Moston Brook AFC

First game of the season and the seconds travelled to Spurley Hey, hoping to get off to a flying start. Although all three teams were depleted, the seconds were still able to travel with a strong squad of 12. The first twenty minutes of the game was reasonably scrappy, with our hosts probably having the better of it. We did manage to take the lead though, last seasons leading scorer Mark Terris getting off the mark for the season, with a good finish in the inside left channel. Spurley Hey were getting some joy from some direct football and equalised almost straight away, with a fine strike from outside the box. Stand-in goalkeeper Danny Jackson was seemingly lacking grip on his goalkeeping gloves, and after several earlier attempts gifted our hosts the lead, parrying out a long range effort straight to their on rushing forward. This seemed to only spur Moston on and what followed for the remainder of the game, was some of the best football, the seconds have produced in a long time. However we did take out time to equalise, with Veyro, Terris, Worsley and Monyei missing a host of chances between them. Eventually we did equalise though, Veyro cutting through the middle of Spurley Hey’s defence, rouding the goalkeeper and finishing. As the half grew to a close, we were continuing to create chances and we felt it was only a matter of time before the floodgates opened. 

Those floodgates did open in spectacular style in the second half as we finally made our superiority pay. Monyei scoring two almost identical goals at the back post from all of two yards after good work, first by Terris and then Veyro. Veyro then cracked in a fine volley from the edge of the box for his second after a fine move. Veyro was heavily involved in most of what was good for Moston and after another fine run, embarrassing about three Spurley Hey defenders in the process he picked out Terris, who hammered in the sixth.  As our opponents heads began to drop further we were ruthlessly able to take advantage. Mike McElveney getting on the act, firstly firing into the roof of the net after a corner and then drilling his second,  low into the corner from the inside right channel. Veyro then completed his hat-trick, beating the Spurley Hey offside trap, again rounding the goalkeeper and finishing. Joe then decided on a change of tactic, going three at the back and pushing Ryan Henry onto the left wing. This worked soon after, as Ryan went through down the inside left channel and finished well. 

An excellent result and performance from the seconds and things are looking promising for a serious attempt at the league. It is fair to say that all twelve players involved had good games but it was probably in midfield where the game was won. Veryro was instrumental in most of Moston’s attacking moves and it was anchored expertly by Norman. So we get off the mark, with an excellent win and while we will face stronger opponents this season, more performances like this will see us as real contenders. A good start was vital, as it was probably our poor start last season that counted against us in the final shake-up last season.