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Late own goal gifts the Wellmen all three points

Late own goal gifts the Wellmen all three points

Steve Roberts6 Nov 2019 - 23:20
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A late Paul Johnson goal gifts the Wellmen the points this evening against the Railwaymen.

We’re not making any excuses about the performance tonight, we weren’t anywhere near the standards we expect to be at every week - John Haseldin (Manager)
It was a cold autumn evening and Saltney got the game underway, Mark Connolly got the first chance for Town, but his shot goes over the bar. Then Town won a penalty as Shaun Tuck is fouled in the area, but unfortunately Town’s James Graham puts the penalty over the cross bar. Town then burst forward with Dylan Allshorn's quick turn of foot sees him leave the defender in his wake, and his low cross from the byline finds Shaun Tuck but he is unable to get his shot away.
Saltney then began to get in the match, their first real chance see’s Jake Gibbons get an effort on goal and it took a good save off Mike Platt to get a hand to the ball and tip it onto the cross bar. Another good move by Town see's Sam Jones bursts through into the penalty area, but he lays the ball through to Tony Roebuck, but the keeper was out early to save at his feet, then Shaun Tuck nearly gets the opening goal but his effort smashes against the post and out for a goal kick.
Saltney then had a couple of efforts as Ben Evans fires wide of Mike Platt's goal, then Platt prevents Saltney taking the lead as the ball is rolled past him by the Saltney striker, but as the ball trickles towards the net, Platt recovers and clears the ball off the goaline for a throw in. Tuck then fires in a shot which is deflected out for a corner, then on the stroke of half time, Allshorn beats his man again but his shot goes over the bar.
The second half was only a couple of minutes old when Saltney Town nearly took the lead. Jake Johnson put through on goal in a one on one situation, and Platt was down well to palm the ball away from Johnson’s shot. Luke Edwards then had a fierce shot go inches wide before Tuck narrowly failed to connect with a great cross in by Allshorn. Saltney’s Johnson then attempted to lift the ball over Platt but it fell wide of the post.
Town kept pressing, Tuck having a shot easily gathered by keeper Joshua Atkin, then from a corner, Sam Jones’ cross is flicked on by the keeper with Luke Edwards pressing at the far post. The Saltney keeper easily gathered a Sam Jones shot before Jake Cooke fired over the bar when in a good position.
With the game in the final 5 minutes, the deadlock was finally broken. Luke Edwards broke down the left, and his low cross saw the ball turned into his own net by Paul Johnson and nestled into the bottom corner with Atkin finally beaten. Saltney then pressed forward looking for the equaliser but Town’s back line defended well and held on to the three points.
Manager John Haseldin added after the match, “We’re not making any excuses about the performance tonight, we weren’t anywhere near the standards we expect to be at every week, but the players have been excellent of late and we will take a scruffy 1-0 all day. Full credit to Saltney Town, they gave it their all tonight.”
The win moves the Wellmen up to 5th in the table and Saturday make the journey to Chirk AAA’s for another league fixture.
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