Two Ben Lewis goals and one apiece from substitutes Brynn Cooper and Dan Farrelly earned a depleted Alleynians side a resounding victory over Bustleholme on Saturday in the WMRL 1st division.
Despite the absence of several key players, the hosts controlled the game for large periods and were unfortunate not to add more to their tally.
“It’s not unfair to argue that we should have had 7 or 8 today,” said Old Boys manager Matt Smith afterwards. “At 2-0 we had several opportunities to kill the game, and almost paid for missing those chances when they hit the bar with a speculative effort that would have brought them right back into it. Fortunately our substitutes were able to find the net late on and secure us the three points.”
Lewis opened the scoring for the Stone side midway through first half, latching onto to a Grant Bigham pass before drilling a low effort across the goalkeeper and into the net. Bustleholme then played a large period of the half with just 10 men following an injury, but the hosts were unable to capitalise as Luke Matthews and Danny Heard both saw shots saved as they pressed for a second.
The visitors started the second half with a full quota, but could do nothing about Lewis’ second as the striker blasted home a half volley from the edge of the box with his weaker left foot. Heard should have added a third soon after but ballooned his 12 yard strike high over the bar. Bigham then had an opportunity to open his account for the season, surging forward from right-back only to see his effort suffer a similar fate and end up behind the goal.
Bustleholme’s attack finally showed signs of life soon after, but a dipping distance effort could only rebound off the bar after it sailed over Matt Burslem in the Old Boys goal. The woodwork then rattled at the opposite end as young Matt Thomas crashed a long-range thunderbolt of his own against the post.
Cooper and Farrelly showed a good understanding as they entered the fray around the 75 minute mark, Farrelly finding Cooper who slotted home a classy finish from the edge of the box. Cooper then turned provider and Farrelly, fresh from scoring 4 in the reserve team earlier in the afternoon, blasted in off the crossbar to complete the scoring.
The Old Boys are in action again next Saturday, taking on high-flying Wren’s Nest at home, KO at 3pm.
Stone OA: Burslem, Hodgkinson, Askey, I. Whalley, Bigham, Thomas, C. Heard, Matthews (Maloney), Sinclair, D. Heard (Cooper), Lewis (Farrelly)
Staffs County Senior League Division Two League Cup
Betley Res 2-7 Stone OA Res
Having beaten Betley’s first team earlier in the season, the Old Boys now took the scalp of their reserves. Dan Farrelly cashed in with 4 goals, Adam Tomkinson grabbed a brace and Danny Kocyigit also found the net for Kev Warrilow’s side.
