Alveston underlined their true football credentials with an emphatic 7-1 home victory against Whitley Juniors. The match begun in predictable fashion with both teams competing strongly for possession but it was Alveston who could have taken an early lead when Roshen Foley's fierce strike from an Alan Mackinnon cross was parried by the keeper. From a defensive perspective Alveston looked assured. Dan Malone and Jordan Pace were successful with a number of strong tackles that prevented Whitley making any progress down the flanks and once again Jake Greaves put in a commanding performance in the middle, winning decisive headers at will.
Despite this pleasing solidity Whitley could have gone ahead had it not been for the alertness of Goalkeeper Isaac Downes who was quick off his line to dive bravely at the forward's feet and deny a clear shooting chance. But in the 1st half exchanges this was all Whitley really had to offer and the Alveston attacking line sensing this pressed forward. First Billy Dingley was unlucky not to score after running direct at the defensive line only to see his firm shot well saved and number of half chances created from the right hand side by the weaving runs of Jamie Stephens came to nothing. However it was third time lucky for Stephens as he managed to evade tackle after tackle to cross and Foley gladly smashed home.
Surprisingly Alveston surrendered this lead almost immediately when a defensive mix gifted the ball to the Whitley centre forward who took his chance well. It was to Alveston's credit though that they bounced back from this merely seconds later. Stephens again displaying some deftly control was able to make a penetrating run down the right and when his near post shot was spilled onto the post by the keeper, Alex Connor was keenly on hand to score from the follow up. Very shortly after this Whitley seemed to lose all organisation. Mattie Ricketts found more room than ever and was unlucky not to score on two occasions when his shots narrowly missed. But this was of no matter .When Mackinnon as able to gain possession and gain a corner , Stephens was on hand to drive high into the net to take the score to 3-1. The game was effectively over when Connor made it 4-1 after he was able to profit from the endeavours of Stephens and Foley in the box and drove hard and low past the keeper and when Josh Humphries stepped up to take a free kick that evaded the defensive wall and hit the net before the keeper had chance to move it seemed the game would offer more goals in the 2nd half.
In the 2nd half. Whitley to their own credit tried to take the game to Alveston and there were a number of goalmouth scrambles to underlined that this game was not as easy as the score line suggested .But Alveston stuck firmly to their task and on a number of occasions Mackinnon, Dingley and Humphries were able to break free down the right only to see their crosses keenly intercepted. A very industrious Harry Spencer was thwarted every time he made space for himself in the penalty box and debutant Joe Vose was also unlucky that the ball didn't fall kindlier for him on the left hand side when he made his runs into the box. When the Whitley keeper was able to dramatically save from an incoming Rickett's from 6 yards it seemed the scoreline would stay 5-1. However in the last 5 mins Alveston were able to add two more goals to their tally when Stephens was able to scoop the ball over the keeper from 8 yards for a richly deserved 2nd. In the last minute of the game the Whitley defender turned the ball into his own net from a Rickett's corner. At 7-1 the game was complete and a deserved victory recorded.
