Sandbach United v Abbey Hulton

Saturday saw the first ever visit to Abbey Fields for Abbey Hulton who joined the NWCFL Division one this season. After a great start to the season Abbey had gone of the boil of late without a run of results they were desperate to get something from this fixture. In the reverse fixture Sandbach ran out 3-1 winners in a great game with plenty of excitement.

Today with everything to play for and a chance to get back in the top 6 Sandbach fielded a strong side on paper and set about Abbey from the off, chance after chance came and went and Abbey were certainly on the back foot defending stoically and with a bit of luck thrown in, it wasn't until the 31st minute when Sandbach took a deserved lead when debutante and ex professional Steve Jones netted from close in after staying on his feet well committing the keeper before placing it away from the diving keeper. (1-0). Chances in abundance fell for Sandbach for the remainder of the half with Jones missing a sitter of a header and having one cleared off the line, but at HT it remained (1-0).

The 2nd Half started pretty much as the 1st ended with Sandbach dominating but yet again spurning chance after chance, by the 60th minute another scoring opportunity which should have gone in missed by Jones and another by Kirby. on the 66th minute the game changed as Abbey found their feet growing in confidence that Sandbach couldn't hit the proverbial barn door with probably in excess of 15 shots on goal. Sandbach in true football fashion gifted a chance in front of goal which was well struck with a curling shot moving away from Moss in goal (1-1).

This was a game changer and Abbey grew in confidence as Sandbach committed football suicide giving the ball away becoming embroiled in a scruffy last 20 minutes which broke up the play enough to disrupt and give Abbey the final chance late on to sneak a winner. Probably not deserved by hey that is football and if you take your chances you can get 3 points anywhere.