It was a bright and breezy start for the first of many midweek fixtures for Ladybridge before the end of the season. Ollie and James Y started on the bench. The early period of the 1st half was very even with both teams enjoying equal possession and territory. The first chance of the game came from Ladybridge’s first corner, which Cole swung into the box and Tom's header just went over the bar. Dion was looking sharp down the right wing and when Ben threaded a pass through to him he ran a good 40 yards and was unlucky to see his chipped shot just go high and wide. The first goal came after about 15mins when Tom passed out to Dion and he powerfully crossed into the box where the Walshaw No 12 bundled the ball into his own net to make it 1-0 Ladybridge.
Walshaw then had an immediate opportunity to hit back when Cal mistimed his tackle on the Walshaw No 11 in the box - penalty Walshaw. The No 11 stepped up to take the kick but Conor did well to smartly save to his right to keep his team in front. In the final minute of the 1st half Ollie, after initially losing the ball in centre field, battled back well to retrieve it and he managed to slip the ball left into Cole's path who then made a storming run forward and from 10 yards out he smashed the ball home to make it 2-0 Ladybridge.
HT Ladybridge 2-0 Walshaw Sports
The 2nd half started well for Ladybridge and after 5mins Taylor was unlucky to be just offside when he found the back of the net from a Cole cross from the left. Walshaw forced a corner on 10mins but Sam made a great header out to clear the danger. The next goal came after another dash down the right from Dion who passed on to Ollie who found Cole in space on the left and he passed the ball to the right of the keeper to make it 3-0 Ladybridge.
Our midfield really started to dominate proceedings in the middle of the 2nd half and our fourth goal came from some smart play from James who fed Cole down the left hand side and his cross into the box found Taylor in space and he slid the ball home to make it 4-0 Ladybridge. Walshaws only real opportunity to score in the 2nd period came when they won a free kick 30 yards out and their No 16 put a very dangerous ball into the box that Tom managed to clear well to relieve the danger. James Y set up Ladybridge's fifth goal after he made a strong run down the right and his smashing cross into the box found a Ladybridge forwards head and the keeper made a superb point blank save out but his block dropped to James 10 yards out and he found the back of the net to make it 5-0 Ladybridge.
Taylor added his 2nd goal of the game and Ladybridge's last when he managed to burst through the Walshaw defence and with just the keeper to beat he angled a nice shot wide of him to make it 6-0 Ladybridge.
Tom nearly got himself on to the scoresheet in the last minute but the Walshaw keeper made a smart stop to deny him.
FT Ladybridge 6-0 Walshaw Sports
Walshaw's previous games against us have been tight affairs with just a goal or two in it on both occasions. Tonight they just didn't seem to get going but I was very impressed with their goalkeeper and to be fair all their players never let their heads go down and battled well for the full 70mins.
Ladybridge tonight controlled the game well and Conor's good save from the penalty in the first half was timely and helped the team to a well deserved clean sheet. After our own 6-0 defeat against Chadderton at home we've now been able to put together two strong performances against good teams that will give us a lot of confidence going forward. Our next fixture a League Cup Quarter Final away against Prestwich Town on Thursday evening - rest well lads!
Gordon
