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WIDNES 5 ALSAGER TOWN 3 (played at Alsager Town)
Ian Woodward2 Oct 2016 - 09:41
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The Macron Cup First Round Saturday 1st October 2016
Alsager Town exited The Macron Cup (League Cup) at the first hurdle after losing to fellow Hallmark Security League First Division side Widnes in a high-scoring encounter at Wood Park on Saturday afternoon. The Bullets had originally been drawn away however the tie had to be switched to Wood Park as Widnes’s Select Security Stadium was unavailable.
Town, who were knocked out of the Buildbase FA Vase on home soil last weekend were always playing catch-up, falling behind three times but gamely managing to peg back to level at 3-3 by the hour mark through goals by Leigh Skellern, Mark Grice and Taylor Attrell. However two further goals from the visitors took the game out of their reach with a home tie against Cheadle Town being their reward in the second round in four weeks time.
As expected, assistant-manager and experienced marksmen Michael Lennon was rested with captain, Paul Taylor, Josh Glover and Kyle Stubbs moving to the bench as manager Wayne Brotherton gave opportunities to some of his fringe players. Ally Harrison-Virani made his debut, whilst Tim Sanders, who came off the subs bench last weekend also made his first start, with Skellern returning back to action following his recent injury.
Widnes, now under new manager and former Runcorn Linnets boss Joey Dunn took the lead in the 17th minute, George Lomax exchanging passes with Kevin Towey before neatly finishing. Within a minute the Bullets were level, Grice setting up Skellern, however two minutes later the visitors were back in front after Jamie Mountford brought George Lomax down inside the area, Towey sending Chris Fletcher the wrong way from the spot.
A minute after the restart Alsager were back on level terms, Grice smartly volleying the ball home to make it 2-2, but in the 57th minute a neat one-two between George Lomax and Chris Lomax forced Fletcher to save but unable to prevent Towey netting the rebound to put the visitors back in front. The home side bounced back yet again sixty seconds later, Attrell heading in off the post but in the 62nd minute Widnes were awarded their second spot-kick of the game when Harrison-Virani fouled Joseph Fielding inside the box. Towey made no mistake to complete his hat-trick with George Lomax putting the result beyond doubt eight minutes from time, heading home his second goal of the afternoon.
Next three fixtures:
Wednesday 5th October v Cheadle Town (A). 7.45pm.
Saturday 8th October v St Helens Town (H). 3.00pm.
Saturday 15th October v Stockport Town (A). 3.00pm.
Alsager Town: Fletcher, Minton (Lowe), Bourne, Mountford, Attrell, Holmes, Harrison-Virani (J. Glover), Sanders, Grice, Bennion, Skellern (Harry). Subs (not used) Taylor, Stubbs.
Attendance: 51. IW.
Town, who were knocked out of the Buildbase FA Vase on home soil last weekend were always playing catch-up, falling behind three times but gamely managing to peg back to level at 3-3 by the hour mark through goals by Leigh Skellern, Mark Grice and Taylor Attrell. However two further goals from the visitors took the game out of their reach with a home tie against Cheadle Town being their reward in the second round in four weeks time.
As expected, assistant-manager and experienced marksmen Michael Lennon was rested with captain, Paul Taylor, Josh Glover and Kyle Stubbs moving to the bench as manager Wayne Brotherton gave opportunities to some of his fringe players. Ally Harrison-Virani made his debut, whilst Tim Sanders, who came off the subs bench last weekend also made his first start, with Skellern returning back to action following his recent injury.
Widnes, now under new manager and former Runcorn Linnets boss Joey Dunn took the lead in the 17th minute, George Lomax exchanging passes with Kevin Towey before neatly finishing. Within a minute the Bullets were level, Grice setting up Skellern, however two minutes later the visitors were back in front after Jamie Mountford brought George Lomax down inside the area, Towey sending Chris Fletcher the wrong way from the spot.
A minute after the restart Alsager were back on level terms, Grice smartly volleying the ball home to make it 2-2, but in the 57th minute a neat one-two between George Lomax and Chris Lomax forced Fletcher to save but unable to prevent Towey netting the rebound to put the visitors back in front. The home side bounced back yet again sixty seconds later, Attrell heading in off the post but in the 62nd minute Widnes were awarded their second spot-kick of the game when Harrison-Virani fouled Joseph Fielding inside the box. Towey made no mistake to complete his hat-trick with George Lomax putting the result beyond doubt eight minutes from time, heading home his second goal of the afternoon.
Next three fixtures:
Wednesday 5th October v Cheadle Town (A). 7.45pm.
Saturday 8th October v St Helens Town (H). 3.00pm.
Saturday 15th October v Stockport Town (A). 3.00pm.
Alsager Town: Fletcher, Minton (Lowe), Bourne, Mountford, Attrell, Holmes, Harrison-Virani (J. Glover), Sanders, Grice, Bennion, Skellern (Harry). Subs (not used) Taylor, Stubbs.
Attendance: 51. IW.
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