After many seasons of trying, and a few comprehensive defeats along the way, it was with great pleasure that today the boys were really up for the game against Red Rose and a hard earned 1-1 draw was the reward.

After another week of uncertainty with the weather, the game was switched to Marsh Lane as Red Roses new pitch was still too soft after the recent heavy rains. In the dressing room before the game the build up had the emphasis on the need for 100% committment and attitude. After a run of 3 poor results what better game to try and get things back on track than against Red Rose!! The boys confidence has took a real battering over the last few games and we were really hoping that we wouldn't be lacking today against a quality Red Rose team who would no doubt have took clinical advantage.

The match started very tight with the play moving from end to end and was being fiercly contested in midfield. Red Rose as usual looked very dangerous going forward, but today the boys in defence were confident and coped well with the attacks that came, and Jack was coping well with anything that got through. The break came mid way through the half, and what a well taken goal by Dom, I was really pleased for him as he has been one of the players whose confidence has taken a real knock recently, but the way he calmly looked up and hit his shot from 25/30 yards to lob the keeper was excellent, and this certainly improved his confidence for the rest of the game until tiredness took over later. So here we were again at half time 1-0 up, playing well but mindful of what was still to come in the second half. The message to the the boys by Steve and me being very much to keep it as tight as possible at the back, too tighten up in the centre of midfield where they had been given too much space in the first half, and going forward to take any chances that came along, but above all else to keep concentrating and keep playing as positively as we had done in the first half.

The second half was as tight and competitive as the first, but a moment of apprehension up front meant we gave the ball away unnecessarily, and 2/3 passes later the Red Rose centre forward was through 1 0n 1 with Jack and he calmly passed it in around Jack who had little chance. This was now the real test of the boys character and determination, had they listened to what we have been telling them about keeping their heads when we concede. For a few nervous moments it seemed not, but once we recovered we were back to competing well. As the half progressed legs were starting to tire, Jamie on for Dom brought fresh legs to the midfield, and when Aaron took a kick in the ribs, we decided to pack the midfield to safeguard the draw, putting Sam on the left and moving Jamie into the middle where Red Rose still looked dangerous  despite excellent games from Luke and Adam. Despite a few dangerous attacks we held out very well and a 1-1 draw was no doubt the right result.

My thanks to Alan and his boys for the part they played in a tremendous game of competitive football, and we wish them well for the rest of the season. And a massive well done to our boys, this is the standard of play that Steve and myself know they can produce, the challenge now is to take this forward and consistently produce good results like this, well done boys.

 Gary.