Stone Dominoes 4 Stone Old Alleynians Reserves 0 – Saturday 8th August: Stone Dominoes’ players had one last chance to impress ahead of the new season next weekend, as ground-sharing Stone Old Alleynians Reserves were the opponents on a glorious Saturday afternoon at Yarnfield.
Alleynians pressed quickly in the early stages, frustrating Dominoes when in possession. If there was any doubt that this was a derby of sorts, the physical nature of some challenges in the opening 15 minutes soon put paid to that.
Dominoes started to create chances as the half wore on, and Jake Hughes should have put them ahead when an Ash Cooper cross found him unmarked at the far post, only for the midfielder to fire over the bar. Cooper himself then came close to breaking the deadlock as he cut onto his left foot just inside the penalty area but could only shoot straight at the goalkeeper. It was 1-0 on the half hour mark, as Ash Thompson’s long range pass found full back Endon Adams advancing down the right, his cross finding a free Jimmy Hazelton in the middle who headed home. Alleynians’ two best chances came through two long range efforts but both were directed straight at goalkeeper Craig Bould.
The second half saw Dominoes settle on the ball more and enjoy the vast majority of possession. Patient football though was let down by the final product in the opponent’s final third. It was not until midway through the half that they were able to double their lead, with Ash Thompson again involved. Picking the ball up in the centre circle, he drove at the Alleynians’ defence before sliding in Shane Lindop on the right who opened his body to curl the ball into the far bottom corner.
With the opposition tiring Dominoes pressed for more, and when Thompson played the ball over the top for Lewis Adams to run on to, he superbly flighted the ball over the advancing goalkeeper to make it 3-0. It was Adams who also got the fourth and final goal not long after, as Shane Lindop’s driven ball in from the left gave the forward an easy tap in at the far post.
The result means that Dominoes go into the season opener next weekend against Redgate Clayton Reserves on the back of a victory and plenty of cause for optimism.
