The Old Boys are now unbeaten in four in WMRL Division 1 but had to settle for a point on Saturday, despite leading at half time through a Danny Heard strike. The visitors, who had won six of their eight league games prior to this match, levelled early in the second half to rescue a point and hold the home side to their first draw in this season’s league campaign.
Alleynians manager Matt Smith said: “It was a very tight game and we competed well all over the pitch. Everybody put a shift in and I felt we could have nicked it but we couldn’t quite find the right final pass. However, we’re on an excellent unbeaten run and with key players still to come back from injury we’ll be looking to really push on from here, starting with next week’s cup match.”
Heard was able to capitalise on the industry of his strike partner Ben Lewis, who bustled his way into the penalty area and saw his shot parried into the path of the onrushing benefactor. Heard made no mistake and found the net from close range.
Earlier, Matt Thomas had come closest for the Old Boys when his cross from the left deceived everybody – including the goalkeeper – and bounced back off the crossbar. Dean Buckley also had a chance to register, but his strike swerved narrowly wide at the end of a good spell of Alleynians possession.
At the other end Matt Burslem pulled off a brilliant stop to deny Wren’s Nest an opener, his outstretched boot proving equal to a close range effort.
Smith’s Alleynians failed to double their advantage in the second period and found themselves pegged back following a good team move from the visitors. A cross deflected off Dean Buckley and allowed a Nest striker to volley home from ten yards.
The Old Boys did have chances to win the match late on, but Chris Heard saw an effort deflected wide and Luke Askey could only find the goalkeeper with a headed attempt eight yards from goal. The point leaves Smith’s side 10th in the table, but with games in hand on all of those above them.
Club captain Paul Griffiths was able to make a late return as a substitute following several weeks out with a thigh injury, and will provide his manager with food for thought as the Old Boys prepare to tackle Wyrley at home in the Staffordshire Vase next Saturday (3pm KO).
SOA: Burlsem, I Whalley, Wilson, Aksey, Bigham, Thomas (Hodgkinson), C Heard, Buckley (Matthews), Sinclair, D Heard, Lewis
Staffs Challenge Cup – SOA Reserves 0-3 Abbey Hulton Reserves
Kev Warrilow’s side were well beaten by their higher level opposition, but not before giving the visitors a few scares. Dan Farrelly could have levelled the scores at 1-0 but failed to convert following an excellent Adam Tomkinson through ball. Tomkinson himself then had a couple of speculative distance efforts but failed to find the target.
The visitors took the lead midway through the first half when a header at goal took a fortuitous deflection, but they were made to work hard for second and third goals which both came late on in the match.
