Breightmet Wanderers AFC 3 (Enty 20’, Zak 55’, Pez 70’) Tonge United FC 1 (N.Ramsden)

The firsts where back in action v Tonge FC again but this time in the open cup third round, they was hoping to make it 3 wins from 3 games. Our open age side did not disappoint following a slow start that means the reds are in the hat for the next round.

The Wanderers went with Enty in nets, Craig, Locky, Curtis and Carl in a back four. Pez the new vice captain, was with Wilson and debutant Ste Barlow in midfield. Dillon on the right, Zak on the left with target man Ellis up top. The solid bench was made up of Jack, Liam C, Connor, Yates and Paddy.

Just as the ref blew the whistle the away side where full of energy, which is what we expect, just as no one was picking up the roaming Nathan Ramsden, he let a 25 yard rocket of a shot cannon in off the post leaving Enty helpless in his attempts to thwart the shot. 0-1

The first chance of the game for the home side occurred on the 8th minute as Craig, Ste B and Dillon linked up well down the right that left Craig open as he looked up he saw the runs of Ste and Ellis both making forward runs into the box, Craig looked up, hit a delicious cross from the right touchline straight into the penalty box, it was our Ellis that leaped the highest out of the two but his header was narrowly wide. What a ball that was from our right back.

Our possession was superb however our attacking threat wasn't as strong as we was struggling on the tough surface, Pez making an excellent run with the ball straight through the middle, Zak and Dillon making runs taking their markers away, Wilson anchoring the team whilst Ste made a superb run, Curtis with a pin point 15 yard pass straight onto the right foot of Ellis, who twisted his man before being taken down, the ref pointed to the spot. Pez handed the ball, stepped up, hit his shot but Reggie guessed right and saved the number 8’s spot kick.

We where growing into the game throughout but next was a rare occasion and put the game on it’s head. As Enty collected a dismal shot, he noticed Ellis was one on one, as he smashed the ball down the field he over hit it but, Reggie did not judge the flight of the ball, it bounced straight over his head and into the empty net. Enty stood there like the ‘Christ the redeemer’ as his team mates sprinted over to celebrate the equaliser. 1-1, get in there keeps

Moments after the visitors should have taken the lead when they broke from our corner leaving us 4 v 3 at the back their winger skipped passed the challenge of Curtis then squared it to their number 10 at the edge of our box, he hit a fierce shot but our Locky excellently blocked it, luckily the ball broke and their number 14 only had Enty to beat and from nowhere there was Craig to heroically block the shot which was goal bound, it then landed at the feet of Locky who quite rightly fired it away and out of the danger zone!

We gained our shape and Locky was up for this one, backing his team, making sure we held our shape. As our number 12 moved from centre back he passed the ball forward and into the feet of Zak - the pass was inch perfect. Zak held the ball up, Pez ran in behind the last man and Zak perfectly fed the ball into the feet of Pez with one touch with his left foot he sent a shot off from 8 yards out with his second touch, then Reggie was at full stretch to keep the Breightmet vice captain out.

The Wanderers could have doubled their tally for the afternoon through Ste who was played through on goal by Carl, but having leaned back before he shot, his effort flew just over the crossbar. The provider almost became the scorer minutes later when Ste played a clever one-two with Carl which saw the winger played over the top of the Tonge defence. After taking a touch, he attempted to curl the ball around the outrushing number 1, but the keeper got fingertips to the ball to send it wide of the post.

Just as the tackles where flying in from Wilson, Curtis and Carl, the second was adjourned by Carl to of fouled the opponent in the box. Their number 9 stepped up but slammed it off the post, then into the net. However the ref disallowed the goal as the same player who missed the penalty, scored the rebound. Boo & co wasn’t happy with that!

The hosts had more bites of the cherry to add a second before the break, as Wilson, Craig and Dillon all tried their luck from good positions around the penalty area, but the opposition were able to cling on, with blue shirts throwing their bodies on the line to keep the ball out of the net, before Ellis curled an effort wide of the post and Pez let fly from distance, with the ball sailing narrowly over the crossbar.

Half-time | Breightmet Wanderers AFC 1 Tonge United 1

The half time team talk was really simple, keep doing what your doing but further up the field. Take your chances and keep doing what your doing with the ball, use the ball quicker and it’ll not allow them near us.

Ten minutes into the half, the Wanderers did exactly what was asked of them, the back four moving it from left to right as Craig then found Dillon, who passed it to Pez, as Pez flicked it into the path of Ste He let fly but thankfully his terrible shot went into the path of Ellis who cleverly let in Zak Ahmed to poke the ball home 2-1 and we where now back in control of this cup tie

Yates replaced Ellis, It almost had immediate impact for the Wanderers, as Yates was an handful for the Tonge’s defence, he layed of Pez, he picked up the ball on the edge of the hosts’ penalty box and launched a stinging shot which just missed the corner of their keepers crossbar and post. Down the other end, their midfield tried their best to break down our strong defence they had three attempts to fire their own missiles towards the Wanderers’ goal, but all their efforts were blocked and didn’t trouble Enty.

It was miles better from the Wanderers, which could of lead to us scoring more but we failed to take up the gifts the Tonge defence where giving us. Firstly was a clever reverse pass from Paddy into the path of Wilson who open up his body, who only had the keeper to beat, unlucky for our midfield who could only 'R1' it in to the keepers gloves.

Lucky winning every battle and header nodded on forward and into the path of Ste Barlow, who was fouled. Up stepped Pez from 35 yards out. As he floated the ball into the area Zak outstretched but missed the ball, caught the Tonge United number one as the ball was missed it bounced into the empty net - 3-1 our vice captain Pez with another goal.

Connor replaced Zak, Mr Bowling was straight into the action making some vital tackles and angled passes. He also was gifted a chance, created by the excellent pressing from Paddy, Yates and Carl. The ball passed back to their keeper who miskicked his clearance to Paddy at the edge of the box. He composed himself as the keeper ran out to make up for his mistake, Paddy lifted the ball over the keeper and the nets. The gaffer stood with his hands on their head hoping we take the chances next time.

A fourth goal nearly arrived for the red men with just over 10 minutes remaining in the game, and it was Craig from the right wing who stung the palms of Reggie before Yates headed his effort wide.

Full-time | Breightmet Wanderers AFC 3 Tonge United 1

Referee | Sean Sankey

The Phoenix Tax man of the match was award to Jordan Lock for his all round complete performance, guided his team throughout the game, blocked, tackled and headed everything.

Wanderers TV caught up with the gaffer, Barlow who said the following; ''It was a good performance but not the best we’ve had in recent weeks. We created lots of chances and we could of scored more goals, there is no doubts that we deserved to go through today. Seeing Enty score from his own box was my highlight.''

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