On an overcast and
breezy morning we travelled to De La Salle to contest this 1st Round Challenge
Cup tie. Josh, Tom, Callum and Ben were
our substitutes. DLS started really well
and they created some good early openings and the first of these came from a
corner that was cleared out to a DLS player on the edge of the box and his shot
on target was saved well by Conor. Shortly after he was tested again, when a free
kick from 35 yards out, was also kept out well by Conor. DLS pressure eventually told as they opened the
scoring in the game after 20mins when a headed clearance by Matt found the DLS
No 8 around 25 yards out and he managed to smash a sweet half volley into the
top right hand corner of the net to make it DLS 1-0 Ladybridge
The goal seemed to wake
the Ladybridge players up and efforts shortly after from Sam and Ben were dealt
with well by the DLS keeper. Ollie was
instrumental in setting up Ladybridges equaliser when he made a darting run
down the left and his cross was met well by Taylor in the box and he shot high
into the DLS net to make it 1-1 with 5mins of the half remaining. The final goal of the half was to be scored by
DLS and as their No 8 received the ball back from his initial corner his 2nd
cross into the box found the No 10 who bundled home from close range with the
Ladybridge defence struggling to get the ball clear to make it 2-1 to
DLS.
Ladybridge were lucky not
to go a further goal behind when Sam was able to make a crucial interception to
break down a DLS move on the edge of the box just before the half time whistle.
Half Time De La Salle 2-1
Ladybridge
Ladybridge started the
2nd half quite brightly in the early stages but the DLS No 8 was to score a
superb goal 5mins into the 2nd half when he was found well by a good through
ball that split the Ladybridge defence and he slotted the ball past Conor well
to make it 3-1 to DLS.
Ladybridge nearly pulled
a goal back a couple of minutes later when Josh's cross from the left found
Jack on the edge of the box but his shot was saved well by the DLS No 1. Our second goal of the game came courtesy of a
weak back-pass by a DLS defender that Jack seized upon and he made a quick run
down the right to deliver a great cross into the penalty area that Taylor met
first time to smash home to make it 3-2 to De La Salle.
Ladybridge were to go
close to regaining parity when a great move saw Tom find Taylor in space down
the right and he crossed into the edge of the box where Jack’s shot was
deflected well by a last ditch challenge by the DLS defender. Our third and
equalizing goal was a smashing individual effort from Ben who was able to find
some space 25 yards out from a pass by Tom and he unleashed a great shot high
into the left hand corner of the goal 3-3.
The last ten minutes of
the game would be played at a frenetic pace with chances for both teams and
Callum was unlucky not to score from the left when his shot just went wide with
5 to go. The DLS No 8 was through on goal and was just about ready to pull the
trigger when a super last gasp challenge was made by Matt to concede a corner. The crucial winning goal of the game came in
the last couple of minutes of the game from Liam who tucked the ball home well
at the left hand post after DLS failed to clear the ball from a good cross by
Josh on the left. 4-3 to Ladybridge
Full Time De Las Salle 3-4
Ladybridge
DLS provided us with our
toughest game of the season so far and will feel aggrieved that they didn't
manage to hold on to beat us this morning. All their players looked very
motivated from the start and they all gave 100 percent throughout the game. Unfortunately half way through the 2nd half a
DLS player went down awkwardly after being fouled and was taken off and
substituted, post match we've heard he's been taken to A&E and diagnosed
with a broken arm. All the coaching staff, team and Ladybridge support wish the
lad well and hope he makes a speedy recovery.
Ladybridge were very
close to being dumped out of the Challenge Cup at the first hurdle this
morning. We started slowly and looked
lack-lustre for long periods particularly in the first half when the deficit
could have been much worse than one goal. The 2nd half saw us perform much better and
secure a win out of a game that probably should have ended in a draw.
Hough End Griffins, next
weeks opponents, are a top drawer outfit and are unbeaten in the league and Cup
this season so we'll need to be at our very best to come away with any kind of
result next Sunday morning.
Gordon
