Wolstanton United 6 Stone Dominoes 2
Leek Cup
Saturday 7th January 2017
Stone Dominoes began 2017 in disappointing fashion as they exited the Leek Cup after a heavy defeat to their Premier Division opponents.
A Dave Ashley penalty and Chris Broad strike had put the home side in control before Joss Myatt headed home to reduce the deficit, but Jamie Kempson restored the two-goal lead before the break. Kempson doubled his tally just before the hour mark before Broad and Shane Williamson increased the lead further; Dominoes pulled another back late on thanks to an own goal.
Despite being disappointed with the result, joint-manager Kyle Adams felt there were positives to take from the game. “We are obviously sad to exit the cup and Wolstanton showed why they’re up there season after season so all credit to them. I felt we competed well footballing wise the majority of the game which was pleasing but we couldn’t handle the physical presence of the likes of Chris Broad and we gifted them a few silly goals which you just can’t do against teams at that level.”
After finding out this week that Shane Lindop will miss the rest of the season the visitors were also without captain Jake Hughes, Endon Adams and Shaun Smith. Billy Silvester and Jack Steele returned to the lineup. Wolstanton were on the front foot immediately and only a Lewis Adams clearance off the line from a corner prevented the hosts going ahead within 3 minutes.
The reprieve lasted only a couple of minutes for Dominoes however when Kempson went down inside the area and Ashley stepped up to convert the spot-kick. The lead was nearly doubled minutes later but Silvester cleared off the line following another corner before Jules Paterson came within inches of levelling proceedings as his lob beat goalkeeper Douglas Hughes but not the crossbar.
Lewis Adams went close in the 20th minute as his long range effort was tipped over before the home side immediately pounced on a defensive mistake and captain Broad dealt the ultimate punishment, cutting inside before finding the bottom corner. Dominoes pulled a goal back in the 29th minute when Chris Nellis’ driven cross was met by a superb Myatt header which flashed past Hughes in the Wolstanton goal.
The lead was increased again 5 minutes later when poor defending allowed Kempson to nip in and tap home following a header back across goal. Stone were dealt a further blow when Nellis was forced off through injury before the break. As the away side pushed to get back into the game in the second half they were dealt further punishment when Kempson fired in from close range before the hour mark and Williamson all but put the game beyond doubt 10 minutes later when he tapped home.
Broad walked through the Dominoes defence with minutes remaining to add his second of the afternoon before Paterson’s cross forced a late consolation for his side as it was turned into the net. Dominoes are in cup action again on Saturday when they travel to Penkridge in the Presidents Trophy semi-final as they look to reach the final for the second successive season.
Stone Dominoes: Marsh, Nellis (Amponsah 38), Silvester, Steele, Parkes, Thorp, L.Adams, Thompson (Fox 70), Broadhurst, Paterson, Myatt
Goals: Ashley 5(p), Broad 21, 86, Kempson 35, 56, Williamson 66 (Wolstanton United); Myatt 29, Own Goal 88 (Stone Dominoes)
Referee: J.Burgess
