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SATURDAY 25TH JANUARY 2025
ALTRINCHAM & DISTRICT FA CUP
SECOND ROUND

BAGULEY ATHLETIC RESERVES

5

MERSEY VALLEY

6

MATCH REPORT

An out-of-sorts Mersey Valley made it through to the Quarter Finals of the Altrincham & District FA Cup after a crazy 11-goal thriller with Baguley Reserves.

Adams opened the scoring with a header

The game played on a dreadful pitch was lively from the start. Mersey took the lead when Owen Adams headed home from a Riley corner. However, the home side quickly levelled things up after an error keeper Brad Cooke.

The referee then awarded Baguley a penalty after judging Cooke had brought down the striker, a decision that baffled most of the Mersey Valley players. The penalty was dispatched, and the home side now led.

The lead didn’t last long, Goldrick with a brilliant switch to Mike Woolley who cut inside and fired the ball past the keeper to make it 2-2.

There was time for one more goal and another controversial decision by the keeper. The Baguley striker looked offside but the official waved play on and he kept his calm to slot the ball past Cooke.

HT: Baguley Athletic Reserves 3 Mersey Valley 2

Valley made a chance at half-time. Wilson replaced Goldrick, who was struggling with a knee injury with Jordan Downing being moved further forward.

In-form Mike Woolley with another 2 goals including a brilliant second.

Valley started well and was soon level with the goal of the game from Mike Woolley, cutting inside and unleashing a brilliant curling shot over the keeper into the roof of the net.

Valley then took the lead, a lovely move that ended with Riley curling a brilliant cross to the back post, that was met by a fantastic diving header from Adams.

Both sides were throwing everything into the game but the home side got the next goal, a bizarre free-kick cross that sailed over everyone into the back of the net and then they took the lead with a breakaway goal smashed past Cooke.

Time was running out, but Valley regrouped and showed their quality. Firstly, Downing was on the ball to seize on an error and fire the ball past the keeper, and then, with the game minutes away from a penalty shoot-out, Reece Skelton saw his shot deflected past the keeper into the back of the net to seal the comeback and the victory,

All credit to Baguley who didn’t really deserve to lose the game.

HT: Baguley Athletic Reserves 5 Mersey Valley 6

MATCH STATS

BAGULEY ATHLETIC RESERVES 5
MERSEY VALLEY 6

MVFC: Cooke, Howarth, Dignan, Evans, Greenwood, Downing, Goldrick (Chaddock) (Wilson), Adams, Riley, Skelton, Woolley
Subs Not Used: Renshaw, Acton, Downey

Goals: Adams 6, 60, Woolley 19, 54, Downing 83, Skelton 89

Booked: Woolley, Cooke

Referee: Honghai Chu

MAN OF THE MATCH

JOEL RILEY

A captains performance from Riley – worked hard and also assisted three of the goals. Has been one of the most consistent performers all season and now has 18 goal contributions in all competitions.

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