ALMA CUP 3rd Round (Quarter Finals).
Eckington Boys F.C.....0 AFC Whitecotes.....1
Match Key Moments.
15th Min. AFC go so close after Rookie Stand In Keeper Manager Paul Walton finds Danny Brown out wide, the tricky winger explodes with pace down the wing, before a pin point cross sees Mitchells glancing header come back off the post with the keeper well beaten.
18th Min. AFC use the gusty conditions going downhill, Danny Mason goes on a mazy dribble beating 4 Eckington players before his run is brought to an untimely end with a crude challenge. Mitchells bending free kick is saved by the keeper.
22nd Min. Eckington carve out a chance after a slip up at the back, the striker rounds Walton in goal, but sees Megyesi racing back to clear the goalbound effort to give the hosts a corner that is cleared.
30th Min. AFC have a perfectly good goal chalked off for offside, after a ball to the back from Wain drifts in over the keeper but 2 player were adjudged by the lino to be interfering with play.
36th Min. Mitchell races clear of the defence and goes down in the box, but the Referee waves on play.
44th Min. GOAL !! Lytham races clear with a defender in tow, a clumsy challenge in the box sees Lytham brought down. Up steps MITCHELL to drill the spot kick right down the middle of the goal.
HALF TIME Eckington Boys F.C....0 AFC Whitecotes....1 (No changes at half time for AFC)
58th Min. Substitution For AFC Ollie Shelton makes his LONG AWAITED debut, coming on for Mickey Wain and makes an instant impact being spoken to by the Referee for a robust challenge.
60th Min. YELLOW CARD The hosts pick up the first booking of the game.
65th Min. YELLOW CARD Mitchell picks up his 2nd booking in as many games after he foolishly kicks the ball away after failing to control a pass to him out on the wing.
65th Min. Substitution Lee Wright replaces Danny Brown who has been a constant thorn in the side of the hosts defenders.
68th Min. Walton makes a brave punch clear from a corner, despite having 2 Eckington players in close attendance.
75th Min Cries for a penalty after Bettney blocks the ball with his hands above his head, but the Referee adjudges the offence right on the EDGE of the area and giving a free kick.
75th Min. YELLOW CARD for Eckington when a player complains too loudly about the award of ONLY a free kick, the free kick when taken is well blocked by the AFC wall.
83rd Min Nerves are frayed out on the touchline as Eckington continue to press, Bettney makes a timely brave block with his legs.
85th Min. Eckington go so close as the Number 4 finds the ball at his feet unmarked in the box, but he fails to make a decent contact and the ball slews wide.
87th Min. Walton this time pats the ball down from a corner and grabs it at the 2nd attempt, nerves are jangling at the visitors end.
FULL TIME Eckington Boys F.C....0 AFC Whitecotes....1 Its off to Holmegate and a Semi Final against FC Britannia sometime in April, as AFC finally shake off the Quarter Final hoodoo. A fantastic defensive performance with Harcourt, (MOTM) pulling the strings along with Bettney, Lee Walton and Megyesi giving Paul Walton superb cover. The midfield four getting stuck in with Gee Pemberton having his best match in an AFC shirt so far, Mason and Brown constantly running at the Eckington defence pushing them back, and Mitchell along with Lytham linking up front. Wright and debutant Shelton both coming on and taking over the reigns of the players they replaced keeping a grip on the Eckington players. A much improved performance from the tepid last 2 turnouts.
