AFC Waltons long awaited first home game @ Eastwood Park turned out to be a nervy affair this afternoon. Manager Benny welcomed back into the fold midfielders Shane Bennett and Paul Walton, to add steel in the middle of the park. The hosts kicking down the slope got into thier stride fairly early, and from the off it looked like Chesterfield Arms were going to have thier hands full with the pace of Chris Bettney running at them. It was BETTNEY who drew first blood after Dean Browns clearance was taken on by Megyesi, who played in Bettney to cut inside and fire a low stinging shot into the net. Moments later Furniss had to be on his toes to push away a first time strike, and gather at the second attempt. The visitors were unlcky not to draw level on 6 minutes, a mistake in the middle of the park saw an Arms striker weave past Furniss,but the quick thinking Higginbottom cleared the effort off his own line.
Arms went close again soon after when a shot from just outside the box bobbled up in front of Furniss, but the Keeper dealt with the chance. Arms were causing problems for the Walton defence, who struggled at times to clear thier lines, and it was a great relief when they added to the lead on 18 minutes. A Bettney corner was whipped in, Wright superbly controlled the ball and wriggled between defenders before crossing to MEGYESI to smash the ball home. Wright himself went close a couple of minutes later after Higginbottom sent him free, but he was in two minds against the advancing keeper, and he put the effort just over. The visitors reduced he arrears on 23 mins, a long raking crossfield pass was fired in giving Furniss no chance.
They almost drew level just shy of the half hour when Furniss again denied the Arms strikers, pushing a shot away before claiming at the 2nd attempt. A free kick warmed Furniss's hands as he fumbled the ball,and the 2nd attempt was fired over as the hosts really had thier backs to the wall for long periods. Walton gained a free kick for handball on 39 mins, Dean Brown took the kick, picking out MEGYESI who finished with style, to give the hosts some much needed breathing space. Lee and Paul Walton traded passes before the latter had his smart shot saved. Then the visitors keeper smartly tipped over a Bettney free kick as the hosts finished the half strongly. Right on half time Chesterfield Arms went close, Furniss pushing up a stinging shot and catching at the second attempt. HALF TIME AFC Walton...3 Chesterfield Arms...1.
Benny kept faith with the starting 11 at the start of the second half, even though Shane Bennett was finding things difficult, coming back from a nasty anle injury, picked up in a pre-season game. Arms got a well deserved 2nd goal within a minute of the restart, a deep cross was parried by Furniss and the loose ball was stabbed home. The under pressure keeper was in action again on 51 mins when he dropped a stinging free kick, and the loose ball was prodded just wide Bennetts return was cut short on 56 mins as Benny introduced Taylor into the middle to try and shore things up as Chesterfield Arms threatened to pull level. His introduction drew dividends within 6 minutes as he won the ball in midfield and played through Lee Wright, The stand in skipper picked out MEGYESI who grabbed a well deserved hat-trick with another assured finish. He thought he'd claimed a FOURTH goal within a minute when Higginbottomm sent Danny Brown scampering up the line before pulling back a fine cross for Megyesi to head home, only to be pulled back for offside. The respite was for only another minute however when the Arms defence suffered a right howler, the keeper shouted for the ball, got into a terrible mix up with his defender, leaving Wright to prod the ball through for DANNY BROWN to have the easiest chance EVER to walk the ball into the net.
It was a howler of the same magnitude at the other end that handed another lifeline for the visitors a couple of minutes later, Furniss took a short goalkick to Silcock who in turn rolled it back to his keeper who found himself under pressure, he took an air shot whilst trying to clear and as the attacker gained control, the keeper lost his footing to allow the striker to walk the ball in for 5-3. Arms picked up the only caution of the game on 70 mins for dissent at a free kick, and Wright went close again on 71 mins when the busy Dany Brown picked him out but the keeper spectacularly pushed his shot away. A free kick 20 yards out by Paul Walton was pushed over by the visitors keeper and Benny then began to ring the changes as Chesterfield Arms began again to get dangerous. He introduced Miles for Paul Walton on 75 mins and Bonson came on for Danny Brown with just 10 mins remaining. And with the changes AFC managed to stifle The Arms Attack and saw the game out. FINAL SCORE AFC Walton...5 Chesterfield Arms...3.
