A resilient Alty Hale an out 3-0 winners over Sale united in a feisty encounter at Navigation Rec.  The Lions got off to a perfect start after a scramble in the area, with Jack Yates prodding home after just 8 minutes.

 

On a bobbly and boggy pitch, it became difficult for the hosts to get their passing game going, and Sale grew into the game.  Jones punching away what seemed like endless corners, before the hard working Sale forwards fashioned a one on one through a quick break – Jones again dealing with this with a smart save down to his left.  The game became scrappy and both sides were limited to shots from distance.

 

Sale started the second half much stronger – their pace and trickery in the middle fashioning another one on one chance which Jones again kept out on 50 minutes.  5 minutes later and another one on one came and went, this time the Sale striker placing wide when he looked odds on to equalise.  Alty Hale were their own worst enemies as they constantly gave the ball away in the middle, which suited the quick break game of Sale.  However after the hour mark the tide began to turn as the superior fitness of the green and whites came into play.  A couple of well held shots, and a great save from the Sale keeper denied both Black and Reid.  The Lions were getting plenty of joy down the flanks and everytime Reid or McEneaney got the ball they were gliding past their men.  It was no surprise on 78 minutes when McEneaney got free and slid in Yates for the second.  This effectively killed the game, the introduction of the lively returnee Paterson the final nail in the coffin – he twice managed to get into space in the area, before third time lucky he hit a goal bound shot first time on the turn.  The keeper did well to parry, but the rebound fell to Carthew who wanted his goal a lot more than the Sale defence wanted to clear the ball.  A tough test, and a hard days work – but Alty Hale showed their supremacy over the course of the game, and move onto next weeks 1st v 2nd showdown with Unicorn.

 

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

                   Yates.

Goals : Yates (7,78), Carthew (89).

Cards : N/A

Subs : Paterson (for McEneaney).

Subs not used : Grady, Lea, Edginton, Manion S.