On a cold, dank and cloudy evening we visited the Lancaster Club in Failsworth to take on the current league leaders Avro. Cole, Cal and Dion started on the bench. The first couple of minutes of the game gave us a taste of what was to come with both teams enjoying good passages of play and lively movement up front. The first goal was scored by the home team, when from their first corner a scrappy clearance fell to the No 9 whose tame shot was parried into his own net by Conor to make it 1-0 Avro.
Ladybridge took this early set back in their stride and a good sharp move involving some good work by Ollie down the right released Taylor forward and his shot on goal was saved well by the Avro keeper. The first 15 minutes of the game literally flew by and some sloppy defensive play from Ladybridge saw their No 9 angle his shot towards the right hand corner of the net but Conor made a diving save to push it out past his right hand post for a corner. Ladybridge were awarded a free kick after James A was upended 35 yards out from the Avro goal. James Y stepped up and his effort just drifted over the bar. Ladybridge's equalizer came from their next free kick that was conceded after a foul on Taylor. Ollie stepped up to take this from 30 yards out and his rasping effort found the top right hand corner of the net to make it 1-1.
Unfortunately for Ladybridge we wouldn't be on level terms for long after Avro forced a corner a couple minutes after our goal. The corner was swung well into our box but the clearance out only found the Avro No 9 in space and he had time to pick out the top left hand corner of Conor's net with a neat shot to make it 2-1 Avro.
The final goal action of the half came after some determined forward play out on the right wing by James Y whose speculative cross/shot beat the Avro keeper to make it 2-2.
Half Time 2-2.
Avro were quick out of the traps as the 2nd half began when a firm free kick taken in their half was not cleared by the Ladybridge defence and the loose ball found the Avro striker in space but he saw his effort only just go wide. Ladybridge were to take the lead in this game for the first time when James Y's throw in was flicked into the box where the Avro keeper seemed to fumble the ball and Taylor was first on to the loose ball and he tapped home to make it 3-2 Ladybridge.
Avro always looked dangerous from set pieces and after another corner was not cleared well enough by the Ladybridge defence an Avro player chipped the ball back into the box and the forward was able to head home well to make it 3-3.
The game really was end to end for the next ten minutes with both teams really battling well to try and get the advantage. Ladybridge would take the lead again when Conor's long clearance was headed on by a Ladybridge midfielder which found Cole in space and his quick pass out to Taylor saw a superb angled solid shot beat the Avro keeper to make it 4-3 Ladybridge.
Once again Ladybridge were unable to keep the lead for long when good pressure from Avro forced an uncharacteristic mistake from Sam when he fouled the Avro forward in the box to give away a penalty. Conor has a good record of saving penalties just recently but the Avro player slammed his effort home well to make it 4-4.
Ladybridge in the last ten minutes started to get the ball into good forward positions and efforts from both Cole and Taylor almost resulted in goals before the Avro No 9 fouled Cole in the box - penalty Ladybridge. Cole's trusty left peg did the damage as his shot nestled in the bottom left hand corner to make it 5-4 Ladybridge.
Avro had the ball in the back of the net shortly after but the forward was adjudged offside. The last goal of the game though came after a lovely run by Dion down the right who passed the ball on to Taylor and he crossed the ball out to the left were Cole crashed home to put the game to bed to make it 6-4 Ladybridge.
Full Time Avro 4-6 Ladybridge.
Avro must feel a bit disappointed after the game this evening as it swung in their favour and back to us on numerous occasions during the 70 minutes. Avro break very quickly and all their players have good ability on the ball and they caused us plenty of problems throughout the game.
All the squad had their parts to play this evening and as a collective they rarely know when they are beaten in a game. They battled back to parity on half time and I felt we deserved to win the game overall when their 2nd half performance was far more clinical than our hosts, particularly in front of goal. With five minutes to go, Avro’s No 5 went down with what looked like a bad ankle injury and was carried off. Ladybridge wish him a speedy recovery.
Well the games keep coming thick and fast and tomorrow evening, weather permitting, we face Heyside at home in another league fixture.
Gordon
