CHESTERFIELD SUNDAY LEAGUE DIVISION 3
AFC Walton...4 Silver Birches..2.
Benny again had to make changes to his starting 11, for the visit of League Leaders to Rother Rec today, (sunday), due to Ricky Silcock and Callam Lytham being unavailable. But on the plus side, Craig Megyesi, Shaun Goodwin, Danny Mason, Steve Miles and Jez Mitchell were all back and available for selection. He decided to go back to a 3-4-1-2 formation with Higginbottom starting at the back with Bettney and Megyesi. A midfield four of Danny Brown, Shane Bennett, Jordan Spencer and Danny Mason, Lee Walton playing in the hole just behind Dean Brown and Shaun Goodwin forming a formidable emergency strike force with Mitchell, Miles, Jerome Silcock on the bench, along with the unlucky pair Bonson and Thursdays MOTM Lee Whitehead joining them.
AFC pushed forward from the off, and were unlcky inside the 1st minute, with Bettney and Walton combining to play Danny Brown through, but the winger was fractionally offside. The hosts were'nt to be denied for too long however, and took the lead on just 5 minutes, Bettney swung in a fine free kick, the defence failed to deal with it, and GODWIN stooped to nod home. Silver Birches are'nt top for no reason however, and tried to push for an immediate equaliser. They went close on 12 minutes when a corner caused mayhem for the hosts, but were thwarted by a magnificent block on the goal line by Megyesi. On 15 mins they went close again with 2 free kicks in quick sucession first one was blocked by the defence, followed by a smart save by keeper Furniss. This was followed soon after with a second one being blocked by Mason. Spencer was again causing the opponents countless problems with his missile long throws, with the tall Silver Birches midfielder employed helping out his keeper. Slowly but surely AFC stared to push the visitors back and take a hold on the game. Dean Brown went close on 24 mins, a long ball was well controlled a his fierce shot fizzed wide. Silver Birches wasted a free kick minutes later, sending the kick well ver from 25 yards out. They rued this miss just after the half hour, a superb ball in saw a scramble in the visitors box and the ball fell to DEAN BROWN to fire home. A dangerous ball in the box from Danny Brown was hooked off the line as AFC stormed forward to kill the game, but Silver Birches grabbed a life line on 36 mins, a loose ball in midfield was pounced upon and the striker raced on, before sending a rasping drive past Furniss from 25 yards that sailed in just under the bar. This coming seconds after a double booking where Brown and his Birches counter part yellow carded for unsporting behaviour.. This saw Silver Birches take control of the game for a period that saw them boss the midfield for a wile. AFC snatched the breathing space they required bang on half time, a corner floated in caused another scrable in the box, Dean Brown pcked out GOODWIN in the melee, and he did the rest prodding the ball home. HALF TIME AFC Walton...3 Silver Birches F.C...1.
Benny decided to bring on Mitchell for his first league outing of the season, replacing Higginbottom fr the start of the second half, and it almost drew instant dividends when he spotted the keeper off his line and his superb cheeky lob saw the stopper scramble back and gratfully see the ball whizz INCHES over his crossbar. He went close again on 50 mins, when he saw the keeper make a fine save from his well driven free kick. The striker topped off an eventfull 10 minutes after seeing his path blocked out on the touchline by a clumsy challenge, words were exchanged and the striker saw yellow.
Furniss made a fine blocking save after Bettney was robbed 20 yards from goal, as Silver Birches reminded thier hosts they were still in a game, and the visitors showed they were"nt gving up thier top spot without a fight. It was the hosts who grabbed a desperatly needed FOURTH goal on 61 mins, Dean Browns inch perfect pass picked out MITCHELL and the talisman striker grabbed his 91st club goal in just 49 matches, ironically grabbing all of them in 43 of the appearances. Silver Birches roared back within a minute however, a fine save by Furniss dropped to a Birches player and he stabbed the ball home. Mitchell tried his party piece from the kick off again, but this time the keeper gratefully clawed the ball from just under his bar. It came an end to end game fro this point that saw few clea cut chances. Michell wriggled free in the box to win a corner that was well punched away by the keeper. As time began to run out and Maso and Mitchell traded passes on 80 mins, seeing Mason then playing Spencer in, but his shot was well saved. With just 2 mins remaining Mason raced clear with the ball from deep in his own half, but was unlucky to see his lung busting run, come to nothing as he fired wide of the target. The win sees AFC move up ONE place to 2nd in the table, just behind leaders Black Swan,who ironically meet in 2 weeks time. FINAL SCORE AFC Walton...4 Silver Birches F.C...2. OTHER RESULTS ON SUNDAY IN DIVISION 3 WERE..Brickmakers Arms...1 Wingerworth Barley Mow F.C..4 / Creswell Black Diamond..2 Black Swan F.C...4 / Staveley All Inn...3 West Killamarsh F.C...1
