Toolstation NCEL Premier Division
Hall Road Rangers 1-5 Athersley Rec
Lee Garside scored twice for Athersley in the 5-1 win at Hall Road Rangers. Picture: thesaturdayboy.co.uk
Defender Dan Vinten was in goal as Athersley Rec secured a superb victory at Hall Road Rangers in which Lee Garside and Aiden Salmons scored twice.
The visitors started the brighter of the two sides as the game kicked off and began to create some meaningful opportunities on goal. The Penguins took the lead in the 19th minute when Garside found space in the Hall Road penalty box and finished well after being picked out by a left wing cross.
It could have got even better for Athersley straight away but they saw a shot go just over the bar. Hall Road couldn’t find the final pass which would have led to them creating proper goalscoring chances.
The closest they came to scoring was when Tom Bennett saw his shot cannon back off the post. Athersley’s lead was doubled in the 38th minute by Salmons who tapped home after a couple of ricochets in the Hall Road box.
Athersley continued their dominance in the second half as they sustained their attacking prowess in front of goal. Garside saw his shot go just over the bar and all of the momentum was with the away side at this point. The Penguins found the all important third goal in the 69th minute when Dominic Riordan headed home from a corner. It very quickly turned into a rout as the visitors scored a fourth goal in the 76th minute with Salmons grabbing a brace.
There was to be some consolation for Rangers as Chris Spinks converted an 83rd minute penalty. However, The Penguins got a fifth and final goal in the 90th minute when Garside scored a spectacular long distance strike to claim his own brace.