Athersley recovered from a two-goal deficit to lead 4-2 come
full-time at Sheerien Park on Saturday afternoon, Louth Town the visitors.
With Six goals, a red-card and forward converted into ‘keeper
packed into the NCEL Division One tie, the action kicked-off four minutes in
following a mistake from Athersley which put Louth’s Bailey Wright one-on-one
to open the score.
The visitors doubled the lead from the spot, minutes before
half-time through Alfie Usher.
Nathan Perks’ introduction at half-time led to him being
involved in the build-up to Athersley’s initial reaction, Laliousis finishing
followed by Perks levelling from the spot.
The inductee’s header then completed the turnaround before
Tingle too headed in to ensure a more comfortable final ten minutes.
Athersley made their own job tougher inside four minutes
when Luke Moorhouse’s back pass was short, visiting Bailey Wright getting his toe to the
ball before Pickard can reach, poking past the ‘keeper.
All but the scoreline appeared to go to plan for Athersley
in the opening 42 minutes, dominating the ball inside Louth’s half. James
Woodhouse in-behind, on the right was a suitable alternative with Enzo Guarini
beginning to find further space as the half went on.
Guarini created his own opening down the opposite side,
infield onto his right foot before being forced out, albeit with a touch from
the defender, down the left-hand channel of the box. The resulting corner on thirteen
minutes was cleared to Luke Micklethwaite, 25-yards out, who’s second-touch
saw the ball over.
Set-pieces kept threatening, Woodhouse found in familiar
territory, inside the right-hand channel of the box with a clipped ball over the
defending crowd, the forward hitting a half-volley across the face of Alexander
Lait’s goal with no one on the end.
Ellis Pickard had a massive hand in nullifying the next
Louth breakaway, Perry first to the dropping ball to set himself clear behind the
host’s defence, aiming past Pickard’s right but a strong hand pushed the ball
away, albeit to a support striker who’s follow-up was blocked.
The wingers combined, Guarini’s right-footed in-swinger to
the far post headed back across goal by Woodhouse. The latter re-received
possession, set back by Carter Tingle for a first-time placed effort, blocked
by one of several bodies inside the box.
Pickard’s bravery to head clear on the half-hour mark, having
drifted outside his box says much about Louth’s threat in the opening
fourty-five minutes, looking behind Athersley.
Directness is always an option with a first-touch like
Woodhouse showed on fourty-two minutes, using the outside of his boot to push
the ball away from the retreating defender and in space between himself and Lait,
the ‘keeper winning the duel by blocking.
A minute later, Louth’s next breakaway resulted in a penalty
after the visitors’ Bailey Wright was fouled. Alfie Usher converted to double
the lead into the break.
Perks’ first responsibility since his introduction at
half-time was a chance from a free-kick close to the edge of the box. In searching for the far top corner, it had to be tipped behind by Lait.
Within the next two second-half minutes, Athersley were level. The
deficit was halved during the following corner. A header from the far post was matched
by Lait’s palm but Laliousis was well-positioned underneath the ball’s
trajectory to volley in from on top of the goalline.
Lait’s catch on fifty-eight minutes was followed by him lashing out at one of the attacking Athersley men having not yet left his box. The
penalty was compounded by Lait’s dismissal with forward Daniel Trott left to
face Perks’ spot kick. One which he placed past Trott’s left.
Louth proved they could still commit numbers forward in search to restore their lead despite
having ten men, running onto a through ball between the Rec’s centre-halves but
being beaten to the ball by Pickard.
Another late run from Perry at the back post led to a shot
across goal, always going wide but blocked by Athersley regardless.
Dunne was next down the side of the hosts’ central defenders
and too drags his shot wide of Pickard’s goal.
The first test for Trott in open play was an awkward reach for a cross from Rec’s
left, until he smothered the ball with both the ball and man grounded on the
edge of the box.
Athersley’s own Bailey Wright cut inside onto his right foot
to shoot but Trott disguised himself well in the bright pink ‘keeper jersey,
pushing wide.
He or his predecessor would have stood no chance had Tingle’s
shot been on target when he looked for the far top corner.
The comeback was complete on seventy-seven minutes, Perks’
second after two attempts. He controlled a cross from his left, shielding the
ball with his back to goal but was allowed to turn, his initial shot parried into
the air from which Perks managed to head in the rebound.
Tingle completed the score when he too headed in. He met the ball at the back post following a corner from the right for Athersley’s fourth.
There was time for Pickard to be tested in four minutes added-time when a powerful header was destined to fly underneath the bar till the 'keeper reached over the top of his defender to catch and secure the two-goal lead at the full-time whistle.
Two games in three days next week begins at Maltby Main's Muglet Lane on Wednesday.
