Five Star Central Find First Win Against Chadderton Cott AFC

Manchester Central secured their long-awaited first win of the 2023/24 season on Saturday, putting in a five-star performance as they beat Chadderton Cott AFC 5-1 at Seashell Trust.

Heading into the season's seventh match-week, the discourse surrounding Manchester Central predominantly regarded the disparity between the side's good performances and poor results. Both players and coaches appeared to be in agreement that a win was desperately needed to keep the team's ambitions on-track.

Thankfully, they would not have to wait much longer for the much needed victory - which would arrive in such fashion that it was almost worth the delay.

Similar to in previous fixtures, Central started the first half brightly, seizing control of possession and attempting to build dangerous attacking moves. This passing play eventually wore the visitors thin, leading to the Outcast's first goal on the 26th minute.

The move started with Spinola winning back possession, with Winterton picking up the loose ball which resulted before laying it off to Egyiri. The central midfielder spotted a surging Spinola on the left side, who in turn played the ball forwards to Lenihan lurking on the corner of Chadderton's box.

After turning with the ball and taking a couple of steps, Lenihan fired an inch-perfect cross towards the six-yard box, which was met with the head of a leaping Abreu.

However, Central's lead wouldn't last long. Just four minutes later, Chadderton's striker steamrolled through multiple defending players, making it deep into the home side's box before poking it past the 'keeper with his left foot.

The score would remain the same as the referee blew for half-time fifteen minutes later, despite the best efforts of either side. The second half started in much the same fashion as the first ended, with Central cruelly denied a second as Jammeh was controversially ruled off-side in the build-up.

Nevertheless, it was Manchester Central who would take the lead. In the 64th minute, recent substitute Sade capitalised off of a quick move down the right wing, skipping past his man as he lurched into the box. His shot hit the goalkeeper's outstretched leg, bouncing over his head and into the back of the net.

Minutes later, tensions boiled over as Central were awarded a free kick in Chadderton's half, with an opposition player sent off for the offence. Chadderton would be shown a second red card before the free kick was taken as a defending player grabbed Lenihan around the throat, with Jammeh receiving a yellow card for pushing the offending player away.

This was the beginning of the end for the visitors, as Central only gained greater momentum from this point onward. It appeared that, with the tides dramatically turned in their favour, the still-settling squad seemed to come to the realisation that the three points were theirs to lose.

In the 73rd minute, just four after the double red cards, Lenihan would take his revenge by way of Central's third goal. Latching onto a lofted long ball from Spinola, Jammeh weaved his way into the box, playing it across goal to Lenihan to prod into the bottom left corner, past the onrushing goalkeeper.

Five minutes later, Lenihan would secure his brace. His fifth goal of the season came by way of a goalmouth scramble.

The Chadderton 'keeper did well to stop the first attempt, a powerful drilled shot by Jammeh, whilst his defender blocked the rebound shot from Jadidi.

However, there was simply no stopping the next attempt as Lenihan smacked the ball into the bulging net.

Unfortunately, for the visitors, their misery did not end there. The young attacking prodigy, Jurgen Sade, a product of the partnership between Manchester Central and Football Futures, had one final blow for Chadderton.

Connecting with Lenihan to bag his own brace, Sade smashed his effort past the floundering 'keeper, with such power on the shot that it flew just to the underside of the bar.

A five-star performance from each and every Central player ensured the club's first points of the 2023/24 season, with Chris Tomkinson and Paul McGuire unable to decide on a single Man of the Match award, preferring to split the honours between Ruben Abreu and Max Winterton.