Goals Galore at Knightsbridge as AFC Mackworth put their name in the Hat
AFC Mackworth progressed to the next round of the Bob Ellerington Memorial Trophy with a dominant 18-0 victory against Raynesway Spartans.
The victory marks the second dominant win in a row for the Seniors after their 18-0 win against Sawley Wanderers just two weeks ago.
AFC Mackworth started the game with heavy offense as Owen Slater made it 1-0 after just four minutes, lobbing the goalkeeper before a deflection steered the ball into the net.
Just three minutes later, Lewis Wilson and Clark Belmore linked up nicely for a 1-2 which set Wilson free in the box; however his shot was directly at the Raynesway keeper who safely made the save.
Mackworth continued their heavy attack with Kurt Dallison crossing the ball from the right and finding Ryan Meynell, however he was unfortunately flagged offside before he put the ball in the net.
However, Mackworth would find their second goal soon after as in the 10th minute,
Slater rose to nod in a corner whipped in from Belmore, making it 2-0 and grabbing his second.
Just 3 minutes later, Bailey Wagg played a fast ball forward to Slater who fizzed the ball across the face of the goal and found Lewis Wilson, who slotted the ball into an empty net, making it 3-0 after just 13 minutes.
Raynesway couldn’t get the ball out their own half, as Mackworth continued their heavy press, with Wagg scooping a ball from the left towards Wilson who found an open Meynell. A clever shot lobbed over the goalkeeper, however a last gasp clearance from a defender prevented a fourth goal.
A fourth goal would come for Mackworth in the 22nd minute, as Bailey Wagg launched a deep cross into the box towards the goalkeeper, who mishandled the cross, allowing the ball to trickle over the line.
Ryan Meynell would grab his first goal of the game 23 minutes in, putting Mackworth 5-0 up.
Raynesway Spartans finally got their first chance of the game as they broke free down
the right wing, however their shot flew over the bar.
AFC Mackworth would get back to their dominant attack in the 28th minute as Wilson was left unmarked in the box to slot in a low shot past the goalkeeper, however the
offside flag ruled him out.
Wilson would grab his second goal just 8 minutes later as he received a fast pass from
Meynell before firing a shot past the goalkeeper into the bottom right corner, capping off a phenomenal first half display for Mackworth.
The break saw Dan Willis make his first substitution of the game with Jack Ashby making way for Sean Ryan.
AFC Mackworth didn’t let up for their opposition, netting a seventh goal in the 52nd
minute as Tyrel Francis collected the ball in the middle of the pitch, carrying it forward before unleashing a screamer into the top right corner from outside the box.
Just 3 minutes later, another quality goal was scored as Lewis Wilson received a
short corner before curling a shot into the top left corner from the corner of the box.
A ninth goal was added when Slater whipped in a ball towards the near post, which was met with a header from Sean Ryan, who fired it past the struggling goalkeeper.
Mackworth hit double digits as they added another goal a minute later. Raynesway
Spartans failed to successfully clear the ball after Owen Slater failed to control a ball
over the top of the defence, allowing Kurt Dallison to add to the scoresheet.
Dan Willis then looked to his bench for the second time in the game with Joyway Argot making his way onto the pitch to replace Lewis Wilson.
The Senior's press didn't let off, which allowed Ryan Meynell to grab his second of the game when he was left alone on the edge of the box and then fired a shot into the top-right corner.
Tyrel Francis grabbed his second of the game a few minutes later. He and Bailey Wagg linked up in a classy 1-2 from a short corner, which eventually saw Francis free on the left side of the box as he slotted the ball past the goalkeeper.
In an unexpected turn of events, manager Daniel Willis subbed himself onto the pitch for Ryan Meynell on the 65th minute.
An eventful couple of minutes saw the Seniors score two more goals in quick succession with manager Dan Willis picking himself up an assist after Kurt Dallison netted on the 73rd minute.
The manager then found himself in some space on the edge of the box, taking a touch and beautifully curling one towards the top-corner before it smashed into the woodwork.
Kurt Dallison grabbed his hat-trick in the 79th minute when a deflected cross fell to him in the six-yard box, allowing for an easy goal to complete the hat-trick.
AFC Mackworth then subbed on 2 players in quick succession, bringing back on Ryan
Meynell for Owen Slater and Lewis Wilson for Connor Marshall in the 80th minute.
The last ten minutes saw the Seniors score three more goals with Lewis Wilson picking up a fourth and fifth and Tyrel Francis sealing his hat-trick to top of a pitch-perfect performance from the team.
The Seniors return to league action next weekend away against top of the league Stockbrook United and will be hoping to continue their amazing form.
Match report by Jack Chambler.