A Little bit of inspiration goes a long, long way
Last updated 11:49, Wednesday, 24 September 2008
AFIVE-STAR show from Lewis Little earned Abbeytown the victory in this five-goal thriller.
Abbeytown led two-nil at half-time and they increased their lead early in the second half, following a corner.
Dalston then staged a fine recovery with two goals from their captain Edward Sawden but they were unable to grab the equaliser and Abbeytown were the eventual winners.
Abbeytown were tuned in from the start and they attacked Dalston with skill and determination. The visitors opened their account after six minutes with a peach of a goal.
It was a solo effort from Lewis Little who made ground after winning a tackle in midfield before rifling home an unstoppable left foot shot into the roof of the net.
Steven Craik then took up the attack for the visitors but he was tackled by Rohan Anderson.
The Abbeytown pressure was constant and it was no surprise when Kristian Lightfoot raced through to score their second goal despite the desperate efforts of Lewis Jamieson to get in a tackle.
Dalston had a great opportunity when Harry Miller broke through, but his well-struck shot was saved by Abbeytown goalkeeper Daniel Wannop, who spread himself to block the ball.
Ross Groves immediately latched onto the loose ball but his long range shot was wide of the near post and the home team found themselves 2-0 down athalf-time.
Abbeytown dominated the early stages of the second half and a Craik dribble down the right flank led to a terrific shot from Little on the turn which thudded against the crossbar.
An Abbeytown corner led to their third goal. The Dalston defence failed to clear Little’s flag kick and the loose ball was prodded home by Lightfoot from close range. Further Abbeytown pressure resulted in Little striking the outside of the post direct from a corner, after having a shot saved by Joe Dawson, who had taken over from Roman Caig in the Dalston goal.
As the half progressed, the Dalston team got stronger and they pulled a goal back in the 23rd minute when Sawden scored with a well-placed low right-foot shot.
Sawden then had a further chance but he shot narrowly over following a Groves corner kick. Sawden then found Harry Braithwaite but he was tackled by Eddie Mullins and the ball went into touch.
The resulting throw-in was gathered by Sawden but his shot was wide of the mark. Dalston continued to press and Wannop was quick off his line to gather the ball from a Sawden pass which was intended for Braithwaite.
Dalston’s perseverance paid off in the 29th minute, when Groves picked up the ball on the right before making ground and crossing into the danger area for Sawden to score his second and reduce the deficit to a single goal.
The Abbeytown players made sure that their opponents didn’t grab a late equaliser and it was the visitors who finished on the attack with Craik and Lightfoot going on the attack but they were halted by timely tackles from Jamieson and Matthew Watson.
MATCH FACTS
Dalston Junior Black Reds: Roman Caig, Joe Dawson, Lewis Jamieson, Rohan Anderson, Laurie Eastburn, Ross Groves, Harry Miller, Edward Sawden, Harry Braithwaite, Matthew Watson and Jack Harrison
Abbeytown: Daniel Wannop, Eddie Mullins, Scott Watson, Steven Craik, Kristian Lightfoot, Lewis Little, Simon Howlette, Joe Gilroy and Bradley Graham
Referee: David Jamieson
Man of the Match: Lewis Little, midfield, Abbeytown: Lewis took the game by the scruff of the neck from the very start, running at the Dalston defence at every opportunity. He packed dynamite in his shooting boots and he scored a tremendous goal in the first half before striking the crossbar, after the interval, with a rocket shot on the turn.
