Stroud & District Four

Avonvale United 1

Alkerton Rangers 2

DESPITE not playing well, Alkerton Rangers took the points from this hard-fought match.

They were indebted to keeper Paul Smith for a string of top class saves.

It was the home side that looked the sharper in the early stages.

With the Alkerton defence at sixes-and-sevens Avonvale struck the underside of the bar on seven minutes. Shortly afterwards Smith stopped an effort from the edge of the area after another incisive Avonvale move.

Alkerton then eased themselves into the game and following neat work on the left from Rich Baker and Scott Hindshaw, Baker's cross was met by the outstretched foot of Andy Broadley only for the keeper to deflect the ball wide.

From Vaughan Wilkinson's subsequent corner Ash Gallagher sent a powerful header goalward to see it clawed away by the home stopper. On 24 minutes Jon Scutt's slide-rule pass found Isaac Fearnley down the right flank.

After skinning his man he squared the ball to Andy Broadley who was unlucky to see his shot clip the angle of past and bar. Smith then pulled-off his finest save diving low to his left to turn a fizzing attempt wide.

In the final minutes of the half the green-and-whites carved open the Avonvale back line to surge into a two-goal lead. First, a long ball from Scutt released Fearnley through the middle and when the keeper blocked his effort Broadley was on hand to snaffle up the loose ball.

Rangers exploited the United left again and the second goal arrived almost immediately when Kirk Wilkinson fed the onrushing Tom Haines and his cutback was slotted home by Fearnley from close range without breaking stride.

After the break Avonvale started the stronger once more and put Alkerton under the cosh.

They got their reward on 54 minutes as a left-wing corner was volleyed into the net from 10 metres through a crowded box. To weather the ensuing storm the away side needed to dig deep and to a man they stood up to be counted with Kev Hill in imperious form.

A change of formation gave Charlie Henry the freedom to roam up front and Paul Wilkinson reinforced the defence. Justin Vanstone replaced the spent Scutt but whilst they had the lion's share of possession Avonvale could not breach the Alkerton rearguard.