Wilmslow Albion vs Tintwistle Athletic match report

Wilmslow Albion's first home league game of the season saw the Oakmen pick up a point against Tintwistle Athletic, thanks to an equalizer from Ibrahima Thiam, which cancelled out a Tintwistle opener. Oli Tarpey and Danny Smith made two changes from the win against Uppermill last week, with Nick Collins and Joe Kirk coming in for Lee Arnold and Sam Warren, with Harry Sexton back on the bench after injury.

There was an early warning for Wilmslow within the first 5 minutes, as a Tintwistle corner was headed towards goal, it was cleared off the line by Tom Crompton, before the Tintwistle number 9 volleyed it over. It was quiet opening 20 minutes from Wilmslow, some nice passages of play but they had not created anything clear cut, as they had to ride some strong challenges at the start of the game. Tintwistle had another effort from range by their number 9, but it was stopped by John Moran. Tintwistle did get the first goal after 25 minutes, a free kick from the right hand side was crossed in and turned into the Wilmslow net. Not the greatest start to the game for Wilmslow, but just before the half hour mark, they produced an emphatic reply. A ball down the right hand channel set Thiam away, he got just inside the penalty box, took a look up and hammered a right footed strike into the roof of the net, the goalkeeper had absolutely no chance, pretty confident Thiam hasn't hit a ball any sweeter than that before.

Wilmslow Albion nearly got themselves a quick second goal not long after, ball came in from the left by Kirk, his cross is flicked on by Mansour and it goes to Crompton, who just can't quite get the ball out of his feet, after the slow start, Wilmslow started to find their feet. Another big chance came 5 minutes before half time, as a Danny Pearson corner was floated to the back post and Thiam's goalward bound header was flicked away by a Tintwistle defender and went agonisingly wide of the keeper's left hand post.

Second half begun and their was a debut for James Johnson, who came on at the start of the half. An interesting statistic regarding Wilmslow, in their last two games, they have cleared five efforts off the line. The fifth of these came five minutes after half time, when a corner swung in from the right was directed towards goal but was cleared off the line by Crompton, before a handball was then given against Tintwistle. It was then Wilmslow's turn to have a set piece opportunity. A Pearson free kick from the right floats to the backpost, Kirk volley crosses it across the box and a leaping Thiam just got an effort in but it went wide. Chances were coming for both teams first 15 minutes of the second half, a ball across the box from Tintwistle reached their number 11, but he could only put it wide of Moran's right hand post. Then a further chance to Wilmslow and another for Thiam, similar to his first half goal, its out on the right, he is a tiny bit further back than his goal, and the number 10 puts his laces through it again, but it just scraps the side netting. A couple of minutes later, the Tintwistle number 11 has another opportunity, as he meets a header which goes over the top of the bar, both teams creating the chances.

After a drinks break, Moran, who was producing some superb kicking throughout the game, made a fantastic save, as the ball was down the left for Tintwistle, it was played across the box to the number 7, who stretched to get the effort in but Moran produced some great goalkeeping and got his body in the way. Was not the last effort that Moran would be called into action for, as the Tintwistle number 17. As the game was getting nearer to the end, Wilmslow made a late flurry to get the winner. A free kick hits the wall but bounces over to Kieran Casey, he lays it off to Thiam, who has an goalbound effort brilliantly saved by the Tintwistle goalkeeper. Finally, with one of the last kicks of the game, Pearson corner bounces around the box, Casey volleys it back towards goal but the effort is just off the line, it continues to bounce around before going just wide, it looked like it might have crept over the line, but the all important thoughts of the referee were no goal.

So the spoils were shared at Oakwood Farm, plenty of positives to take from that game for Wilmslow, if the team can keep building on the strong performances it will only keep getting better for the Oakmen. Next up is another home fixture against Leigh Athletic on Saturday.

Wilmslow Albion: The players

With Wilmslow Albion's first home league game of the season against Tintwistle Athletic Saturday, this season's team will be looking to start it with a win. Here is a look at the squad for Wilmslow Albion's centenary year.

Danny Pearson- The centre midfielder who captains the Oakmen, Danny is a local lad with the most appearances in the squad. Technically on a different level.

John Moran- The first team goal-keeper, John makes massive improvements every game as he wants to be the best Keeper he can be. John kicks the ball the length of the pitch and a fantastic shot stopper.

Jonathan Cregeen- Goalkeeper, excellent shot stopper and a great lad to have in and around the club. Always wanting to learn and gain experience

Alex Salmon- nicknamed "Sil", Alex is a nightmare for centre forwards. Sil is big, strong and fast. Real personality in the changing rooms and a true winner.

Sam Warren- Sam is a young centre half ahead of his years. Great on the ball and a natural leader.

Lee Arnold- Lee is one of the best one-on-one defenders on the team. Superb in the air and a lovely left foot.

Tom Crompton- Tom has got an engine to die for. He's nailing down a position in the team this season at wing back. Tom is young, keen and hungry to improve his footballing ability, fits right in at Wilmslow.

Scott Kempson- The man who's started in the other wing back position during pre-season and last week against Uppermill, Scott is a solid player in terms of performance and ability. He has got a wand of a left foot and is a full backs nightmare.

Myles Harrison- Myles is the personal trainer of the team. He runs 10k per game and is always wanting to work on his game. Myles is a great lad with a lot to give.

Adam Smullen- Adam has the heart of a lion and attitude of a warrior. Adam is a much needed addition to the team.

Joe Kirk: The teams Love Island contestant with the brains of a scientist. Joe has got pace to die for with possibly the best left foot in the league. he is scary going forward with an eye for goal.

Ram: Ram is the senior member of the team in age, however, he is one of the most physically built members of the squad. Ram s cal and collected on the ball with fantastic intelligence on the pitch.

Max Hawkins- At 17 years old, Max has the potential to play at a much higher level. He has got a great work ethic and quick fee, one for the future.

Harry Sexton- Harry is an attacking player who can play anywhere going forward. He has tremendous vision and a dead ball specialist.

Aidan Hussey- Aidan epitomises the phrase "it's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog. The smallest in stature on the team with arguably the most fight. A fantastic player with a great attitude.

Ibra: Our very own international striker. Ibra is big, fast, strong and a born goal scorer. He is fantastic in the air and has lovely feet for a big man. already has interested clubs asking about him.

Mansour: Lightening pace and an amazing touch, Mansour is set for big things. He has a target of 30 goals this season. We see mansour moving up the leagues quickly.

Uppermill vs Wilmslow albion match report

A fantastic winner from Danny Pearson and a first half opener from Ibrahima Thiam sees Wilmslow Albion pick up their first league win of the season with a 2-1 away victory over Uppermill, who had three efforts cleared off the line in the game. Managers Oli Tarpey and Danny Smith made 2 changes from the last game against Elton Vale, with Lee Arnold coming into the back 3 and Scott Kempson coming into the left wing back role.

After a quiet opening 10 minutes, Wilmslow created the first chance in the 11^th minute, a corner from Pearson was cleared back out to the centre midfielder, who whipped the ball back into the box and Thiam connects with the header but it goes just wide of the keeper’s right-hand post. Thiam and centre forward partner Mansour caused trouble for Uppermill, with the latter making good runs past the high Uppermill line. Wilmslow really began to apply the pressure going into the 20^th minute, a really nice move started with a driving run from Kempston down the left hand side, he pulled the ball back to Aiden Hussey, he lays the ball back to Pearson, who takes a shot from 30 yards which is stopped by the Uppermill goalkeeper. But after an Uppermill free kick just evaded their onrushing attackers, the Wilmslow Albion pressure finally came off. The ball comes in from the left again from Kempston, Thiam tries to get the shot away first time but is blocked and as the ball ricochets around and while Thiam is on the floor, he puts the ball into the back of the net, He had been causing problems for Uppermill’s centre halves and the perseverance paid off. 

Wilmslow Albion continued pushing for another goal, Mansour picked up the ball 5 yards beyond the centre circle and drove at the Uppermill defence, his effort is hit low but well stopped by the keeper. As the game reached the half hour mark, Uppermill had their first big opportunity, a pull back from the right-hand side to their number 9 in the box, but Alex Sil stands his ground and blocks the striker’s effort from going in. A great ball from Pearson got Mansour away, but his effort was well stopped by the keeper. Then the front two combine well together, as the ball goes to the feet Mansour, who laid it off for Thiam, whose side-footed effort went just wide of the keeper’s left hand post.

Wilmslow created an early opportunity at the start of the second half, ball gets worked out to Kempson on the left and his effort is stopped well by their keeper. The opposite wing back Tom Crompton got a shot of a couple of minutes later. After a run out wide from Mansour, he spotted Crompton on the overlap and he forced the keeper into making a save. But as the hour mark approached, Uppermill began to create chances. They first of all had a disallowed goal, as a foul was committed from the corner, then they had their first of three efforts cleared off the line, as a ball in from the left is cleared to the number 6 around the penalty spot, but Joe Kirk got back brilliantly and cleared the effort off the line. Wilmslow had to be resolute in the second half, having to thwart Uppermill attacks, but they still created some opportunities as Thiam and Mansour combined again, with The former winning the header to set the latter away, he cut in onto his right but his effort is deflected and saved by the keeper. But Uppermill did get their equaliser, a throw in went across the box and Tommy Bunn headed into John Moran’s net in the 69^th Minute. 

There was almost an immediate reply from Wilmslow, as Pearson takes a free kick long, but Thiam’s header went just wide again. Then Pearson produced a piece of brilliance. He took a corner which was cleared back out to him, he then whipped the ball on his right foot, it floated over the goalkeeper’s head and into the top corner, the skipper had been trying his luck a few times from range this game but this effort found the mark. Uppermill then pushed for another equaliser, they had a second effort cleared off the line, as a corner went across the box, it was stabbed towards goal but Crompton cleared it away to prevent the game going level. Then Moran was called into action, as the Uppermill number 7 was put through, but Moran got out to the one-on-one well and saved it brilliantly. As the game got into the very late stages, Uppermill were pushing, another ball across the box bounced to the Uppermill attacker, but his effort was blocked off the line, this time by an Uppermill player, a huge let off for Wilmslow.

But that was to be the final chance, Wilmslow grinded out and got a first win of the season in a tough away fixture. Albion will hope to build on this victory as they have their first home game of the season next week against Tintwistle Athletic.