BULLETS HELD BY FC OSWESTRY TOWN

Alsager Town continued their unbeaten start to the season when they were held to a hard-fought goalless draw by newcomers FC Oswestry Town in the Hallmark Security League First Division at Wood Park on Tuesday evening. The Bullets may feel that they should have claimed all three points having had the greater share of the few goal-scoring opportunities on offer but that would perhaps be a tad unfair on the visitors who were resilient when under pressure and played their part with some neat football. All in all I felt they were good value for their point and they also remain unbeaten.
Alsager made two changes from the side that won at Charnock Richard with Kyle Stubbs coming in for Paul Taylor who is away on holiday and debutant Daniel Glover replaced Josh Bowden.
There was little goalmouth action in the opening half hour, the Bullets having a scare in the 11th minute when goalkeeper Chris Fletcher spilled a straightforward cross which Stubbs cleared, whilst at the other end Jordan Bennion’s twenty yard effort was parried by the diminutive Oswestry keeper George Austin. The visitors quickly countered and striker Jack Harris should really have done better than lob wide when the target beckoned.
Ten minutes from the break a Stubbs long throw into the box broke to Jamie Mountford whose well struck shot from 10 yards was well saved by Austin at the expense of a corner. With the half drawing to a close a Warren Holmes header was easily gathered by Austin, then Mountford headed wide before burly Bullets striker Dave Harry charged forward and struck a rasping 20 yard drive which clipped the top of the visitor’s crossbar much to Austin’s relief.
Alsager were quickly out of the traps after the break and pressed Oswestry back for the first quarter with a series of corners and long throws into the box. Daniel Glover saw his fierce shot parried by Austin then Holmes headed wide, but the visitors were quick to try and counter with Bullets midfielder Adam Dawson forced to bring one to a halt with a late challenge and take a yellow card for the team. With both sides making full use of their substitutes and the match looking like it could go either way, Bullets sub Sam Tomkinson saw an effort gathered by Austin whilst Stubbs and Fletcher were relieved that a misunderstanding at the back only resulted in a visiting corner.
With seven minutes left, Daniel Glover picked out Michael Lennon on the left side of the box and his angled shot beat Austin but ran narrowly wide of the far post. It turned out to be the last decent chance of the game with the referee’s final whistle bringing to a close the first goalless draw on home turf since January 2014.

Next three fixtures:
Saturday 20th August v Winsford United (H). FA Cup Preliminary Round. Kick off 3.00pm.
Monday 22nd August v Widnes (A). Kick-off 7.45pm.
Saturday 27th August v Atherton LR (A). Kick off 3.00pm.
Alsager Town: Fletcher, Minton, Bourne, Mountford (Donaldson), Stubbs, Holmes, Bennion (J.Glover), Dawson, Harry (Tomkinson), Lennon, D. Glover. Subs (not used) Sargeant, Moorhead.
Attendance: 93 IW.