Match Report - AFC Crewe vs Bollington Health & Leisure - 26/11/22

With transfer target Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro smashing World Cup records in Qatar, his potential new team mates faced off against Bollington Health & Leisure at Bollington Cross Playing Field in an all important league clash which could determine the trajectory of both teams as they aspire to be at the summit of the Crewe & District Football League come the new year.

This was the second meeting of the season after both teams shared the spoils on matchday 2 with a 3-3 draw at the mighty home of AFC Crewe; King George V Playing fields. Bollington may have felt hard done by after taking a 3 goal lead after only 47 minutes but the team in Yellow managed to battle their way back to 3-3l with some clinical finishing by Amson and Schofield respectively. 

Over two months have passed and the home side will be looking to capitalise on AFC Crewe’s recent dip in form after exiting the Crewe & District FA Saturday Challenge Cup on penalties against Bollington United AFC. This was the most recent match due to two back to back postponements which leaves a major 14 day gap between fixtures for the travelling side. This shootout defeat ended the club’s unbeaten run in all competitions for the 2022/23 season but with overnight mainstream media coverage of our recent transfer speculations off the pitch, the players on the pitch were looking to bounce back with 3 points in league duty.

AFC Crewe arrived in Bollington with a thinned out squad due to injuries and unavailability but this didn’t stop the away side from controlling the early proceedings. The first goal came courtesy of Declan Colclough after just 12 minutes and what a goal to say the least! Colclough made some space for himself from outside of the 18 yard box and delivered a sweet strike into the top corner to the travelling supporter’s delight.

The goal created momentum and up stepped striker Deno Messam who stole the first half headlines with a tantalising display of skill and composure in the opponent’s half. Back to back goals from Messam at 35 & 44 minutes mirrored the first encounter’s scoreline in AFC Crewe’s favour and The Railboys went into halftime with a comfortable lead.

Half time brought about some tactical changes from Bollington with some fresh legs entering the game. This would prove to steal the momentum that Crewe created in the first 45 minutes. Debutant Goalkeeper Lee Robinson took inspiration from his hattrick hunting team mate and began to show why the Scouting Team decided to approach the experienced player between the sticks. The home side peppered Robinson’s goal and more clinical finishing would have narrowed the gap in the early exchanges of the second half but the keeper was a match for everything that was thrown his way

Fatigue and a lack of options from the bench showed its fangs and the clean sheet was taken away after a goalmouth scramble was converted from a corner kick. An effort off the bar was then followed up by Keeler’s second goal of the game to cut Crewe’s slender two goal advantage in half. Heroics from Robinson kept the away side ahead but the floodgates looked to be bulging open as the match entered the latter stages.

AFC Crewe battled hard to keep the lead with some gutsy defending and iron lungs from the entire team. The wall at the back then took the game by the scruff of its neck and exploded into life like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter. Centre Back Jonjo Hawkins plucked a loose ball out of the air from 60 yards out and then proceeded to waltz past 3 opposition players before rifling a shot into the top corner from 18 yards out!

This proved to be the winning goal but Bollington did convert from the spot to narrow the lead back down to a singular goal and the home goalkeeper was bombing up at any opportunity to try and even the scoreline in the dying moments. A huge battle from the Crewe side who could not depend on their bench for rotation and dug in deep to prevent the home side from capitalising on the momentum switch.

The win moves AFC Crewe 6 points clear of second place Sandbach Cursahws FC but with several teams needing to catch up with rescheduled fixtures, the 3 points may prove vital come the end of the season as well as an impressive 28+ Goal Difference with Winsford Saxons second in GD with a +12.

MOM

Goalkeeper Lee Robinson was presented with the Man of the Match award with some crucial saves to keep the home side from taking their chances; especially in the second half with several key blocks.

AFC Crewe Scorers

Colclough

Messam x2

Hawkins

Bollington Health & Leisure Scorers

Keeler x2

Gayne

Thank you to home side Bollington Health & Leisure for the match and we wish you all the best with your remaining fixtures this season. Next up for The Railboys is a home league tie on 3rd December against Crewe Town FC. #UpTheRailBoys