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.