny Cunningham’s free kick took a decisive touch past James Bradbrook to secure all the points for Coggeshall and end the home side’s nine match winning run in the Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division.
Last season’s league clash at Greens Meadow between the two sides ended in a goalless draw, but there was no chance of the feat being repeated this time as the two promotion rivals both scored inside a frenetic opening 10 minutes.
The visitors broke the deadlock after five minutes when captain Wilson’s header from a corner was adjudged to have crossed the line, despite the best efforts of Anton Clarke on the line.
Stow responded quickly and just four minutes later they were back on level terms. Luke Read’s flick on sent Mayhew through on goal and he fired past Coggeshall goalkeeper James Bransgrove for his 30th goal of the season.
The goals dried up after that, but both sides still went on the attack in search of the game’s next goal, with Coggeshall’s Jack Curtis firing over the crossbar, while at the other end Ollie Brown forced a fine save from Bransgrove as the first half drew to a close.
Stow enjoyed a good spell midway through the second half as a Dave Cowley free kick was headed wide by Nathan Clarke on the hour mark, before Brown teed up Read, who saw his shot kept out by Bransgrove nine minutes later.
Coggeshall regained their lead on 82 minutes as Cunningham sent a free kick into the Stow box and the next touch took the ball past Bradbrook and into the back of the net, as the visitors went home with all the points.
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