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
