Late Lazenbury penalty seals another three points for Abbey
Abbey Hey recorded another three points as they came away with a late 2-1 win over Ellesmere Rangers.
Ellesmere had the first real opportunity of the game when Ross Heywood had to react quickly to deny the home side winger from giving his side the lead at the far post from a cross into the penalty area.
The home side had another chance to open the scoring a few minutes later, but they were denied by Heywood’s left-hand post after a quick sliding shot from the striker inside of the penalty area.
Rhys Clooney broke the deadlock for Abbey after 13 minutes when he got onto the end of an ambitious long ball over the top from Kieran Nolan, before the in-form striker slotted the ball into the bottom-left corner from close-range for his third goal in three games.
Ellesmere were controversially given a penalty on the 25th minute, which gave David Howarth the chance to send Heywood the wrong way as he levelled the game for the home side.
The home side had a good chance to take the lead just before half-time, but they were denied by the crossbar after striking a free-kick on effort from long-range.
Terry Hincks’ side started the second half strongly and went close when Dylan Fitzgerald got onto the end of a long free-kick into the penalty area, which saw the striker force a smart save from the Ellesmere keeper.
Fitzgerald thought he gave Abbey the lead around the hour mark when he got onto the end of a Dylan Norris cross, but he was deemed to be offside by the linesman on the far side.
The away side were presented with a chance to win the game though with not long of the game left to go when Clooney was tackled late inside of the penalty area by the Ellesmere left back. Jordan Lazenbury stepped up from twelve yards to send the keeper the wrong way to make it 2-1, with his 17th goal of the season.
The result sees Abbey remain 2nd in the North West Counties First Division South, five points off league leaders West Didsbury & Chorlton.
Their attentions will now turn to this coming Saturday, when Abbey travel up North to take on Carlisle City in the Second Round of the FA Vase.
