Bill Martin’s Match of the Week Under-12- County Cup Round 2 Morton Manor 8 Stanwix 2

Last updated at 11:41, Wednesday, 21 October 2009

Morton Manor 8 Stanwix 2: Morton Manor won through to the third round of the County Cup with a brilliant team performance that enabled them to completely overwhelm their Stanwix opponents on the Richard Rose playing fields.

Morton Manor’s Harry Davidson scores past Stanwix keeper Ryan Lord

Morton got off to the best possible start scoring two early goals before the Stanwix players got settled in and by half-time they had an unassailable four-nil lead.

The Stanwix players tried their utmost and scored two goals themselves, after the interval, but Morton added a further four to their first half total to finish 8-2 winners.

Morton Manor attacked from the first whistle and they got off to a flying start when a Matty Storey forward pass found Ben Davidson in the inside right channel.

The striker first shook off a challenge from Struan Kyle before unleashing a powerful right foot shot which had Ryan Lord, in the Stanwix goal, diving full-length to his right to save.

The ball then ran loose to Harry Davidson who had the simplest of tasks to put the ball into the empty net unchallenged.

There was no let up from Morton and Ben Davidson again caused the Stanwix defenders problems when he latched onto a clearance from Ryan Bromley to go round the advancing Lord.

Davidson looked odds on to score but Jake Johnston made a brilliant last ditch tackle to divert the ball clear. Unfortunately for Stanwix the loose ball was seized upon by Storey who simply rifled it into the back of the net.

Morton were still looking for more goals but Kyle made a timely tackle on Ben Davidson to temporarily halt their progress.

The game was still a mere eight minutes old when Morton scored their third goal following a corner from Ellis Pearson which was only half cleared.

The ball eventually arrived at the feet of Jack Senior and he made no mistake with a well struck shot from ten yards.

The Stanwix defenders did their utmost to deny the Morton attackers adding to their three goals and Lord made a good save from Ben Davidson at the expense of a corner.

The keeper again saved from Josh Irving before Kyle got in a block tackle to keep out Harry Davidson.

Stanwix began to find their feet at last and in the sixteenth minute Marc Gallimore found Josh Morley in a good position but Morton goalkeeper, Ryan Mounsey, was equal to the shot and he made a comfortable save.

Stanwix were now in the ascendency and the industrious Gallimore was unlucky to see his right foot shot strike the wrong side of the post before going for a goal kick.

Stanwix then forced a corner which resulted in Morley getting in a header from Gallimore’s delivery but again Mounsey made the save.

It was tough on Stanwix that they should concede yet again but there was little Lord could do when Ben Davidson cut in from the right to find the far top corner of the net with a brilliant left foot angled drive.

After the interval Stanwix were first to attack but James Telford shot wide when the ball was crossed to him by Ben Hetherington.

Ryan Scott then crossed from the right but Gallimore failed to control the ball and it ran for a goal kick.

The game was ten minutes into the second half when Morton scored their fifth goal.

Bromley played a long ball to Ben Davidson on the right flank and the striker went on to beat Kyle before scoring a great goal from an acute angle.

Stanwix persevered and were rewarded in the forty sixth minute with a goal from Morley.

The move was started by Ben Hetherington and James Varah but Morley still had plenty to do, when he received the ball on the left, but he just kept going to round two men before beating Mounsey from a difficult angle.

Morton always looked likely to score and Harry Davidson grabbed his second and third in a matter of minutes, by being Johnny on the spot, to finish things off from close range after Lord had made saves to prevent Ben Davidson from scoring.

On both occasions the ball ran loose and the ever alert Harry Davidson was ready and willing to add the finishing touches.

In between setting up the two goals Ben Davidson had come close to notching his hat-trick with a shot that hit the post.

With five minutes remaining Morton Manor scored their eighth and final goal when Harry Davidson beat Lord to a long ball from Pearson and with the keeper well out of his area Davidson proceded to find the empty net from twenty five yards out for his fourth and final goal.

Stanwix gained a late consolation when they chased a long punt forward which Mounsey somehow managed to kick into his own net.

Pearson was unlucky with a late effort that missed by a whisker when he tried his luck from long range following a run that took him past two opponents.

Morton Manor were worthy winners and on this form they will go far in the competition.

Morton Manor: Ryan Mounsey, James Nixon, Liam Nugent, Ryan Bromley, Kyle Stewart, Matty Storey, Jack Senior, Josh Irving, Ben Davidson, Ellis Pearson and Harry Davidson. Subs: Cameron Keale, Dean Telfer, Adam Pattinson and Joe Robson

Stanwix: Ryan Lord, James Hetherington, Matthew Davison, Struan Kyle, Ben Hetherington, Marc Gallimore, Jake Johnston, Ryan Scott, James Telford, Josh Morley and Tom Foster. Subs: James Varah and Samuel Minns

Referee: Brian Dent

Man of the Match: Ben Davidson, striker, Morton Manor: Ben was absolutely brilliant in everything he did. His pace, ball control and ability to beat opponents made it virtually impossible to stop him. He was able to shoot from any angle which resulted in him scoring two great goals, hitting the post and assisting in three of Harry Davidson’s four goals.

First published at 11:36, Wednesday, 21 October 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk