Stobswood Welfare...2 Forest Hall...0 STOBSWOOD played host to Forest Hall on Saturday in a hard-fought, close encounter.
The home side started the brighter and created the best of the early chances, the first one being when
Steve Gibbard broke the away team's off-side trap and fired just wide from a narrow angle.
Another chance went begging when good work down the left opened up the visitors' defence only for Paul Smith and Josh Hay's efforts to be blocked by defenders.
The visitors were being restricted to long, hopeful balls which were being easily dealt with by the impressive partnership of King and Baker.
The deadlock was finally broken on the half-hour when Matty Graham found himself spare on the edge of the box and he drilled his shot low into the bottom corner, giving the visitors goalkeeper no chance.
The lead was soon doubled when again Matty Graham went on a solo run and with a kind rebound off a Forest Hall player, found himself in the clear where he unleashed an unstoppable shot to give the home team a 2-0 advantage at half-time.
The second half was a tight affair with the visitors having the best of it. They put Stobswood under a lot of pressure, creating numerous chances. Once they had negotiated the home defence, they could not get past Nev Patterson, who pulled off three outstanding saves during the second period.
Despite being under pressure, the home side were dangerous on the counter-attack and should have extended their lead at least six times when on each occasion they were left one-on-one with the visitors' keeper but failed to convert.
The plus point for the home team is the emergence of some of the young players, namely James Davison, Robert Baker, Paul Smith and the outstanding Matty Graham. This ended up being a great result for the home team against a side who will give every team in this league problems.
Stobswood from: Patterson, Hope, King, Baker, Sinclair, Cooper, M Graham, Nisbett, P Smith, C Graham, Gibbard, Hay, D Farrell, Davison, Hogg.
Match sponsor: Lionheart Cleaning Services (Amble).
Next game is away to Cowgate in the Pin Point Minor Cup, kick-off 1.30pm.
Swalwell...0 Stobswood Welf...6STOBSWOOD travelled to fellow second Division Two Swalwell in round two of the Kicks Challenge Cup last week and came away with a comfortable win.
Early stages of the game were even and the home side came closest to scoring when they rattled the visitors' crossbar midway through the first half.
However, as the half progressed, the visitors started to take control of the game and finally took the lead when Steve Gibbard outpaced the home defence and calmly finished past the advancing keeper.
This settled Stobswood down and they started to play with more confidence. Their lead was soon doubled when Paul Smith split the home defence with a pin-point pass for Josh Hay to score. Half-time: 0-2
The second half belonged to the visitors with their passing game stretching Swalwell and this in turn created numerous chances for Stobswood.
Gibbard again outpaced the home defence to provide Hay with his second before Paul Smith got on the score sheet to make it four. Hay then completed a well deserved hat-trick before giving way to James Davison. The 16-year-old soon made an impact on his debut with the home defence struggling with his raw power. He, too, was rewarded with a goal.
This was a comfortable win from which the visitors can take a lot of confidence. Stobswood will now be looking for a home draw in the last 16 of the competition.
Stobswood from: Patterson, Hope, M Smith, King, Tweddle, M Graham, Nisbett, P Smith, Hay, Gibbard, C Graham, Sinclair, Palmer, Davison, Farrell, Cairns.
Stobswood sponsors: Lionheart Cleaning Services (Amble).
