Seventh heaven for United

The game was brief break from the heavy cup schedule that Sandbach have, they already have 4 games in hand on some other teams in their league which could prove pivotal in the long run writes Jack Beresford.

Sandbach travelled to a Cheadle side who came off the back of a 6-1 win against Atherton LR, Sandbach’s opponents on Saturday. Both teams looked to be in free scoring form so there was bound to be goals on show. After playing just 15 seconds of the game Sandbach came very close to taking the lead as Billy Buckley received the ball in midfield and then drove into the Cheadle box before shooting, unfortunately for him his shot from the right of the box was well saved by the keeper as he quickly got low down to his right to save.

Five minutes later the home side had a golden chance to open the scoring as a long ball in behind the defence allowed Rhys Webb to race through on goal, with goalkeeper Ryan Moss charging off his line, Webb took the ball around the keeper, however Sandbach had men back defending and Webb’s close-range shot was brilliantly blocked on the line by captain Elliot Ledwards.

The game had started at a very high tempo and if the first five minutes of the game were anything to go by then the spectators were in for a real treat on a bitterly cold Wednesday night. In the 13th minute Sandbach took the lead as a low cross from the right from Jordan Davies was met by Ryan Allcock who saw his shot saved from close range, but the keeper couldn’t hold the ball, as the Cheadle players tried to clear the ball away, Sandbach were battling to get that elusive touch that would see the ball hit the net, the ball eventually fell to Ryan Allcock who was on hand to poke the ball into the empty net and give Sandbach the early lead.

The early goal for Sandbach helped to put them in control as they looked to double their lead. 7 minutes later they did just that as Matty Pearson won the ball in the opposition half before getting to the by-line and then sending in a low cross which was met by James Kirby at the near post who managed to knee the ball past the keeper, doubling United’s lead.

Sandbach had started the game excellently, every time they went forward they looked like they were going to score, the front three of Davies, Cain and Kirby looked ruthless, as they did on Saturday. With 15 minutes to go in the half, Sandbach added a third as a Buckley corner from the right was headed away as far as Cain who turned and then curled in a cross from outside the box, the ball fell kindly for Kirby who exquisitely curled the ball from the left of the box and into bottom right corner of the goal, grabbing his second of the game.

Everything Kirby touched was turning to gold and after a slow start to the season he will be delighted to be back doing what he does best and that’s finding the back of the net.

With 13 minutes of the first half remaining there was still time for Kirby to complete his 17 minute hat-trick as a low cross from Jordan Davies fell to Kirby on the penalty spot, his initial shot was well blocked by the defender but the ball fell back to Kirby who was on hand to lash the ball home and complete what was an outstanding first half display from Sandbach. Manager Andy Hockenhull would have been delighted at half time as the game was all but over and his team could relax in the second half.

It was the home side who started the second half the brighter of the two sides as Rhys Clooney was played through on goal but his shot from just outside the box curled the wrong side of the far-left post. It was a wake-up call for United who couldn’t switch off just yet as any lapse in concentration could lead to a Cheadle goal.

Five minutes after half time Clooney came close again as he drove down the right before cutting in towards goal, as he got into the box he took aim at the Sandbach goal, but his shot was well saved by Sandbach keeper Ryan Moss who was looking to make it back-to-back clean sheets for the first time this season.

The home side were starting to control the game and they looked the stronger of the two sides at the start of this second half, however in the 59th minute their momentum was halted when they had a man sent off. Thomas Russell was alleged to stamp on Sandbach winger Harry Cain whilst he was down injured this earned him a booking, this stamp lead a small brawl which saw both Cheadle’s Liam Delaney and Sandbach’s Jake Chadwick pick up bookings.

In the aftermath of the brawl Russell continued to argue with the referee which then saw him pick up another booking which then lead to the referee producing the red card. It was a shame for Cheadle as they looked good in this second period as they looked to get back into the game. But the 10-men Cheadle side continued to fight and with 25 minutes left they came close once more, Rhys Webb did brilliantly well to work his way into the box and make space for a shot, but his shot from the left of the box flashed across the face of the goal before going out for a goal kick.

Although the result was pretty much in the bag Sandbach were looking to add more goals to bolster their goal difference and they thought they had added a fifth goal when a Buckley corner from the right was met by Kris Stockton who saw his initial header saved, the ball then ballooned into the air, Stockton used his height to beat the defender to the rebound and head towards goal, the keeper seemed to claw they ball from behind the goal line, however the Sandbach appeals for a goal quickly waved away by the officials.

With just under 20 minutes to go Sandbach were still looking to add more goals and in the 71st minute they added a fifth goal when Kirby’s high pressure allowed him to steal the ball off the right back before racing towards goal, as he made his way into the box the keeper game charging off his line but before he could get anywhere near the striker, Kirby poked the ball past the keeper and into the empty net, getting his fourth of the game and Sandbach’s fifth. It really was just one of those days for Kirby, everything he touched seemed to lead to a goal.

After missing Saturdays game Kieran Garner-Knapper was brought on in the second half and after a good 1-2 with Kirby in the middle of the park, the winger was then allowed to use his blistering pace to race in on goal, however unfortunately his close range shot was well saved by the keeper.

With just 10 minutes to go the three points were in the bag, but Sandbach still looked to add more goals. James Kirby was yet again played in behind and as he went through on goal the keeper came out to narrow the angle, but Kirby had Cain in support, so he squared it allowing Cain to tap the ball home to make the score 6-0 to Sandbach. At 6-0 down you would expect the home side to have given up but in fairness to them to they kept battling right till the end, they were almost rewarded for this as second half substitute Ben Christopher did brilliantly well to wriggle his way into the box, but his shot from the left cannoned off the far right post, summing up his sides day.

With four minutes to go Kirby broke the club record for the most goals scored in one game by a single player as Harry Cain won the ball in the opposition half before finding Kirby in the box who then rounded the keeper and slotted the ball home, making the score 7-0 to Sandbach.

At full time manager Andy Hockenhull would have been delighted in the fact that his side have scored 18 goals and conceded just the one in their last 3 games, especially because at the start of the season it looked as his side would find it very difficult to find the net.

Match Report; Jack Beresford.

Next Match: FA Vase - Atherton LR v Sandbach United