D&C ATHLETIC vs Edgeley Villa Reserves

D&C Athletic 5 - 1 Edgeley Villa Reserves
Sunday 20th September 2009
Lacey Green

This game marked the first round of League Cup and while D&C like to concentrate on the league this game was vital for confidence and fitness after a tough loss the week before.

Edgeley started the brighter without creating much as it took D&C a while to switch on. However, when they did the improvements D&C have made began to show. Playing nice football is beginning to pay rewards for D&C and for one game at least, they looked dangerous from set pieces. Martyn Barlow's right foot became hot property for 89mins as he was swinging corners in all game with purpose.

The deadlock broke after 15mins with a Barlow cross that sneaked past a leaky defense and miraculously straight into goal. D&C could have doubled the lead when a deflection fell to Atem Eyong on the penalty spot with a open goal, but...he missed...badly.

D&C kept pressing with most of the possession. Atem Eyong had a chance to atone for his TERRIBLE miss and hooked onto the end of a route one kick from Adam Cummins and calmly chipped the grounded Edgeley keeper.

Matt Davies return from work duties added more width to the team and the flanks kept opening for D&C and just before the half finished a Dean Couling cross made its way through the 6 yard box to Atem Eyong at the back post for his second.

To their credit Edgeley came out from the second half with renewed vigour and pressed tightly, managing to subdue D&C's dominance slightly. However, this didn't last long as Edgeley were reduced to 10 men. An Edgeley player reacted badly to an altercation for the second time and after a fracas from both teams was eventually resolved the game continued.

Ironically, with their reduced numbers, Edgeley rallied and pushed harder forward. They pounced on a sliced miss kick from Cummins and scored with a half volley from 25 yards.

This woke D&C up who knew that 3-1 wasn't safe and they pushed harder, again scoring from a Barlow corner. Jake Taylor popped up in the 6 yard box to poke the ball into the net from the scrambled defending.

Atem Eyong finally got the hat trick to make up for missing and open goal in the first half. Turning a defender on the left hand side he made his way into the area, cut inside, and finished nicely into the top right hand corner. Seeing Adebayor at the weekend inspired him to run to the corner flag to celebrate to the capacity crowd of 3.

All in all this was an encouraging performance from D&C. From an encouraging debut to countless chances D&C showed more to give. However, they must not rest on their laurels as there was plenty to work on before the next game.

GK - Adam Cummins
RB - James Wallis
LB - Dean Couling (C)
CB - Tom Owen
CB - Jake Taylor
RM - Martyn Barlow
LM - Matt Davies (Will Gayle, 60)
CM - Cole Smith Mk.II (Mark Stanley, 75)
CM - Gaz Harley
CF - Atem Eyong
CF - Mike Burt (Matt Wharton, 65)

Unused Subs - Paul Watkins, Nick Kiefer

TO