Market Drayton Tigers 1-3 Stone Old Alleynians Res
Staffs County Senior League Division Two League Cup
A spectacular return to form saw Alleynians striker Carl Dibden bang in three goals as his side came from behind to see off Market Drayton Tigers and make themselves favourites to progress out of the group stage and into the quarter finals.
Having suffered a home defeat to the Tigers earlier this season, Kev Warrilow was delighted with the manner in which his players comfortably despatched the previously unbeaten league leaders and secured valuable points in the race to reach the knockout stage.
“That was probably our best performance of the season,” said Warrilow. “We competed everywhere and dominated the midfield, and were unlucky not to win by more. We’ve set a standard for ourselves with this win, and if we continue to match that standard it will be a successful season.”
Brynn Cooper and Paul Fenton impressed in the Old Boys engine room, and Cooper should have opened the scoring when he ghosted in to meet an Adam Tomkinson free-kick, but could only find the goalkeeper with his headed effort. George Askey then struck the post from close range before Dan Farrelly fired wide following good work down the Alleynians right side.
Having enjoyed much of the play in the first period, the Old Boys could be forgiven for considering themselves unfortunate to fall behind, but a high quality move unlocked the visitors’ defence and the Tigers nudged themselves in front when a fizzing cross was headed back across the goal and into the far corner by a home forward.
Cue Dibden, who looked back to his early season best as he capitalised on Farrelly’s superb delivery to draw his side level. Latching on to a perfectly weighted pass from Old Boys full-back Dick Hewitt, Farrelly crossed early for Dibden, who picked out the top corner beautifully with his head.
It was soon two, Farrelly again providing for another Dibden header as the visitors took control.
The hat-trick was then complete when the industrious Fenton lofted a pass that triggered indecision among the Tigers defenders and Dibden stole in to tap home from close range.
“It felt great to find the net again after such a long lay-off” said the goalscorer afterwards. “This was a proper team performance though and we deserved all three points.”
SOA: Burslem, Perry, Maloney (c), D Warrilow, Hewitt, G Askey, Cooper, Fenton, Tomkinson, Dibden, Farrelly
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