Late goal end’s Abbey’s winning run

A late goal from Declan Arber ensured Abbey Hey crashed to a late defeat away at Stafford Town.

Dylan Norris handed the visitors the lead with a deflected effort after 17 minutes, but two goals from Arber inflicted defeat on Abbey, who hadn’t tasted defeat since a 2-1 defeat to West Didsbury and Chorlton earlier this month.

Norris handed the visitors the lead after 17 minutes when he fired a low effort on goal after a pull-back from Dylan Fitzgerald, via a deflection the ball rolled under the goalkeeper into the back of the net.

The lead only lasted four minutes however when Arber controlled the ball on the edge of the area before firing a powerful low-effort into the bottom-left corner beyond Heywood.

The visitors had plenty of chances to find a goal to retake the lead at Evans Park before the break, but neither Daryll Grant, Jordan Lazenbury or Jake Dunford could capitalise on chances. 

The second half was a bit of a scrappy affair between two battling sides, but neither could really find that chance to take either side into the lead.

It was the home side though who stole it in the sixth minute of second-half injury time, as Arber fired a powerful effort from the edge of the area into the roof of the net beyond Heywood.

Abbey crashed to a late defeat and they will want to get back to winning ways next weekend. They will welcome Rocester to the Abbey Stadium next Saturday in the North West Counties First Division South.