Dukinfield Youth V Ladybridge

On a bright, clear sunny morning we travelled to Dukinfield Youth's ground for our first league fixture in a fortnight.  We had a full squad of 13 available and Dion and Caleb were on the bench for Ladybridge.  The pitch was in tremendous condition considering the recent weather and was a surface that encouraged good passing football throughout the game.  Dukinfield came out of the traps quickly and their No 11 looked very lively and dangerous in possession.  Ladybridge opened the scoring after 5mins when Jack whipped in a beautiful cross into the centre of the box that Josh met perfectly with his head to guide home past their keeper 1-0 to Ladybridge.

Jack almost doubled our lead a minute later when he hit the crossbar from 25 yards out.  Dukinfield's No 11 was to punish some slack defending when he placed a lovely shot from the left wing 20 yards out high and to the left of Conor to make it 1-1 after 8mins.

The opening 10mins was a real end to end battle and Ladybridge would re-take the lead when, after some good work down the flank, Nathan lifted a great cross into the box that Josh fired home to make it 2-1 to Ladybridge.

Our next goal came a couple of minutes later when Callum found Nathan who passed on to Jack in a central position mid-way into the Dukinfield's half and he threaded a lovely ball on to Ollie who slotted his left footed drive past the keeper to make it 3-1 to Ladybridge.

Dukinfield got the next goal when their impressive No 11 went past a couple of Ladybridge defenders before setting up the No 15 who shot past Conor to make it 3-2 on 20mins.

A corner from Jack on 25mins set up Ladybridge's fourth goal when his excellent delivery found Ben, whose header was parried out well by the Dukinfield keeper, but the ball fell to Bayley who shot low and hard to make it 4-2 to Ladybridge.

Nathan made another trademark run down the right into the area a minute before half time and he cut the ball back well to pick out Jack in space and from 10 yards he rarely misses and he stroked the ball home to make it 5-2 at half time.

The Dukinfield No 11 was unlucky not to open the scoring in the 2nd period when he again made a surging run forward past a couple of our defenders only to see his effort go marginally wide of the right hand post.  This however was to be the last real attempt on goal for Dukinfield as Ladybridge would go on to score seven unanswered goals in the next 30mins to run out as convincing winners on the day.  The first of these was a brilliant individual special from Jack who lifted a high looping effort over the keeper from 35 yards out to make it 6-2. 

Jack scored again minutes later from 30 yards out when Nathan picked him out well from the right and he smashed the ball home from 25 yards to make it 7-2.

A nice move down the left flank was started by Dion who squared the ball to Jack who found Liam free on the left hand side of the penalty area and he went past his marker before finding the back of the net with a well taken effort to make it 8-2 with 20mins to go.

Nathan and Jack combined well together exchanging passes before Jack fired home from 15 yards out to make it 9-2.

Liam sent a terrific cross into the box that Josh fired goal-wards only to find a defender pushing the ball out with his hand, which resulted in a penalty for Ladybridge.  Josh stepped up and placed the ball wide and low into the bottom right hand corner of the net 10-2 to Ladybridge.

Ollie started the move for our 11th goal after he found Dion flying down the left flank with a lovely pass and Dion picked out Josh in the box and he drove home well to make it 11-2.

Nathan deservedly got on the goal sheet with a minute to go when Jack found him in space and with just the keeper to beat he managed to slide the ball home well to make it 12-2 to Ladybridge.

Dukinfield played a lot better than the score-line suggests and they certainly matched us for long periods of the first half when their No 11 was at the centre of all their good work during that period.  Unfortunately in the 2nd period they came up against a determined and rampant Ladybridge who threatened to score every time they went forward.

After an enforced two week lay off, Ladybridge have bounced back well in this game after suffering two defeats in our last two league outings.  The lads played some wonderful passing football this morning and were clinical in finishing efforts particularly in the 2nd half as they romped to our biggest win of the season so far.  Well done lads on a tremendous victory.

The festive break is now upon us and our next scheduled fixture is away against Heyside Barca on the 6th Jan.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Gordon

Goodbye to Neil & Simon

Neil informed us earlier last week that he would be stepping down from his role as coach for personal reasons and Simon, who assisted Neil throughout his tenure, has also decided to leave. Neil was pitchside this morning to support Taylor at his new team and to say a few goodbyes. Neil's and Simon's efforts, particulary last season when we won 3 cups and the league, are something that will live long in everyone's memory and will probably never be repeated and is a fitting legacy to Neil and Simon's dedication to the Ladybridge Pumas - Thanks guys for some fantastic memories and the best of luck to you both in the future. 

Wayne Hall-Paterson, our former manager, has taken over for the forseeable future and we all wish Wayne well for the rest of the season.

Gordon

Manchester Lads v Ladybridge

On a clear, crisp, freezing cold morning we travelled to Manchester Lads 3G home pitch at Our Lady's RC School for what would turn out to be a very tough league fixture.  Our squad has depleted by two players leaving us since our last match.  Tom due to his family relocating to South Africa and Taylor has joined Manchester Lads for personal reasons and lined up against us this morning.  Josh was missing through illness and an injured Ollie started on the bench for Ladybridge.  

The opening period of the game was quite scrappy with both teams struggling on a very slippery surface that made controlling the ball difficult.  Manchester opened the scoring after 5mins when a speculative shot by their No 9 from 30 yards out beat Conor's dive to the right to nestle in the net to make it 1-0 to Manchester.

Dion had a great opportunity to level the game up shortly after when Jack found him in a central position but he just skewed his shot wide of the target.  The next goal was scored from Manchester's second corner of the game when the No 8 in space and unchallenged was able to head the ball home to make it 2-0 Manchester on 15mins.

Callum was very unlucky not to double his goal tally for the season when he unleashed a great effort out wide on the left from 35 yards out that was saved really well by the Manchester keeper.  The next goal was a cruel one to take for Ladybridge when the Manchester No 17 hit a hopeful high punt from 40 yards out that dipped over Conor and into the back of the net.  Manchester 3-0.

Ladybridge did manage to get a goal back just before half time when the referee awarded a penalty after Jack had been fouled in the area.  Jack stepped up to take the kick and he lifted his shot high and wide into the left hand corner of the net to make it 3-1 at half time.

HT Manchester Lads 3-1 Ladybridge

Ladybridge started the 2nd half very well and were able to create a couple of good chances that Dion and Ollie were just unable to convert within minutes of the restart.  The Manchester No 9 also had a good effort just go wide of the left post after 40mins.  The Manchester keeper made a fantastic save from a bullet shot from Jack after the ball fell to him on the edge of the box.  It would be our former player Taylor that would open his account for Manchester mid way through the 2nd period when, after a slick passing move found him lurking 5 yards out, he made no mistake to slot past Conor to make it 4-1 to the home team.  Bayley was fouled 35 yards out on the right after 20mins and Jack stepped up to fire a shot goal-bound that their keeper did well to keep hold of.  Taylor doubled his tally with ten minutes remaining when their No 17 found him with a lovely ball into his feet and he again made no mistake from close range to make it 5-1 to Manchester.

Ladybridge did manage to pull a goal back with 5mins remaining when Bayley found Dion well down the right and he crossed the ball into Jack who fired an unstoppable drive past the keeper to bring an end to the scoring in the game to make the full time score 5-2 to Manchester Lads.

Manchester Lads will have enjoyed this comprehensive win this morning after losing two tight games earlier this season by the odd goal.  A yard sharper to the ball particularly in the first half, their performance throughout the 70mins meant they deserved to take the points.  Well done to the Manchester Lads on a good solid performance.

A difficult morning for Ladybridge, in a game that marks a new start for the team both on and off the pitch. Manchester started the game much better than we did and were a yard quicker to the ball certainly in the first half.  I felt we played much better in the 2nd period but we left ourselves with far too much to do to get anything out of the game. 

Hopefully the lads can re-group and focus on bouncing back with a win away next Sunday morning in a league fixture at Curzon Ashton.

Gordon