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.