Staveley Miners Welfare saved their best performance of
preseason till the last game against Carlton town of the Evostick South to send
them into next week Northern Counties East league Premier division opener
against Bridlington Town full of confidence and belief.
The visitors started the better however and enjoyed the
majority of the early possession but were thwarted by a combination of brave
shot blocking from young defenders Alex Pugh and James Finnegan and wayward
finishing.
Staveley wrestled the initiative from their higher placed
opponents and ten minutes in a five or six pass move led to a chance for flying
winger Adam Scott. James Finnegan at left back knocked a ball into Ryan Watters
playing on the less familiar left wing, Watters held the ball up well and
recycled possession to the other side of the pitch via Ross Goodwin in the centre
of defence and Jason Fisher in goal out to Kyle Clarke at right back, Clarke
passed into the stride of flying winger Adam Scott who drove infield towards
goal but was closed down on the edge of the area just as he was about to get
his shot away.
Jamie York in the “number ten role” was linking up well
with Mohammed Tijani whose pace, effort and enthusiasm were a constant threat
all afternoon and the two combined to set up Ryan Watters to cut onto his right
foot and float a dangerous cross to the far post which was cleared, but only as
far as Kyle Clarke who, supporting the attack from right back hit a first time
shot which flashed across goal, troubling Steggles in goal more than he made
out.
Tijani was involved again as he chased a rebound off a
Kurtis Morley shot but the ball bounced too high and Steggles gathered and then
again it was Tijani in his own half on the left hand side of the pitch who held
off the attentions of a Carlton defender and wriggled free with a dragback turn
that out foxed his marker to send Adam Scott on another run and he attempted to return the favour to Tijani who had re-joined
the attack but the pass was slightly in front of “TJ” and the ball ran out for
a goal kick.
Ryan Watters and Adam Scott swapped wings with 27 minutes
on the clock and the switch caused Carlton no end of problems, the lively Adam
Scott cut inside this time from the left leaving his marker for dead but saw
his shot fly just wide of the far post, and it was Scott who had a say in the
opening goal…
James Finnegan passed to Tijani who, with his back to
goal flicked a first time pass to Adam Scott who, was sent sprawling as he
drove into the box giving the referee no option but to give Staveley a penalty
which, was duly despatched by Kurtis Morley firing high right as keeper
Steggles dived low into the opposite corner.
1-0
A frenetic first half still wasn’t over and both sides
had good chances to score, two defenders got into a muddle out on the right and
presented the ball to Kurtis Morley and, Mohammed Tijani once again flicked
Morley’s first time pass out to Ryan Watters whose cross found its way to his
opposite winger Adam Scott. Carlton managed to scramble the ball away which
broke to their number 10 Rae, high up the field but luckily his shot went high over
Jason Fishers crossbar.
HT SMWFC 1 – 0 Carlton Town
The second half started a bit scrappy, but Carltons
Walker fed Rae who was closed down in the box and Staveley needed Ross Goodwin
to sort out the scramble which ensued from Rae’s blocked shot.
Mohammed Tijani soon picked up where he left off in the
first half and 10 minutes into the second half he out jumped a much taller
opponent to nod the ball just too far in front of substitute Adam Wisdom and
Steggles gathered comfortably.
Staveley were well on top but a lapse in concentration
let Carlton back in… the ball broke to Graham at the byline and his cutback was
side footed home by Kevin Osuku in the 62nd minute.
1-1
Almost immediately the score line had a more realistic
look again when from outside of the box Ellis Wall let fly with a shot that
went through the ‘keepers hands and into the bottom corner.
2-1
Staveley went in search of more with Kurtis Morley
screaming for a return pass, Mohammed Tijani instead struck for the goal that
his play since minute one had deserved but he was thwarted by an excellent save
from Steggles who palmed it over, and he did the same with a similar strike
from Ellis Wall moments later.
Jason Fisher also had to produce a save from the “top
drawer” bravely diving low to block a point blank shot which looped over thanks
to the intervention from Staveleys ‘keeper.
The game was wrapped up in the last minute by Adam Wisdom
who in a crowded box deftly volleyed an attempted clearance beyond the dive of an
unsighted Steggles.
3-1
Adam Scott very nearly made it four with an audacious
chip on the half-volley from 25 yards after a long ball had bounced perfectly
for him, but saw it clipped the outside angle of post and crossbar.
FT. SMWFC 3 – 1 Carlton.
The crowd were left purring after the fine display from
all involved and must be now be hopeful of an exciting season ahead and who can
blame them?.
