Goldline Trophy Match Reports 1999/00
Saturday 17th July Home v
BSF Veterans Lost 4 - 1
The start of a long hard season for LR and new
manager Steve Plant had barely two weeks from taking over to finding a new team
for the coming campaign. The Veterans team consisted of players from various
clubs in the first division of the Bolton Veterans League and the difference
between the experienced older players and the new young LR side was clear.
However, Laburnums started brightly and one of the three players remaining from
last season, Chris Smith, hit the post in the 5th minute with a long range shot.
LR took a 15th minute lead when John Paul Hughes intercepted a poor back pass on
a hard, bumpy surface and rounded the keeper before slotting into an empty net.
Within a minute, while LR supporters were still commenting on the basic mistake
by the experienced Vets side, the Atherton defence did exactly the same thing -
a poor back pass which allowed Bryan Haworth to collect the ball and round the
keeper before tapping into an empty net. LR worked hard and just about had the
edge in the match, but on 38 minutes went a goal behind. An attack broke down
when Jonathan Dunn was challenged and the ball fell to Ian Street - a few years
later to become part of the management team at LR. He sent a perfect 40 yard
pass forwards for ex-Bolton Wanderers striker John Thomas to run on to. He
showed he hadn't lost any of his ability as excellent control saw him turn his
marker before hitting a low, hard shot from the edge of the area across the goal
and into the far corner. Five minutes before the break, the Vets Ray Charles was
sent off.
The second half saw LR searching for the equaliser, but while they could get the
ball as far as the Vets area, solid defending meant there was no way through.
The veterans side increased their lead on 65 minutes when Andy Barr dispossessed
Chris Smith on the edge of LR's area, leaving just the keeper to beat. Two
minutes later LR were again caught out by a long ball, this time ex-LR favourite
Steve Hilton was on hand to add the fourth.
Saturday 24th July Home v
Tempest United Drew 2 - 2
After last season's defeat by Tempest, LR
supporters knew this wouldn't be an easy game. A poor first half showing by LR
saw just one shot on target in the first 45 minutes, while at the other end
Tempest were finding holes in the Atherton defence and only some poor finishing
and good goalkeeping kept the score goalless. However, the inevitable goal came
on the half hour when another Tempest attack ended with the ball finding an
unmarked Lee Holden at the far side of the area, who had a free header. The
second half saw a much better performance by LR and the Tempest goal was under
pressure from the start. On the hour mark, LR levelled the score through Mark
Maddox who scored from what appeared to be an impossible angle. Five minutes
later LR had the opportunity to take the lead when Tony Maas was upended in the
area, but Anthony Smith hit the resulting penalty wide of the mark. Still,
Atherton kept pressing and were rewarded with a superb goal from Maas on 74
minutes. The ball was curled into the area and a stunning bicycle kick from the
Atherton striker flew into the net before anyone had moved. Tempest upped their
game and put the LR defence under pressure, but it seemed the Atherton
youngsters would hold firm. However, two minutes from time Ian Horrocks levelled
the score. Deep into injury time, a well worked move by LR ended with Maas
getting into a good position with only the keeper to beat, but blasted his shot
wide of the post. Although, certainly for now, the name of the referee has been
lost in the mists of time, it has to be said that in a match where there were no
linesmen, the official had an excellent game and coped well controlling the game
on his own.
Thursday 29th July Away v
Pennington Lost 6 - 2
After the first team had played a Rochdale XI the
night before, it was LR's reserve side which went to Pennington for this game
and the home side fully deserved the win. Unfortunately the names of
Pennington's scorers don't seem to have been recorded anywhere. The home side
attacked from the off, putting a lot of pressure on the young LR defence.
Eventually the onslaught told and a right sided cross found an unmarked forward
in the area who made no mistake. LR tried to make progress but attacks soon
broke down and the defence was quickly under pressure again. However, against
the run of play, Atherton levelled the score when a long ball was sent forwards
for Paul Vandenberg to chase. The home defence was caught out and Vandenberg
lifted the ball over the outcoming keeper and into the net. Pennington's answer
was a superb goal. A quick move down the right side ended with a cross into the
area which was volleyed straight in, giving the keeper no chance at all.
Pennington added a third just a minute into the second half when a left sided
corner curled straight into the goal. Pennington piled the pressure on, but were
caught on the break again and Jamie McDonald pulled a goal back for LR, suddenly
giving the possibility of getting something from the game. Pennington kept
pressing but missed numerous chances. Things were still not looking too bad for
LR until the final 15 minutes when it all went to pieces and Pennington added
three more. It could have been a lot worse as, amazingly, on two occasions a
Pennington forward rounded the LR keeper and with an open goal ahead of him, hit
wide. The result meant that LR were out of the competition for this season,
unable to finish in the top two.
Tuesday 3rd August Away v
Charnock Richard Lost 2 - 0
While LR were out of the competition, pride was
at stake and they started this game in determined fashion, putting the home side
under a lot of pressure. However, the Charnock defence worked hard and
eventually the home side began to find their feet and a much more even encounter
followed. Chances came and went at both ends in a goalless first half, the best
probably falling to Charnock Richard when a powerful strike forced a superb
diving save from LR keeper Simon Caine. The second half started with Charnock
Richard on top and just a minute into the second period they took the lead.
Ex-LR favourite, Steve Iley, received the ball just outside the Atherton area
and hit a shot which flew goalwards, hit the inside of the post and went in,
giving Caine no chance. The home side pressed hard for the second goal to kill
the game off, but the LR defence, while not looking totally confident, held
strong. Gradually LR came back into the game with Jonathan Dunn and Tony Maas
working hard at the front, but unable to find the vital touch. The nearest LR
came was a strike from Maas which came back off the post and was cleared.
Charnock were still threatening at the other end in an entertaining game and the
second goal came five minutes from time. A free kick was awarded to Charnock
Richard on the edge of the LR box. Darryl Martinus took the kick and curled the
ball round the Atherton wall and straight into the back of the net. LR kept
pushing to try and rescue the game despite the limited time remaining but the
home defence held firm.