Castlecroft Rangers F.C vs Bartley Reds FC
6 - 2
28 September 2019 · Birmingham & District Football League<br>Division Five
Home league match played on 28 September 2019.
Kicked off at 2:30 PM
6-2
vs Bartley Reds FC
Home league match
Castlecroft Rangers 6-2 Bartley Red
Castlecroft Rangers hit previously unbeaten Bartley Red for six to record three successive competitive victories as captain Blake Ansell scored another hat-trick and Mike Jones helped himself to a brace.
It was a comfortable home victory for the Crofters who never looked in danger and scored some brilliantly worked goals. Ashley Law replaced the absent Jordan Foster in an unfamiliar midfield role with Chris Collins reverting to right back, Nick Guise reverting to left back and Paul Dann to returning at centre half.
Following a dominant start, the hosts took a deserved lead as some slick play from Blake Ansell and Josh Gennard resulted in the latter feeding Luke Salter who calmly slotted home. Blake Ansell, who partnered with Mike Jones in attack, then assisted his striker partner as Jones accurately finished from off the post from an acute angle.
The Crofters effectively ended the game as a contest early in the second half with two quick fire goals. Chris Collins played an accurate ball forward to Josh Gennard who superbly played in Mike Jones to fire home once more. Mike Jones, who picked up the man of the match award, then turned provider as he unselfishly squared the ball for Blake Ansell who gave the opposing keeper no chance. Then, a long, hopeful ball forward from Nick Guise, which now appears to be his forte, fortunately found Blake Ansell. Having said that, with a lot to do, the in-form frontman skipped by the defender and the rest was a formality. Crofters’ boss, Max Woodhouse, made all three changes which did disjoint the hosts slightly and their hopes to earn a first clean sheet of the season were vanished with ten minutes remaining; the Bartley Red strikers drive finishing inside the near post. The five goal cushion was temporarily restored as Blake Ansell won the race to a hat-trick with a calm finish following seizing on a Bartley Red error. Remarkably, that’s Blake Ansell’s second hat-trick of the season already. There was time for another Bartley Red consolation as a well-executed free kick was the last action of an entertaining encounter.
The Crofters’ turn their attention to County Cup action the weekend as they travel to Staffordshire Victoria.