Report: Reds fight into next round of FA Cup

First half goals from Dom Smith and Jake Day ultimately sealed progress into the next round of the FA Cup as the Reds battled past an electric Coalville on Saturday afternoon.

We opened the scoring after just two minutes as we got the perfect start, a ball into the box from Bobby Johnson was half cleared and Dom Smith curled the loose ball into the bottom corner.

It was 2-0 on 21 minutes as Jake Day peeled off his man in the box following a James Jones flick on and rifled a shot into the far corner across Deeney.

The second half brought an almighty Ravens response with the game virtually being played in the Reds half. George Willis saved a penalty from Billy Kee who was brought down by Jones in the box on 63, a minute later Berridge found space in the box and fired a shot into the corner past George to give the hosts a lifeline.

The Reds defended for their lives in the second half, clearing cross after cross and corner after corner; but we held on to seal progress into the next round of the FA Cup.

Following the opening goal from Dom Smith after two minutes, Coalville pressed us in response and immediately crossed several balls into the box but Toby Lees and James Jones cleared away. The Ravens then won a corner which was cleared as we struggled to settle ourselves down following the opening goal.

Passes were stray and our possession turnover was frequent as we invited pressure on from the hosts. Bobby Johnson had a strong run down the right but his cross went all the way through the box.

On 16, Coalville had a big penalty shout as Holness collected a forward pass and his control took him past Nathan Fox with what looked like contact being made from behind in the box, however the Referee quickly waved the appeals away.

With 21 gone, we made it 2-0 with a fine Jake Day finish as he broke into space following a Jones flick on and fired across Deeney into the far corner to give us the cushion we needed in the game.

Nathan Fox then went down with an injury as Coalville remained positive in their response. George Willis claimed another free kick into the box before Jones had an acrobatic effort at the other end go over the bar.

Dan Bradley nearly made it three on 33, latching onto Bobby's far post cross but his first touch allowed Deeney just to race onto his feet and block the ball behind for a corner.

Willis had to then tip a cross over the bar as the first half reached a climax, the resulting corner saw a scramble before we cleared away. Ravens forward Luke Shaw then dragged a shot wide inside the box before Doyle-Charles tested Willis from range.

The second half really did see a showing of attack v defence as the hosts virtually played in the second half in Reds territory. Jones had to blocked a cross early, Willis caught another free kick into the box.

The Reds only effort of the second half came on 51 as Day found himself in a similar position to his first goal but his shot from a tight angle went into the side netting.

Back to back corners came from Coalville following an interception from Jones and then Willis having to punch the first corner over the bar. George then palmed away Shaw's curling effort from just outside the box before Conor Branson nodded another cross away.

On 62 minutes the Ravens were awarded a penalty as a cross towards Billy Kee saw a tangle between himself and Jones. Kee stepped up but George guessed the right way to palm the penalty away.

However the joy was short-lived as a minute later Berridge found space in the box following a half clearance and fired low into the far corner across Willis to set up a nerve shaking 25 minutes.

Willis touched a cross away as the Ravens produced wave after wave of attack and the Reds held on again and again. Shaw fired a free kick over the bar from 30 yards, Josh Clackstone blocked a cross before we blocked a shot away from inside the box despite loose handball claims.

George continued to make save after save in the second half, he palmed away a near post effort before Towers glanced a Thomas corner wide at the far post. Another corner came in which was met with another Willis punch, Shaw's cross was nearly tapped home by Kee but he just couldn't reach the ball as we headed into stoppage time.

There was several more free kicks delivered in stoppage time but the Reds were heroic in their defending and we held on against the second half pressure for a fantastic win in front of 440 home fans, to book our place in the next round of the FA Cup.

ATFCXI: Willis, Clackstone, Fox (Adelekan 26) (Lund 75), Branson, Jones, Lees, Smith, Bradley (c), Day, Clarke, Johnson (Grice 90).

Subs Not Used: Unwin-Marris, Babos, Stacey, Molnyeaux.

Attendance: 440