Latest News

Styal were 3-1 down at half time and after fighting back to 2-3 conceded in the last 10 minutes. Anybody want to send a fuller report?

Styal 'A' 0 Old Alts 5

Thanks to Gary Aspinall for refereeing this game when the scheduled referee failed to show up.

Styal as usual grafted throughout and had spells when they put some good football together. 2 early injuries in the back 4 didnt help Styal with Gideon and Anderson both replaced within the first 20 minutes. Styal had chances to score and with an early goal things might have been different.

Styal were 2-0 up away a Knutsford with 30 minutes left before a late Knutsford onslaught caused mayhem. The reserves lso lost but in a much tighter affair

Styal ‘A’2 Kartel 7

Things looked good for Styal when Si Ghassemi finished of a good move with a strike into the top corner giving Styal a 1-0 lead with 20 minutes gone. Despite the good start though Styal were too easily picked off by quick through balls after losing possession further up the pitch and Kartel took a strong 3-1 lead into the half time break.

Styal made a change at half time moving Joe Gideon up the pitch and slotting Matt Turner into the back 4. However this took time to gel and Kartel scored 2 further goals straight after the break effectively putting the game out of Styal’s reach.

It was only during the last 10 minutes when Styal started making inroads into Kartel’s back line and Matt Davies headed home a second for Styal after a fine cross from Paul Anderson. Again there was no lack of effort from Styal. Cavanagh pulled of some fine second half saves but Styal need to retain the ball better when in possession to avoid the sort of pressure they put themselves under again.

Sale Amateurs 6 Styal ‘A’ 0

Styal went into this game on the back o a good performance against Cringlewood the week before. However, their performance was not helped by forced changes to the team prior to kick off. Styal seemed to be settling into the game quite well but after 25 minutes Davis was disposed infront of the back 4 and Sale finished mercilessly with a quick passing movement. This seemed to sow some seeds of doubts in Styal’s minds and Sale scored a quick second when Styal’s defenders tried to win the ball further up the pitch and got caught out.  At this point Styal seemed to steady things but Sale struck again with 2 quick strikes before half time meaning Styal faced an uphill battle at 4-0 down in the second half.

Again, Styal continued to work all over the pitch. The efforts of all the players is high but often possession was given away cheaply and Sale won more of the 50-50 balls as they were a bit sharper when it mattered. Pugh and Nundie grafted hard in the middle of the park. Taylor and Cruse again had good games at the back but with the ball so often coming back quickly the pressure continued and Sale scored a further 2 second half goals. With no pressure on, the last 10 minutes saw Styal play their best football. Stu Davis put Matt Davies through and Sale’s keeper pulled off a fine save. Some good passing between Ghassemi and Pugh created another chance and some late Cooper long throws should have resulted in chances if Styal had gambled on the second ball.

Styal ‘A’ 2 Cringlewood 3

Styal provided Cringlewood with more of a contest than they would have expected after suffering 2 heavy defeats at Cringlewood’s hands before Christmas. With keeper Anderson injured Declan Cavanagh made his debut. Styal kept the same back 4 for the first time this season and shuffled the midfield and forward line to cope with injuries. Styal started slowly and it was Cringlewood who struck first after 20 minutes when Cavanagh saved a free kick only for a Cringlewood forward to poach a goal from the loose ball which followed. Styal stuck to the task and started to get used to playing a midfield 5. Pugh and Ghassemi managed to get forward down the flanks supporting Davies upfront. Cringlewood hit the bar again before half time but Styal carved out a good chance for Pugh and then Davies was upended in the box in what looked a nailed on penalty; nothing was given.

Starting the second half 1-0 down, Styal dug in and Davies was rewarded when he nutmegged the keeper to level the scores. Cringlewood struck back to take a 2-1 lead but Styal were always in it. In the last minute a Whelan long throw was attacked by Taylor. When the ball dropped he was the sharpest to react and fired a low hard shot into the net. Unfortunately, you don’t always get what you deserve and when Cringlewood kicked off to restart the game a quick movement down their left flank ended with a pinpoint cross which was sidefooted home at the far post by their right winger. The last kick of the game.

Dan Cruse won everything and he and Lee Taylor were outstanding for Styal at the back. Infact there were good performances all over the pitch for Styal