Alty Hale produced a stunning second half performance to come behind to smash Lacey Green 5-1 at Navi Rec on Saturday.

 

A scrappy first half produced few chances, Carthew going in on goal for a one on one being the only real highlight for The Lions - whereas the hosts probably shaded the early exchanges, twice hitting the crossbar, and forcing a smart save out of Grady after multiple crosses avoided the Alty Hale defence.  A big blow for the away side on just 10 minutes when Midfield dynamo Charlie Black was forced off after a robust challenge left him dazed with a bloody nose.  A tactical change enforced by this pushed the energetic Drysdale into Centre Midfield, while Alex Lea came on to slot into the left hand side of the defence.

 

A controversial 5 minutes at the end of the first half saw the teams come in 1-1 at Half Time.  On 40 minutes the Alty Hale defence failed to deal with another cross, and after some head/goalkeeper tennis, the ball hit the bar before being bundled in by a Lacey Green Striker, all be it blatantly by his hand.  The Referee failed to spot the hand ball, and despite mass protest by the Alty Hale players who believed a free kick had been given, the goal stood.  This looked like it would be the last action of the first half until in stoppage time when the Lacey green goalkeeper inexplicably gave away an indirect free kick for trying to dribble his own poor throw out of the box.  After an incredibly long delay due to pushing and shoving in the wall, and the Lacey Green defenders refusing to wait for the whistle, Carthew smashed the free kick into the net after a lay off.

 

The controversial end to the half seemed to stoke up the away team who came out and gave a devastating second half performance.  Barely 60 seconds had been played when a nice exchange down the left led to an Alty Hale corner.  McEneaney whipped it in and curved the ball around everyone, including the flailing Lacey Green keeper to make it 2-1.  Alty Hale were now targeting the suspect home keeper, every cross and through ball causing havoc in the Lacey Green defence who just couldn’t deal with the pace and commitment of the away side.  Yates should have had a penalty after being bundled over by the keeper – a rash challenge after another through ball.  Sandwiched between this Carthew raced through to make it 3-1 after a nice bit of play and through ball, and Yates finished off a nice move for 4.  Quick thinking from Lamb at the back played in Man of the Match Carthew to cap off a fine display and his hat trick with a second chip over the keeper.  4 goals in 20 minutes blew the opposition away and they could only register 2 attempts on goal in the entire second half, one of which Grady had to get down smartly to keep the 4 goal advantage.  Alty Hale could have added to their tally, Drysdale slashing at an effort when he looked likely to bury a rebound, and Lamb somehow failing to bag from inches out after a quality piece of control in the area.  Despite this, the game was already over after a quality period of play, on and off the ball, and Alty Hale move on to Sale united in 2 weeks.

 

Alty Hale : Grady, Page, Lamb, Drysdale, Garner, Black, Quirk-Clarke, Reid, McEneaney, Carthew,   

                 Yates.

 

Subs : Lea, Lewis, Manion J, Manion S.

 

Goals : Carthew (3), McEneaney, Yates.