First Win Of The Season For Saints

Willington bounced back from Wednesdays opening day defeat with a good win over Stobswood coming back from conceding an early goal to take their first 3 points of the season.

Captain Lee Crammond made a return to the starting XI as did last seasons top scorer Joe Connor and Lewis Lant who stepped in at centre half with Jay Brown and Cal Ancrum missing.

Stobswood got off to a dream start taking the lead after 2 minutes. A drilled in corner richoched off the face of the crossbar into the path of centre half Aaron Costello who made no mistake in burying the rebound to put the visitors ahead.

The Quay equalised two minutes later as the game started in a hurry. Right back Luke Taylor unlocking the Stobby defence with a curling right foot pass that Ryan Ferrier ran onto before heading past the on rushing keeper before slotting into an empty net with his right foot.

The Saints completed the turnaround just 9 minutes after going behind with another classic Joe Connor goal. After hesitation in the Welfare defence Connor pounced on the loose ball to dribble past a defender before smashing an unstoppable left foot strike into the top right hand corner for his 50th Saints league goal.

Stobswood rallied again and went so close to levelling when a cross came over from the right where Baker was unlucky to see his powerful header smash off the bar with the rebound quickly cleared by the Quay defence.

Ross Thirlaway replaced the Injured Brandon Williams and just before half time he set up Alex Foreman for a great chance that the In form forward flicked against the post with the keeper beaten.

Left back Stephen King making his 350th Saints appearance was forced off with a calf injury just after the break with Sean Conway coming back from the longest one match ban in football history coming on to replace him.

The Saints spent most of the second half on the attack but failed to take their chances with Foreman hitting the post again whilst Conway went through on goal before mis controlling as the keeper came flying out

With only a one goal advantage the game was still in the balance and Stobswood wasted two free kicks on the edge of the box first with an awful lay off and the 2nd hit straight into the wall.

Foreman finally got the goal he had deserved with 7 minutes remaining as the Saints sealed the win in a bizarre fashion.

With Stobswood on the attack down the left Hoody intercepted with the referee pointed to a corner for the visitors before changing his mind Luke Taylor cleared the ball miles in the air where the Stobby keeper and two of his defence got into a muddle leaving Alex to lob the ball left footed into an empty net to wrap up the 3 points.

Youngster Liam Malby came on to make his Quay debut late on replacing Fez.

A pleasing win after the opening day loss with a very solid team performance key to the win. Frustratingly no game next week due to Redheugh cup involvement.