Elliot Reaches Half Century As Reds Win

A fantastic opener from Matty Brown and two goals from Elliot Taylor, including his 50th for the Club, ensured a convincing win for The Non-League Reds, as they extended their unbeaten run to nine games.

The visitors kicked off and went close in the opening minute, when Welsh curled a right-footed effort a yard over the bar. It was the same player who caused problems again on 7 minutes, when his cross was met by a teammate and Ben Barnes had to push the ball behind for a corner.

Elliot Taylor was very unlucky with a couple of offside decisions that went against him, as AFC began to get on top. On 12 minutes, Paddy Davies played a pass to Taylor who hit his effort straight at the keeper from the edge of the box. Taylor was denied by a great last ditch tackle five minutes later.

Matty Brown hit a volley over the bar from the edge of the area, when the ball came back in from an originally cleared corner. Abbey Hey continued to play across the backline but AFC were pressing well. It was Matty Brown who anticipated a pass in to the strikers feet, intercepted and knocked the ball to Taylor on the halfway line. He took a touch and then played it back to Brown, who had continued his run and was suddenly one on one with the keeper. He kept his composure excellently well and finished to give his side a 25th minute lead.

Matty Brown scores a great opener

AFC should have been two ahead a few minutes later when Adam Moorcroft was incorrectly flagged offside when setting up Taylor to finish. Just before the break Cameron Rooney had a shot that was comfortably saved by the visitor's keeper and the Reds went into the interval with a one goal advantage.

The weather conditions got worse at the start of the 2nd half and it was Abbey Hey who had the wind at their backs. In the 48th minute, Ben Barnes had to push an effort behind for a corner. Barnes then had to save with his feet from a Crawford effort, as the visitors pressed for an equaliser.

Rooney headed over for AFC but it was Abbey Hey that were enjoying their best spell of pressure. Caleb Jones returning to the AFC squad, came on in the 61st minute and made an immediate impact. Rooney won possession in midfield and played the ball out to the right for Jones. He crossed with his first touch of the night and Elliot Taylor headed home for his 50th goal in AFC colours.

Elliot heads home to get his 50th goal for AFC

Caleb almost extended the lead a few moments later, when Beard in the Abbey Hey goal did well to tip his shot onto the bar. Then Taylor headed straight at the keeper, when he seemed certain to score. The home side didn't have it all their own way though, with Barnes having to tip over the bar from a decent effort. Caleb Jones went close again on 68 minutes.

The visitors had their best chance in the 80th minute, when the ball fell to Yoak from a corner but he blasted over from inside the 6 yard box. Barnes saved another shot from distance, as the game drifted in to the final five minutes. As the clock ticked over to 90, Matty Brown won possession and found Caleb Jones, who knocked it to substitute David Blankendal. He played a first time pass superbly to Taylor, who fired into the roof of the net from 20 yards, to put the game beyond doubt.

A fine performance in difficult conditions, as The Non-League Reds continue to turn their form around and move up the table. Next up is a tough test, when Wythenshawe come to visit the Berry Street Garage Stadium on Wednesday evening. Kick-off is 7:45pm, so get down to support the lads, for a game that's guaranteed goals and lots of excitement!

FINAL SCORE - AFC Liverpool 3 v 0 Abbey HeyCheadle Town

LINE-UP - 1. Barnes 2. Smalley 3. Fisher-Jones 4. Moorcroft (c) 5. Brown 6. Hinnigan

7. Rooney 8. Starkey 9. Taylor 10. Davies 11. Madden

Subs used - C. Jones, Mahaffy, Blankendal, A. McShane

Photos courtesy of Dave Williams