FA Vase 2nd Qual. Round
Stone Old Alleynians 0-4 Gornal Athletic
Just three and a half weeks have passed since the Old Boys pulled off an unlikely yet deserved victory over Ellesmere Rangers to progress in this competition, but that will have felt like a distant memory to Alleynians’ manager Matt Smith, whose side crumbled at home to Gornal Athletic on Saturday to end their hopes of reaching the first round proper.
A hat-trick from Carl Martin and a Geoff Hill strike saw the West Midlands Premier Division side over the line against their Division One opponents, though the home team will have been disappointed with the manner of the goals they conceded.
Martin’s first came as the Old Boys failed to close down a routine throw-in on their left flank, and Athletic were allowed to cross for Martin to nod home at the far post. Minutes beforehand, Billy Thorley had spurned a chance to put the Stone side in front but found himself smothered by the Athletic goalkeeper following a neat through ball from lone frontman Danny Heard.
The Old Boys continued to compete in a close first half, but were dealt another blow on the stroke of half-time as Martin received the ball in space on the edge of the box, and picked out the far top corner brilliantly to double the visitors’ advantage.
Martin picked up where he left off as the second half began, making it three after just 47 minutes as another cross found him unmarked at the back post, allowing him to fire home from close range and all but seal the victory for Athletic.
Adam Griffin’s introduction on the Alleynians’ right wing reignited the home side’s attacking intent, and his direct running caused problems for Athletic but still the Old Boys couldn’t find a way back into the tie.
Hill then got in on the act, capitalising on a ball that was headed back into the box following a poor Alleynians clearance and getting the better of Dean Buckley to blast home and round off the afternoon’s scoring.
“We were always going to be the underdogs in this game,” said Smith afterwards. “There wasn’t a great deal of chances in the match but they took theirs clinically and we didn’t. We have two games in the coming week and we need to dust ourselves down and try to rediscover the form that made us so difficult to beat early in the season.”
Stone OA: Paglia, Hodgkinson (Hewitt), Wilson, Askey, Whalley, Sinclair, Bigham (Griffin), Buckley, C Heard (Thomas), Thorley, D Heard
Staffs County Senior League Division Two
Stone OA Reserves 5-2 AFC Lichfield
A George Askey hat-trick and goals from Adam Tomkinson and Sam Smith gave Kev Warrilow’s men a hard earned victory, as the home side came from two goals down to win at Wellbeing Park.
The Senior League side are also looking for a new secretary to help the club out, and anybody interested taking on this role can contact Dave Mardling on 07713596836.
