North West Counties League PlayerMatch.com Cup RD 2
Saturday 23rd November 2019
The Old Boys played last week’s opponents, Sandbach Utd, again but this time on the opposition’s ground and in the PlayerMatch.com Cup. As they had an important League fixture at Maine Road on the following Monday, Stone left several regular players out or on the bench but welcomed the return of Oliver Davies from injury.
Nine minutes had passed before either side put in a worthwhile shot and this came from Stone’s Igor Gritco, who had a well-struck effort turned around the post by Sam Booth in the home goal. Then came a half-chance for Sandbach, but Paul-John Hudson skied his shot over the bar, from a right-wing cross. A superb Sam Wilson tackle stopped a dangerous Utd attack before they had a glorious chance to go in front, but with the goal yawning, Tom Williams placed his shot over the top. However, on the stroke of half-time, the Alleynians took the lead. A Jake Vernon corner over on their left was firmly driven into the net by Ollie Davies, on his return.
.Half Time:- Sandbach Utd 0 – 1 Stone Old Alleynians
A good 4 man move by the Old boys looked very promising but the final pass was just too far in front of Jack Tomlinson, brought on after the interval, and stretching, he could only place the ball over the crossbar. After 69 mins Sandbach equalized. They had looked dangerous for much of the period and left-wing cross was rifled home by Robbie Hatton. Old Alleynians’ skipper Michael Thomas was then forced of injured, resulting in a reshuffle of the back line. A long clearance by the Sandbach defence gave Kieran Garner-Knapper a chance, but he cleared the angle of bar and post. Into added on time the hosts scored the winner, a great goal, good enough to win any match. The ball was pulled back to Tom Williams and he hit an absolute screamer from, outside of the box, to smack the underside of the bar and into the net, giving Adam Alcock no chance.
Full Time:- Sandbach Utd 2 – 1 Stone Old Alleynians
On the following Monday, 25th November, the Old Alleynians travelled to Maine Road, for the league game mentioned earlier and returned with a 3 goals to nil victory. With only Sam Wilson missing, from a near full squad, they were well worth their victory, although Maine Road played some good enterprising football, they rarely troubled Adam Alcock, in the Stone goal. Jack Tomlinson gave the Old Boys a 6 min lead. Latching onto a Matt Thomas through ball, he beat the offside trap and smacked the ball home, from the corner of the penalty area, in the narrow gap between the keeper and the post. It wasn’t until the 79th min before they scored their second and sealed the win from the penalty spot, scored by Dave Ablewhite, after Matt Thomas had been brought down by the host’s keeper, Conrad Beeton, picking up Will Bailey’s through ball. In the last minute of normal time, the Alleynians scored their third, thanks to Jake Vernon, with a great shot just inside the far post from the edge of the area.
Full Time:- Maine Road 0 – 3 Stone Old Alleynians
