[themaclad]

Paid my 2nd visit of the season to watch Lancaster City, having seen them lose rather meekly to Clitheroe a couple of weeks ago, it was time for them to redeem themselves.
Warrington though had not read the script and deservedly lead by a goal in the 11th minute by Metcalf
Warrington though had not counted on home forward Tom Killifin putting in a truly super performance, aided and abetted by winger Ryan Winder City started to turn the game around and just on half time Winder fired in a 25 yards shot which the keeper parried only for Killifin to ram home the rebound.
On the stroke of half time, Warrington should have been down to 10 men when the No 8 who had already been booked threw the ball at Winder, only a warning from the official.
The second half was possibly the most entertaining 45 minutes I've seen this season, both sides went for the win also moved to stand between the two dugouts and listen to Peter Reid's brother swear a lot.
City should have taken the lead but the rampant Killifin saw his shot saved by Wills and then hit the post with the rebound from the save.
Warrington fought back pushing City back but falling to get past goalkeeper Hale. It was Warrington's turn to miss a chance, one of the substitutes got past the City defence but was foiled by Hale, the ball ran free and only a last ditch tackle prevented a goal. Reid screamed for a penalty he didn't get it. Right at the end Killifin's header was scrambled to safety after coming back from the underside of the bar.
Probably the right result on the night, only disappointment was City not being awarded any dubious penalties just to see Reid spontaneously combust.


Lancaster City 1 Warrington Town 1 Att 208

[spireitematt]

Mac have you only started watching Lancaster?

[themaclad]

Mac have you only started watching Lancaster?

No Matt been watching them for about 16 years, before that watched Chorley on and off for about 30 years off to Bamber Bridge v Squires Gate in the Cup today.

[themaclad]

Bamber Bridge and Squires Gate drew their FA Cup match 2-2 in front of 264 at Bamber Bridge's Sir Tom Finney Stadium. Only Bridge will know how they did not win this match having missed more than enough chances to win three or four games, but credit were credit is due Gate kept plugging away with a never say die attitude which eventually gave them a draw.
Bridge from the division above are a rather physical side who have a simple approach, get it behind the opponents back four with long balls(hoofs). It worked a treat for most of the match however in the first half they were denied by Fletcher in the Gate goal who pulled off three excellent saves.
Eventually Bridge took the lead when Gate failed to clear a corner and Bell rifled the ball home. The goal gave the home side confidence and they pushed on for more goals but after 34 minutes Gate equalised. Little had been seen of the Gate forward line until full back Richards got the ball 40 yards out and unleashed an unstoppable shot past Dovey in the home goal. Soon after McKenna tried his luck with another effort from distance for Gate and this went narrowly over the bar.
Second half Bridge controlled going close several times before they were awarded a penalty for a clumsy foul in the box. Bell sent the keeper the wrong way sadly though for the guy stood 10 yards to the right of the goal, the ball cleaned his pint out of his hand.
Bridge began to lose their way and were now just aimlessly booting the ball down field.
Seven minutes left and Bridge took a deserved lead with Bell firing home from a corner. It looked the winning goal until out of the blue again McKendrick fired home a 2nd goal for Gate to taken the game to a replay on Tuesday.

Bamber Bridge 2 Squires Gate 2 Att 264


http://youtu.be/rizS-PQngLk


http://youtu.be/dH_YOnMcYl8

[Devongone]

Please make your non-league travels and travails a regular feature on our new home.

[themaclad]

They will be, when North End away usually do take in the non league scene

[WakeyTerrier]

The non league scene doesn't get enough coverage although of late they try and encourage more people to attend on International Break weekends.

In the past I've been to watch all my local clubs....Ossett Town, Ossett Albion, Wakefield FC, AFC Emley and a bit further away Guiseley. Some great characters and some real down to earth footy fans.

[themaclad]

Always like going to Ossett Albion, great name Dimple Wells, not done the other Ossett ground but may do this season permitting no fixture clashes

[themaclad]

A tough call tonight whether to go to Lancaster's Lancashire Cup match or AFC Fylde's cup game against Bradford PA. Went to Fylde perhaps as well as Lancaster put out a youth team against Clitheroe's first team and lost 7-2.
Fylde have ambition to be in the league by 2022 and apparently no one is going to stop them, apart from the fact their ground is nowhere near league standard although plans are in the offing to build a 6000 ground near the M55. They also don't have a lot of support and in my view are one of those clubs with a rich benefactor who have ideas way above what they really are. The ground behind the Birley Arms in Warton near the British Aerospace plant has decent playing facilities the pitch is immaculate although bone dry due to the lack of rain, they have a decent training ground but the main stand is only 6 rows deep and can only fit 500 at best.
Ex league team Bradford have slowly worked their way back through the league have filed to get re elected back in the 1970's they brought with them a small but noisy travelling support whose shout of Green Army awoke the sheep in the next field.
A lively first half with both sides playing neat passing football, efforts on goal were restricted although a Fylde freekick was deflected over the bar for a corner.
Avenue looked lively up front with Chilaka leading the line but were rarely in a position to test Hinchcliffe in the home goal.
The second half was all Fylde they were virtually camped in the visitors half and were denied by Avenue keeper Lamb who pulled off a series of outstanding saves, when he was beaten defenders cleared the ball from the line including a majestic slice over his own goal by Avenue's No 3.
With 7 minutes to go Avenue had their first chance of the half and they should have scored, a free kick from 25 yards was fired in Hinchcliffe fumbled it, Avenue had four attempts to force the ball home but couldn't score.
Extra time and within two minutes Fylde scored through a left footed shot from Allen from inside the box. (1-0)
With seven minutes to go Fylde seemed to have wrapped up the game when a rapid breakaway following a Bradford attack ended up with Potts slotting home from close range. (2-0)
Game over not quite with two minutes to go Avenue scored through Danny Frost, it was merely a consolation. Fylde went through to polite applause from 280 fans

AFC Fylde 2 Bradford Park Avenue 0 Att 280



Fylde free kick from first half.

http://youtu.be/ydpqS8qoWQQ

[themaclad]

A record crowd for a competitive game at Bamber Bridge's Sir Tom Finney Stadium of 2300 had hope to see a competitive local derby, they didn't get it. Two seasons ago Bamber Bridge and Chorley were in the same division, today the difference between the sides was considerable. Chorley are in the top position of the Conference North and that quality showed through today as they strolled to a 4-1 victory over the home side
A dull first half saw Chorley lead 1-0 through a goal by Dean after home keeper Dovey had collided with a Chorley forward going for the ball, Bridge claimed a foul, none was given and Dean scored. Before they scored Chorley had missed three very decent chances. Got the feeling that once the first had gone in it would be hard work for the home side and it was.
A very scrappy start to the second half little fluent football and just as dull as what that had gone before. Chorley added a second with Smith heading home form a corner. Within five minutes Bridge had somehow conjured a goal, Chorley keeper Ashton's fumble hit Waddecar and the ball dribbled into the Chorley net.
Amazingly Bell was a whisker away of levelling the score but just failed to get his head to the ball, but it was soon back to normal as Hine made it 3-1 with a back post tap and then Stephenson found himself with the freedom of Lancashire to amble past substitute keeper Barnes to make it 4-1.
Chorley stroll onto the fourth qualifing round only one round away from a possible draw against a league club.

Bamber Bridge 1 Chorley 4 Att 2368