Sporting Armley brushed aside Black Bull with ease in a comprehensive display that could have ended in double figures for Jason Lovett's side.
With Andi Bellhouse unavailable, Gareth Knight was pushed up front alongside Danny Goulden. James Cowlam returned to take his place in centre midfield alongide Anthony Morkos, with Karl Smith on the right. Aaron Dix was back in his familiar left back position which meant Mark Pearson returned to left midfield duty. Ashley McNulty made it two consecutive starts at right back alongside centre backs Glenn King and Phil Wheeler, protecting John Moses in the Armley goal.
Armley expected a an easy win against their opponents who have only 1 win to their name all season, but the message from the manager before the game was not to be complacent and get the job done. Those orders were forfilled after just 10 minutes when Sporting raced into a 3-0 lead.
Karl Smith was the main danger in the opening minutes, firing a fierce shot towards to the Black Bull goal after 3 minutes. It looked destined for goal on it's own, but Danny Goulden made sure by using his chest to deflect the ball and get the final touch as Armley took the lead.
Just a few minutes later a slick Armley passing move found Smith racing down the right flank. Both defenders and keeper rushed over to stop him, but the Armley winger avoided their challenges and crossed the ball for James Cowlam to tap into the empty net. It was Cowlam's first goal in an Armley shirt, and he will never have an easier one.
Smith was at it again as he set up another goal for Danny Goulden on 10 minutes and then scored himself after one of the best Armley moves of the season. Sporting had come under a little pressure from Black Bull on the half hour mark, with Ashley McNulty clearing off the goal line. His cleararance fell to Anthony Morkos who set up a swift counter attack. Morkos played through to Gareth Knight in the centre circle who then played a long ball towards the right corner flag. Goulden chased after the ball and managed to keep it in play, he then cut inside and delivered an inch perfect cross which Karl Smith met on the run to power in the 4th goal of the game. It was a fantastic team move.
It could have been 5 by half time but Gareth Knight had his goalbound effort cleared off the line after rounding the keeper. Goulden had also seen several opportunities for a first half hat-trick go narrowly wide or over the bar. The Black Bull was under seige for almost 45 minutes, and any chances they did create were dealt with confidently by Moses in the Armley goal.
With the result already confirmed, the second half lacked the cutting edge of the first as more men pushed forward in an attempt to get themselves on the scoresheet. Gareth Knight had the ball in the back of the net from long range, but was booked for continuing play after the ref had blown for offside against Karl Smith. The referee was very strict with any questioning of his decisions, and Mark Pearson picked up another yellow after appealing for a corner kick.
Sporting Armley were playing well, but they will rarely come up against such an unorganised defence as Black Bull. Goulden eventually bagged his hat-trick after a long punt up field from goalkeeper Moses was allowed to bounce over the Black Bull defence. Goulden wasted no time in racing clear into the penalty box, and the keepr panicking all the striker had to do was pick his spot.
Armley's sixth arrived after some skillful play from Phil Wheeler. The central defender intercepted the ball at half way, and twisted his way past the Black Bull midfield before putting Goulden through for his 4th goal of the game. There was no offside as both he and substitute Wayne Howe raced through 2-on-1. The keeper had absolutely no chance as Goulden picked his spot to notch his 17th goal in only 16 games.
A mistake from Armley eventually gave Black Bull the chance they need for a consolation goal. The ball was given away in midfield and their player allowed to break unchallenged into the Armley half. He found his fellow striker on the Armley right who took advantage of a failed clearance by McNulty to strike a decent effort past John Moses to make it 6-1.
Mark Pearson was unlucky not to make it 7-1 when he broke the offside trap to find himself in a 1-on-1 situation with the Black Bull keeper. He placed his shot to the keeper's right but unfortunately for Pearson it stuck the base of the post rather than the back of the net. Wayne Howe had two opportunities to score but his first, a neat header from Pearson's corner, was stopped on the line and his second, an acrobatic vollied goal was disallowed for offside.
It was a fantastic display from Armley that keeps their slim chances of qualifying to the knock out stages of the Sonder Heating Cup alive.
