Sandbach United 0, Wolverhampton Casuals 1

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North West Counties League South Div 1

Venue: Sandbach Community Football Centre

Date: 18th November 2025

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Wolverhampton Casuals secured their second – and arguably most impressive – away victory of the season with a hard-earned 1–0 triumph at play-off chasing Sandbach United, inflicting on the hosts only their second home defeat of the campaign.

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Treacherous weather conditions greeted both sides, but full credit went to the Sandbach ground staff, who produced an excellent playing surface despite the elements. The Cassies settled the quicker and set the tone with a bright, attacking start.

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Their reward arrived in just the 9th minute. Goalkeeper Harrison, standing just inside his own half, launched a free-kick over the retreating Sandbach defence. The recalled Oultram reacted superbly, racing through to lift a composed lob over the advancing Ellison from 16 yards – a delightful finish and ultimately the game’s decisive moment.

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Sandbach responded with spells of pressure, but their first clear chance came on 16 minutes when Foley found space only to blaze over from the edge of the box. At the other end, Ellison was forced into action to deny both Taylor and Smith as the Casuals continued to pose a threat.

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A flowing Cassies move on 32 minutes saw Taylor spray a superb diagonal ball to Letford on the right, but his low cross was cut out just before it could reach Oultram lurking in the middle. Sandbach then enjoyed their best spell of the half, with danger man Bevan twice going close – first denied by a brilliant stop from Harrison on 34 minutes and then seeing an ambitious 40-yard attempt drop just over the bar after a mis-hit clearance. Harrison produced further heroics on 43 minutes, reacting sharply to keep out Bevan’s smart flick, before tipping over Foley’s 30-yard drive in stoppage time to preserve the lead at the break.

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The second half saw Sandbach predictably push forward in search of an equaliser, but the Casuals’ defensive unit stood firm, snuffing out the majority of openings with composure and organisation. Despite adopting a more cautious approach, the visitors still carried a threat, and Poskitt forced Ellison into an acrobatic save with a superb 30-yard strike on the hour.

Sandbach’s best opportunity of the half came when Kennerley delivered an inviting cross from the left, only for Cunningham to head wide from 12 yards. Moments later, a free-kick punched clear by Harrison fell to O’Connell, whose follow-up effort drifted past the post.

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In the end, a superbly robust second-half display – coupled with an outstanding goalkeeping performance from Harrison – ensured the Cassies claimed all three points. It was a victory full of grit, discipline, and quality at the key moments, and a significant boost as Wolverhampton Casuals continue to build momentum in the campaign.

 

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