Stroud & District Four

Old Richians Res. 0

Alkerton Rangers 2

ALKERTON maintained their fine run of form to grind out the victory.

Richians started the brighter, but the Rangers defence limited them to long range efforts.

Adopting a 4-1-4-1 formation Lewis Vanstone and Isaac Fearnley were given license to roam on the flanks supporting lone forward Andy Broadley.

It was a foul on the mercurial Vanstone on the left that presented Alkerton with the opener on the quarter hour.

Kirk Wilkinson’s curving free kick eluded everyone at the far post to nestle in the corner.

The away side ought to have increased the lead on 27 minutes when Broadley seized on a loose ball but his scuffed shot was easily saved.

Giving away possession cheaply gave Richians the impetus but when they threatened from a succession of corners Dave Potter in the Alkerton goal commanded his area superbly.

After the interval the Rangers defence endured more Richians pressure and were fortunate when, ten minutes in, a free-kick came back off the bar.

Shortly afterwards two excellent pieces of defending from the Snakey Lane outfit maintained their advantage.

First, a last ditch clearing header from Ash Gallagher thwarted the home side’s forwards as they bore down on an inswinging free kick and then an acrobatic save from Potter kept out a shot from the edge of the box.

As the game entered its final stages Kirk Wilkinson skipped down the left and squared the ball to Broadley who slotted home only to be denied by the offside flag.

However, with three minutes remaining Alkerton secured the points. Another Kirk Wilkinson free-kick was headed against the bar by Gallagher and once again Vanstone was sharpest to force the ball home.