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Saturday, February 06, 2010 In Dale Belford’s first game in charge Adders faced a strong Leighton line up but dug deep and might even have nicked it at the end. Leighton started strongly and with just 4 minutes gone their Wes Lewis had a shot scrambled off the line but the revamped Adders soon got into stride and 10 minutes later Roscorla received the ball from Bradley and blazed down the right wing before switching inside and firing a low drive from 20 yards but sadly his effort forced a good save from the home keeper. Soon after a free kick from Banks shaved the cross bar but Leighton edged the game thereafter and created a couple of half chances before their Dan Walker beat the offside trap. The striker and was clean through on goal and Woakes had no option but to charge at him but Walker rounded him and faced with an open goal somehow only managed to hit the upright from 10 yards. The ball subsequently bounced directly into the path of their James Hatch and again with an open net a goal looked a certainty but he inexplicably headed the ball over the cross bar. There were some good periods of play from the Adders with Keen, Roscorla and Bradley combining well but the remainder of the half saw Leighton continue to press and Walker came close again only to fire just wide across the face of goal, however, Adders defence stood firm and at half time the tie remained goalless.
In the second half Adders got off to the best possible start when Rathbone passed to Keen who went route one, cleared two defenders and drove a low ball home past the Leighton keeper from 20 yards. Unfortunately celebrations were short lived as two minutes later the home side equalised when following a defensive lack of concentration Leighton’s Ben Porter was left with a tap in from 5 yards out giving Woakes no chance. The remainder of the half was a much more even affair with chances for both sides the best falling to Simeon Smith who headed just over on 83 minutes and then on 89 minutes Adders looked set to nick all three points but the ball unkindly refused to cross the line in a protracted goal mouth scramble. Overall a spirited and battling performance from Atherstone Town and Manager Dale Belford was more than satisfied. Atherstone Team:
1. Nathan Woakes, 2. Robbie Banks, 3. Giovanni Dainty, 4 Tom Guiney - Capt, 5, Todd Perry, 6, Anthony Bruce, 7. Kieran Robinson, 8. Dean Rathbone, 9. Luke Keen, 10. Daniel Bradley, 11. Grant Roscorla. Subs; 12. Simeon Smith, Not used 13, Dale Belford, 14. Adam Chapman, 15. Dean Johnson, 16. Kieran Graham Attendance: 112 Man of the Match: Luke Keen Referee: A Coggins
Match Reports
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