Midland Hotel (Killamarsh)....2 AFC Walton.....5
AFC Walton made the long trip to Eckington this sunday, to play a side currently languishing at the bottom of Division 5, with Manager Benny boosted by the news that striker Lee Wright had shook off his knee injury, picked up during last weeks win at Hosetech and the team in good spirits wearing the NEW team kit of Red And Black stripes things looked good for AFC. With the hosts manager having to take up the whistle however AFC started on the back foot, being under pressure at the start. The hosts took the lead as early as the 5th minute after a shot crashed back off the visitors bar., before Furniss pushed the rebound away for a corner. AFC's defence failed to deal with the corner, and it was pinball in the area before the ball was forced home for 1-0.
Taylor picked out Bettney moments later, but he took too long and was crowded out. Walton exchanged passes with Bettney on 8 mins, but Walton fired over from 20 yards out. On 10 mins Midland Hotel were given far too much time, but failed to capitalize firing wide. A superb Danny Brown ball picked out Wright, who forced a corner, as AFC begn to creep back into the game. From the corner Brown picked out Megyesi on the back post, but he lashed his shot just wide.
Furniss made a great save with his feet on the quater hour after Brown was beaten for pace, and after good work by Walton, Megyesi saw his shot saved. AFC drew level on 20 mins following a Midland Hotel corner, Megyesi cleared smartly off the goal line and Bettney was sent racing down the wing, he streaked away from his marker before crossing into the box for LEE WALTON to smash the ball home. Miles came to his keepers rescue after Furniss fumbled the ball and a quick thinking sriker lobbed it over the stranded keeper, only to find the alert Miles headed the effort away.
AFC snatched the lead just before the half hour, Lee Walton slipped the ball through to BETTNEY who was tripped in the box and the leading scorer picked himself up to fire the spot kick home. They went close again seconds later after Walton fired over after a Megyesi cross had picked him out. They increased the lead on 35 mins as they began to get a firm grip on the game, a Megyesi run picked out LEE WRIGHT, who beat his marker and score with comfort. Wright went close again on 42 mins when a fine Walton ball picked him out, but he put his chance over. He wasnt to be denied for long however, and the record breaking scorer netted the goal of the game. A great ball by Taylor found Megyesi who carried the ball on before playing in WRIGHT who calmly lifted the ball over the advancing keeper. HALF TIME Midland Hotel..1 AFC Walton...4.
Bettney went desparatly close direct from the kick off, spotting the keeper off his line he shot direct after Walton rolled the ball to him, but his shot came back off the upright and jammed between the grateful keeper and the post.The hosts went close on 48 mins but the striker headed the cross straight into Furniss's arms when well placed. A fine run and cross by Brown was well pushed away by the hosts keeper with Wright lurking for his hat-trick and from the break a through ball carved AFC's defence wide open, but a classic tackle by Higginbottom took the ball so cleanly and skilfully it drew applause from the Midlands striker. Midland clawed thier way back into the game on 53 mins after Higginbottom was harshly adjudged to have fouled making another tackle, and it took the Referee an age to award the spot kick. The penalty crashed against the AFC bar before Furniss saved well from the rebound, but the visitors defence seemed to stand and dither allowing Midland time to bundle the ball over the line for 4-2.
On 65 mins Higginbottom took too long and lost the ball but Midland Hotel were wastefull, shooting wide. Out of sorts Silcock was replaced by Cupitt with 20 mins to go and he slotted in well when he came on. A mistake at the back from a throw in and MOTM Furniss again saved well. Another throw on 78 mins presented Midland with another chance, but the strikers header went inches wide. Wright still after his first hat-trick of the season went close again on 79 mins when Danny Brown played him in again. Bonson who had dropped to the bench following Taylors return came on for the impressive Megyesi on 82 mins, and put together a series of powerfull runs and crosses almost increasing the lead for AFC. Whitehead came on with just 5 mins to go and picked up a bit of a knock while clearing the ball. But with time running Bettney was teasing the Midland defence in the left corner, winning a foul on 88 mins, he took the kick himself crossing into the box for DEAN BROWN up from the back, to BULLETT a powerfuyl header home for 5-2 and again, maximum points for the Red and Blacks. FULL TIME Miland Hotel (Killamarsh)....2 AFC Walton....5
