Aspire Get Maximum Points From Gameweek One
Aspire had the perfect start to their new campaign in gameweek one of the WFA National League Premiership, with four wins from four games.
New signings Matt Gilbert and Oscar Smedley both got off the mark in a brilliant weekend for the group.
The weekend began with a scrappy game against Manchester United PFC. Aspire were without their captain, Dan Mclellan, due to suspension, whilst United were very up for their first game back in the top flight following promotion last season.
United came flying out of the blocks, going toe to toe with Aspire with real energy and purpose on the court. David Dee and Laura Evans were playing phenomenally in their defensive partnership, while wingers Mason Davies and Liam Fitzpatrick were defending the edge of the box well.
Aspire did manage to find a goal in the first half though, a brilliant switched pass found new signing Matt Gilbert at the back post, and his spin deflected off a couple of United defenders before going in for an own goal.
Unfortunately, early in the second half, United’s energy got the better of them, and Fitzpatrick was dismissed for a moment of violent conduct on Jon Bolding.
Bolding was unhappy at a few undetected fouls off the ball from Fitzpatrick, and a confrontation between the pair whilst the game was stopped resulted in the United man driving hard at Bolding and hitting him with his chair.
United battled well with three players, but ultimately Aspire saw the game out, picking up a couple of bookings themselves for contact with Bolding and Dickson receiving yellows.
FT: Aspire 1-0 Manchester United PFC (OG)
Aspire's second game of the weekend was against Sevenoaks PFC, and with Dan Mclellan back in the side, they had a real swagger about them from the first whistle.
It took Mclellan just four minutes to make his mark on his first game as captain, scoring the opener at the back post from a set piece.
Sevenoaks defended well, but the substitution on of Matt Gilbert unpicked the lock. Gilbert made an instant impact, finishing off a brilliant team move with a subtle strike between the 'Oaks defenders.
Gilbert then assisted, playing the ball back across goal from a corner for Dan Mclellan to tap in unopposed at the back post, scoring the second goal in the final two minutes of the half, sending Aspire in to the break 3-0 up.
Aspire were unchanged after the break, and created some great chances too with some quality passages of play.
Gilbert added to his tally after the break with a lovely disguised finish, wrongfooting the goalkeeper into the near post to make it 4-0.
He then assisted Mclellan with a set piece delivery to the back post which was slotted away to make it 5-0.
Oscar Smedley got his first goal in Aspire colours off the bench, finishing well at the back post after a ball across from Dan Mclellan.
And he wasn't done there, Jon Bolding produced the assist of the weekend to pick out Smedley again at the back post, who tapped home for 7-0.
FT: Aspire 7-0 Sevenoaks (Mclellan x3, Gilbert x2, Smedley x2)
Sunday morning began with a game against a struggling Greenbank side, who are in the early stages of a rebuild based on a flurry of summer transfer activity.
It was a thoroughly dominant display from Aspire, with every member of the squad getting themselves on the scoresheet.
Captain Dan Mclellan reached the milestone of 100 competitive domestic goals for Aspire during the match.
Mclellan said: "This is an achievement that I am really proud of, it's really cool to reach this milestone at a club I love. Hope to get many more in Aspire colours!"
Aspire dominated from the first whistle to the last - for obvious reasons, I will not be describing all 16 goals.
FT: Aspire 16-1 Greenbank (Mclellan x6, Bolding x2, Gilbert x2, Dickson x2, Smedley x2, Kelly, OG)
The final game of the weekend was up against Villa Rockets. A tricky side to play against, Aspire had to show patience and attacking discipline to secure three points.
John Dickson was substituted on after 10 minutes, and his first touch was to slot the ball home at the back post, after Dan Mclellan found the gap between the defenders with his cross.
Aspire probed away and eventually got a second goal deep into the second half.
Mclellan turned from assister to goalscorer, being picked out by a ball to the back post, he gave the goalkeeper the eyes, before sneaking a finish off the near post and in.
A professional performance was the perfect finish to a strong first weekend showing for Aspire.
FT: Aspire 2-0 Villa Rockets (Dickson, Mclellan)
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