Stone Old Alleynians won their fourth game on the trot at the expense of table-topping Mahal in a tasty encounter at Yarnfield on Saturday 15th September.
Against a good footballing side, who also were very good at closing their opponents down, the Old Boys had to be at their very best throughout to win this West Midlands League Division One clash.
The visitors dictated the opening 20mins but good defending by the home side, helped by a couple of missed chances by Mahal, kept the game scoreless. The Alleynians gradually matched the pace of their opponents and went close through Chris Heard from a cleverly worked short corner and a shot from Rob Winstanley. Mahal then again nearly scored on 35mins, with the ball being scrambled clear after Dan Hulme had been rounded. The usually reliable Adam Tompkinson found space on half-time before drilling his shot wide.
Half Time:- Stone Old Alleynians 0 – Mahal 0
At the start of the second half it was again Mahal first out of the blocks and Hulme made two very good saves, especially when he came out to smother a shot from an onrushing forward. However it didn’t take long for the Old Alleynians to match their opponents and the match became a physical encounter in midfield with the hard tackling Stone players giving the hosts the initiative.
A brilliant tackle by Chris Heard [the type Arsene Winger would like banned] started to give Stone the upper hand with Mahal hardly troubling the home defence. Tomkinson took the ball off the left-back and went for goal but found the angle too narrow and put the ball beyond the far post.
The Alleynians broke the deadlock when they again won the ball off an hesitant defender and Tomkinson sent Danny Heard clear on the left and his cross was rammed home by the hardworking Lewis Ratcliffe. They then had the ball scambled away before the ever dangerous Tompkinson rode 3 tackles only again shot wide, when it looked easier to score. With Mahal now rattled the Old Boys sealed the win with some more good football finished off when the speedy Matt Newman drove the ball into the net with 5mins left
Final Score:- Stone Old Alleynians 2 – Mahal 0
The Old Alleynians are away on Saturday 22nd September to Wyrley, kick-off 3pm.
