Swallownest Miners Welfare extended their winning streak to
nine straight wins in the County Senior League Under 21 division with victory
over Treeton Terriers in treacherous conditions.
Treeton took the lead early in the second half through Luke
Beedham, who stroked in a one-on-one following a neat one-two with Chris
Simpson.
However, Swallownest netted an equaliser when Alex
Nightingale slotted in the equaliser from just inside the penalty area.
Nightingale turned provider for the goal which gave
Swallownest the lead eleven minutes later. His low cross was to the feet of Jay
Atkins at the far post who netted for 2-1.
Five minutes from time Swallownest had a third. Nightingale’s
corner was eventually poked in by Jack Farrow.
That goal may have
ended Treeton’s hopes of points, but there was still time for a consolation
goal. Beedham was brought to ground inside the penalty area, and stroked his
resulting spot-kick into the bottom right corner resulting in a 3-2 scoreline,
as Swallownest’s consolidated their position at the top of the league.
The hosts started the game with intent, with Alex Lill
beating two defenders and crossing from the byline in the second minute,
however Alex Nightingale’s effort was acrobatically kept out by goalkeeper Kyle
Aldam.
Lill, a constant threat throughout, almost opened the
scoring himself moments later; he received Jack Farrow’s cross with his back to
goal, turning away from the defender and sending it at the keeper.
Still Swallownest pressed. Broadie Cooper sent a shot from
long range wide of target before Lill’s turn and shot was denied by Aldam low
to his left. Meanwhile, Treeton’s first effort through Callum Douglas was
gathered by Swallownest’s Josh Lill.
As conditioned worsened the game opened up, Jay Atkins
right-footed shot was parried by Aldam, whilst Joe Slater’s long range chance
was caught by Lill.
As the rain began to pour, Treeton looked to capitalise.
Douglas’ indirect free-kick was within a whisker of a number of attackers
getting the required clinical touch; this was shortly followed by Douglas’
long-range effort falling just wide.
Luke Beedham’s cross was sent over by volleying substitute
Chris Simpson and Douglas’ free-kick was denied by Lill, as Swallownest
weathered the storm until half time.
It didn’t take long into the second half before Treeton did break
the deadlock. On 47 minutes, Beedham passed to Simpson who demonstrated a
sudden burst of pace down the left, before cutting inside and sending a
beautiful return ball to Beedham who stroked the ball into the bottom right
corner, sending the visitors into a 1-0 lead.
Swallownest almost came close to an instant response, but
Atkins could only find the side netting from inside the penalty area. However,
they got their deserved equaliser on 52 minutes when Alex Nightingale slotted
into the bottom right corner for 1-1.
Still it was unclear who, if any, would end the match
victorious. Slater’s long range effort for Treeton was caught by the
goalkeeper, whilst Baines hoofed over the bar at the opposite end of the field
following Nightingale’s corner kick.
Swallownest however began to create the majority of clear-cut
chances as the game drew closer to its climax. Atkins passed to Lill whose low
shot towards the bottom-left corner was parried by the goalkeeper.
However, on 63 minutes the hosts took the lead for the first
time in the game. Nightingale’s run to the right by-line was followed by a
tap-in by Atkins at the far post; 2-1.
The Terriers still had half-chances; Douglas’ latest
long-range effort going wide of the right post.
Despite the conditions, Lill’s ability was still apparent.
The midfielder dispossessed a defender in an aerial challenge, with the
resulting half-volley denied by the goalkeeper.
Swallownest Substitute Ryan Hall also looked a threat. His thunderous
effort from the left superbly stopped by Aldam in the Terriers’ goal.
With ten minutes remaining Jason Markell crossed for Atkins
whose turn and shot went wide of the left post. Markell’s long range shot a
minute later also flew wide.
Welfare’s dominance
soon resulted in a third goal. Nightingale’s corner eventually fell to the feet
of Jack Farrow who poked home from close range.
Lill’s best moment of the game came with two minutes of time
remaining. He sprinted from inside his own half to the opposition’s penalty area,
before unselfishly passing to Nicky Coomber whose one-on-one was denied by
Aldam.
However, Treeton were handed a route back into the match
when Aminur Rhaman fouled Beedham. The striker picked himself up off the ground,
slotting the ball into the bottom right corner for 3-2, but Treeton failed to
conjure a chance of the equaliser, therefore recording just their second defeat
of the season.
Swallownest Miners Welfare Under 21’s Team: Josh Lill, Adam
Powell, Jack Farrow, Alex Nightingale, Jack Hutchinson, Brodie Cooper, Alex
Lill, Jack Simmonite, Jay Atkins, John Baines, Sam Drury. Substitutes: Aminur Rhaman,
Josh Thomas, Ryan Hall, Jason Markell, Chris Darius.
Treeton Terriers Under 21’s Team: Kyle Aldam, Shaun Jones,
Mack Collinson, Kurt Fitter, Connor Simpson, Callum Douglas, Jack Squires, Kane
Doughty, Hayden Spencer, Luke Beedham, Joe Slater. Substitutes: Chris Simpson,
Tom Batholemew, Nicky Coomber, Piers Bond, Dan Abdulla.
