[themaclad]

Squires Gate 2 (Pett, Ing) Irlam FC 1 (Martin)Att 85

Irlam must be left shaking their heads after losing a game that for the best part of an hour they dominated and deservedly lead by a single goal, however they missed chances and both teams substitutions changed the outcome of this game.
On a drizzly night on the Fylde coast Squires Gate made it nine games unbeaten since the change of manager last month, however in truth tonight they were not at their best but secured three points with two very late goals.
End to end start with the visitors looking the more likelier of the two sides to score, their passing was more precise and also twigged early on that Gate's back four were not the speediest. Irlam got into good positions and wasted chances but on the stroke of half time went 1 up when a cross from the left was met by a cushioned well placed header by Martin who found the bottom right hand corner of the net.
Irlam started the second half on top and were denied when a shot was well saved by Fletche in the Gate goal. Then substitutions Gate threw on two lads who had a bit more height about whilst Irlam changed their centre midfielders a mistake in my view. Gate began to get the ball on the deck for the first time in the game and drew level with about 8 minutes to go from a free kick given by the liner, the Irlam bench were less than impressed with the decision and would have been even less impressed with the defensive wall that was set up, all Pett had to do was aim at the bottom left corner which he did and the scores were level. Momentum with Gate and deep into injury time another free kick was curled in from the left, Gate player got a header in which was saved the rebound was headed easily home by Ing to give the home side the points.

[themaclad]

Lancaster City 4 (Cairney 2, Winder, C Bailey) Coalville Town 2 (Watson, Jenno )Att 259

City kept their unbeaten home record with a hard fought victory over a useful Coalville side. The visitors making their first journey to the Giant Axe provided stiff opposition going forward but were slightly suspect to any cross ball into the box.
City on top early on should really have been ahead but Tam wasted one opportunity by delaying his shot and the second time had his well placed shot saved by the decent visiting keeper Coton. The visitors passed the ball well and took the lead when Watson was put through by Creaney he advanced into the box before cutting inside to fire past Powell to put Town 1 up. Momentum with Town for about 10 minutes before City equalised through skipper Cairney, who also scored the second on the stroke of half time after the visitors keeper had saved his first effort, the ball eventually was returned into the box and fell invitingly for Cairney to blast home a good volley.
Coalville shaded the early stages in the second half had a chance when Creaney headed wide should probably have scored but when seemingly looking well placed to draw level paid the price for some shocking defending when a cross from Sam Bailey was allowed to run to the far side of the box, Winder seized on the loose ball and blasted it past Coton to make it three. Minutes later another cross from Sam Bailey found his brother Charlie whose first touch in the game was to blast home a fourth. Game over but Coalville pocketed a second when Jenno forced the ball over the line following a free kick to make the scoreline more respectable

[themaclad]

AFC Blackpool 1 (Duffield) Holker Old Boys 2 (Stoker, Stanway J) Att 45

AFC cruising to a solitary goal win which would have been deserved collapsed in a heap in the last seven minutes to lose a game which was theirs for the taking. Two late goals for the visitors and a sending off for the home sides Donaghy?
A pretty entertaining first half with the home side probably shading it, the only surprise was there were no goals in the first half, the woodwork was hit three times twice by the home side in the first period, including a manic 15 second period were they hit the post, had one cleared from the line before the Holker keeper managed to claw a goal bound shot back from the line.
The visitors who are the only side in the division to beat league leaders struggled to get going and spent much of the early part of the game arguing amongst themselves.
They had their chances hit the bar but did well to get to half time level, as the home side missed several other chances to put the game to bed but half time it was all square.
Holker were denied an early lead by a tremendous save by the home keeper from a point blank shot, but soon the home side were on the front foot but couldn't quite get the reward they deserved.
Enter Holker sub Jack Stoker in fact Holker's only sub that they had Jack Stoker. His warm up was less than enthusiastic if possible playing football on a cold night in Blackpool was possibly the less thing that the youngster wanted.
Having had about two touches in about ten minutes, Jack couldn't cut out a pass which led to Duffield scoring from the inside right position, he had another chance but a snap shot ended up going over the stand into the field beyond the stand.
With seven minutes to go it was time for Jack to make an impact, Holker were given a corner by the linesman disputed by the home side, their anger grew when young Jack headed home the equaliser although one of his team mates did say he did his best to avoid the ball but it hit the side of his head and went in. A couple of minutes later the confidence in the young substitute had grown he was looking for the ball when a Blackpool defender tackled him, looked a bit of a two footed tackle, it sparked a brawl, which ended up with the home player being sent off.
The home bench andf players were less than impressed with some of the officials decisions and from a non given throw in Holker stole victory with a low John-Paul Stanway shot from about 18 yards.
At the end of the match AFC's manager was highly reluctant to let the referee leave the pitch and a heated debate took place on the pitch. Unlikely win for Holker

[themaclad]

Lancaster City 1 Nantwich Town 2 Att 214

Having not met in a competitive game for about 34 years a quirk of fixtures meant that they met twice in four days, having wo the first game 3-0 on Saturday, Nantwich duly completed a double over City in four days.
Until City equalised on 38 minutes they were distinctly second best to a decent Nantwich side who played some very good passing football running City ragged with their movement. They took the lead on 12 minutes from a free kick, has to be said City were maybe a shade fortunate not to be down to 10 men as it looked like the Town player was clear on goal and was brought down by the last man, yellow card only. Cooke took the free kick it hit the wall and ended up in the net, deserved lead for Nantwich.
Town dominated although didn't look like scoring again for all their possession. Slightly against the run of play City equalised when Dugdale fired in a shot only parried by Boney to Djabi who following fired home the leveller.
City could have had a penalty when a home player seemed to be brought down in the book, stonewaller according to those behind the goal not given by the referee.
Nantwich retook the lead five minutes into the second half, planned corner played to the edge of the box player steps over it next player fires home is how it should go rarely does, last night it did with Cooke getting his second.
Town in control and were handed a bigger advantage when Mercer was sent off for shoving a hand into the face of a Nantwich defender at a corner.
City almost freakishly equalised when Powell City's goalkeeper took a free kick 75 yards from the visitors goal keeper Boney misjudged the bounce and just about scrambled it to safety.
As usual the ten men were on top firing a couple of efforts narrowly wide and there was also no one on the end of a fierce cross from the left wing which beat everyone. Probably the correct result although City's endeavour with 10 men deserved some reward.
Finally Nantwich keeper was called Miles Boney which over the years would have appeared as Boney M, parents sense of humour?

[themaclad]

Squires Gate 3 Pett 2 Rothwell Charnock Richard 1 Grimshaw Att 102

First visit to a non league game in a couple of months to watch a much improved Gate side take on Charnock Richard. A firm but slightly bumpy pitch plus several long stoppages in the early stages meant the game didn't really flow meaning little meaningful football. Gate looked the more likely as the visitors struggled to get into the game. It was no surprise as the home side took the lead when we got a decent passage of play, good cross from the left good header by Pett. Gate thought they should have had a penalty for a foul by ythe keeper not given, the Gate manager was less than impressed with the decision and the referee was less than impressed with the home sides manager's comments and banished him from the touch line.
Gate should really have taken a bigger lead but failed to capitalise on the away sides slightly iffy defending although the visitors did make a good save from an effort on target.
Early equaliser in the second half goal scored by Grimshaw who rarely misses the target, had plenty of time to control ball and find the net, they were not level for long, Charnock's defence went AWOL leaving Pett easy chance to make it two.It was soon 3-1 as more less than impressive defending let Rothwell in to easily score. The home side had chances to increase the lead further didn't take them whilst Grimshaw was denied by two saves by the home custodian the first being an exceptional save from a header. Charnock then had a great chance from the spot to reduce the gap following a foul. They missed it keeper made an easy save going to his left, with that Gate were never in danger and duly took the points.

[themaclad]

Got two new local non league sides to hit next season Longridge and Garstang hopefully will do a few more games next season than I did last season end of season lethargy crap weather and general couldn't be arsed syndrome got in the way

[themaclad]

Daisy Hill 3 Longridge Town 3 Att 142

A trip to the outskirts of Westhoughton to see Daisy Hill meant a first visit to the New Sirs ground. Daisy Hill finished in one of the two relegation spots last season but due to the re organisation of lower league football stayed up, visitors Longridge newly promoted with a stack of other clubs were making their first visit to the ground.
A sizeable crowd which contained a mostly Town fans got a six goal thriller although the away support was probably a bit surprised that they didn't come away with three points.
Town dominated from the start hitting the bar and having one effort cleared from the line before in the 8th minute they took the lead when Allen was given far to much time and space to pick his spot and score, although mainly one way traffic the home side played some decent football but lacked a finishing touch.


Town had a great chance to make it two from the penalty spot when the home keeper brought down a Longridge forward however Allen's kick to his right was well saved. It was soon to be two when Longridge got in down the right hand side of the box, ball to Wilkinson didn't break his stride side footed into the net 2 up, nice goal.
Longridge were cruising but still managed to go in at the break losing. Wheels started to come off when a back pass from the touchline 25 yards out was slightly misplaced missed the keeper and found the net.
The keeper then went on a walkabout towards the corner spot didn't get the ball chased the home player into th box brought him down penalty, he went the right way for the kick but Iley's shot was perfectly placed all square, then just before thebreak Warburton's cross cum shot found the top corner and Hill were 3-2 up.
A tetchy start to the second half with many early stoppages due to handbags, chances were at a premium although Allen header over when well placed for Town. Majority of play was towards home sides goal but Daisy Hill looked dangerous on the break had one decent chance but the ball ended up in the car park.
Town piled forward looking for the equaliser it finally arrived in the 95th minute a corner from the right bit of head tennis and Tucker scored with virtually the last touch of the ball.
Credit to both sides good entertainment.

[themaclad]

AFC Blackpool 3-0 Carlisle City HT: 1-0 Att 86
Benjamin Duffield (4p)
Benjamin Duffield (53)
Elliot Dickson (90)

On a cold late summers day, AFC Blackpool easily disposed of leaders Carlisle City by 3-0, of the two sides Blackpool wanted it more than the leaders who I have to say looked an average side today. Not the greatest of games on a pitch which showed signs of not having recovered from the heat of the summer, also a strong breeze blew directly across the ground making ball control difficult.
The home side took an early lead from the penalty spot after a foul in the inside right position, Duffield sent the keeper the wrong way. He could have had a second minutes later but his lobbed effort just cleared the bar. The early stages of the game were well contested with the referee using his whistle on many occasions. He did miss a studs showing tackle on a visiting player which didn't impress City's management.
City started to grow into the game but the final ball often let them down, the main scoring threat was coming from set pieces, of the two sides City probably shaded the half although a goal down.
Another more obvious over the top tackle on the stroke of half time should have led to a sending off for a home player but the referee ignored it. He was given grief on his way to the tunnel at half time by City's backroom staff.
Second half only one side in it, the home side had already hit the bar before they went two up, the goal can be described as scabby but it went in, Wild cross to the far post, return cross punched out by the City keeper onto the shoulder of Duffield into the net.
City changed formation went 343 which left them even more exposed at the back, the home side should have had other goals but had to wait until injury time for Dickson to score from close range after some neat build up play. Although they had a good deal of possession City failed to create a clear cut chance and the home side ran out deserved winners.
Apologies for lack of names no programme today




https://youtu.be/oZry8vjYLI4

https://youtu.be/bdlagWJ4PwE

[themaclad]

Squires Gate 1 Droylsden 0

A good win in the FA Cup for Squires Gate over Droylsden who play in the league above them. In truth they deserved their victory just for the sheer hard work they put in.
Droylsden started well and looked the more dangerous with a Gonzales effort going narrowly wide, after the initial onslaught the home side began to impose themselves and took the lead in the 12th minute. Having seen the visitors a number of times over the years they have always been good going forward but have at times been hapless at the back. This goal was not unusual, free kick from the right Reader header goal



Gate swarmed forward looking for a second were denied by the keeper and a bit of wayward finishing, fairly end to end game with plenty of good passing football being played although some visiting fans thought that their side tended to over play the passing game and should at times resort to the long ball/pass. What cannot be faulted was the work rate of the home side they have improved vastly over the last season and a half and look real promotion contenders.
Not a lot of goal mouth action in the second half as Droylsden forced the home side back, the visitors won plenty of ball in the air but couldn't find a way past Gate's resolute defence. Gate tended to play on the break and from a free kick near the end brought a good save from the Bloods keeper.
Droylsden had one last chance a header went narrowly wide and Gate will be at home to City of Liverpool FC in the next round

https://youtu.be/ImLLdmdDAxU

[Devongone]

If you come across any players on your travels Mac who look as though they might make Vanarama/League Two standard please let us know.