Alsager Town 0 Sandbach United 2

Sandbach travelled to Wood Park for the second time this season, this time it was in the third round of the Division 1 Cup, writes Jack Beresford.

Sandbach were dealt a blow in the week after top scorer James Kirby completed his move to Northern Premier league side Atherton Collieries, however Sandbach were quick to bring in a replacement as they announced the signing of Yaw Osei Opoku-Berchie, a player who has played for teams like Reading and Raith Rovers.

Kirby has scored the majority of the goals for Sandbach, but Tuesdays result against St Martins shows that they can score goals without his presence, as Kieran Garner-Knapper scored a hat trick, however he was helped by the creativeness of Jordan Davies.

Davies came closed to putting United into the lead after just nine minutes on Saturday as winger Aidan Haughton showed a good turn of pace to get to the by line before cutting in onto his right foot and crossing towards the back post and Davies. The Welshman met the ball with a powerful header, but the keeper acrobatically tipped It over the bar.

The first half was a difficult watch for all, the game lacked chances and the pitch wasn’t helping Sandbach as the long grass was preventing them from passing the ball around, they were resorting to playing the ball over the top and allowing the pace of their front men to run onto it.

With 15 minutes of the half left this style of play seemed to work for Sandbach as Davies latched onto a long ball and looked to send in a cross from the right, however the cross was blocked but it fell into the path of Pearson who was inside the box, he then got to the by-line and sent in a low cross right across the face of goal which was met by Haughton at the near post who fired the ball into the top right corner giving Sandbach a deserved lead.

At half time Sandbach had the lead but the game was all to play for in the second half. Eight minutes into the second half Sandbach came very close to doubling the lead as Davies drove into to the box before unleashing a shot that was heading for the top right corner but Rhys Bills in the Alsager goal stuck out a hand and superbly pushed it around the post.

Sandbach were piling on the pressure and they came close once more after sixty minutes when a cross from the right was met by a stooping header from Haughton, but it was yet again saved superbly by the goalkeeper. Sandbach were looking to put the game beyond doubt and they came very close once again as a mis-placed pass from centre back Kris Stockton found Jordan Davies who then muscled his way into the box before shooting towards the near post, but unfortunately it hit the right post and then rolled across the face of the goal before being cleared away.

Somehow it was still 1-0, and Sandbach really couldn’t find that goal to double their lead, with 15 minutes to go they had their best chance of the game as Davies sprayed the ball out to the right side to Knapper who sent in a deep cross towards Dean Twigg at the back post but he fired his shot from six yards out into the ground and over the bar, he really should have put the game beyond doubt for his team.

The game was fizzling out, Alsager had the odd counter attack but they didn’t do enough to trouble Ryan Moss in the Sandbach goal. Just as the game was reaching its climax, Sandbach put the game beyond doubt. Sandbach won a freekick in the opposition half and it was taken quickly by captain Josh Lane, he found Opoku-Berchie inside the box who looked to bend the ball towards the far post with his right foot, however it was saved by the keeper but the rebound feel to Garner-Knapper who was on hand to continue his fine goalscoring form as he tapped the ball home, into the empty net sending Sandbach into the next round.

Sandbach will travel to Cheadle Heath Nomads in the quarter final on Saturday 9 February 2019.

On Saturday, Sandbach return to league action when they welcome FC Oswestry Town for a 3pm kick off.

MatchReport: Jack Beresford.

For more match photos click here.