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.