Chesterfield Sunday League Division 3
AFC Walton....8 Laburnum F.C....2
AFC went into sundays league game against lowly Laburnum F.C., full of confidence following thier fine win last week at Black Swan, maintaining thier wonderful 100% start to the campaign. Benny had a strong squad to choose from, with the return of Mitchell and Megyesi to the fold. Even so some key members of the squad were still missing from the line up. AFC had the first chance on 4 minutes, a ball in from Danny Brown was parried away to safety by the keeper. At the other end Furniss made a smart save holding on to a long range effort. A bursting run from Spencer down the middle on 9 mins ended when his pass to Walton saw the winger just offside. Lytham went close after being played in after a long ball from Bettney, but his chance went narrowly wide as the hosts began to get a grip on the game.
The breakthrough came shortly after on15 mins, a trademark Spencer long throw hurled into the box saw LYTHAM climb highest to nod the ball home. Laburnum almost drew level on 17 mins, a corner was cleared by AFC but was quickly returned into the danger area, Bettney then found himself stuck between 2 Laburnum attackers bearing down on goal, the ball was crossed, but danger was averted by a superb saving tackle by the skipper and the ball was hoofed away to safety. The visitors at this point were forcing the issue, and had another golden opportunity on 20 mins, another corner caused mayhem for the hosts, the ball dropped to the back post, again finding 2 men unmarked, but the shot was rushed and smashed into the side netting.
AFC were becoming frustrated, as Laburnum continued to rattle the hosts. Bettney then had a stinging shot saved by the keeper, who at this point found himself with the least of both keepers to do. As the half drew to a close it was Laburnum who again went close, when a rasping shot across Furniss went just wide of the upright. As the half time whistle blew, it was definatly AFC of the two sides more pleased to hear it. HALF TIME AFC Walton...1 Laburnum F.C...0
At the break Benny made just one personnel change, unleahing Mitchell from the bench, and going with his usual 3-4-1-2 formation, with Steve Miles making way, and Wright dropping into the hole leaving the sub to join forces with Lytham. Michell almost made an instant impact, latching onto a Spencer throw in,before turning smartly in the box, but his effort was forced wide for a corner. The set piece however bore fruit, Walton picked out BETTNEY with the kick some 35 yards from goal, he controlled the ball and smashed his shot in, leaving the keeper flat footed after a wicked deflection took the ball away from him. A brilliant run from Lytham played in Mitchell soon after, but the striker again fired wide of the target. 0n 50 mins another run and cross by Lytham after being found by a pass from Brown saw the hosts win a corner as they started to go through the gears.
They were pulled up short however just 1 minute later, when the visitors stole back into the game, AFC defenders struggled to clear the ball, and after several attempts to rid the danger, the ball fell to a Laburnum striker, and he cleverly lobbed Furniss. They were still celebrating when MITCHELL raced onto a long through ball,he galloped into the box, before a rash tackle saw him upended, and he coolly slotted the penalty home, taking the keeper the wrong way. Paul Walton then replaced Spencer to add his steel into the midfield, he went close just 3 minutes later, after seeing his powerful drive fly inches over. On the hour Mitchell picked out Brown with a pass, but his run was ended with a fine saving tackle, winning yet another corner for the hosts. The resulting kick saw a Lytham header saved by the keeper who pushed it away for another corner. The kick was swung in by Bettney, causing a scramble in the visitors box, the ball dropped to Lytham, who unselfishly found GOODWIN lurking near the back post, and he gleefully prodded the ball home for his FIFTH League goal of the season.
AFC were in control now and a ball cut across the 6 yard box by Lytham was missed by everybody. Mitchell went desparatly close with a direct free kick 30 yards out, his bending drive left the keeper flat footed, as it clunked against the bar and bounced to safety. Benny then introduced Megyesi back into the line up, as Wright made way for him on 68 mins. And just 2 mins later MITCHELL latched onto a long ball from Lee Walton, he took the ball into the box before slipping the ball past the keeper for 5-1. It was Paul Walton who then gained himself an assist on 72 mins, playing in LYTHAM with a crisp ball through, the ball bounced up off the keeper, Lytham controlled the rebound and slid the ball into an empty net. Laburnam the scored a fine goal of thier own on 75 mins, Brown found himself the wrong side of the visitors winger, who swung the ball over to the back post, where the number 11 found himself unmarked to crash his header home. AFC stormed back cancelling the goal out within a minute and thus seeing MITCHELL winning the first to a hat-trick race, Paul Walton again picked out Lytham down the wing, and he again unselfishly crossed for his co striker to slide the ball in. Furniss almost gained himself an assist on 80 mins after a long kick saw a defender back head the ball into Lythams path, but the effort was fired wide. The MOTM was rewarded with a hat-trick of his own in the final minute, Lee Walton was fouled well inside his own half, he looked up before picking out LYTHAM with a long raking ball, and the striker did the rest, smashing the ball home for 8-2. FULL TIME AFC Walton...8 Laburnum F.C...2. Other Results today in Division 3 Brickmakers Arms...4 Creswell Black Diamond...1 / Hady Bridge..1 West Killamarsh..2 / Silver Birches..7 Wingerworth Barley Mow..0 / Staveley All Inn..0 Black Swan..2. NEXT WEEK we take a break from League action as we line up against Killamarsh Juniors from Division 2 In our FIRST EVER Derbyshire Senior Sunday Cup Game.
