United beat Eccleshall.

Jack Beresford reports as a first half goal from Chris Smith and then a second half penalty from top scorer James Kirby gave Sandbach a vital three points at home to Eccleshall.

The game started off slow and it took until the 17th minute for the first real chance to come about. Ryan Cattermole won the ball in midfield and found Josh Lane who played it in behind to James Kirby who was in on goal but his first time shot with his left foot went the wrong side of the left post and into the side netting.

In the 24th minute a quick freekick from Cattermole found Chris Rowntree who played the ball into the feet of Chris Smith with his back to goal, Smith turned his man but hit his shot straight at the Eccleshall goalkeeper.

In the 32nd minute Sandbach’s pressure paid off as they took the lead, Cattermole again won the ball in midfield and he played a through ball to Smith who ran onto it and got into the box before poking the ball past the on-rushing keeper to give United the lead. After taking the lead Sandbach looked to push on and get another goal before half time, they came close to doing this when a cross from Lane was met by Kirby, but his shot from point blank range was well saved by Johnson in the Eccleshall goal.

On the stroke of half time Eccleshall had a glorious chance to level the scores, Callum Feeney drove into the Sandbach half and then played an exquisite ball in behind the defence to Louis Downs who was unmarked, Downs then took it round the keeper and was in on goal, his shot was then superbly blocked on the line by Adam Clayton who sprinted back to cover the goal and keep his side In the lead.

At half time Sandbach were in the lead and had dominated the first half, however if not for Clayton’s clearance it could be a different story.

Sandbach looked to double their lead and put the game beyond doubt. And In the second half they got off to the perfect start as Chris Smith played the ball into Luke Walley who wriggled his way into the box and struck a left footed shot towards goal, unfortunately for Walley his low shot cannoned of the far left post, the rebound fell for Kirby who was then brought down by Eccleshall defender Jordan Bennon and the referee pointed to the spot. Kirby dusted himself down and placed his penalty into the top right corner sending the keeper the wrong way and adding another goal to his tally for the season.

At 2-0 Eccleshall had a lot to do, although they knew that one goal would change the complexity of the game. In the 59th minute they had a great chance to get back into the game when a long ball from Callum Feeney found its way to Dan Needham who was in on goal, with just the keeper to beat. Needham chipped the ball straight into the arms of Moss, missing an excellent chance for his side.

After missing this chance Sandbach looked to put the game beyond doubt, Chris Smith ran onto a long ball from Cattermole, and found himself in on goal, with the Eccleshall defenders closing him down, he unselfishly squared it to Kirby who settled himself and the fired his shot straight at the keeper who was able to clear. Sandbach had wasted valuable chances and should’ve put the game beyond doubt.

With 8 minutes to go Eccleshall got themselves back into the game, Thomas Wakefield had the ball on the right wing and produced an outrageous piece of skill to get past Cooper and into the box, he then fired the ball across goal for Shay Finney to tap home and half the deficit and give them a chance of getting something out the game.

Sandbach had gone deep and they were doing all they could to maintain their lead. Although a lapse in concentration in the 88th minute allowed Needham to go through on goal and shoot, however right back Jake Chadwick threw himself in front of the shot, heroically blocking the ball and putting it out for a throw in.

Sandbach defended resolutely and battled well for the victory despite being on the back foot for most of the second half.

The Sandbach United 1st team would like to thank Planet Environmental, RK Henshall Insurance Brokers and The Ganges for their support.