We played really well in this match and despite the opposition not having great quality we got out of the game what we needed. We weren’t tested defensively apart from the one goal we conceded on 68 minutes when we fell asleep and allowed a cross to come over to the back post where we stopped marking up and the Stanley played had an easy finish but we were 4-0 up by then.
We started the game brilliantly and James Thornton delivered some great crosses early on from the left hand side which put the Stanley defence under pressure. One of these lead to the first goal when Rob Draper cushioned his header into the path of Lewis Straughair who placed his finish well into the bottom corner of the net.
Despite early dominance in the play it took a while for the 2nd goal to come. Jack Keall & debutant Paul Middleton came on to the field of play on 30 minutes. Middleton played well slotting in at centre half and he played 30 minutes with O’Brien and the last 30 minutes with Bladen and he was powerful in the air.
Straughair doubled the lead on 34 minutes when he reacted first to Horner’s shot which rebounded into his path where he did look suspiciously offside but he again took his chance well slotting home from 12 yards out into the bottom right hand corner with his right foot.
O’Brien made it 3-0 two minutes later following Embleton’s low cross which O’Brien redirected into the opposite corner with a right footed effort.
Harrison and another debutant Scott Watson came on at half time to form a new strike duo which didn’t last too long unfortunately when Watson got injured and ended up breaking his toe.
Thornton made it 4-0 when his run across the box allowed him to connect sweetly with his RIGHT foot and his shot was perfectly placed into the bottom corner following Jacob Horner’s low cross.
Graeme Embleton nearly made it 5-1 on 70 minutes when he let fly with a half volley from just outside the box with his left foot which cannoned off the cross bar. Paul Middleton also went close when his right footed effort also hit the cross bar on 74 minutes.
Sacriston gave the score line the look it deserved in the final 6 minutes with 2 more goals. Straughair completed his hat-rick when he followed in on another rebound and the best goal of the night was saved for last when Jacob Horner let fly with a rasping drive from 22 yards out which found the top corner of the net.
Overall it was a good workout and the match sharpness was coming back to the lads and we played some really good football along the way.
