Match of the Day: North East Wales League Division 1 – Saltney Town v Aston Park Rangers

North East Wales League Division 1

Saltney Town 2 (Jack Radford 30, Jay Wiles pen 64)
Aston Park Rangers 2 (Riley Edwards 23, Kallum Pierce pen 74)

Attendance: 65 (headcount)
Report: Shaun Best

A plucky performance by Aston Park Rangers secured a share of the points against Saltney Town at the Dragon Steel Stadium.  

Coming off the back of a 10-1 defeat at Rhostyllen a fortnight ago, Aston Park shuffled their pack and drafted in a number of players from their Reserve ranks. In contrast, Saltney came into the game in great form, having won their last three games in league and cup.

The game was a tale of two goalkeepers, as manager Daniel Sands took the gloves for the home side, while 17-year-old Marley Edwards was promoted to stand between the sticks for the visitors.

Edwards was called into action early when he instinctively threw his body on the line to prevent Jay Wiles netting from six yards out. Saltney’s Jack Radford then managed to get in between his markers to meet Daniel Clewley’s pinpoint cross, but sent his diving header over the bar.

Aston Park’s first glimpse at goal came when new signing Riley Edwards directed his own header over the bar. The defender was simply finding his range, as his next effort found the net. Rhys Jones sent a free kick towards the edge of the box and Edwards’s header caught everyone unaware, with the ball looping over a rooted Sands and into the net.

Saltney soon equalised when Radford latched onto a Clewley through ball to run clear and coolly loft the ball over an advancing Edwards. Aston Park captain Kallum Pierce carved out space to hit a shot on the turn from the edge of the box, but dragged his effort wide just before the break.

Mason Lowery thought he’d won the visitors a penalty moments after the restart. The winger looked to have been clipped by Sands after attempting to round the shot stopper, but the referee ruled play on. Undeterred, Lowery reacted quicker when the Saltney defence dithered in the box only to send a weak effort straight at Sands.

Marley Edwards displayed another glimpse of fearlessness when he charged down Wiles from a one-on-one position. However, a rash coming together between the goalkeeper and the Saltney attack gave the home side a rightful penalty.

Wiles stepped up and calmly put away the kick, sending Edwards the wrong way in the process. At the other end, Sands showed off his agility to dive low and get fingertips on the ball to prevent Riley Edwards from notching his second goal.

The visitors won their own penalty when Dylan Roberts pulled Pierce down in the box. Sands employed delay tactics when he stopped to re-tie his laces, but Pierce was unfazed and rolled the resulting spot kick into the net.

Saltney pressed forward trying to find a winner. Jay Norbury sent a header over the bar, before Edwards pulled off his third and most important point blank save of the afternoon in stoppage time, thwarting an exasperated Cyprian Kulasza from close range.

There was no man of the match champagne at the end, although Edwards certainly earned himself a shandy or two from his teammates.