Sandbach United 0 Stone Old Alleynians 1
Another frustrating day for United
Manager Andy Hockenhull was left frustrated at his sides inability to put the ball in the back of net as they lost 1-0 on Monday afternoon.
Sandbach started the game very brightly, after just five minutes Jake Chadwick picked up the ball in midfield and drove at the Stone defence before shooting towards goal, his shot from the edge of the box took a wicked deflection off a Stone defender, the ball looped up into the air and looked destined for the back of net, however the keeper acrobatically clawed the ball from underneath the bar, out for a corner. It was a great save from the keeper who had to concentrate as the ball was viciously spinning in the air.
Six minutes later Sandbach were almost rewarded for their positive start, a goalmouth scramble in the Stone box was eventually cleared as far as Luke Walley who shot on the turn, however unfortunately for him the keeper was yet again on hand to make a great save down low with his legs.
Sandbach had started brilliantly as they looked to assert their dominance from the first whistle. However, against the run of play Danny Dolman opened the scoring for the away side when a cross from the right from William Bailey was found an unmarked Dolman who had ghosted in at the back post and headed the ball down into the bottom left corner making it 1-0 to Stone.
Hockenhull would have been furious with not only the way the goal was conceded but also his teams’ inability to put the ball into the back the net.
Sandbach were still the better side even after they went 1-0 down. With 15 minutes of the first half to go they had another good opportunity when Kirby did well to hold the ball up on the edge of the box and then lay the ball off for Walley who struck a shot from the edge of the box, but the keeper got down well to his left to push the ball away from danger.
With the first half about to reach its climax, United had one last opportunity when Kieran Garner-Knapper cut inside from the right and fired a
shot on goal the keeper did brilliantly well to not only save the ball but also parry it out of danger to relive the pressure.
At half time the score was 1-0 to Stone, somehow Sandbach hadn’t put the ball in the net.
The second half began like the first half did, Sandbach having all the pressure as they looked to find that elusive equaliser.
In the 54th minute Harry Cain, making his home debut for the club, went on one of his mazey runs as he drove into the box beating four defenders in the process, just as Cain got into the box he lost his balance and then sliced his shot wide of the right post.
It was a positive sign for Sandbach as it showed that the Stone defence was vulnerable especially when being put under pressure.
Hockenhull bought on Harrison Bostock, Adam Clayton and Josh Lane to try and add that extra attacking intent as his side pushed for a goal.
Time was running out for the home side who struggled to create much in the second half they resorted to shooting from distance, finishing the
game with nine shots off target in the second half and not one on goal.
It was yet another very frustrating performance from United who despite having 16 shots in the game, finished with no goals to their name.
Match Report: Jack Beresford
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