Saltney Town FC

Saltney travelled to Castell Alun earlier today with a point to prove, but no one could have predicted the style in which they accomplished their mission.

This was the fourth meeting of the two teams in two months. The Hop-based outfit had been victorious on the first two occasions, but Saltney had won the last encounter, their final game of 2011. Today the sides met once more in the league. A league that Saltney strive to win and they certainly laid out their intentions for all to see with an almost perfect performance.

The travellers flew out of the blocks dominating early possession. Tom Price, Marc Gunther and Dave Gregory worked the ball well down the left flank before Jake Gibbons switched the play to skipper Shaun Hughes. Hughes drove into the box, but was taken down before he could release his shot. Jake Gibbons stepped up to calmly convert the resulting penalty.

Saltney doubled their lead with only seventeen minutes played; a rash challenge from the home number one on Gibbons presented Saltney with a free kick 20-yards from goal. A pumped up Marc Gunther took the set piece, delightfully curling the dead ball into the top right corner, beyond the outstretched ‘keeper.

Overjoyed with their impressive start, Saltney smelt blood and an opportunity to close the gap on League-leaders’ Borras. On 29 minutes Tom Price whipped in a trademark delivery which was only half cleared. Matty Howard put the ball back in to the box, before Mathew Wintle placed it right in the path of marksman Gibbons, who took full advantage and increased the lead to three.

Now in full flow, the countless attacks pinned in the home defence and when Gunther found Gibbons just before the break there was no doubt that Saltney would be turning round four goals to the good.

The first goal of the second half was always going to be vital, and it was the travellers who would be celebrating once more. A mere two minutes in the Casty ‘keeper parried a Jake Gibbons’ shot to the feet of Chris Woodward, who stroked the ball in to the bottom corner.

Changes were made with Jason Wright and debutant Ricky Wright replacing Shaun Hughes and Paul Hughes, both of whom had given excellent performances.

Just as they were about to hit cruise-control, the Bordermen realised that they were not going to have it all their own way. An attack down the Casty right was met by an excellent header to give the home side the slightest of hopes. Moments later Dane Mason was introduced to replace the injured Tom Price in the left-back position.

The goal certainly had the desired effect for the home management. Their team finally began to put Saltney under pressure and if it wasn’t for an excellent triple-save by Mike Edwards in the Saltney goal they surely would have doubled their goal tally. The Saltney defence of Dane Mason, Matty Howard, Mathew Wintle and Mark Williams rode out the storm and soon pushed their team back on to the front foot.

On 65 minutes Jason Wright displayed a combination of first-class vision and passing ability to find Marc Gunther in a wide left position. Gunther met the ball in his stride, and unleashed his rocket with a mighty “KaBoom”. The celebration had already started before the ball had even found its way to the back of the net. Take a bow son, you don’t save those!

With the home sides hopes now fully extinguished, Saltney went on a hunt for more. Dave Gregory’s pass out of defence unleashed Gibbons who showed his attacking prowess to convert the chance.

Saltney’s eighth goal was almost a carbon copy of their seventh. This time it was Marc Gunther who supplied the pass to his strike partner. Gibbons had to work hard for the opening before rifling the ball home.

With only five-minutes remaining Saltney continued to push. Jason Wright’s short corner was whipped in by Dave Gregory. Ricky Wright jumped the highest and headed home the opportunity to claim a debt goal.

Celebrations at the final whistle resembled those of a cup-final win. Saltney know that they haven’t won anything yet, and although a win here today has moved them one step closer to their title dream, it will be the style in which they have won that will be the most pleasing. This was by far the best performance that they have produced all season and if they reproduce that in their final ten games, they know the title is theirs.

Saltney goals:
Jake Gibbons (9 pen, 29, 33, 75, 80)
Marc Gunther (17, 65)
Chris Woodward (47)
Ricky Wright (84)

Chairman’s MOM: “Picking a man-of-the-match today is an impossible task. Every one of the lads gave it their all, which left us with an outstanding team performance and the perfect result. Share the honours!”