Ammies 6 Alsager Town 0

With a chance to cement their place near the top of the table, the Ammies did so in ruthless fashion, beating Alsager Town 6-0 with goals from Louis White, Saul Henderson, Eddie Brown and a wonder goal for Ammies Under 18 debutant, Dylan Walker.

It was an unusually hot day in September and the Ammies came out with an efficient gameplan to get at Alsager early and keep them under control. As early as the 1st minute, good work by Frangillo saw him tee up Brown for a snapshot but his effort went just wide, early warning of chances to come. Just 5 minutes later, a great cross into the box by Peters was just missed by the toe of Frangillo, bouncing just before arriving to snuff out the chance. The ball wasn’t dead though and was recycled back into the box, making its way to Henderson for a powerful shot on goal that again was only just wide of the post, these early sighters helping both players get in the zone. It was then Worth’s chance to have a go, skipping past 1, then 2, then 3 in midfield before unleashing a long range shot that was again just wide of a post that was living a charmed life.

As the game hit the 15th minute, a break by Alsager was stopped by Gresty who fed the ball back into midfield, Mooney Munoz with a trademark turn and getting his head up early. He spotted Peters breaking on the left wing and delivered into his path, Peters lifting the ball to the back post where White rose highest, powering the ball past the keeper. The Ammies were starting to show what they were about, and chances were starting to come thick and fast. Henderson showed quick feet and smart play in midfield to let Brown hit it first time, striking the keepers leg and sending the ball spinning away from goal. Alsager started to show some fight, getting forward and winning a corner. The ball was delivered to the near post but flicked on and out for a throw in on the far side. The ball was worked back into the box by Alsager and the ball fell kindly for their striker to have a shot but Worth was there to clear with a superb tackle in the box.

Both teams traded chances and blows and by the 32nd minute, Alsager had 2 yellow cards, one for a heavy tackle on Lillie that looked and sounded awful. The physio was on, and he couldn’t continue, on another day it was a red card. Up stepped our promoted Under 18 defender Walker, making his debut for the first team. He was only on the pitch for 3 minutes before the Ammies got a 2nd, a superb ball by White finding the head of Henderson who tucked it low past the keeper. The floodgates were threatening to open but Alsager still had life in them, a counter creating a shot from the edge of the box that Haslam saved the 2nd time to snuff out the threat. As half time loomed, Walker decided to announce himself to everyone in the stadium, a speculative shot from 45 yards evading the keeper and finding its way into the back of the net. The keeper should have done better but the praise was deserved, it was a fantastic strike. The half time whistle blew shortly after and the Ammies went in with their tails up.

The 2nd half started with the Ammies piling forward and being rewarded after just 6 minutes, exquisite football between Mooney Munoz and Frangillo as they flicked the ball between them and around the defenders, the latter feeding Brown. He still had work to do but Brown had no problem skipping past his defender and smartly burying the ball across the keeper to make it 4-0 and game over. Another 5 minutes passed, and it truly was game over, the ball being fed into the box for Henderson to have a shot saved, then Frangillo smashed the rebound before Brown collected and rounded the keeper with ease, making it 5-0 after 56 minutes. In the 65th minute, the rout was complete after a long ball was brought down by Henderson, a dropped shoulder left 2 defenders in his wake and finishing the ball into the far corner. With the job done, debutant Thomas Fisher got 20 minutes and Adam Walker made his 2nd debut for the club, both showing industry and composure to control the game and ensure there were to be no goals conceded, the full time whistle a welcome relief for Alsager but marking a superb performance for the Ammies.

There will be harder opposition to conquer this season, but the Ammies were professional and smart throughout the game and the fans went home happy, knowing our win pushed us up to 3rd with other results going our way. With the 2nd best defensive record in the league and the 3rd best scoring record, our early season form is something to take pride on and can help the Ammies maintain their momentum.