Manchester Football

A website about football in Manchester

You are here: Home / Archives for North West

North West

Aaron is Sandbach United’s knight in shining armour

by

STOCKPORT TOWN 1, SANDBACH UNITED 2

Aaron Knight produced two pieces of brilliance to help Sandbach United triumph at Stockport Town in Hallmark Security League, first division south.

The former Bolton Wanderers’ professional was imperious as Sandbach came from behind to claim the points.

It didn’t start well for United after Callum Nolan fired Town ahead in the third minute after they carelessly gave away the ball in midfield.

Nolan and Gavin Salmon also had chances to give Town a larger half-time lead than 1-0.

But Matty Pearson and Jordan Davies failed to convert clear-cut chances for United in the opening period.

Right-back Pearson had another great chance early in the second half before they equalised just short of the hour.

Knight made a slalom run almost half the length of the field before his shot was well parried by keeper Andrew Stinca before Davies slotted home the loose ball.

Town would have regained the lead but for a great save from United’s Ryan Moss to deflect Liam Mottram’s shot on to the crossbar.

Davies headed against the bar as United almost went in front before they finally sealed the points in the 79th minute.

Knight delivered a perfect cross from the left for Davies to bag his second goal of the game with a neat finish.

Oldham Athletic fans ‘penned in like animals’ after draw at Tranmere Rovers

by

TRANMERE ROVERS 1, OLDHAM ATHLETIC 1

Oldham Athletic’s excellent draw in Sky Bet League Two play-off team Tranmere Rovers was overshadowed by crowd trouble.

There were allegations Latics’ 1,348 fans were “penned in like animals” after the game at Prenton Park with policing methods criticised.

Merseyside Police, however, defended their actions claiming there five arrests for drink and drug offences claiming the safety of supporters is the number one priority.

Latics produced an impressive display and, with more of a cutting edge, they could well have left Wirral with three instead of one point.

Top scorer Sam Surridge was again on the bench as he is eased back into action following a hamstring injury as Isthmael Miller and Callum Lang were the front pairing.

Latics were almost in front inside the first minute as Dan Gardner’s corner glanced off the head of defender George Edmundson who was unable to convert.

Former Latics’ player Ollie Banks had the hosts’ first shot well wide before hitting a free kick over the bar, much to the amusement of the fans behind the goal.

It was a tight first half with neither team creating many clear-cut chances, but Johan Branger-Engone took his opportunity when it fell to him five minutes before the break.

Gevaro Nepomuceno’s corner fell to the Gabonese winger and he took the ball under control before slotting it nicely past Scott Davies in the Tranmere goal.

The home side tried to respond as Ollie Norwood headed a Manny Monthe long free kick into the hands of Daniel Iversen and Frank Bunn’s men went in at half-time with the lead.

Tranmere came out with a purpose in the second half and Latics’ keeper Daniel Iversen had to be alert to prevent Miller putting through his own goal.

Connor Jennings then had a big chance, as Jake Caprice’s cross found him at the back post, but his deflected effort went narrowly wide.

Substitute Surridge, introduced midway through the second half, soon flicked on an aerial ball to Miller who could only hit his effort wide as he was falling over, but Surridge had a great chance himself moments later.

Lang played the on-loan Bournemouth man through, but goalkeeper Davies stood up well to block the shot.

That miss proved costly as Tranmere kept the ball alive from a free kick which made its way through to Jennings and he slotted the equaliser after 72 minutes.

Neither side could find a winner in a feisty affair which saw the referee hand out six yellow cards, including one to manager Bunn whose side extended its unbeaten record to four games.

Oldham Athletic (4-4-2): Iversen; Hunt, Clarke, Edmundson, Taylor; Branger-Engone (Surridge 64’), Lyden (Missilou 86), Gardner, Nepomuceno; Lang, Miller (O’Grady 78). Subs (not used): Dummigan, Graham, Maouche, McFarlane.

Attendance: (1,348 visitors).

Manager Frank Bunn’s tongue lashing inspires Oldham Athletic’s return to league winning ways against Cambridge United

by

OLDHAM ATHLETIC 3, CAMBRIDGE UTD 1

Manager Frank Bunn admitted harsh words were delivered at half-time as Oldham Athletic recorded a much-needed win against Cambridge United at Boundary Park.

It brought about a spirited second-half fightback as three goals in the last half hour from George Edmundson, Jordan Lyden and Callum Lang overturned an early deficit.

And it lifted Latics back into the top Half of the table as this was only their second win in 10 league games.

Latics, who had Daniel Iversen and Gevaro Nepomuceno on international duty, handed a debut to loan keeper Alex Palmer who had been borrowed from West Brom.

Johan Branger-Engone won a recall out wide while top scorer Sam Surridge was back on the bench after a five-week injury lay off.

Latics fell behind with virtually the first chance of the game as Gerorge Maris picked up the ball around 35 yards out and fired an unstoppable shot past Palmer.

Maris then turn provided for Paul Lewis who tried his luck from distance, but he could only curl the effort over the bar.

Maris then found himself clean through on goal after a pass from Jabo Iberhe, but this time Palmer denied the Cambridge goalscorer with a smart save. Had they gone 2-0 ahead, it would have been a long way back for Latics.

Latics created a clear-cut chance as Dan Gardner’s free kick fell to Andy Taylor, but the defender saw his shot blocked by Jake Carroll in front of goal.

Bunn’s verbal lashing had a noticeable effect as Latics were a completely different side in the second half.

Latics’ corner fell invitingly to Cameron Dummigan, but he couldn’t keep his effort down.

However, it was from another corner just after the hour that Latics equalised as Edmundson rose highest to head home.

Maris hit another effort wide before Bunn introduced Surridge on his long-awaited return from injury.

Moments later goalkeeper keeper David Forde came rushing out of his goal and gifted a clearance to Lyden who passed the ball, almost in slow motion, into the net from just inside the Cambridge half.

The game was all but wrapped up 10 minutes left as Surridge played the ball into Lang, who drove at the Cambridge back four before smashing an effort through the hands of Forde.

It was very much to coin a famous footballing cliché a game of two halves for Latics, but a much-needed return to winning ways in the league.

Oldham Athletic (4-4-2): Palmer; Hunt, Clarke, Edmundson, Taylor; Dummigan (Surridge 70), Gardner (Maouche 67), Lyden, Branger-Engone; Lang, Miller. Subs (not used): O’Grady, Missilou, Graham, Hamer, McFarlane.

The goals:  George Edmundson (61), Jordan Lyden (76), Callum Lang (80) for Latics. George Maris (7) for Cambridge.

Attendance 3,818 (290 visitors).

Cup defeat by FC United harsh on minnows Mossley

by

MOSSLEY 0, FC UNITED 2

It wasn’t a scoreline that reflected the match as Mossley were beaten by FC United in the quarter finals of the Manchester Premier Cup.

A neutral would never have imagined two divisions separated the teams as the Lilywhites more than matched illustrious visitors from National League North.

The margins were small as FC United took their chances while Mossley didn’t capitalise on their openings.

Mossley joint manager Dave Wild said: “After a wobble in the opening 20/25 minutes while we adjusted to their set up and shape, I thought we were outstanding.

“Once we settled, we were the better side and  had loads of possession. FC United officials agreed with that as we missed a penalty and two open nets.”

Mossley fell behind after quarter of an hour when they failed to clear a cross from the left and Ryan White lashed a shot into the roof of the net.

They ought to have equalised on the stroke of half time when Godwin Abadaki was tripped, but Ben Halfacre’s spot kick was well saved by Lloyd Allinson.

Mossley’s stand-in Portuguese keeper Joao Mendes made two decent saves to deny Kurt Willoughby and Jack Banister early in the second half,

It was the Lilywhites that dominated as Adam Jones missed an open goal while Halfacre and Andy Keogh also went close.

FC United rode their luck before sealing victory with eight minutes left when Willoughby lashed a 25 yard shot past Mendes who only stood and watched as the ball flew past him.

Mossley: Mendes, Jeffs, Downey, Nolan, Jones, Mason, Abadaki, Keogh, Halfacre (Fish 87), Quansah (McLaughlin 87), Leonard (Dwyer 38). Subs (not used): Harrison, Miranda.

Attendance: 441.

Scott Bakkor spot on as Stalybridge Celtic beat Nantwich Town in FA Trophy

by

STALYBRIDGE CELTIC 1, NANTWICH TOWN 0

STALYBRIDGE Celtic picked up £3,000 in prize money as they set out on the road to Wembley by beating Nantwich Town at home in the first qualifying round of The Buildbase FA Trophy.

Scott Bakkor’s late penalty was the matchwinner in a game when the big surprise was this was the only goal of an entertaining game.

Celtic could have won by a far wider margin as they twice struck the frame of the Nantwich goal.

And the Dabbers also hit the Celtic woodwork and had chances to at least force a replay.

Celtic manager Simon Haworth was pleased with the performance after a woeful showing in Tuesday’s loss at Lancaster City.

“It was a good response as Tuesday was the first time the lads had let me down. That was more like it,” he said.

Celtic, who had Stockport County centre-back Chris Smalley making his debut following a loan move, were first denied by the upright in the sixth minute from a Chris Sharp header.

Matty Wolfenden twice and Glenn Rule also had chances while Rule also had a penalty appeal rejected as he was clearly taken out by goalkeeper Fabien Speiss.

Nantwich also had a couple of openings and it was a surprise the opening period ended goalless.

It remained a similar story in the second period, though Nantwich had a good spell in which Matt Bell was denied by a super stop by Aiden Winterbottom while Craig Lindfield was left unmarked to head against the crossbar.

Celtic weathered the storm and Wolfenden and Bakkor had chances before the deadlock was finally broken just when a replay was looking likely.

Speiss failed to claim the ball in a goalmouth melee in which Jamie Morgan shoved Bakkor off the ball, something spotted by referee Liam Corrigan.

Bakkor sent Speiss the wrong way with a well-executed spot kick.

Late on Celtic should have sealed victory when Sharp forced Speiss into a fine save and Smalley headed against the crossbar as he almost marked his debut with a goal.

Celtic: Winterbottom, Tongue, Wilson, Dent, Brady, Smalley, Bakkor, Rule, Sharp, Wolfenden, Caton (Kengni 62). Subs (not used): Hughes, Brown, Wilkinson.