Bullets Lose Vital Game

Alsager Town suffered a huge blow in their battle to avoid relegation from the premier division of the North West Counties League when they were beaten by fellow strugglers AFC Darwen at the Anchor Ground on Saturday afternoon.
Although missing key players due to injury, what on paper looked to be a decent Bullets starting eleven should have been more than capable of bringing back a result against an AFC Darwen side who at the start of play, were just two points and two places above them in the league table. Unfortunately, what we witnessed has proved to be a reoccurring feature throughout much of this season – a decent opening forty five minute performance when the Bullets fail to convert their chances, followed by a second half when they simply fall away, concede goals and lose the game. Whether this trend is down to a lack of ability, fitness or even character, it’s difficult to tell, but certainly after this second half performance, some of the Alsager players need to take a hard look at themselves.
It all start so promisingly, with the Bullets nearly taking the lead in the opening minute when Leigh Skellern seizing on a mistake in the Darwen defence saw his shot blocked by keeper, Daniel Jackson. Striker, Dan Brown clipped an effort just wide of the Darwen goal before Mark McKay responded for the hosts, firing a decent shot from the edge of the box just wide of Matt Conkie’s left upright.
In the 22nd minute, Darwen keeper, Jackson was shown a yellow card for collecting the ball just outside the eighteen yard box ahead of the onrushing Skellern, Kyle Stubbs crashing the resultant free-kick just wide. Minutes later, Skellern combined with Brown whose effort was blocked for a corner, then Troy Bourne did well to win the ball on the right and played in Ben Mills whose shot from 8 yards out was saved by Jackson at the expense of a corner.
The home side then came more into the game with Mark McKay and Jonathan Hessian combining down the left, keeper Conkie pushing Hessian’s angled shot away for a corner. Bullets defender Ben Clarkson was shown a yellow card for a late challenge on Hessian as the half drew to a closer.
With it now snowing on the hills above Darwen, Alsager nearly took the lead at the start of the second half, Richard Smith’s downward header striking the foot of the post and being clawed away by keeper Jackson and the Darwen defence.
Kiel Lonsdale then scuffed an effort high and wide for Darwen, but made no mistake with his next attempt moments later in the 52nd minute, striking a fine shot low and hard into the bottom right corner of Conkie’s net from the edge of the box. With the home side more purposeful and looking a constant threat, Alsager nearly got back onto level terms on the hour mark, Brown latching onto Clarkson’s ball down the middle but being thwarted by Jackson who grabbed the ball at the second attempt as the striker looked certain to score.
Alsager survived a scramble inside the six yard box, then Hessian raced clear and shot narrowly wide of Conkie’s left post when he looked certain to score. The crucial second goal arrived in the 79th minute, Hessian flicking a long ball on to Nick Hepple who slotted the ball past Conkie. With the sleet now arriving, Skellern shot narrowly wide for the Bullets before Darwen netted their third five minutes from time, substitute Kayle Smith making no mistake from close range.
With AFC Blackpool beating Congleton, and Alsager’s relegation rivals in midweek action against each other before they play Padiham at the weekend, avoiding the drop into the league’s first division now looks increasingly difficult. Due to their significantly inferior goal difference, Alsager, in 21st place, are realistically four points from safety with five games remaining.

Forthcoming fixtures:
Saturday 23rd April v Padiham (H). Kick-off 3.00pm.
Tuesday 26th April v AFC Blackpool (A). Kick-off 8.00pm.
Thursday 28th April v Atherton Collieries (H). Kick-off 7.45pm.
Wednesday 4th May v Barnoldswick Town (A). Kick-off 8.00pm.
Saturday 7th May v Maine Road (A). Kick-off 3.00pm.

Alsager Town: Conkie, Bourne, Stubbs, R. Smith, Clarkson, Chadwick, Crofts (Minton), Bennion, D. Brown (Machin), Mills, Skellern. Sub (not used) Lennon.

Attendance: 96.
Ian Woodward.