Ladybridge v Hough End Griffins

On a cold, cloudy but dry afternoon we welcomed the League leaders Hough End to Tempest Road. Ladybridge had a full squad to pick from and Dion, Harley and Callum started on the bench.  The first five minutes of the game was pretty even with both teams testing each other out and enjoying equal periods of possession and territory.  Hough End would have the first notable shot on 7mins when the No 9 found the No 7 on the edge of the box and he skied his effort over the bar.  The first corner of the game for Hough End would bring their first goal as the No 10 found himself with plenty of space and he headed his effort past Conor to make it 1-0 to Hough End on 10mins.

Its fair to say that Hough End took charge after the opening goal with further efforts from the dangerous No 9 and No 11 just going wide in the next 10mins of the game.  Ladybridge on one of their rare excursions forward gained a free kick on the edge of the box after Nathan was fouled when advancing towards goal.  Unfortunately Jack's well-hit shot from the free kick just went over the crossbar.  Ladybridge gained another free kick when Nathan was fouled again on the right hand side of the box.  Jack stepped up but put his low drive wide of the left hand post.  The No 11 for Hough End had the best effort to increase his sides lead before half time when he struck a great shot from 5 yards out that Conor just managed to push past his post and out for a corner.

Half Time Ladybridge 0-1 Hough End

Ladybridge were caught napping from the kick off as Hough End launched the ball forward into the Ladybridge box and only a goal-line clearance from Craig kept the ball out.  Hough End increased their lead directly from a goal kick on 40mins that was powerfully hit forward by their No 16 and this found their No 11 running powerfully towards goal and he brushed aside our defender easily before slotting home past Conor to make it 2-0 to Hough End.

Ladybridge nearly hit straight back from their first corner of the 2nd half, which was taken by Jack and headed goal-wards by Liam but his effort was cleared off the line well by the Hough End defender.  Hough End would again dominate us for long periods of the 2nd half and had numerous attempts to increase their lead that either went wide or were cleared well by a busy Ladybridge defence.  Hough Ends 3rd goal was scored with about 6mins of the game remaining and came courtesy of a defensive mix up that was snaffled up by the No 9 who scored his 2nd from close range to make 3-0 to Hough End.

The No 9 would complete his hat-trick with a few minutes remaining when he was fed by a lovely through ball by the No 17 and he planted the ball past Conor to make the final score 4-0 to Hough End.

Hough End completed the league double against us this afternoon and to be fair they could have won by a bigger margin if they'd been a bit more clinical in front of goal and from set pieces.  The No 9 and 11 going forward were a real handful throughout the game and the No 16 at the back was immense in dealing with and nullifying any offensive threat that Ladybridge could muster. A smashing team performance and a well deserved win by the better team - well done.

Ladybridge were put to the sword this afternoon and were outplayed for most of the game by a well drilled and efficient Hough End team that has a real physical edge to their game that was too much for us to handle this afternoon.  Hopefully we can get back to winning ways from back to back defeats in our next game, a Manchester County Cup 1st round tie at against Glossop next Sunday.

Prestwich Town v Ladybridge Pumas (1st Round League Cup)

On a clear bright chilly morning we travelled to Salford Sports Centre to take on Prestwich Town in the 1st round of the League Cup.  We had a new player join us this morning, a centre back/midfielder Craig who unfortunately had to leave after the team warm up feeling unwell.  Ben started on the bench for Ladybridge.  

The surface was a 100% improvement on last weeks pitch but it would cut up throughout the course of the match.  The home side started very brightly and had the first meaningful effort on goal after 4mins with Conor saving well down to his right.  Ladybridge forced the first corner of the game after a good run from Dion down the right on 8mins.  Josh delivered a good ball into the box and a header from Jack saw the Prestwich No 1 scramble the ball away for another corner.  Ladybridge would take the lead against the run of play on 12mins when the Prestwich defence struggled to clear a bouncing ball on the edge of their box and Jack retrieved possession before smashing the ball low and hard past the keeper to make it 1-0 to Ladybridge.

The Nos 9 and 17 for Prestwich would prove to be a real handful for our defensive quartet throughout the rest of the half and the No 9 was unlucky to see a smart effort go just wide on about 25mins.  Nathan made a mazy run down the left on 30mins and he found Jack on the edge of the box, unfortunately he skyed his effort over the bar.  Prestwich would pressurise the Ladybridge defence for the rest of the half and they got the equalising goal that their play deserved with a minute of the half remaining.  The Prestwich front man was able to take advantage of a defensive mix up between goalkeeper and defender and snuck in to drive the ball home to make it 1-1.

HT 1-1

Prestwich started really well after the break and took the lead after a couple of minutes after a wonderful solo effort by their No 11.  He managed to evade the attention of two of our defenders before slotting past Conor low into the bottom right hand corner of the net to make it 2-1 to Prestwich.

Ladybridge were denied an equaliser 4mins later when their keeper did well to snaffle a ball off the post from a Ladybridge corner.  Dion and Nathan combined well minutes later when a rasping shot from Nathan was saved brilliantly by the Prestwich keeper.  The game had a real ebb and flow about it throughout the half with both teams really testing one another which was excellent to watch for all the spectators.  Ladybridge would go a further goal behind when the No 17 was able to place the ball home after some slack defensive play allowed him too much time and space in the box and he made no mistake to make it 3-1 to Prestwich. 

Ladybridge would press hard for the remainder of the half but the Prestwich defence and keeper in particular repelled all of our attacks well to deny us a way back into the game.  Prestwich nearly scored again with five minutes of the game remaining when a headed effort from a corner just went wide of the left hand post.  Ladybridge would gain a consolation goal with a minute of the game remaining when Ben was up ended in the box for a penalty which Jack smacked home to make it 3-2.

Prestwich deserved to win the match this morning with a solid team performance from all their squad.  Their forwards looked dangerous from the off and they punished some slack play by the Ladybridge defence for all three of their goals.  Their keeper was also on top form and pulled off two or three excellent saves to deny us a way back into the game in the 2nd half.  Well done Prestwich and good luck going forward into the 2nd round of the League Cup.

Ladybridge will have to take this defeat on the chin and accept that we were outplayed for long periods throughout the game and beaten by the better team on the day.  Hopefully we can bounce back in a positive way next week when we take on top of the table Hough End Griffins at home in the League.

There was another excellent performance this morning on the pitch worthy of mention and that was from the young referee.  He controlled the game effectively and fairly and conducted himself with a real maturity throughout the match and produced a ten out of ten performance in my opinion - well done.

Gordon 

Boundary Park v Ladybridge Pumas (3rd Round Challenge Cup)

On a very wet and windy afternoon we could only muster 10 players to take on our opponents Boundary Park, with Dion and Ben away and Bayley still off injured.  Boundary Park started with 10 men but were back at full strength as their keeper turned up after 10mins of play. The playing conditions were truly awful underfoot with bog like conditions particularly in the penalty boxes.  In truth this game would turn out to be a very uneven contest that Ladybridge would dominate from the start.  Our first goal came on 6mins with Jack finding Liam in space in the box and he in turn found Nathan free at the left hand post to turn the ball in to make it 1-0 to Ladybridge.

Our 2nd goal came courtesy of a great run and cross by Jack that Liam fired home from close range 2-0 Ladybridge.

Ladybridge scored again shortly after when Nathan fired a ball into the box, which Liam tucked home from 5 yards. 3-0 Ladybridge.

A corner taken by Josh was headed home well by Jack with 10mins of the half remaining to make it 4-0.

Nathan provided our 5th goal after a lung busting down the right and into the box and his cut back pass to Liam was tucked away for his hatrick to make it 5-0.

Jack added our 6th goal from the edge of the box with 5mins to go before the break with an unstoppable shot low and left of the keeper to make it 6-0.

HT: Boundary Park 0-6 Ladybridge Pumas

The scoring for Ladybridge would continue throughout the 2nd period with Jack in the 1st minute making a forceful run forward and from the edge of the box his shot came to rest in the mud 2 yards out which Nathan got to ahead of the defence to make it 7-0.

Nathan retuned the compliment to Jack 2mins later when he provided the pass to Jack who duly fired home to make it 8-0.

The double act between Jack and Nathan continued a few minutes later when they combined again with Jack providing Nathan with a gilt edged chance that he fired home to make it 9-0.

Jack provided the cross from the right that picked up Harley free in the centre of the box and from 10 yards out he fired home for his first goal for Ladybridge to bring up double figures 10-0.

The No 7 for Boundary Park forced the first save from Conor 15mins into the half, which he snaffled well to his left to maintain his clean sheet. Conor cleared the ball long and one bounce later Josh controlled well to slip past the defender to run into the box and shoot home to make it 11-0.

Caleb would help the ball on to Nathan on the right wing a couple of minutes later and the resulting cross into the box found Liam who placed his shot well to make it 12-0.

Callum set up the 13th goal after a good run and cross down the left that Harley fired home with 5mins of the game remaining 13-0.  Josh would scramble in the ball from short range after a goal-mouth scramble with a couple of minuets to go to round off the scoring for Ladybridge to make it 14-0 at full time.

Boundary Park put on a spirited display despite the score-line and their keeper made some fine saves in truly awful conditions.  Our opposition never gave up this afternoon and they continued to battle on right through to the full time whistle.

Ladybridge, with ten men, were clinical in front of goal this afternoon and worked hard for one another throughout the game to progress through to the fourth round and an away tie against Glossop North End.  Well done lads.

Walshaw Sports v Ladybridge

Walshaw Sports v Ladybridge

It was a depleted and changed squad of players that pitched up at Bury Grammar for our 2nd League fixture of the year, against Walshaw Sports.  Bayley was out of the squad after sustaining a broken wrist in our previous game and Ollie has decided to leave us to play football for a team closer to his home - good luck Ollie and all the best to you at your new club.  We have however been boosted with a new signing, a midfielder called Harley who started on the bench for Ladybridge this morning.  It was a damp, dark and misty morning that greeted both teams and the pitch was at best just playable after some miserable recent weather.  The early pressure came from the home team who were playing with the prevailing wind at their backs and they forced at least 5 corners in the first 7 or 8mins that Ladybridge did well to defend and maintain a clean sheet from.  Ladybridge's first offensive foray came after a slick run by Nathan down the right whose pass into Jack was in turn moved on to Liam who skewed his shot wide of the right hand post.  Walshaw heaped further pressure with more corners throughout the first half that Ladybridge managed to repel the danger from.  The No 16 for Walshaw would prove to be a constant threat throughout the game and he had a tremendous opportunity to open the scoring when he carved out a great chance for himself 25 yards out, only to see his well struck shot sail over the crossbar.  Ladybridge threatened to score with 10mins of the half to go when Jack whistled an effort wide of the left hand post.  The deadlock in the game was finally broken with a couple of minutes of the half remaining when Nathan made a superb run down the right flank before picking out Josh in the centre just outside the Walshaw box and he in turn passed to Jack who swerved past a challenge before planting a vicious strike towards goal that beat their keeper for pace to make it 1-0 to Ladybridge.

HT Walshaw 0-1 Ladybridge

The 2nd period started well for the away team and having the wind behind them meant that they were able to force Walshaw back into their own half for long periods.  We gained our first corner of the game in the opening minutes of the half and from this first corner Walshaw conceded another 3 corners in quick succession and Callum was unlucky not to score from one of these, when his header drifted over the bar from close range.  Our next effort came courtesy of Dion who made a darting run in field from the left hand side and his cross towards Jack was hit first time on target but Jack was denied by a superb save by the Walshaw No 1.  Ladybridge had a very direct effort 15mins into the half when Conor's long clearance was helped on by Caleb into the path of Jack whose short run and shot went high and to left of the keeper.  Walshaw mounted a decent attack down the right hand flank 5mins later that saw their wingers shot find the side netting.  Both sides would have good opportunities from free kicks mid way through the half and Ladybridge was the first of these when Caleb, from just over the half way line, floated a ball into the box that Josh just put over the bar.  Walshaw’s free kick was central and 35 yards out and although Conor managed to parry the ball out and the Walshaw player found the back of the net from the loose ball he was judged to have scored from an offside position. Ladybridge's last goal of the game came after Jack received the ball from a throw in on the left hand side and his pin point cross found Dion in a central position and he flicked his shot past the keeper to make it 2-0 to Ladybridge.  Within a minute of the restart Walshaw would score their only goal of the game when their No 6 made a superb run down the left and his ball into the heart of the Ladybridge area was swept home by the Walshaw striker to make it 2-1 with around 5mins of the game remaining.  It would be too little too late however for the home team and the game finished with no further goals to make it 2-1 to Ladybridge at full time.

Walshaw were unable to take advantage of the prevailing wind and a good dozen or so corners in the first period when the Ladybridge defence managed to stay firm.  They worked really hard throughout the game in less than ideal conditions and their No 16 was a constant threat throughout the game with ball at his feet.

Overall I felt we deserved the victory this morning and I'm sure it will prove to be a real morale boost for all the team after a distinct lack of game time due to the inclement weather over the past couple of months.  A real work-man like performance from all twelve squad members and a collective determination that saw them past a tough opposition who always looked dangerous on the break.  Well done lads on a fine performance.

Gordon