BY ROB MCNEIL
Both sides scored almost identical goals in
the first half, a low driven cross that required a tap in from Alex Marshall
and Matthew Thomas respectively so that both sides went in level at half-time.
Danny Gordon then put the Blues in front midway through the second half, before
Ryan Goodwin equalised once again for the visitors and Alex Marshall got his
second and the winner minutes before full-time. Ian Deakin boasted a very
strong line-up, with the knowledge that the North West Counties Football League
side are not one to be underestimated.
It took only four minutes for the Blues to
open the scoring. Jamie Walker was alive and quickly intercepted a poor
defensive clearance before he worked his way to the by-line and found Alex
Marshall open inside the box for a comfortable tap in. Kameron Campbell had a
chance to double the Blues’ lead minutes later, as a Jake Askew goal kick flew
all the way to edge of the box and was controlled by the forward. He was then
able to turn and strike venomously towards goal, but Adam Alcock saved well.
Dominic Thorpe forced Askew into an incredible reaction save in the 20th minute
when the midfielders thumping half volley was saved low by the palm of the
Blues keeper. Old Alleynians equalised mid-way through the first half after
Liam Hickson was able to work his way down the right and fire a cross to
Thomas, open inside the box for an easy tap in.
A quiet end to the first half was then
recovered by a feisty start to the second half, one that saw five yellow cards
in 25 minutes. However, Long Eaton did take the lead in the 60th minute. Brad
Wilson fired a cross into the box, and after a slight flick, Gordon was able to
volley sweetly past Alcock at the far post. The Blues could have extended their
lead minutes later when an initial Campbell strike was blocked, but Alex
Marshall followed up only to blaze his effort over the bar. Hickson was then
given too much time on the ball, as he worked his way down the right and into
the box to shoot, but luckily for Askew, his strike flew way over the bar. The
visitors equalised once again 10 minutes before full time after a cross
pinballed inside the box and fell to Goodwin to strike with a half volley into
the bottom right corner. But, with two minutes left on the watch, Alex Marshall
clinched the Blues’ qualification into the third round of the FA Vase. Jamie
Walker looped an exceptional corner towards the far post, and the unmarked Alex
Marshall was simply allowed to direct the ball past the staggering keeper and
into the back of the net with his chest.
No comments:
Post a Comment