Stone Old Alleynians crashed 4 – 0 at West Midlands League One leaders AFC Bridgnorth on Saturday 16th November and saw one of their players taken to hospital with a badly damaged ankle.
Bridgnorth had won 13 and drawn 1 of their 14 league matches and also fielded a team who had played at two levels higher the previous season. It was little wonder that the Old Boys were up against it. Play was also held up for 35 minutes in the first half due to an injury to Stone full-back Sam Hodgkinson, who badly damaged his ankle and could not be moved from the pitch until the ambulance arrived.
However, the team gave a good account of themselves and restricted the hosts to few chances of scoring – but they finished clinically when the chances came.
In the first half Stone conceded 2 goals, the first after 10 mins after a bad bounce, which seemed to be a feature regularly during the game, was misjudged by their defence to let through Karl Griffiths to lob Adam Heath. They scored again after the hold-up on 40 mins when the Alleynes rearguard was exposed for a clinical finish by Anwar Olugbon.
The visitors fought back and Danny Heard slammed the ball over the crossbar after good work from Grant Bigham. A few minutes later another good move by the Old Boys ended with Billy Thorley sending in a vicious volley which brought a superb save from Chris Cook in the home goal. There were also good efforts from Adam Tomkinson and Carl Dibden that went narrowly wide.
Half Time:- AFC Bridgnorth 2 – Stone Old Alleynians 0
After the interval Stone held their own until two goals in five minutes midway through the half by Olugbon, for his hat-trick, settled the match. There was no doubt that Bridgnorth were the better side as they always seemed to find time and space when they had the ball and immediately closed down an Old Alleynians player when they had lost it. Stone’s man of the match was goalkeeper Adam Heath, whose shot stopping and dealing with crosses was exemplary throughout.
Final Score:- AFC Bridgnorth 4 – Stone Old Alleynians 0
In the Staffs County League, Stone Old Alleynians lost 3 – 0 at Featherstone.
On Saturday 23rd November the Old Alleynians won’t find it much easier as they entertain second-place Bartestree at Yarnfield, ko 3.00 pm. The reserves are away to Longton Adderley Green in the SCL, ko 2.00 pm.
