Acklam Football Club

ACKLAM v GRANGETOWN YCC

Sunday 5th November 2006

 

On Sunday Acklam played the first match of what they hope will be a long run in this seasons Challenge Cup. Acklam played the first round on home turf against a tough division 4 team in the shape of Grangetown.

Grangetown were the quicker of the two sides to settle, and started knocking the ball around well. Good passing and movement eventually paid off for Grangetown as they built up a two goal lead. Acklam were trying to get into the game but weren’t

being allowed to by Grangetowns hard working midfield.

Finally, good play down Acklams right side led to Alex Hamblen planting a right footed cross onto the head of Acklam striker Adam Lane, who scored to give them the breakthrough they were searching for.

Good play from the Acklam fullbacks enabled their wingers to get more possession and put more balls into the box. This put pressure on the Grangetown keeper and defence.  Grangetown were then hit on the break as they were pressing for a third goal. A good ball down the right wing to Jordan Wales, and an equally good ball on to the head of Adam Lane saw him score his, and Acklams second goal of the game.

Grangetown then managed a well deserved third goal to re instate their lead.

Acklam ended the half with an equaliser as Adam Lane completed his hat trick with an acrobatic volley on the stroke of half time.

Acklam were lucky to end the half on even terms as Grangetown outplayed them in most areas of the pitch

Half time Acklam 3 v Grangetown 3 

I don’t know what the manager said to the team at half time, but in the second half Acklam came out a completely different side. It didn’t take long for them to take the lead  as Jordan Wales beat the keeper at the near post after using his pace to get away from his marker. This was the first time in the match they had been in front and their confidence grew. They then doubled their lead as Josh McDermott finished well to make it 5-3. Grangetown showed they were still a threat as they pegged back Acklam and made it 5-4.

Soon after Adam Lane played the ball across the goal for his strike partner Josh McDermott to finish and double his tally for the day and put Acklam 6-4 ahead.

Grangetown were looking to get themselves back into the game and would have if it wasn’t for Michael Easton in the Acklam goal who dived to his right to stop a header from a Grangetown forward from crossing the goal line.

Acklam finished off the game with a seventh goal. An excellent through ball from Joe Stubley split the Grangetown defence and put Josh McDermott one on one with the keeper, he put an inch perfect finish past the keeper and into the net.

Final Score Acklam 7 v Grangetown 4 

If ever a match was a game of two halves then this was it.

If Grangetown had taken their chances in the first half, or Acklam had let their heads drop, then the result might have been different. However full credit to the squad as they never stopped battling all the way through a difficult first half, and took their chances when they came along. The second half saw Acklam take control of the game as they upped the tempo and started to pass the ball. They  matched a very good Grangetown side for effort and commitment and ran out worthy winners.

 

M.O.M. – Josh McDermott – He led the line well, and as always, his finishing was clinical.