3rds sink Aldridge and Walsall with 7
Posted by Aidan Dowen on 15 January 2019
The first league game of 2019 saw West Brom play home turf rivals, Aldridge & Walsall. The two sides had yet to meet this season and the Stags were firm favourites against the team who are second from bottom in the league.
The ‘visitors’ took the lead early on through Mark Jones. The West Brom winger tucked the ball away neatly at the back post, after a cross by Jack Reeves.
Despite dominating play and pressing high up the pitch, West Brom were unable to add to their lead until late in the first half.
Chris Gatheridge doubled the lead, when he carried the ball forward from midfield, taking his goal well. Shabbar Butt then closed the first half scoring with a strong strike from the top of the D, after a well worked build-up. West Brom went into the break 0-3 up, but never really stepped out of first gear. The Stags looked comfortable at this stage, having seen out the opening 35 minutes without having to deal with a shot on goal.
The second half continued in the same fashion. West Brom dominated the game at a casual pace. Whatever possession Aldridge & Walsall had, was dealt with comfortably by the West Brom defenders.
Jones then added his second of the game with an acrobatic finish, leaping forward to tap the ball in at close range.
The score remained 0-4 until the last 15 minutes of the game, when Neil Fellows threw an aerial ball forward, splitting the defence. Jack Reeves took the ball down well and ran at the defence, creating a 2-on-2 situation. Reeves slipped the pass through to Pete Icke, who instinctively finished to make the score 0-5.
The floodgates has well and truly opened and the Stags rounded off the afternoon with a short corner goal by Kuldip Randhawa and a skilful reverse strike by Jack Reeves.
0-7 A comfortable result against a considerably weaker side. Other than a couple of short corner routines, Aldridge & Walsall didn’t threaten the West Brom Goal all game. In hindsight the score could have been double figures if the visitors had been more clinical in front of goal.
Man of the match - Mark Jones, played well and contributed to the result with a brace from the left wing, including his acrobatic attempt for the 2nd goal.
