Cheadle Heath Nomads 2 Sandbach United 4

Cheadle Heath Nomads 2 Sandbach United 4

United travelled to the ProSeal stadium for the second time in a fortnight as they took on Cheadle Heath Nomads. Last time the sides met sandbach ran out 3-1 winners thanks to a superb second half performance.

This time however, there were 3 points up for grabs. Cheadle sat 8 points below Sandbach and a loss today would see their title hopes be demolished.

The game didn’t start off brilliantly for Sandbach as they were forced into a sub after just two minutes when left back Elliot Ledwards went down with a hamstring injury. He was replaced by Kieran Knapper.

Despite the early change in system for Sandbach they took the lead after just 15 minutes. Simon Everall received the ball down the right side before cutting inside and shooting from just outside the box, his shot was straight at the keeper but he was unable to hold it and he spilled it into the path of Harry Cain who was on hand to poke the ball into the net and give his side the lead.

After going a goal ahead, United struggled to take a control of the game. In fact it was the home side who looked the more likely to score. And score they did on the 24 minute mark when Kieran Herbert drove down the right flank and got to the byline before crossing to big Ashley Harrison at the near post who managed to glance the ball into the far left corner, past Green and into the net. It was a good finish from the big man who looked to be a handful for the Sandbach defence.

Sandbach replied instantly and found themselves back in front just seven minutes later when Everall picked up the ball on the edge of the box, as he danced past the Cheadle defence as he looked to make space for a shot, eventually he was tackled but the loose ball fell to young Lucas Baker who shot from distance, his right footed strike took a wicked deflection on its way to goal and wrong footed the keeper, leaving him helpless as he watched the ball nestle in the net. I’m not entirely sure if Baker’s originals shot was heading for the goal, that’s one for the dubious goals panel, however what I do know is that Sandbach had quickly got themselves back in front as they looked to regain control of the game.

In all honesty the first half consisted of very little opportunities for both sides, however when Sandbach did have a chance they seemed to make it count. Four minutes before half time they doubled their lead as a Harry Cain corner from the left was brilliantly headed home by Kris Stockton who got up highest and nodded past the keeper. This game Sandbach a comfortable lead going into the break.

Sandbach started the second half in control. They had a lead that they weren’t going to let slip. They were keeping the ball and tiring out their opponents. This domination soon showed as Sandbach added a fourth goal. As Cheadle cleared the ball it went as far as Stockton who powerfully headed the ball 30 yards forward into the path of Knapper who uses his pace to beat the offside trap, as he drove into the box the keeper came rushing out, Knapper nonchalantly chipped the ball over the keeper and into the bottom left corner. The fourth goal signalled the home sides heads to drop as they knew that the game was all but over. Sandbach on the other hand had to concentrate as they knew that goal different could be a major factor in the later stages of the season.

Ashley Harrison has been a handful for the Sandbach defence for most of the game. He scored his second goal in the 67th minute when he rifled home a free kick from 20 yards. However Sandbach keeper Matt Green would have been very disappointed as the ball seemed to go through his hands on its way to the goal.

At 4-2 the game was back on the next goal was potentially massive. Sandbach came close to scoring this goal as Baker’s cross was cleared away as far as Buckley who struck a half volley from 30 yards that looked destined for the bottom right corner but the keeper did well to turn the ball around the post.

Sandbach came close again with a minute to go as Knapper crossed deep to Lane who was at full stretch, but unfortunately for him his header was straight at the keeper.

With 94 minutes gone we were deep into injury time and Sandbach had one more attack as Cain met a Knapper cross from
the right who fired his shot off the bar and it was eventually cleared.

The game ended 4-2 to were in control for most of the game and they were clinical in front of goal, defensively they dealt with the Cheadle front men well and despite having to change the system early on they were tactically sound once again