Two goals from Tom Hassell saw Alsager Town claim their first win (a 2-1 victory) of pre-season 2023 as they welcome Midlands Football League new boys Congleton Town to Wood Park.
The Bullets sit a level below the Bears in the non-league system but, you wouldn’t have known it as they dominated the first half with both Hassell and Jack Woolley, brother of Kidsgrove’s new signing Joe Woolley, going close with long-range efforts hoping to catch Dave Parton out. However, they were unable to do so with their chances flying just over the crossbar.
It didn’t matter mind you for the hosts as they took the lead just before the half-time whistle when a well-worked set piece routine found Hassell at the back post who leapt like a salmon to head the ball past Parton.
At half-time Bears manager Richard Duffy brought on the Congleton cavalry with Dan Needham, Jonathon Beaumont, Marco Fregapane and Ethan Hartshorn all entering the fray and, later on Tom Pope was introduced.
Fregapane had the first chance of the second half as he went on a lung-busting run from his right back position before curling a shot just wide of Martin Brain’s far post. Even though it’s pre-season it would have been a contender for the Goal of the Season award.
If the first half belonged to Alsager then the second half certainly belonged to Congleton as they continued to push forward for an equaliser which finally came with 20 minutes to go. A corner kick was missed by Brain and, the ball bounced around the area before it fell to Hartshorn who stabbed the ball past the defender on the line to bring the Bears level.
After that, either team could have won the match with Congleton’s Aaron Johns going close when he burst into the area, but Brain was quickly off his line to smother the effort. While at the other end of the pitch, Alsager captain Sam Latham was to hit a chance well over the crossbar.
However, the hosts were to win the match with 10 minutes to go when a lovely counterattacking move saw Luke Draysey play in a perfectly weighted cross to Hassell who made no mistake as he slotted the ball past Parton to restore Alsager’s lead.
After the match, I caught up with Alsager Town co-manager Dean Jones to get his thoughts on the game.
I also spoke with Congleton’s Richard Duffy about the game.
Elsewhere, Hanley Town started pre-season with a 4-0 win away at Eccleshall FC.
Charlie Walford and Jake Twyford gave the visitors a two-goal lead at the break before Kieran Brown grabbed himself a brace in the second half to seal the victory for Ryan Shotton’s men.
Leek CSOB also got their pre-season underway on Saturday with a 4-3 defeat against Abbey Hulton United.
