Alsager Town blown away by Hanley in 10-goal nightmare

Alsager Town 1-9 Hanley Town

Alsager Town hosted Hanley Town in the club’s fifth pre-season friendly under the management of Warren Jones.

The Bullets got off to winning ways against Egerton, picked up a draw against Congleton and defeated Bollington Town. However, things took a turn for the worse last Saturday, as Winsford United beat Alsager Town.

First half

Playing against a stronger opposition was never going to be an easy task, but Alsager got off to a dream start, opening the scoring after four minutes. Luke Nicholls beat the Hanley goalkeeper to the ball and placed it into the bottom right corner of the open net.

It did not take too long for Hanley to respond. The visitors began to show signs of promise, forcing the Alsager keeper to make a punching clearance from a free kick. Shortly afterwards, they equalised when their attacker was found in space on the left and scored from close range.

From that point onwards it was one way traffic, as a long distance effort from a Hanley defender was fired narrowly over the bar. However, they did go ahead when their winger had plenty of time on the ball and slotted it into the bottom left. The defending from Alsager was far from convincing, as the players seemed to switch off.

Hanley once again found time and space on the left side of the pitch and their striker would surely have scored, but a Bullets defender made a vital block. Alsager then had a chance of their own, when a clever ball over the top found the left-back in space. He passed to the striker who landed a shot on target, but it failed to challenge the goalkeeper.

*Alsager had a limited number of chances during the first half*

The next chance was at the other end, as Hanley got a shot on goal before one of their players tried an ambitious overhead kick which went over the bar. The away side did score again when the Alsager goalkeeper came out of his net, but was dribbled past by the attacking midfielder, who made it 3-1.

Hanley scored again to make it four before half time, as their striker had space on the left wing and scored into the bottom right corner.

Half time: Alsager Town 1-4 Hanley Town

Second half

Hanley looked just as relentless in the second half and came close with a shot from the striker, which was just wide of the right post. The pressure kept on mounting and the fifth goal was scored. The keeper did make contact with the ball, but he was unable to make the save.

Alsager then had their first chance of the second half when the substitute winger headed on target, but the Hanley shot-stopper punched the ball away.

*Alsager continued* *to only have occasional chances in the second half*

It was Hanley who had the next chance and it was converted. The man between the sticks for Alsager left his net, but was unable to claim the ball, which saw yet another goal which was all too easy to score.

The Bullets were quick to lose possession, which allowed their opponents plenty of the ball. Hanley made use of it and took a 7-1 lead with a header from a corner kick.

Straight afterwards, an Alsager player was dispossessed in a dangerous area and Hanley scraped the top of the crossbar with a powerful strike.

Alsager finally created another goalscoring opportunity as Alfie Carmichael played the ball to the right winger, whose shot was wide of the left post by narrow margins.

*Alsager Town created far fewer clear-cut chances than Hanley Town*

However, Hanley continued to look more dangerous and made it 9-1 with a diagonal strike which found the bottom left corner. The goalkeeper really ought to have done better.

Full time: Alsager Town 1-9 Hanley Town

Warren Jones brands Alsager Town ‘horrific’

Alsager Town manager Warren Jones has made no excuses for his team’s subpar performance. Instead, he was critical of their all-round display.

He posted on X: “Crashing back to earth. Horrific from us, nothing we did was right. Tried things, didn’t work, individual errors, it was a horror show.

“Its the time you want it to happen though, nothing lost tonight. Hanley Town were clinical and looked good. Can’t take nothing away from them.”

What next for Alsager Town?

The Bullets have one final chance to build some positivity ahead of the new season, with an away fixture against Middlewich Town set to take place this Saturday.

The weekend after, their NWCFL First Division South campaign kicks off, with a trip to New Mills.