AFC MAKE IT 4 OUT OF 4
Clowne Wanderers Reserves...0 AFC Walton....6
Benny made a winning return to the helm, as his charges made it a fantastic STRAIGHT 4 pre-season wins @ Clune Street this afternoon (sunday). Welcoming keeper Billy Furniss back, the blues went straight onto the attack with Jez Mitchell winning a penalty after being tripped with barely a minute on the clock. The in form striker took the kick himself, but the ball struck the inside of the post, went straight across the goal, and away to safety. At the other end a couple of mins later, Taylor saw himself caught out down the wing and the ball was crossed into the box, and although the lad in the middle was well placed, he was wastefull and headed over. A superb 1-2 between Mitchell and Bettney saw the former shoot wide. After 10 mins Wright played in Megyesi, but his fierce shot was well saved. Almost immediatly a fine move up the middle by Clowne saw Funiss make a great save after a smart shot on the turn by the hosts striker.
Just before the quater hour a great team move, ended with Paul Waltons crisp shot cleared off the line, as the Blues pushed for the lead. On 18 mins a long direct ball from the back by Taylor picked out Mitchell, who AGAIN went agonisingly wide. Furniss had to be smartly off his line to save at the strikers feet as he linked onto a through ball that beat the blues defence. The Blues took a deserved lead on the half hour, another great ball from the back by Taylor fell to Paul Walton, who in turn picked out the run of MITCHELL, and he did the rest, slipping the ball beyond the keeper. Five mins later he went close again, after a cross by Danny Brown was again, just put wide.
LEE WRIGHT got back on the goal trail on 43 mins, a move by Mitchell to Brown saw Megyesi shoot, the keeper parried and the record goalscorer finished the job for 2-0. Right on half time Bettney battled for the ball, just inside his own half by the touchline, he played the ball into the middle, Megyesi stepped over the ball, before Mitchell played him in and MEGYESI got the goal he deserved on his appearance number 50 for the club. HALF TIME Clowne Wands Res.0 AFC Walton.3
Benny made four changes at half time, with Higginbottom, Bonson,Miles and Whitehead coming on to replace Taylor, Danny Brown, Silcock and Paul Walton, they went STRAIGHT onto the attack with Mitchell picking out Bettney, whose rasping shot was cleared. From the corner Mitchells header crashed against the bar before being cleared. As AFC continued to press, a long ball by Dean Brown found Bettney, whose effort won another corner as Clowne began to feel the heat. Cupitt came on to replace Lee Walton to play in the hole on 54 mins. As it got close to the hour Clowne got thier best chance of the half when a through ball beat the visitors defence, but Furniss not for the first time saved bravely at the strikers feet. From the corner the ball was fired wide when the striker was well placed.
At the other end AFC tightened thier grip on the game with a superb Dean Brown free kick picking out Mitchell, but yet again his shot went inches wide. He wasnt to be denied for long however and on 63 mins he again saw himself upended in the box and after a few words were exchanged MITCHELL stroked the penalty right down the middle into the net. The Clowne players and people on the touchline had NO answer for Mitchells power, but Benny decided to bring off the talisman striker just ONE GOAL short of his FIFTY in total since joining the club just 26 games ago. On 70 mins a great clearance by Megyesi went to a Clowne striker, but Furniss AGAIN made a stunning save. Cupitt was having probably his best game since joining the club, linking well with his fellow players including an outstanding 1-2 with Taylor.
The Blues grabbed a fifth on 78 mins after a Bettney corner was turned in by a DEAN BROWN bullet header. A few niggly tackles were going in at this point and a few silly free kicks were given away by both teams with the game over as a contest, but both teams had a chance, Clowne got one after 86 mins when Furniss and Higginbottom got into a tangle with a ball into the box, but the ball went to safety. Walton however were in no mood to be charitable, and after another fine team move, Danny Brown, although well placed, picked out LEE WRIGHT in acres of space and he slid the ball home. FULL TIME Clowne Wanderers Reserves...0 AFC Walton...6.
