Match Details
Date: Saturday 01 October 2016
Result: 2-2 (draw)
Starting XI – Harry Thomas, Jack Richards, Jamie Foulkes, Sean Jones, Nathan Williams, Dion Gibbins, Andrew Jones, Nic Jones, Alex Williams, Josh Foulkes Oliver Davies (c)
Substitutes – Les Morris, Lloyd Royce, Callum Mannion, Darnell Prescott
Goalscorer(s):
Alex Williams
Oliver Davies
After last weekend’s disappointing 1-8 defeat to Queens Park, today’s away fixture at second to bottom Saltney Town was all about getting a good response from the team and in all fairness you can't fault the effort from everyone. If truth be told we should have collected all 3 points.
During the early exchanges of the game there wasn’t much to choose between the two teams but in comparison to last weekend it was evident from the way the lads were working for each other that the Albion players had something to prove and wanted to set the record straight.
It was around the 30th minute of the game when Albion finally broke the deadlock with a well worked move involving brothers Andrew and Nic Jones & Oli Davies on the left was coolly finished by Alex Williams who was unmarked at the far post. The goal from Alex put Albion one nil to the good and on the balance deservedly going into half time in front.
As expected we had to soak up quite a bit of pressure from the home team during periods of the second half but Albion’s number one and man of the match Harry Thomas was excellent when called upon and was more than equal to anything that the home team offered from open play. Thomas pulled off a couple of outstanding saves in the second half and was brave on a more than one occasion. Despite the home team taking a hold on the game Albion always posed a threat on the break and when leading goal scorer Oli Davies doubled our lead the home team looked dead and buried. However, they were offered a life line by the referee who awarded a very dubious penalty decision for a handball that a sliding Nic jones could do nothing about as his trailing hand unintentionally caught the ball. Despite no appeal from the home team the referee was adamant that our player intentionally handled the ball and the Saltney player calmly dinked the ball down the centre of the goal catching the diving Thomas out. With 10 minutes remaining, it was over to the referee to continue with his show when once again he awarded another penalty which was again not appealed by anyone from the home team. He apparently spotted some pulling whilst a corner kick was delivered and pointed to the spot. Looking around It was clear to see the disbelief on the faces of the players & travelling Albion supporters and the bemusement of the home faces, a decision that seemed worse than the first! Once again Harry couldn't do anything about the penalty as it well taken finding the bottom of the right of the keepers net to level up the tie. Jack Richards was shown a red card after the final whistle for approaching the referee protesting about his decisions during the game.
Despite the unfortunate refereeing decisions that went against us today we can take a lot from today’s performance. We looked more organised at the back, wanted to fight for each other and showed good attitude throughout. Well done lads a good effort and we now look forward to Overton next week in the league cup.
