On a very windy and overcast afternoon we arrived at Hough End Playing Fields
to compete in the semi final of the Tameside League Challenge Cup. Ladybridge had twelve players available this
afternoon with Craig missing due to being Cup tied. Unfortunately due to the wind this match was
not going to be for the purist with both teams struggling to cope with the
strong crosswind blowing across the pitch. Hough End settled into the
first 5 minutes well and the sharp and quick No 11 on the right wing made a couple
of dangerous runs down his wing to test out the Ladybridge defence. Nathan was at the centre of Ladybridge's first
foray forward when he went past a couple of defenders down the right wing
before delivering a dangerous cross into the box that was cleared well by the
Hough End defence. The first goal of the
game came on 10 minutes when Ben played a wonderful ball forward behind the
Hough End back line that Dion latched on to and he shot smartly past the Hough
End keeper to make it 1-0 to Ladybridge.
Five minutes later the Hough End No 11 again burst down the right and
delivered a superb ball into the box that should have been dispatched by the
Hough End striker but he pulled his shot wide of Conor's right hand post. Matt came to the rescue with a tremendous
header away from another cracking cross from the busy Hough End No 11 on 25mins.
Unfortunately Ladybridge were unable to hang on to their slender lead into the
break when Hough End equalised through a chipped in cross from the left that
seemed to loop over Conor and into the back of his net to make it 1-1.
Half Time 1-1
Ladybridge would be playing against the wind in the 2nd half and the No
11 again was causing problems down the right from kick off testing us with a
couple of decent balls into the box in the first 5mins. Jack had a good chance to break free on about 10mins
but the impressive No 16 was able to wrestle the ball away to safety. Both teams really were cancelling each other
out in the next 15-20 minutes of the game with both defences snuffing out any
attacks well. Hough End were awarded a
couple of free kicks 35 and 25 yards out that their No 10 hit well but were
eventually cleared well by the Ladybridge defence. The game turned however with 10mins to go when
a ball bounced up awkwardly at the Ladybridge defenders hand and the linesman
flagged for a penalty. The No 5 for
Hough End stepped up to take the penalty and slid his shot to the left and
under a diving Conor to make it 2-1 to Hough End. The last ten minutes
saw Ladybridge throw everything forward but found the Hough End back line
marshalled well by the No 16 in no mood to give Ladybridge a way back into the
game and they ran out the last few minutes to take the Cup tie 2-1 at full
time.
Hough End edged out Ladybridge this afternoon in tricky conditions in a
keenly fought contest that could have gone either way in the 2nd half. Their No 11 and No 16 were instrumental in
their teams win this afternoon with the No 11 causing problems throughout the
game going forward down the right and the No 16 being the rock at the centre of
defence. Well done to all at Hough End
and good luck in the final.
It's probably no consolation to our lads losing a close semi-final like
this but each and everyone of them should feel proud of themselves after
putting in a good, solid performance against the strongest (in my opinion) team
in our division.
Gordon
