Division 3 Orrell Stag Away

The first game back after the festive period and Amberswood were looking to pick up from where they left off and in the first fifteen minutes this looked likely as they had a series of corner kicks, with John Warburton earning them down the left flank, and thats how the first goal came about, Amberswood earned a corner kick down the left hand side, Craig Gilligan stepped up to take it and rifled it towards the near post, the Orrell Stag defender could do nothing but turn the cross/shot into the back of his own net past a stranded goalkeeper. Within minutes Amberswood were two up, when they had a throw-in, this time from the right hand side deep in opposition territory, Carl Stocks threw the ball into the box and Craig Gilligan rose highest to flick the ball on for the incoming Shane Clark to power a header from eight yards out into the top corner. Orrell Stag pulled one back almost straight away as they themselves had a throw-in on the left hand side and the centre forward flicked the ball on for the winger to play a one two and send the centre forward clear through on goal a rifle the ball past an exposed William Hoey.

Amberswood picked themselves up and before half time scored a third goal, with Payam Doustani weaving his magic and having the Orrell Stag goalkeeper and defence dancing around in their own penalty area before putting the ball into the bottom corner of the net. Almost immediately again Orrell Stag replied again to make it three goals to two to the visiting team, when left back Steven Bannister was over exposed and left to deal with two strikers as the cross came into the box and between the strikers bundled the ball into the back of the net.

At half time with Amberswood having a slender lead and looking unorganised, manager Phil Atherton attempted to defend the lead by asking the two central midfielders to sit in front of the back four and catch Orrell Stag on the counter attack. But to no avail as lack of communication and disorganisation cost Amberswood the game with Orrell Stag cutting the Amberswood defence to ribbons and scoring three goals in a fifteen minute period, one a stunning volley to turn the scoreline on its head with Orrell Stag leading by five goals to three with about twenty five minutes to go. Amberswood got one back with about twenty minutes to with Payam Doustani receiving the ball inside the box and scoring a goal similar to his first. With the score at five four, Amberswood manager Phil Atherton made a substitution and a change in formation by bringing on Antony Whitton for the soldiering Steven Bannister and going to four-three-three, but without reward, Phil Atherton made another change, bringing on Chris Gregson for Sadegh Ramazani, but it madeno difference. Amberswood got what they deserved and slumped to a defeat after the day had started so well, But lack of communication and disorganisation contributed to an all round bad team performance.

Final Score Orrell Stag 5 Amberswood 4

Man Of The Match: Payam Doustani who scored two goals and was Amberswoods most influencial player on the day.