08/12/2018

12 games unbeaten and Leadbetter shines with another 4 goals.

Whaley progress into a second semi-final via the Derbyshire Divisional Cup with a comfortable second half performance in horrendous playing conditions that didn’t suit Whaley’s technical footballers or their style of play.

This much anticipated local derby clash is the first meeting between these two long-time local rivals since Chapel joined the Manchester League some 14 or 15 years ago; in the interim Whaley stepped up  into the CFL Division 1 some 7 years ago ultimately achieving Step 7 Premier status; in the interim Chapel have stepped down from Manchester League Division 1 back into the HVFL.

Whaley got off to a perfect start when in the first few minutes Kay headed a long ball down for Sam Leadbetter, the first to react, to tap in from 5 yards. Minutes later Leadbetter latched onto a goal kick and slotted past the advancing Chapel keeper Ross Townsend. Although wide players Dunn and Dwyer took a while to get to grips with the slippery surface Whaley were running riot and in a short space of time had enough chances to finish the game off. Dunn crossed for Dwyer who slipped and somehow failed to get the ball over the line; another Dunn cross was headed just wide and Gilbride, Dwyer and Broome all missed the target narrowly from 15 yards.

Whaley Bridge threw Chapel a lifeline when yet another naive challenge gave away a free kick and though Tattersall dealt with it comfortably the ref had already spotted a Whaley defender, who can’t help using his hands, grab a Chapel forward who was nowhere near the cross - Sherlock scored from the resulting penalty. To their credit Chapel showed a lot of spirit and got back in to the game to produce a physical nervy ten minutes for the home side but didn’t really create a clear cut chance though some telling dead balls caused Whaley some problems. As seems usual these days Whaley were forced into making a change just before half time when the injured Dunn suffered a back injury; Captain Sutton coming on for his first game in 3 weeks to lead the line.

The second half immediately began with a Chapel Town player chasing a long ball that Whaley assumed would go out for a goal kick, he managed to keep the ball in play and had the time to pick out a Chapel forward who produced a diving header to equal the scores at 2-2. This prompted Whaley to wake up and step up a gear. Another flowing move involving Gregory and Gilbride played Leadbetter in to tuck the ball under Townsend, 3-2. Soon after Kay headed in from a Gilbride corner only for Sutton to have been harshly adjudged off side but really he wasn’t interfering. Several reckless challenges on Gilbride gave Whaley a couple of free kicks; the first hit the wall but Dwyer then powered the next against the upright and with the keeper beaten Sutton was first to react heading in from close range, 4.2. A simple move involving kay and Dwyer put the ball into Leadbetter’s path to net his fourth to finish the scoring, 5 2.

Terrible conditions limited the amount of football that could be played and contributed to a frustrating game today but ultimately the home STEP 7 outfit clearly produced enough to overcome a spirited Chapel performance.

Man of the match with 4 goals Sam Leadbetter

Tattersall; Bailey; Toseland; Kay; Gemmell; Dwyer; Gregory; Broome; Gilbride; Dunn;;Leadbetter(4)

Sutton(38 mins) (1); Drayson (65mins); O’ Donnell (78)