Old Richians Res......5

Alkerton Rangers.....4

IN a topsy-turvy Stroud Four encounter the green-and whites succumbed to a committed Richians outfit.

Richians struck first with the game less than three minutes old when a corner wasn’t properly cleared and although keeper Alkerton Charlie Henry got a glove on a fizzing shot from the edge of the area it nestled in the bottom corner.

Another poor clearance resulted in a second home goal on 10 minutes but immediately Kev Bond’s outfit opened their account when Ash Gallagher slotted in Vaughan Wilkinson’s corner at the far post.

The Snakey Lane side were back on level terms on the half-hour when another Vaughan Wilkinson corner wasn’t dealt with by the Richians defence and the alert Steven Morgan lashed the ball home.

After break both teams went at it hammer and tongs.

After 62 minutes Alkerton took the lead for the first time.

Morgan’s long throw glanced in off a Richians defender under pressure from Andy Broadley.

Static defending allowed the home side to steal two quick goals and regain the upper hand. Vaughan Wilkinson then headed his brother Kirk’s corner over and saw a long-range effort graze the crossbar.

Rangers again restored parity in fortuitous circumstances as a clearance from the Richains custodian cannoned back past him off one of his own teammates.

The sucker-punch came on 85 minutes when a well-driven Richians free-kick by-passed the Alkerton defensive wall and found the corner of the net despite Henry’s best attempt.