New look Central breeze past Tintwistle

A Manchester Central side full of new and welcomed faces put on an emphatic display at Tintwistle in Division One action on Tuesday.

It was a Manchester Central team sheet that missed a few regulars, but fresh faces put on a show when Central made their penultimate trip of the season against Tintwistle Athletic.

Right from the first whistle Central took control, where a four-goal blitz inside the opening 20 minutes saw the visitors blow the home side away.

Goals from Nuno-Mendes Delgado, Emmanuel Sholabi and Abolfazl Jadidi all contributed to a dominant first half from Central, whilst Thi-Reece Lenihan stole the show, netting two beauties that saw the away side seize control.

The home side held close to no threat in open play throughout which can be credited to Central’s tenacity defensively but did respond to Central from 12 yards out either side of half-time, first answering to the opening four goals, whilst their second spot kick came with just under 20 minutes of the game left.

Boss Chris Tomkinson picked a side full of new names and fresh faces. It was a completely new combination in the back four, with Central veteran Ruben Abreu taking the armband at left-back, with Rory Robertson on the other side, whilst Josh Holt partnered Sholabi at the heart of defence. Ayodele Ogundele came in between the sticks.

Tom Janney started in midfield alongside Jadidi, with the tricky Lenihan in the number ten. The forward line consisted of Delgado on the left, Anderson on the right and Jefferson Abreu through the centre.

It was also a rare occasion for Tomkinson who had a strong bench to choose from if reinforcements were needed, regular names Dennis Raposo, Nell Noupoue and the scorer in the first meeting between these sides Claudio Costa all were available to come on, with Elvis Madueke rounding off the bench.

Once the first whistle blew the away side wasted no time to find the net, piercing through the Tintwistle backline like a knife through butter.

A neat interchange between Lenihan and Anderson saw the latter slide the former in behind down the right flank. A few good touches saw the midfielder race through and in on goal with a clear sight, but unselfishly he squared to the onrushing Delgado, who scooped it over the recovering defenders to give Central an early lead.

The visitors were quick out the blocks and didn’t settle for one. With just over ten minutes gone Central found the net again through a rare set piece goal. Anderson again involved delivered a corner with real quality towards the back post from the left, finding Sholabi free in acres of space to simply nod it into the roof of the net.

Central were really starting to get into their groove at this point, and dare I say were putting on a display reminiscent of a vintage Central performance that we have been used to seeing from this team in the past.

Just a few minutes later, newbie Jadidi went close to opening his account in Central colours. Abreu involved for the first time leading the line turned smartly into space, sliding the midfielder in behind, but facing the goal Jadidi could only strike into the side netting.

Rampant in the opening quarter of the match, a quickfire double left Tintwistle stunned, whilst others watching on were witness to a stunning third for Central.

A rather special strike from Lenihan perhaps overshadowed the sublime build up play from Central who were purring. Janney, Delgado and J. Abreu linked terrifically on the left-hand side to work the ball up the pitch, with the striker drifting inside and setting Lenihan 25 yards out, who unleashed a sumptuous strike that swerved into the top corner.

Moments later, Jefferson had drifted out to the right flank, delivering a cross that found Jadidi who this time made no mistake inside the box, placing a side footed volley accurately past the helpless Tintwistle keeper.

The home side were simply blown away by the visitors, and whilst the following ten minutes saw a brief period of pressure that saw Ogundele smartly block from an effort at a tight angle, and a sloppy error by Holt that was left unpunished as the striker put to waste a golden opportunity to pull one back at the half hour mark.

The forward’s blushes were spared however just three minutes later when the referee opted to point to the spot after a clumsy challenge by Ogundele, despite strong shouts for offside from the Central bench.

A cool penalty gave the hosts some respite after a drastic start to the game, but Central knew just how to stop any momentum from developing for Tintwistle.

Five minutes on, Lenihan produced yet again another moment of pure quality from distance. This time certainly a more speculative effort from the left, hitting a half-volley on the bounce that dipped over the keeper, grabbing his second goal in the Central strip.

And although a strong fingertip from Ogundele kept the deficit at four, the half-time whistle blew concluding an exhilarating opening period of action, particularly for Central who were ruthless.

Tintwistle appeared dejected walking off the pitch, and were certainly lacklustre going forward, whilst Central were resolute and tenacious defensively, led by a terrific performance by captain R. Abreu.

The second half of football saw a very different Central, who were more measured and controlled, a side who looked happy to control the game even off the ball and gave no real opportunities away.

The home side were able to snatch another penalty with over 70 minutes gone, in which the number 10 once again converted. Perhaps the only blemish on the performance on the day for Central, conceding two penalties and sloppy ones, but they showed pride in their defensive work, and it was clear to see in open play.

All substitutes got minutes on the pitch, and all got the same message as their peers who started, whilst a moment that went begging for Lenihan saw him miss the chance to secure a brilliant hat-trick, blazing a good chance over the bar.

It was a positive performance from Central, and one that both Tomkinson and Chairman Paul McGuire would love to see more of, especially when next season rolls around. Desire, work ethic and execution are aspects that both want more consistently, because when Central apply all three of those things, they are a terrific side to watch.

With a strong finish to the season and a professional and productive preseason, Central could be a dark horse in Division One next campaign, and a dangerous one at that.