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WYTHENSHAWE AMATEURS 1  STOCKPORT TOWN 0

WYTHENSHAWE AMATEURS 1 STOCKPORT TOWN 0

John Cotton10 Aug 2022 - 17:44
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Curtis’ brilliant free kick sinks Stockport Town

On a relatively overcast day at Hollyhedge Park, the Ammies faced arguably one of the title favourites in the form of Stockport Town.

The Ammies made one change from the opening day victory over Alasger Town with Bryan Ly making his full debut for the club after an impressive cameo off the bench last week.

Stockport kicked off towards the Clubhouse End and took the first chance on 5 minutes when Danny McLaughlin’s effort produced a good save from Ammies keeper Kyle Haslam. Thereafter the opening exchanges were fairly even between two very good sides. The Ammies were showing good interplay from Luke Worth, Charlie Duke and Paul Riley, as they looked to build a platform from which to attack the Stockport goal.

On 22 minutes, Sam Dickov left fly from 30 yards but unfortunately for the Ammies his strike sailed just wide of the Stockport Goal. The Ammies were building up the pressure and a couple of minutes later Bryan Ly played a great through ball to Duke, who was unceremoniously brought down, no penalty was awarded though much to despair of the majority of the crowd.

Stockport tried to hit back on a counter and ex-Ammie, Will Shawcross let fly with a shot-come-cross, which sailed a foot wide of the Ammies post. With 5 minutes remaining of the cat and mouse first half, the Ammies had two glorious chances to go ahead. Firstly, a Ricky Peters, trademark 35 yard screamer, with Stockport’s keeper, Josh Schofield, denying him with a fine save to his left. Then an Ammies free kick just outside the box, produced another fine save from Schofield. That proved to be the final action of the half, as the half time whistle brought an end to a thoroughly entertaining if goalless first half.

The second half saw the Ammies coming straight out of the blocks, Kieran Curtis with magical feet, skipping through three players, before playing a lovely ball through to captain Chris Howard. The Ammies skipper let fly with a ferocious shot that struck his Stockport counterpart, Tom Morris, and bounced out for a corner.

The Ammies were not to be denied for much longer and in the 51 minute, they took a well-deserved lead, with a wide free kick from outside the box by Curtis, going straight in, nothing more nothing less, sending the 209 crowd wild.

Not content with their one goal advantage, the Ammies didn’t sit back on their lead and went at Stockport again, Ly with a great effort from 30 yards, that went narrowly wide.

Stockport came back though and went extremely close to an equaliser, hitting the post with Haslam beaten in the Ammies goal. The Ammies were managing the game nicely, but were still looking for that second goal to kill the game.

As the game entered the final stages, Stockport continued to counter and seek and equaliser, they hit the post for the second time before drawing two world class saves from man of the match Haslam who ensured that the Ammies finished with a second clean sheet and a second victory of the season and moved to the top of the table after 2 games.

Manager Shane Goldrick will have been delighted with a great all round team performance, showing strong character and determination and securing a valuable three points in a game they would likely have dropped points in last season.

WAFC:- Haslam; Howard(c), Peters, Riley, Worth; Duke, Curtis(Okonkwo), Hevingham, Ly(Depeiaza), Dickov(Mooney Munoz); Bevan(Pollard).
Sub not used; Yusuff.
Goal; Curtis
Man of Match; Haslam

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