MITCHELL / BETTNEY GO GOAL CRAZY !!!
Oxcroft DC United...0 AFC Walton....13
It was YET a new name for the Boys from Boythorpe, but it was same old, same old with the way they carved open League Division 8 NEW BOYS Oxcroft DC United @ Clowne Road today in a pre-season game. Benny sent out his first 11 in the usual 3-4-1-2 formation, that served his NEWLY PROMOTED team so well last season. In the line up were Chris Bettney, and returning flying winger Lee Walton who had took last season out.
The Blues started well, but were almost caught after an untimely slip by Ricky Silcock, who whilst defending, lost his footing giving the winger chance to put over a fine cross, but the chance came to nothing. For the next 5 mins or so the hosts found themselves under pressure, with the best chance falling to Paul Walton who bent a shot just wide. Bettney went close on 7 mins after Mitchell held the ball up for him firing a shot acros the keeper, but again just wide. MITCHELL broke the deadlock after just 8 minutes, scoring the clubs 500th goal of all time in the process, Silcock sent a ball over the top that the striker ran onto, he beat a defender before knocking the ball past the keeper.
Brown sent a long ball up to Mitchell on 11 mins, he crossed the ball for Bettney who held the ball up before playing in PAUL WALTON to score with ease. With the blues in control goal number 3 wasnt long in coming, and it was PROBABLY move of the game, the ball won in midfield and pass after pass finding its mark before Paul Walton picked out MITCHELL, who smashed the ball past the keeper. United went close just 30 seconds later, Taylor was beaten at the back, but the hosts striker could only find the side netting.
Taylor went close at the other end when he found himself in the hosts penalty area, his shot struck a defender on the line, and he found his claim for handball waved away. Mitchell went close to his hat-trick on 20 mis, he connected with a header from a fine Wright cross, but the keeper saved well. On 23 mins a fabulous 1-2 between Shane Bennett and Lee Walton saw the winger cross into the box, but the chance was hacked clear. Another great 1-2 on 29 mins led to MITCHELLS hat-trick, Wright and Lee Walton traded passes before the winger crossed and the ball was stabbed home. Within a minute it was FIVE, this time Paul Waltons long ball picked out MITCHELL to become the FIRST player to grab FOUR goals in a game TWICE.
It was at this point one way stuff as the hosts began to wilt under the bombardment the blues were dishing out. Wright battled for the ball before findig Shane Bennet in space, but his shot drifted just over. Goal number SIX arrived on 38 mins, Wright picked out Mitchell, whose raking crossfield pass dropped to BETTNEY, who stabbed the ball past the despairing keeper. Goodwin went close wit 5 mins of the half left, but his shot went over the bar. The last goal of the half came on 41 mins, another superb bursting run by Lee Walton saw him cross the bal into the box where BETTNEY juggled the ball a couple of times before firing home HALF TIME Oxcroft DC Utd..0 AFC Walton..7.
At the start of the second half Benny made a few changes to the line up, and a formation change to 4-4-2 to mix things up so he could run the rule over his whole squad. Higginbottom, Whitehead, Miles and Cupitt came on to make up the back four, Megyesi came on to the wing and Scott Bennett joined Mitchell up front as striker. Taylor, Brown, Silcock, Wright, Paul and Lee Walton all making way for the new blood. Straight from the kick off the blues pused forward. Mitchell set Scott Bennett free but he scuffed his shot and the keeper saved easilly. It wasnt long before BETTNEY secured his hat-trick, a superb 1-2 move with Mitchell before the winger fired the ball home from just outside the box. MITCHELL struck his FIFTH and AFC Waltons NINTH with just 54 mins on the clock, a long kick by Furniss sailed over the United defence and the striker breezed past his marker to finish sweetly.
The blues struck DOUBLE FIGURES just inside the hour as AFC threatened to run up a cricket score, a brilliant Bettney run saw him cross the ball for Megyesi at the back post, who held the ball up before picking out MITCHELL, who rolled the ball in to secure a RECORD BREAKING DOUBLE HAT-TRICK for the FIRST time EVER at the club, thus notching up his 41st goal in just 23 games, a remarkable strike rate at ANY level. Megyesi was unlucky to see his fine run and strike cannon back off the post with the keeper beaten. Wright came on to replace Furniss in goal with just 20 mins remaining and he was soon in action pushing away a 25 yard strike for a corner.
The United keeper was called into action to thwart Dean Brown who had come back on to play in midfield, great work by Bettney picked him out, he made himself room before unleashing a shot, but the keeper pushed the effort away. AFC had actually gone 20 mins before grabbing goal number 11 after 78 mins, this time a deep ball by Silcock picked out PAUL WALTON near the back post and he finnished well. As the game drew to an end a tiring United side looked well beaten and LEE WALTON got on the score sheet again nodding in a corner kick with just 5 mins left. MEGYESI grabbed the goal he richly deserved with seconds left on the clock, when Paul Walton picked him out and he slammed the ball home. United were happy to hear the final whistle but to thier credit, they NEVER gave up despite the scoreline and it was a good run out for both sides. FULL TIME Oxcroft DC United...0 AFC Walton...13
