Two goals in the opening ten minutes set Rec off to a comfortable 4-0 victory against Shelley in the NCEL Division One on Friday evening.
Sam Thompson took five minutes on debut to open the scoring,
quickly followed by Charlie Auty’s header. Auty was to again favour from a
corner delivery in the second-half before Nathan Perks completed the scoring from
close-range.
Thompson was joined by Finley Durkin as debutants starting at Sheerien Park, James Byford’s return from injury the only other change from
Selby last Saturday.
Thompson’s opener was finished at the far post, on the end
of a low cross from the opposite flank. The winger was clear of the visitors’
back line to reach the drilled cross from the left, his first effort parried
straight back at him for a repeat effort which he finished.
Another delivery, this time a set-piece, resulted in the
second. Charlie Auty was well-positioned towards the back post to be able to
head in.
With fifteen passed, Shelley’s threat so far coming out wide had
been dealt with inside Rec’s box, led by the returning Byford and his presence aerially.
Connor Bell tried from a tight angle from the visitors’ right,
blocked by Pickard’s right boot and knocked into the box from where the
follow-up needed tipping over. The resulting delivery on this occasion overhit.
Jak Kelly, attacking a similar area, hit his shot straight into
Pickard’s side-netting.
Durkin was already on the move before Woodhouse had set him
free with an overhit ball for the new signing to chase down the left. On getting
there first, he could find Jimmy Purcell infield who’s route to goal was
blocked.
The next play travelled via Nathan Perks, who laid the ball off
with his chest, en route to Durkin in close proximity to his right. Durkin was now intent on moving infield with play
already closing in on the visitors’ box. He’s fouled as he ran across the edge,
Joseph Booth booked as a result with eight minutes remaining of the half.
That was shortly followed by Jak Kelly’s yellow for a late
challenge on Purcell in the middle of the hosts’ half as Rec looked to
transition.
Seconds before the half-time whistle, James Bootland was free
in a familiar position for Shelley, the right-hand channel of Rec’s box, only
able to shoot wide.
Auty had chance of a second from a similar scenario as the
first just a few minutes after the restart, this time going with the volley back
across goal but the ball ending over the bar.
Thompson too was denied another by only the slightest of
touches off a defending head to alter the trajectory of the forward's effort initially dropping
inside the post, deflected up and over the bar.
Auty made no mistake on his next opportunity, a carbon copy
of the earlier missed effort. Using his side-foot, it was a secured finish into
the centre of goal with Paul Day given little chance given the power and distance
of the shot.
Alfie Bakes’s cross moments later from the right looked to have originated
from too tight an angle to then force Paul Day to tip behind.
Perks was the worthy target of a following cross from the
same side to complete the scoring. It’s a case of touch and finish, his first appearing
to control with the outside of his boot to set-up the immediate shot with the laces which
gave the ‘keeper no chance from such short distance.
Durkin went close to opening his account when he reached Josh Berry’s low cross from the left but the first-time effort was hit straight at Day who had closed the gap between himself and the striker.
Despite a late slight scare to Pickard’s clean-sheet at the right-hand post before the ‘keeper collected, that was all before the full-time whistle.
Barnsley U21s visit Sheerien Park on Wednesday, moved from Tuesday, in the Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup Second Round.
