Wilmslow Albion vs East Manchester Match Report

Wilmslow Albion’s first league game in three weeks saw the Oakmen draw 1-1 against East Manchester, after Kieran Casey cancelled out the East Manchester opener. Wilmslow made three changes from the last game in the Murray Trophy against Tintwistle Athletic, as Jonny Cregeen was in net in place of Jon Moran, Lee Arnold was back in defence in place of Louis Mundin and Kieran Casey was up front in place of Charles Yeboah.

East Manchester had the first chance within the first 20 seconds, as the number 8 had a shot stopped by Cregeen, before the number 9’s effort hit the post and Wilmslow got the ball clear. Wilmslow would then have two opportunities a minute later, as Casey chose to square the ball for Joe Kirk but it evaded the left wing back and Ibra Thiam had an attempt blocked. Both teams were having shots on goal in the early goings of the match, a long-range effort from East Manchester’s number 9 was brilliantly tipped over by Cregeen with his fingers, before Casey headed it over the top five minutes later. East Manchester’s number 7 fired a shot over from the D, before Aidan Hussey and Kirk both had shots blocked and a resulting corner saw Hussey fire over. Wilmslow would have more of the chances in the final 20 minutes of the half, As Thiam played the ball across the box from a free kick which Kirk headed over and then Tom Crompton had a shot from a tight angle saved by the East Manchester goalkeeper. Callum Knight then produced a fantastic ball from the centre circle to play in Thiam, who muscled out the East Manchester defender, hit a shot on his weaker foot but the keeper made a good save. Wilmslow then had a big chance right at the end of the half, as a counter attack goes out wide to Crompton, he cuts inside, laid it to Casey who had his shot bounce off the post and cleared.

The first chance of the second half saw the number 6 for East Manchester head the ball from a corner just over the bar, before the same player then produced a great touch and turn but his shot went narrowly wide of the keepers left hand post. Wilmslow then produced the best chance of the match so far, as a corner from Kirk was met by Knight and his header went agonisingly wide. Knight had another chance minutes later, when he got around the back of the defence from a Danny Pearson free kick hit long, but as he stabbed it goalwards, the keeper saved well to prevent the midfielder from scoring. Casey is then denied after fantastic defending from the East Manchester goalkeeper, denying the striker as he was about to pull the trigger. East Manchester then took the lead against the run of play, as the visitor’s number 10 struck the ball hard and Cregeen couldn’t quite hold it.

But two minutes later, Wilmslow were back on level terms. Nick Collins played the ball forward to Kirk, the left wing back sprinted down beyond the opposing full back, played a cross into the corridor of uncertainty and Casey tapped it in to bring the Oakmen level. Wilmslow Albion had one more opportunity to win the game, but Casey’s flick on from a Kirk corner could only be diverted over the top of the bar.

Wilmslow Albion produced a strong display but could only come away with a point in the home fixture against East Manchester. Wilmslow Albion had more of the chances in the game but couldn’t convert the chances into goals. Managers Oli Tarpey and Danny Smith will be hoping the chances could turn into goals in future matches. Wilmslow Albion’s next fixture sees the Oakmen at home again, where they play Middleton Colts.

Boothstown vs Wilmslow Albion Match Report

It was a Saturday afternoon to forget for Wilmslow Albion, as the Oakmen suffered a shocking 10-3 loss to Boothstown in Salford. With Oakwood Farm unplayable because of the rain, the game was moved to a 4g pitch in Salford. Wilmslow Albion were unchanged from last weeks away victory against Altrincham Hale, with Mansour back on the bench after injury.

Within 5 minutes, Boothstown got their first goal of the game, as the number 10 fired his shot against the post and in. Wilmslow tried to get a response quickly and skipper Danny Pearson nearly produced brilliance to get the response, as a free kick from 30 yards out was heading for the top corner, but the keeper got fingertips to it and it crashed off the bar. Joe Kirk was then given the ball on the left, he threaded it through to Kieran Casey, who stabbed the ball goalwards but the keeper got his body in the way and it ended up going out for a goal kick. After a header from a Boothstown corner went over the bar, Ibra Thiam had a big chance in the game. Casey headed it on to the Grand Canarian striker, he was one on one with the keeper but the keeper made the save with his legs. Boothstown then got their second, the number 11 cut in from the right-hand side and struck a shot which was well saved by Jonny Cregeen, but the Boothstown number 9 reacted quickest and volleyed it off the post and in. There was time for one final chance for Wilmslow Albion as Aidan Hussey played a ball out to the left for Thiam, he cut inside, hit a well struck half volley which the keeper saved brilliantly with his right hand and Casey couldn’t quite get the required connection on the rebound.

The second half got off to a quick start by the Oakmen, Thiam got brought down inside the box and the ref pointed to the spot. The striker, on penalty taking duties this week, stepped up and slotted it in to the bottom left corner. The next attack then led to an equaliser, a ball was played down the left channel for Thiam, he managed to chip it over the on-rushing goalkeeper and brought the Albion back level. But Wilmslow were only level for 5 minutes, as a central free kick was nodded into the back of the net by the Boothstown number 18. There were then two goals in quick succession, the Wilmslow Albion midfield was dispossessed and a ball over to the left was finished by the Boothstown number 6, before a cross was only cleared out to the Boothstown number 9 on the edge of the box and he side volleyed it into the roof of the net. It could have been more for Boothstown, as they missed a chance from 6 yards out. Wilmslow then won themselves a corner in the 67^th minute, Harry Sexton whipped the ball into the box, it bounced off a Boothstown defender but there was another defender on the line who cleared it away. But Boothstown continued to punish any chance Wilmslow gave them, as a ball was played over the top was guided in by the Boothstown number 10 for his second and then he completed his hat trick in a similar manner two minutes later.

Going into the final 15 minutes, Wilmslow were awarded a free kick. Sexton stepped up to take it, it went low and was blocked, before Mansour’s strike towards goal was cleared away by a Boothstown defender. There were then two more goals for Boothstown’s number 10, after Wilmslow were dispossessed at the back, he finished it past Cregeen, before he got the ball on the left and hit it into the bottom left corner. Wilmslow then got their third of the game, a free kick was whipped in from the left, it was flicked on and Mansour was able to nod it in. But that was not to be the final goal of the game, as the number 11 of Boothstown had time to hit an effort with the outside of his foot and into the net. The final chance of the game then fell to Rammy, but his effort from a cleared free kick could only go over the top.

It was a bad afternoon for Wilmslow Albion, mistakes that were made by the team were continuously punished by Boothstown. The team must learn and cut out the mistakes if they want to get themselves climbing up the Manchester Football League. The Oakmen will look to put this result behind them and move on as they play Middleton Colts in the Murray Trophy at Oakwood Farm next Saturday.

Wilmslow Albion vs Newton Athletic Match Report

Wilmslow Albion suffered an early exit from the Cheshire FA Amateur Cup this week, as the Oakmen went down to a 1-4 home defeat to Cheshire Football League members Newton Athletic. There were 3 changes for Wilmslow from the 2-1 victory away at East Manchester the week before, with Joe Kirk coming back in at Left wing back in place of Lee Arnold, Harry Sexton coming into the number 10 in place of Rammy and Ibra Thiam up front in place of Kieran Casey.

It was a quick start from Newton Athletic, as a free kick from the left went into the box, it didn't get fully cleared, and Pownall put it into the back of the net. At the ten minute mark, a ball sprayed across to the right by the Newton number 10 found the feet of the number 11, he cut inside on his left but fired it over the top. The challenge then got tougher for Wilmslow, as the ball popped out to the the Newton Athletic number 9 on the left, who played it across to Evans who tapped it in. Wilmslow had struggled at the start of the game but started to find their feet around the 20th minute, as a long range effort from Sexton went goalwards but was caught by the goalkeeper. Newton's number 9 had an effort blocked by Sam Warren to prevent another goal, but Wilmslow were able to convert a chance in the 25th Minute. Kirk played a ball over the top to set Mansour away down the left, Aidan Hussey had made a run through midfield, picked up the ball towards the edge of the box, his first effort was blocked, but the midfielder kept running and tucked in the rebound to halve the deficit.

Wilmslow then pushed to get an equaliser, a ball in from the left by Kirk reached Mansour at the near post, he stabbed it towards goal but the Newton goalkeeper made a smart stop. The Oakmen created some chances towards the latter half of the second half, with some good play down the right finding its way into the middle of the box for Hussey, but couldn't get the required connection. Harry Sexton, who had a strong game, played a pass from the right into the feet of Thiam, he got the shot away but it deflected over the top and out for a corner. The Newton Athletic number 11 then had a cross which nearly crept into the corner, but Jonny Cregeen made sure that it didn't sneak in. The final chance of the half fell to Wilmslow, when a ball from the left went to the edge of the box, Thiam produced some great footwork to set up Mansour, he couldn't quite get the shot away, before Thiam then got the ball back but his effort was blocked for a corner.

The second half starts with another blocked effort, this time Warren blocking brilliantly to deny the Newton number 11. There was nearly a fantastic equaliser for Wilmslow, as Hussey played a delicately lofted ball over the Newton backline to reach the great run made by Sexton, he chested it down, he tried to hit it in from the tight angle but he couldn't quite direct it goalwards, a lovely move from Wilmslow, just couldn't quite apply the finishing touches. Wilmslow had a high volume of possession in this game, one such instance led to a great ball from the left by Kirk, which was cleared out as far as Danny Pearson, he played it to Sexton onto Hussey, before the midfielder was tackled and it went back to the skipper, who had his effort saved by the keeper. Despite Wilmslow possession, Newton Athletic got another goal past the hour mark, as a long range effort from Davenport beat the diving Cregeen and went in.

Wilmslow did get the ball in the back of the net for a second time, but the assistant ruled that Hussey had made his cross to Mansour whilst starting from an offside position. Thiam got himself another opportunity on the left hand side of the penalty box, which was fired goalwards, but the keeper stood tall and stopped the shot. Newton Athletic's number 7 then made a run from the left, cut inside and fired an shot at goal, which was saved by Cregeen. But the resulting corner would end up being goal number 4 for Newton Athletic, as Morgan headed the ball into the roof of the net. There was one final effort in the game, as Cregeen made a save to deny the number 10 with 5 minutes left, but that was to be the final action of the tie.

So Wilmslow Albion bowed out of the Cheshire FA Amateur Cup against Newton Athletic, but the team can take positives from this game. If they keep possession like they did and then convert that possession into more chances and shots on target, the goals have every chance of flowing. The Oakmen return to league action next week, as they have an away trip to Altrincham Hale.

East Manchester vs Wilmslow Albion match report

The latest round of fixtures saw Wilmslow Albion get themselves back to winning ways with a 2-1 victory away to East Manchester. After three straight defeats, Wilmslow made three changes from the defeat to Govan Athletic, as Aidan Hussey came into the number 10 in place of Ibra Thiam, Rammy came into the midfield for the suspended Harry Sexton and at the back, Nick Collins moved to left wing back with Joe Kirk unavailable, allowing Josh Plant to come into the back three.

The first opportunity of the match went to the hosts, a corner was whipped into the box and the East Manchester number 9 leaped well but headed the ball over the bar. Following the corner, some great play from Collins nearly sets Mansour away, he's stopped well by the East Manchester defence and they scramble it out for corner, which Danny Pearson crosses in and is inches away from the head of Mansour. A quick start is something the Oakmen will have been hoping for after a rough patch and after 15 minutes of this game, they got that quick start. Kieran Casey gets himself to the edge of the box and slots the ball into the corner past the goalkeeper.

East Manchester looked to get back on level terms quickly, after a free kick from the right was hit low and struck over the bar, the home side produced a brilliant double save out of Jonny Cregeen 10 minutes later, great stuff from the Wilmslow shotstopper. Mansour then nearly got himself on the scoresheet, he runs at the East Manchester backline, but the keeper pulls off a great save to deny the striker. It had been a good half from Wilmslow Albion, defended very well, got the early goal and played the ball around nicely, with Hussey and Tom Crompton combining well right at the end of the first half, but the effort could not be converted.

The second half could not have started much better for Wilmslow Albion, the ball works its way out to the right-hand side and a man who is becoming a fan favourite at right wing-back, Tom Crompton, lashes the ball into the back of the net, the man who normally puts the ball into the box, got on the end of a cross and got his first goal for the club, sending the crowd wild.

Wilmslow kept going for more goals in the second half, Rammy made a run through midfield, kept himself onside, but he just put the effort wide of the keeper's goal, before Mansour got the ball in the back of the net, but was ruled out for offside. East Manchester weren't going down lightly in this match though, a free kick whipped in leads to the ball ricocheting around the box and just put wide, before the East Manchester centre forward put the ball wide around the 70th minute mark. With 15 minutes to go, East Manchester were able to pull a goal back with a great finish in the box. Towards the end of the game, the hosts nearly got the equaliser, their number 12 attempted an effort but it was brilliantly stopped by Cregeen, whose shot-stopping was fantastic in this game.

Wilmslow saw out the game and weathered the storm to earn the 3 points. Wilmslow Albion showed a great mentality to bounce back from three games without a win. There were some great performances at the back for Wilmslow Albion, with the team doing brilliantly to keep out a stern East Manchester attack, something the managers will be over the moon with. The Oakmen go again next week with their first cup game of the season in the Cheshire FA Amateur Cup against Newton Athletic.

Govan Athletic vs Wilmslow Albion Match report

It proved to be a tough afternoon on Saturday for Wilmslow Albion as the Oakmen suffered away day blues in a 2-0 defeat to Govan Athletic. Wilmslow made three changes from the previous game against Moorside Rangers, as Aidan Hussey was replaced by Kieran Casey, while Lee Arnold and Nick Collins came into the back 3 for Alex Salmon and the suspended Josh Plant.

The games first chance came just before the 10 minute mark, as the Govan number 11 reached a cross but could only put the ball onto the roof of the net. The first Wilmslow opportunity came 5 minutes after, with Ibra Thiam finding space in the box, but his effort was stopped by the keeper. Joe Kirk down the left was very busy first half, he had a cross-cum-shot which which had to be tipped over by the keeper to prevent it going in. Govan Athletic were the team to take the lead in this game, as a header was knocked down to Haydn Fraser and he finished it in to the bottom left hand corner.

Wilmslow started to find a footing in the game at the half hour mark, a long ball was played down the left to set Mansour away, he cut inside, attempted to curl it into the bottom corner, but the shot was set out just too far right and could only curl agonisingly wide. The next opportunity was started with some great work from Casey, he picked the ball up on the halfway line and drove at the Govan Athletic backline, he fired a shot from outside the box which was saved by the goalkeeper, Mansour then had a rebound cleared off the line, which lead to a Tom Crompton shot being blocked, before Kirk got the final effort in and that goes wide. After that frantic 30 seconds of football, Wilmslow kept pushing for the equaliser towards the end of the first half, as from the left hand edge of the box, Kirk fired a strike which was very well stopped by the Govan keeper, before Mansour put in the rebound and it was given offside. Mansour is then denied just before the break, as his one on one withe keeper saw the keeper stand up well and stop the shot.

The second half was started strongly by Govan Athletic, as Jonny Cregeen saved well from the number 10 and out for the corner, with the resulting corner seeing a header go over the top. Cregeen then produced a brilliant acrobatic stop to deny Govan's number 10, keeping it to 1-0. Wilmslow then got their first opportunity of the second half, Ram brought the ball out from inside Wilmslow's box, he launched it long to set Mansour away, he set away down the right, played it to the back post and Kirk just got on the end of it but could only just put it over the top. Govan then pushed again for a second, the home team's number 9 stabbed the ball towards goal but Cregeen got enough on it to slow the shot down, Sam Warren got it off the line and the number 7 then saw a further effort stopped by Cregeen and scrambled out for a corner. The number 16 then produced some fantastic footwork in the box on the 69th minute but his resulting effort went just wide. A few minutes later though, Govan Athletic got the second, as Nathan Hind picked up the ball on the right hand side of the box and fired it off the post and in.

Wilmslow tried to get themselves back into the game in the last 15 minutes, as a free kick went just over the top, before Kirk fired a strong effort from around 30 yards out, and it went agonisingly wide. But it was to no avail, as Wilmslow Albion couldn't get back into the game. This new Oakmen squad is going through a learning curve, but if they can improve on components of their game and keep the morale high, these defeats will be a pivotal point in the development of this young side.

Wilmslow Albion vs Moorside Rangers Match Report

Despite goals from Adam Smullen and Ibra Thiam, a tough afternoon for Wilmslow Albion saw the Oakmen fall to a 4-2 defeat against Moorside Rangers. Wilmslow made 3 changes from last weeks defeat to Bolton Lads and Girls Club, with Jonny Cregeen making a first league start of the season in goal, Captain Danny Pearson was back in the centre of midfield and Alex 'Sil' Salmon coming in for Scott Kempson.

Thiam got the ball in the back of the net after three minutes, when a corner ricocheted to the big centre forward, but his effort was ruled out for offside. Around the 15th minute mark, Moorside Rangers got their first goal, as the ball was played down the right and the cut back went to Jonah, who slotted it in. Cregeen made some good stops in his first start, a ball across the box from the right gets to the number 3, but Cregeen stops the shot well, before he was rounded by the number 7 but recovered brilliantly and kept it from going in. Wilmslow then got themselves their first big chance, Mansour touched it down to Thiam and he fired an effort from the edge of the box which the keeper tipped round the post well. After a drinks break, Wilmslow went after the equaliser, Joe Kirk closed the ball down well, he played it to Thiam but his effort goes across the box and narrowly evades Mansour. Wilmslow then had a big opportunity, Pearson was pulled back on the left hand side of the penalty area and the referee pointed to the spot. Pearson stepped up, fired it low to the keepers right but the keeper got down well and saved it.

Second half begun and it was a tough start for the Oakmen, as Josh Plant received a second yellow card in the first 5 minutes of the half. On the hour mark, Cregeen pulled off an outstanding save, as he reacted acrobatically to deny a long range effort from the Moorside Number 10. Moorside did get their second a couple of minutes later, another brilliant save was made from Cregeen as he tipped it onto the bar, but it bounced out to Danny Shryane and he headed it in.

Thiam was agonisingly close to getting a goal back for Wilmslow, he rounded the keeper, tried to hit it goalwards but a defender got back and blocked the shot off the line. Moorside then got their third goal, as Jack Davies slotted it past Cregeen. Cregeen then stopped a free kick from the left hand side to keep Moorside from extending their lead further. Wilmslow then got their first goal back in the 75th minute. Aiden Hussey pressed the Moorside defence, he took the ball and passed it to Smullen, who slotted the ball past the goalkeeper to lower the deficit.

Moorside Rangers got a 4th not long after Smullen's goal, as Callum McNichol got on the end of a cross from the right and it was finished into the bottom left. Pearson played a fantastic ball over the top for Thiam towards the end of the game, he tried to finesse it to the top left hand corner but the keeper tipped it over. But Thiam did get his goal, as a ball came in from the left, Smullen laid it to the big centre forward and he put it into the back of net.

So Wilmslow Albion suffered a tough defeat this week and are sat in 9th in the Manchester Football League Division One. The Oakmen will look to bounce back next week at home to Govan Athletic.

Bolton Lads and Girls Club vs Wilmslow Albion Match Report

Wilmslow Albion's three match unbeaten run came to an end on Saturday as they lost 5-3 away to Bolton Lads and Girls Club, with striker Ibra Thiam scoring a hat-trick in the first half. There were five changes to the Wilmslow Albion team from the 3-0 victory against Leigh Athletic, Aidan Hussey was brought into the midfield in place of captain Danny Pearson, Kieran Casey and Thiam were brought in up the top end of the pitch in place of James Johnson and Max Hawkins, while there were two changes at the back, with Sam Warren and Josh Plant coming in for Nick Collins and Lee Arnold.

Bolton Lads and Girls club got an early opportunity within the first three minutes, as they had a header that went just wide from a strong attack. But a minute later, Wilmslow had their own early opportunity, which was taken. A ball played through set Thiam away, the striker kept himself onside and slotted into the bottom left hand corner, to give the Oakmen an early lead. Another four minutes later and that lead was doubled. After some nice build up from Casey, he played the ball across to Thiam who fired it home to make it 2-0 to Wilmslow Albion. Bolton LGC had a long range effort around the 15 minute mark to get a goal back, but it was well held by John Moran, followed by a throw in from Scott Kempson, which lead to a Wilmslow Albion chance for Thiam just under a minute later, but it goes wide. Kempson went for an effort of his own before the 20th minute, he attempted to chip the keeper but the Bolton LGC number 1 tipped it over. Up front for Wilmslow Albion, Thiam had a lightning start to the game, and going into the 20th minute, he completed his first ever hat-trick, a fantastic moment for the Spaniard.

The game then saw 3 quick chances in 4 minutes. First Mansour made a great run down the right, he puts the ball in to Casey but it goes over, before another opportunity by Casey goes wide and Bolton LGC put an effort wide. The first Bolton LGC goal came just before the hour mark, as a free kick is whipped into the box and Craig Bingham slotted home. Wilmslow continued to try and extend their advantage before half-time, first a free kick from Harry Sexton was saved by the keeper, before Thiam then wins a header which goes just wide. Joe Kirk then has two efforts which are well saved by the goalkeeper, before Mansour had an effort stopped and out for a corner.

The second half got off to a fast start from Bolton LGC, as they get past the Wilmslow backline easily, and Mark Eccles finished it. The home side kept pushing for an equaliser, with a shot heading just wide. Wilmslow started to waver and just before the hour mark, Adam Spencer got the equaliser. It was tough second half for Wilmslow and a goal from Keane Mills put Bolton LGC ahead, after a throw-in turned drop ball. Mills got a second 5 minutes from time and that was the final action of the game.

So after a brilliant first half from Wilmslow Albion, it was a very tough second half, as they went down to a 5-3 defeat. But with Ibra Thiam scoring a great hat-trick, the striker will be full of confidence and if the team can bounce back from the tough second half , this will be seen as a big learning curve for a team full of new talent. Wilmslow Albion will hope to bounce back next week against Moorside Rangers. We would also like to provide our best wishes to Scott Kempson, who suffered a tough collarbone injury near the start of the second half, we hope he makes a full recovery.