Halfacre penalty seals crucial three points for Abbey
A late penalty from Ben Halfacre secured Abbey Hey a crucial three points in a 2-1 win over Abbey Hulton United.
Things nearly started very well for the home side one minute into the tie, Dylan Fitzgerald’s left-footed strike from the right hand side forced Abbey Hulton goalkeeper Dominic Kurasik into a fine finger-tip save.
The away side went close shortly after to breaking the deadlock, Angelo Errico’s curling effort was superbly tipped over the bar by Morecambe loanee Joe Lawton.
The home side took the lead just after the half-hour mark through on-loan midfielder Jake Parker, who drilled a low effort across the face of goal and into the back of the net with a delfection off the post for his sixth goal in six games.
Daniel Cope looked to respond for the Staffordshire side just before half-time, yet his header went just wide of Lawton’s left hand post, as the striker could not capitalise from close-range.
Going into the second half, Abbey Hey nearly doubled their lead through Jordan Lazenbury, as his left footed shot clipped the outside of the post from close-range.
Against the run of play however, Abbey Hulton went on to equalise in the 77th minute, through Errico, who was able to meet a cross in the box and fire past Lawton into the back of the Abbey Hey net.
Abbey Hey re-took the lead though with ten minutes to go from the penalty spot after Lazenbury was fouled in the area. Halfacre stepped up to smash the ball home into the roof of the net for his 26th goal of the season.
Attentions now turn for Abbey Hey turn to their final home league game of the season where they will welcome Ellesmere Rangers to the Abbey Stadium next Saturday (3pm kick-off).
Abbey Hey: Lawton (GK), Graham, Fleming ©, Grimshaw, Hamzat, Parker, Murray, Fenton, Fitzgerald, Lazenbury, Halfacre
Unused Subs: M.Nolan, Jones, Smith
