Awesome Abbeytown hit Dalston for six
Last updated 11:51, Wednesday, 01 October 2008
To begin with Dalston were the better team but they found themselves in arrears when Abbeytown scored against the run of play.
The home team then went on to dominate the game and finish with a convincing six-goal win.
In the opening stages Dalston took the game to their opponents and there was some lively attacking play from Tom Russell, Joe Wales, Connor Lancaster and Edward Gray.
They came very close to scoring when a fluent move, on their left flank, provided Wales with a shooting chance but he had the misfortune to see the ball hit the side netting from his angled drive.
Dalston defenders Charlie McLeod and Caine Bell, were coping at the back and the visitors continued to attack until a rare Abbeytown breakaway led to a goal.
The score was against the run of play but Logan Dixon took his chance well. Nathan Nelson found Dixon, with a defence-splitting pass, and the striker finished with a tremendous shot that was well out of the reach of Harry Hyslop in the Dalston goal.
Abbeytown began to dominate proceedings and Hyslop made a good save from Theo Manihera, who doubled his side’s lead minutes later when he scored following a corner on the right taken by Nelson.
The ball was partially cleared by a Dalston defender only to be picked up by Adam Gordon who returned the ball to Nelson. The midfielder then delivered the perfect right-foot cross for Manihera to score with a brilliant header.
The home pressure was relentless and the enterprising Nelson made it 3-0 following a dribble which took him past two opponents before placing his low shot into the corner of the net.
Hyslop made a valiant attempt to save the ball, with a dive to his left, but he could not keep it out despite getting a hand to it.
Nelson was on fire and he scored his second goal with a cracking shot following a pass from Dixon. The Dalston players were trying their hardest but they were unable to prevent Adam Gordon getting in a shot to make the score 5-0 to Abbeytown.
Abbeytown defender Dan Pearson was a commanding figure and as the game wore on he purposely ventured forward to link up with his attack. It took some determined tackling from Jak Bell and McLeod to prevent him working his way into a shooting position.
The Dalston team were forced back on the defensive but they put up some stout resistance with Jak Bell usually in the thick of things.
Nelson hit the post before Maihera scored his second to make it 6-0 to the home team and there was no further scoring even though Abbeytown continued to attack.
Hyslop saved from Sean Haughan, who finished the game as an outfield player, but when the ball ran loose, Ethan Watters shot over. Josh Clarke made a tackle on Gordon but the Abbeytown player regained possession and shot narrowly wide before the final whistle sounded.
MATCH FACTS
Abbeytown: Sean Haughan, Daniel Pearson, Finlay Graham, Adam Gordon, Nathan Nelson, Logan Dixon, Theo Manihera and Ethan Watters
Dalston JBR: Harry Hyslop, Charlie McLeod, Caine Bell, Joe Wales, Connor Lancaster, Edward Gray, Richard Beckett, Tom Russell, Jak Bell and Josh Clarke
Referee: Graeme Watters
Man of the Match: Nathan Nelson, midfield, Abbeytown: Nathan sent over the perfect cross for Ethan Manihera to head a goal and his pass split the opposition defence to provide Logan Dixon with a scoring opportunity. Nathan’s control was good and his shooting accurate. His two goals were completely different – the first was a low shot and the second belter into the roof of the net.
