April 1995

Atherton got back on track after three defeats with a good win over Curzon Ashton. Paul Moss and Stuart Humphreys went close before Dave Liptrott opened the scoring in the 15th minute. Five minutes later Stuart Humphreys hit a 30 yard shot which was in the net before anyone moved. Curzon suffered a set back when McCrady was sent off and although Atherton pressed to take advantage, the closest they came before half time was a Mark Stewart free kick which came off the post.
In the second half Tony Pemberton hit the post, Mark Stewart hit the bar and the referee turned down two penalty appeals, Dave Liptrott being fouled on both occasions. However, as often happens in football, down to 10 men the Curzon players raised their game to compensate and made a real game of it in the second half.

LR - Andy Hills, Mick Southern, Paul Moss, Rob Holgate, Andy Feeley, Mark Stewart, Paul Burrows, Lee Cryer, Dave Liptrott, Andy Noone, Stuart Humphreys Subs Chris Ree, Tony Pemberton

 

An excellent performance by Atherton against an Ashton team in a state of flux. A Mark Stewart volley gave the home side the lead on 14 minutes and in the 23rd minute Darren Lyons levelled for Ashton. Stuart Humphreys won the game with a powerful header in the 35th minute.

LR - Andy Hills, Mick Southern, Paul Moss, Rob Holgate, Andy Feeley, Mark Stewart, Paul Burrows, Keith Ingham, Dave Liptrott, Andy Noone, Stuart Humphreys Subs Chris Ree, Christie

Ashton - Peter Cole, Matty Holt, Mark Murray, Gordon Woods, Terry Williams, Ian Boyle, Darren Lyons, Chris Shaw, Bernie Hughes, Andy Baines, Mark Shirley, Subs Colin Heywood, Steve Allcock

Lee Cryer, Andy Feeley and Mark Stewart gave Atherton the win with Steve Daykin scoring for Farsley.

LR - Andy Hills, Mick Southern, Paul Moss, Rob Holgate, Andy Feeley, Mark Stewart, Paul Burrows, Lee Cryer, Dave Liptrott, Steve Taylor, Stuart Humphreys Subs Andy Noone, Jimmy Evans

Mark Ogden made his debut in goal for Atherton in this game and played exceptionally well. Bamber Bridge were pushing for the title and came out fighting. They created a number of chances, but found Ogden in inspired form. As the half wore on Atherton came into the game, Dave Liptrott coming close twice and Lee Cryer forcing a good save from Greenwood.
Ten minutes into the second half Bamber Bridge scored the winning goal, and it was a classic - Mark Milligan received the ball 35 yards out from the Laburnums goal and unleashed a tremendous shot which struck a post and went in. LR pressed forwards and deserved to get something from this game as they played well. The game was in danger of boiling over at one point as a very weak referee allowed all sorts of minor incidents to go unpunished and the players began to take the law into their own hands.

LR - Mark Ogden, Mick Southern, Jimmy Evans, Rob Holgate, Andy Feeley, Mark Stewart, Paul Burrows, Lee Cryer, Dave Liptrott, Paul Moss, Stuart Humphreys Subs Andy Noone, Jeremy Lord
 

The match kicked off in pouring rain, making things difficult for both sets of players. Atherton had the edge in the opening minutes with Andy Noone coming close, firing over the bar from a good position. Atherton had plenty of early possession but couldn't find a way through a battling defence. Gretna came into the game with Derek Ord forcing a good save from Atherton's Andy Hills. Atherton ended the half on a high, but the nearest they came was a Jeremy Lord strike which went wide of the mark

Gretna came out strongly in the second half, Hills again being forced into a great save to keep the score level. On the hour Atherton were forced into a change when Andy Feeley had to leave the game having picked up a knock on his knee cap, Steve Taylor replaced him. Dave Liptrott went on a strong run, but his final shot lacked power and the home keeper had no trouble collecting. Another change saw Lee Cryer come on for Keith Ingham.  With just ten minutes remaining Atherton found a way through. Cryer went on a run past the back four and sent a cross into the area for Liptrott to head home. Atherton were playing well and with so little time left they looked good for all the points. However, with just two minutes remaining Gretna's Derek Townsley went down in the Atherton area. It didn't look as though anyone had been near him at the time, so when the referee blew and awarded Gretna a penalty, the Atherton players surrounded the official to complain. However, the decision stood and Townsley took the spot kick himself, sending Hills the wrong way. There was still time for Atherton to mount one final attack and they were awarded a direct free kick just outside the Gretna area. Stuart Humphreys hit a powerful strike that rattled the crossbar with the home keeper beaten.

LR - Andy Hills, Paul Moss, Jimmy Evans, Rob Holgate, Andy Feeley, Jeremy Lord, Paul Burrows, Andy Noone, Dave Liptrott, Keith Ingham, Stuart Humphreys Subs Lee Cryer, Steve Taylor

Worksop took the lead through Kenny Clarke in the 25th minute when he outpaced the Laburnums defence and rifled home. Atherton had their chances, Steve Taylor shot wide, Jeremy Lord just over and Tony Pemberton went on a great run but couldn't find the vital touch. However, after much pressure on the visitors goal, Andy Noone scored the equaliser, turning on the spot and firing home.
After the break Atherton looked slightly the better side, Noone having a strong penalty appeal turned down and having a goal disallowed for offside. Worksop’s Clarke got himself into a good position but shot wide and Steve Taylor headed a goal bound header off the line. In the last five minutes Stuart Humphreys forced a great save from the Worksop keeper when his header seemed to be heading for the top corner of the net.

LR - Andy Hills, Mick Southern, Jimmy Evans, Rob Holgate, Steve Taylor, Jeremy Lord, Andy Noone, Tony Pemberton, Dave Liptrott, Paul Moss, Stuart Humphreys Subs Lee Cryer, Chris Patterson
 

In their last match of the season LR went down 1-0 to lowly Goole. They started well with Steve Taylor shooting wide and Tony Pemberton forcing a good save from the visitors keeper but at half time the score remained 0-0.
LR kept pushing forwards in the second half, but couldn't find the killer touch. They came closest when a brilliant through ball by Stuart Humphreys found Paul Burrows but his shot was really well saved by the keeper. As both teams settled for a point, it all changed in the last seconds of the game. The ball struck a Laburnums player in the area and the referee awarded Goole a penalty which Gabbiadini scored.

LR - Andy Hills, Mick Southern, Jimmy Evans, Rob Holgate, Steve Taylor, Jeremy Lord, Andy Noone, Tony Pemberton, Dave Liptrott, Paul Moss, Stuart Humphreys Subs Lee Cryer, Chris Patterson
 

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