Savage plays cameo role in Town triumph
ANOTHER brace for Aaron Dwyer helped Stockport Town claim three points over FC Oswestry Town in a game that also saw former Wales international Robbie Savage make his debut.
After the news that Savage, 45, was stepping back into football after eight years, there was always going to be increased scrutiny at Lambeth Grove.
The media were in full force with the BBC and Sky Sports among others in attendance. The gate, normally good on a Monday night for the Lions, at 225 was considerably higher than the average this season.
Despite the added attention, Adam Jones’ men knew they had a job to do. There is a real belief within the club that progress can be made this season; what better way to show your stuff than against the league leaders?
It had almost gone under the radar that Ben Halfacre, the club’s record goalscorer, was making his second debut for the club and that there were also debuts for Dahomey Raymond and Aaron Knight.
It was also only obvious to the hardcore Lions supporters that Kieron O’Connell, 20, was captaining the club for the first time; a huge honour for the player who had been at the club from the age of 16.
The Lions got off to a good start, retaining possession for three minutes before the away side got their first touch. From that moment though you could see why Oswestry were top of the league. Some fast intricate play and neat interchanges had caught the attention of the neutrals.
And it was on 12 minutes that the away side reaped the rewards, albeit fortunate when a speculative effort from captain Chris Craven caught a huge deflection and looped over Ollerenshaw and into the back of the Lions net.
It did not take long for the Lions to respond. Aaron Dwyer, quiet until that point, picked the ball up in the left hand channel, beat a couple of men before unleashing a rocket into the far top corner to bring the home side level.
Some good play ensued from both teams though goal scoring chances were seldom. Just as it looked like the teams would go in at half-time level, Halfacre showed his cunning and experience to intercept a back pass before laying it on to Dwyer who cut inside and fired home his second of the game and fourth in two games after returning to the club.
Into the second half and the Lions were looking sharp, with the forward players in particular looking a danger on the break.
On 49 minutes it seemed as though Dwyer had completed his hat-trick, placing the ball into the far corner. His team-mates reacted as if it was a goal, but the referee waved play on, deceived by the direction that the ball bounced back in to play. The NWCFL needs goal line technology!
It wasn’t long before it was 3-1. A brilliant run from Aaron Knight saw him feed Halfacre whose shot was deflected wide. From the resulting corner Halfacre’s header back across goal was slotted home by Jardel Depeiaza, 3-1.
The Lions continued to press with Depeiaza squandering a chance to get his second of the game, blazing over from 12 yards after some fantastic build up play involving Knight and Halfacre.
With the game heading towards full-time but Oswestry trying pressure, it was time for experience in the form of Robbie Savage to make an entrance, replacing Halfacre.
Yousuf Abdullah also made his debut from the bench joining Alex King who had earlier replaced the injured Tom Bane.
It wasn’t long before Savage was involved, playing a couple of direct passes that almost got
Abdullah through on goal, before typically getting stuck in to a midfield tussle.
But it was Oswestry who struck next, Liam Parry’s shot wickedly deflecting past Ollerenshaw, the Town keeper unfortunate again as the ball looped over him for a second time.
The Lions did have one more opportunity to wrap the game up, with both Dwyer and Abdullah amazingly denied by goal-line blocks. It was clear to see why Oswestry Town were top of the league with their desire to stay in the game.
Six minutes of added time ensued before the referee blew up for full-time. A second home win in a row and three wins out of four for Jones’ side.
A trip to Abbey Hulton on Saturday awaits for the Lions, now up to 11th in the table.