Lye Town V Hanley Town (Premier Division)

​Lye Town were looking to bounce back from a 2-1 loss at AFC Wolverhampton City in mid-week with a result against Hanley Town. The Flyers are rebuilding at step five under new manager Richard Ball who was appointed over the summer following relegation from the NPL (Division One Midlands) last season.

There’s been some eye-catching results such as the 2-1 win at 1874 Northwich and the 2-0 win at Coton Green to start the new season. They were sitting in midtable coming into yesterday’s match and were looking to cause an upset against Hanley Town.   

The visitors have built some momentum at step five in the opening month of the season under manager Scott Dundas. The Stoke side notably reached the first qualifying round of the FA cup before bowing out to Stourbridge last weekend and have been consistent in both the league and the FA Vase.  

They were coming into yesterday’s match unbeaten in the premier division with three wins from their opening four matches. They also had the joint best defensive record in the league with only two goals conceded so far.

It’s been an impressive start from Hanley who were relegated from the NPL (Division One West) last season, and they’ve bounced back well. The visitors bought along a notable away following for yesterday’s match and they got behind the team throughout.  

​Starting line ups

The starting line up for Lye included Matt Horton starting in goal and Martin Slevin captaining the team as part of a back three. The formation looked like a 3-5-2 with a front two of Luke Sidaway and Alfie Steward being supported by Matt Saunders in the number ten role.

There were two changes from their mid-week match against AFC Wolverhampton City with Joe Burroughs coming into the team and playing as part of a back three.

Hanley’s starting line up included Mike Shorthouse starting in goal and Joel Stair captaining the side at centre back. The formation looked like a 4-3-3 with Lewis Porter playing up front and being supported by Eden Bailey and Max Van Der Laan on the wings.

There were three changes from their mid-week match against Uttoxeter Town with Jake Twyford coming into the team and playing in attacking midfield alongside Jack Van Der Laan.  

​First Half

Hanley got off to a fast start in the opening stages of the first half and built some momentum in the opening half an hour. The visitors looked a threat going forward and came close to taking the lead on 11 minutes when a dangerous ball found Lewis Porter at the back post who headed wide.

​Lye gradually grew into the match as the first half went on and were well organised off the ball to limit the clear-cut chances. The Flyers were looking to catch the visitors out on the break and Alfie Steward was making some good runs into the final third.

The back three of Martin Slevin, Joe Borroughs and Sam Hall were reading the danger well for Lye and stepped up to the Hanley pressure to help the Flyers settle into the match.

The visitors were well organised off the ball with Tommy Van Der Laan impressing at centre back and helping to break up promising attacks. Josh Bowden also played well in holding midfield and did a good job of shielding the back four.

​Both sides were cancelling each other out before Hanley found the breakthrough on 34 minutes to make it 1-0.

A good ball down the right-hand side found Lewis Porter who headed the ball to Eden Bailey who produced a composed finish into the top left corner. Matt Horton came close to claiming the ball but couldn’t quite get to it with the second ball falling to the former 1874 Northwich striker who made no mistake to take the lead.     

The visitors had a notable chance to make it 2-0 a few minutes later when Jake Twyford played a brilliant through ball to Eden Bailey who made a good run into the final third before sending a shot wide of the left-hand post on 36 minutes.

Lye responded well to going a goal down and showed some character near the end of the first half.

They had a good chance for an equaliser when Alfie Steward broke free in the box. A dangerous ball was played into the back post, and he couldn’t quite get his header on target on 41 minutes.

The Flyers were making things happen up front with Matt Saunders making some promising runs to the bye line and cutting the ball back into the box.  

Luke Sidaway found some space for Lye before having a shot well saved by Mike Shorthouse in the 44th minute.

Hanley almost scored on the break a couple of minutes later when Eden Bailey made an instinctive run into the box before having a shot saved by Matt Horton.

Second Half

Hanley started the second half well and created another notable chance to make it 2-0 in the opening few minutes. Josh Bowden was through on goal before having a shot well saved by Matt Horton to keep the Flyers in the match on 46 minutes.

Lye committed more players forward throughout the second half in search of an equaliser and there were a few subtle tactical changes. Martin Slevin was moved into midfield with Danny Cartwright dropping into the back three.

They created a decent chance from a corner when Joe Burroughs was free at the front post before putting his header wide of the right-hand post on 50 minutes.

The visitors had some huge chances to seal the match in the early stages of the second half with Lewis Porter having a shot from the edge of the box hit the crossbar in the 54th minute.

None the less, Lye were still in it at 1-0 down going into the latter stages of the second half and built a sustained run of pressure on the Hanley goal in the final twenty minutes.

Lewis Porter was sin binned for ten minutes which reduced Hanley to ten men on 74 minutes. This allowed Lye the chance to build up the play more from midfield and work the ball down the channels to test the visitors.

Hanley were looking to soak up the pressure from Lye and catch them on the break with Eden Bailey a constant threat in the final third. He made another well-timed run off the shoulder before having a shot well saved by Matt Horton in the 78th minute.

Luke Sidaway helped to hold up the play for Lye and came close to finding an equaliser when he had a volley deflected for a corner on 83 minutes.

Eden Bailey looked a threat at the other end and cut inside from the right-hand side before having a shot saved by Matt Horton in the 85th minute.

The players coming off the bench also impressed for Lye in the closing stages of the second half with midfielder Boubacar Diallo helping to build up the play and make things happen in the final third.

Lye had a late chance for an equaliser in stoppage time when Luke Sidaway found some space before putting his header wide of the left-hand post.      

Hanley were able the see the game out for a huge win which continues their impressive start to the season. It’s now three clean sheets from their opening five matches in the league.    

Upcoming fixtures

Lye’s upcoming fixtures include playing Tividale (Home, Tuesday) and Winsford United (Away, Saturday) in the league before playing Allscott Heath at home in the FA Vase on the 20th of September.

The Flyers then have a run of league games against Highgate United (Home, Tuesday 23rd September) and Northwich Victoria (Away, Saturday 27th September).

Hanley’s upcoming matches include playing Winsford United (Away, Tuesday), Dudley Town (Home, Saturday) and Highgate United (Home, Tuesday 16th September).

The Stoke side then have a home match against Birmingham OJM in the FA Vase on the 20th of September before a run of league games against Brocton (Home, Tuesday 23rd September) and Tividale (Away, Saturday 27th September).  

FT score: Lye Town 0-1 Hanley Town

Man of the match: Eden Bailey (Hanley Town)

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League