Stone Dominoes’ new men’s senior side drew 3-3 with Warstone Wanderers in their first home game at Wellbeing Park in Yarnfield on Saturday 18th July.
The friendly began at a fast pace with neither side being able to keep hold of the ball for a sustained period. After 10 minutes though Dominoes took the lead when a goal kick from Dan Marsh was flicked on by Tom Broadhurst and Ash Thompson reacted to the ball ricocheting back off the Warstone centre half to fire right-footed into the bottom corner. Warstone appeared to be shaken into life by this and it was the away team that controlled the remainder of the first half. After firing a free kick over from the edge of the box minutes earlier, a second one resulted in the ball being placed into the far top corner giving Dan Marsh no chance for the equaliser.
Soon after, the visitors took the lead, as the centre forward raced on to a through ball only to see his efforts thwarted by Marsh, who could only look on as a Warstone player pounced on the rebound to fire home. The lead was extended not long after as another ball over the top saw the centre forward get the better of the Dominoes keeper this time as he lifted the ball over an advancing Marsh. The half was to end how it began though as a Jack Steele free kick from out wide saw the referee adjudge Chris Nellis to be shoved in the back and pointed to the spot. Ash Thompson stepped up to calmly slot home the spot kick for his second of the afternoon.
Whatever had been said or changed at the interval the Stone players seemed to react to it, as it was the hosts who had he majority of the possession in the second period and subsequently controlled the game. Patient build up and flowing moves resulted in Dominoes going close on a couple of occasions through Ash Thompson and Lee Foyle. It was Foyle who finally put the ball in the net midway through the half, only to look up and see the assistant’s flag raised for offside. Dominoes showed a glimpse into the future fifteen minutes from time as Ryder and Adams introduced youngsters Macca Baddeley and Noah Maxwell, with neither looking out of place.
A few more chances came and went and as time was running out Warstone cleared a corner to Baddeley, the youngster sidestepping his marker in the middle of the park before firing a reverse ball wide to centre half Craig James who had stayed forward from the corner. James showed no signs of panic as he floated the ball to the back post for Tom Broadhurst to chest down and smash past the goalkeeper for the equaliser.
The management team will be pleased with what they saw, especially in the second half, with the players coming through another strong test with match minutes under their belt.
[box type=”info” align=”aligncenter” ]A tough test against Leek CSOB on 22nd July resulted in a 4-1 defeat in the latest pre-season fixture. Old Boys showed their Premier class creating plenty of chances and produced four well worked goals via Kie Wain (2), Jamie Pointon and Drew Bennett. Dominoes created their fair share of chances as Tom Broadhurst’s header went close and Shane Lindop’s terrific long range effort was tipped over in the first half. A reward came late on in the form of a consolation through some great football ending in a Chris Nellis goal. The club continued to look to the future by again introducing two youngsters (Macca Baddeley and Connor Pustkowski) during the second period.[/box]
Stone Doms get their Staffordshire County Senior League Division One campaign gets under way in August. Here are the first few fixtures:
Sat 15 Aug – Redgate Clayton Res (h)
Wed 19 Aug – Foley (a)
Sat 22 Aug – Walsall Phoenix (h)
Wed 26 Aug – Hawkins Sports (a)
Sat 29 Aug – Longton Area (h)
Sat 05 Sep – Abbey Hulton Res (h)
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