This match which was cancelled last week because of a frozen pitch was a contest between two teams who are experiencing vastly different fortunes this season. Pumas unbeaten at the top of the Premier league and Lostock struggling in the B league. It would be important for Pumas to be patient and keep playing controlled passing football. Pumas had a full strength squad available with the exception of Tom and the starting line up saw Tyler and Callum on the bench. After a scrappy first 3 mins Dion made a strong run down the right wing and slotted the ball accurately past the advancing keeper. 1 - 0.
A minute later Robert made a good run down the right wing and crossed for Elliot whose shot was blocked. Then it was Lewis' turn to forage down the right wing testing the keeper with a strong shot. The resulting corner was floated across by Jack onto Ben's head but the ball just went the wrong side of the cross bar. Play now switched to the left wing where Matt beat a couple of defenders before releasing a shot/cross which was well intercepted by the keeper. Another corner for Pumas was headed against the post by Sam, still desperate to break his duck this season. After 10mins a loose ball came to Jack 20 yards out and he hit his shot beautifully over the keeper into the net. 2 - 0.
Lostock were struggling to get out of their own half and on the rare occasions that they did they were met with Pumas formidable back four of Caleb, Lewis, Sam and Matt who were in total control and the wide men in particular were making strong overlapping runs down the wings. One such run by Caleb on the right allowed him to deliver a pin-point accurate cross to Eddie who made no mistake from close range. 3 - 0.
Eddie was in action again soon after with a lovely break through the middle. He released the ball to Dion whose shot was well saved by the busy Lostock keeper. After 22 mins a weak Lostock goal kick was picked up sharply by Tyler and his quick thinking pass to Elliot was rewarded when he picked his spot and coolly beat the keeper. 4 - 0.
Then came a rare Lostock attack which broke down with an off-side flag. Eddie made a great run through the middle to set up a one on one with the keeper who did brilliantly to save his shot but as usual, Elliot was astutely backing up and tapped in the loose ball. 5 - 0.
A bit of a comedy of errors followed with Jack making a forceful run down the left wing. He mis-hit his shot which fortunately came to Elliot in front of a gaping net. He mis-hit his shot which came again to Jack who this time made no mistake and blasted home from 10 yards. 6 - 0.
On 26 mins Pumas won a corner delivered onto Tylers head by Jack for a well-worked set-piece goal. 7 - 0.
Another good corner on the left saw Sam heading narrowly over and then a minute later Eddie made another of his surging breaks through the middle only to see his shot rebound off the keepers lh post. The ball came out to the ever alert Elliot who amazingly also hit the same post! In the final minute of the first half a loose ball found Eddie on the edge of the penalty area from where he took a couple of touches before cleverly lobbing the advancing keeper. Half time 8 - 0.
Despite being completely outclassed in the first half Lostock never stopped trying and their half time team talk obviously motivated them at the start of the second half. They won their first corner which was comfortably cleared to give Jack a chance to break only to see his shot go narrowly wide. Then Lostock were awarded a free kick 35 yards out which was delivered dangerously into the Pumas penalty area for the first time in the match. Conor couldn't gather the loose ball and it was prodded home for Lostock's first score. 8 - 1.
Pumas made no more mistakes and the goals continued to flow with contributions from Eddie, Tyler (2), Dion, Elliot (2), Jack and Matt during the next 20 mins to take the score to 16 - 1.
Sam was frequently joining the forwards in his attempt to get on the score sheet and he looked to have done this but his fierce shot hit the side netting. However, a few seconds later he had another chance when he pounced on a weak goal kick and fired an unstoppable shot past the helpless keeper to receive the well earned congratulations of his team mates. 17 - 1.
At this stage Pumas were attacking in numbers in wave after wave but in their eagerness were frequently being caught off-side which kept handing the initiative back to their opponents. After 57 mins Pumas were awarded their first penalty of the season and Callum was given the responsibility. He scored beautifully by blasting the ball high into the right corner. 18 - 1.
From a throw in by Dion near the lh corner flag Jack picked up the ball and shot home for his first right footed goal of the season! 19 -1.
The final action saw Elliot break down the right and play a great pass to Jack who completed the scoring from 12 yards. 20 - 1.
Full Time Ladybridge Pumas 20 Lostock Hall Juniors 1
This was a clinically efficient performance from Pumas with eight different players making the score sheet and no less than four individual hat-tricks. However the difference in class was apparent and we mustn't get too carried away. It was a great credit to Lostock that they kept trying right to the end and it was very thoughtful and kind of their coach at the end to say some very complimentary words to the Pumas team. He especially admired the sportsmanlike way that victory was achieved and so did the 50+ spectators. We're getting to the pointed end of this knock-out comp now and inevitably the games will get progressively tougher. Roll on next week's quarter final against BAC/EE.
