Alsager Town 0-5 Market Drayton Town
Alsager Town welcomed Market Drayton to Wood Park, looking to recover from their 3-2 defeat to Eccleshall the previous Saturday, in Matty Russell’s first game as manager.
The Bullets had already faced Market Drayton twice this season, drawing 4-4 with them in the league at the Greenfields Sports Ground and losing 2-1 at home in the Macron Cup.
First half
It was clear from the start of the match that Alsager had a tough task on their hands. Market Drayton looked dangerous going forwards and forced Arran Lyons into making saves early on, while Alsager’s defenders had to be ready to block close range shots.
After 23 minutes, the Gingerbread Men scored their first goal when a ball was played through to Nickey Parker who beat the keeper. There were calls for the goal to be disallowed due to an apparent offside, but the referee was not interested in the appeals.
Not long afterwards, Market Drayton made it 2-0 when a cross from the right wing by debutant, Armando Wood, was deflected into the back of the net. The away side had a field day on that side of the pitch, with Joshua Eccles in particular struggling to cope with their attacking threat.
Market Drayton continued to create chances, often through drilled crosses into the box and life was made rather easy for them by the Bullets, who continually gave the ball away throughout the match.
And they should have made it three before the interval, when Alsager failed to clear the ball. The attacking player was central to the goal and shot from close range, but he got it all wrong and missed a sitter.
Both sides had complaints about the referee in the first half, which led to a Bullets supporter confronting him at half time and accusing him of letting Market Drayton run the game. But one of the away players responded by claiming his side should have had a goal when their attacker was wrongly ruled offside, while Alsager should have had a player sent off.
Half time: Alsager Town 0-2 Market Drayton
Second half
Controversy surrounding the referee continued into the second half, with the first incident occurring when Adam Dahou caught a Market Drayton defender with a high boot, but no card was given, much to the displeasure of the Gingerbread Men.
But it was Alsager who became angered by the referee’s decision-making when player-manager, Matt Russell, was sent off for a foul just outside the box, in a decision which was deemed so harsh by the home support that many did not realise he had been shown a red card.
Market Drayton continued to create chances and had a good opportunity when they took a free kick, which Lyons did an excellent job to keep out.
And it was from a free kick that they scored their third goal. Jack Finney caught Alsager by surprise when he took the set piece, with the Bullets unaware the referee had blown his whistle, leaving Lyons with no chance of making a save.
Market Drayton continued to play exceptionally well on the ball, while Alsager failed to take advantage of any opportunities which fell to them, including set pieces which only found opposition players.
The Gingerbread Men secured a fourth goal when David Ablewhite skilfully dribbled through Alsager’s defenders and struck the ball into the right corner of the net.
And he got another a few minutes later as he brilliantly chipped the ball over Lyons and into the left corner to put the visitors 5-0 goals ahead.
The game ended a few minutes later and despite it being Alsager’s heaviest defeat of the season by some margin, Market Drayton should really have scored more.
Full time: Alsager Town 0-5 Market Drayton
Despite such a poor result, Alsager remained third in the NWCFL First Division South, with all other matches in the league cancelled due to the weather.
This coming Saturday they take on Cheadle Heath Nomads away from home, another team they have played twice this season, yet failed to defeat.
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