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.

Wilmslow Albion vs Leigh Athletic Match Report

An early penalty from Danny Pearson, followed by second half goals from Max Hawkins and Adam Smullen, saw Wilmslow Albion pick up a 3-0 win in an excellent display against Leigh Athletic. Wilmslow made three changes from last weeks 1-1 draw against Tintwistle, as Lee Arnold was restored into the back three for Alex Salmon, while Harry Sexton and James Johnston came in for Ibra Thiam and Aiden Hussey.

The first opportunity came within the first six minutes, Joe Kirk produced some great work down the left, played it into Johnston and his effort looped towards goal, but a Leigh Athletic defender got back to get it clear before it got too close to the goal line. Johnston was in for his first start for Wilmslow and was making a great impact. Mansour put in a tackle and sprinted towards goal, he passed it across to Johnston, who was brought down in the box and the referee pointed to the spot. Pearson Stepped up and produced a great spot kick as he put it right into the top left corner to put the Oakmen 1-0 up.

Wilmslow were brilliant the opening 20 minutes, Mansour worked it well down the right hand side with Tom Crompton, the wing back then played it to Johnston in the middle, but the defender just put him off enough and the forward was only able to put his effort wide. At the half hour mark, after a Leigh corner comes to nothing, John Moran hits a long goal kick and it gets worked out towards Mansour on the left, he tried to finesse it into the top corner from a wide angle, but a good effort goes over the bar. The next opportunity comes from great work from Crompton, he presses the Leigh wide man and gets the tackle in, he then sprints down the right and whips the ball low towards Kirk at the back post, but his effort is saved by the keeper and is scrambled away. Mansour's movement throughout this game was brilliant to see, he made a run down the Leigh Athletic right side, he cut inside the defender, fired an effort at goal but a Leigh defender got back well to block. Leigh had three efforts late on in the first half, their first saw their number 7 try his luck from the edge of the D, but the ball went wide of Moran's right hand post. They then had a free kick from the right which was headed wide by their number 11, before a final first half opportunity, where a ball from the right gets played to the back post and Leigh's number 9 just reaches it but can't convert.

Within three minutes of the second half, Wilmslow got themselves another chance. Kirk produced some great work down the left as he rides a couple of challenges, before firing a strike which is saved by the keeper, before Mansour puts in the rebound, but the effort is given as offside. But Leigh were still looking for the equaliser, they had a corner from the left hand side, which was met well by their number 17, but the effort was off target, a big chance for Leigh. A lot of chances for Wilmslow in this game came down the left hand side. Kieran Casey played it across to Max Hawkins and he hits a great effort from just outside the box and its brilliantly saved by the Leigh goalkeeper. Wilmslow continued to press for a second, as Kirk attempted an audacious effort to lob the goalkeeper, but it just lands on the top of the net. With 10 minutes to go, Wilmslow finally got themselves the second. Pearson took a free kick from the left which bounced just in front of the keeper, the ball isn't held and Hawkins puts it into the net to double Wilmslow's lead.

Wilmslow nearly got a third, as Mansour had a strike but it was just fired wide. Wilmslow were able to get a third though. Some great work down the right with Myles Harrison and Casey, he pulls it back to Adam Smullen, who hits it into the bottom corner, the keeper could not stop it, a nice goal for a fan favourite.

So Wilmslow produced a great win and gained 3 very valuable points, on top of a first clean sheet of the season. This victory takes the Oakmen to joint 3rd in the table and they are now unbeaten in 3 games. Wilmslow Albion will look to continue the momentum as they face a tough away fixture in two weeks time against Bolton Lads and Girls club. All smiles at the moment down at Oakwood Farm.