August 2008

Atherton LR got their season underway in the best possible manner. On a gloomy afternoon which resembled a Saturday in November more than August, both sides contributed fully to an entertaining game.

LR started well, passing the ball around and pressuring the visiting defence. However, it was a long goal kick from debutant keeper Paul de Garis which caused the first excitement as the ball was sent forwards to Phil Howard who saw his shot deflected out of play. From the resulting corner, keeper Steve Downs collected just ahead of Ross McNair. Abbey Hey started to pull themselves into the game, building most of their attacks on the right wing with the busy Danny Doherty causing a few problems for the LR defence. The visitors had a strong spell and created a few chances. An Atherton free kick was cleared and the ball quickly sent upfield forcing de Garis to rush out and clear just ahead of a forward. De Garis was called on again when another move on the right side ended with the ball finding Dominic Lillet in the area. While the ball was probably higher than the Abbey man would have liked, he still hit a good strike which forced de Garis into an equally good diving save. The ball was still moving freely from end to end with LR looking likely to score but when they took the lead in the 19th minute it wasn't in the expected manner. A long ball was sent forwards for Phil Howard to chase. The Atherton man beat the offside trap and ran through with only the keeper to beat and the Abbey custodian brought him down. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, but surprisingly only showed a yellow card to Downs rather than the red everyone expected. Paul Crompton took the spot kick and made no mistake. Moments later Abbey Hey almost caught the LR defence napping, but a well timed challenge from Louis Edwards and a second from Lee Skett when the ball spun towards another visiting forward, cleared the danger. On 29 minutes LR doubled their lead. The Atherton side were awarded a free kick which was half cleared, but a low hard shot was sent goalwards. Downs did well to make the save as he must have seen the ball late in a crowded area, but he couldn't hold on to it and Crompton was first to react and blast the loose ball into the roof of the net. Abbey Hey made a claim for a penalty which was waved away by the officials, before a strong run from John Maloney to the edge of the Atherton area saw him then combine well with Danny Heffernan before LR's Kieran Halliwell got a challenge in to clear. At the other end a through ball sent Paul Crewe running goalwards but keeper Downs was out quickly and just got to the ball first. A left sided Crompton cross into the visitors area should have been gathered by Downs but he spilled the ball. It went on to Phil Howard but as he lined up a shot a defender just managed to get a toe in first. Three minutes before the break LR added  a third. The ball was sent into the area from the left side and flicked on where it reached Phil Howard at the far post. It looked too high and too tight an angle for Howard to do much, but somehow he hit home. The visitors almost pulled a goal back on the stroke of half time when a long goal kick found Heffernan running goalwards on the left side of the area. He squared to Doherty who hit goalwards, but Ross McNair had got back and cleared off the line.

The second half had less in the way of goalmouth action but the ball still went from end to end. Both sides created plenty of half chances and while the visitors possibly had a slight edge for a while, the Atherton defence worked hard and denied them much. A fast move from Abbey Hey ended with a low cross into the path of Heffernan but his first touch sent the ball rolling straight into the arms of de Garis, while a low, hard cross from Doherty evaded everyone in the LR area. At the other end Phil Howard twice saw shots go wide of the mark, on both occasions under pressure from two defenders. A right sided cross found Crompton on the far side of the area, but as he controlled the ball with his chest and turned to shoot, a defender just managed to get a foot in. Substitute Ben Hyde broke through the visitors defence and ran to the edge of the area. As he hit the ball he was challenged from behind, but the referee waved away appeals for a free kick. Abbey Hey didn't give up and kept pushing forwards but the new look LR defence played well and denied them any clear chances, apart from once when de Garis was called on. Substitute Astley Mulholland hit a powerful strike from the edge of the area which the LR keeper palmed away and then moved fast to scoop the ball away from the feet of Gage Eme as he attempted a follow-up shot. Near the end of the game a long ball sent Hyde running goalwards, but keeper Downs was out quickly and cleared.

After the game manager Dave Hughes expressed his satisfaction in the teams performance, taking their chances in the first half and defending well when needed. Traditionally LR rarely win on the opening day of the season so it was a great boost for supporters and with so many new players seemingly having gelled quickly and performed well against an Abbey Hey side which clearly won't be struggling this season, early signs are very good. With any luck, if you click HERE you can see Paul Crompton's penalty goal.

Teams

LR - Paul de Garis, Dominic Smalley, Louis Edwards, Lee Skett, Ross McNair, Keiron Halliwell, Dean Alexander, Danny Smith, Phil Howard, Paul Crewe, Paul Crompton Subs Craig Ward, Jake Patton, Ben Hyde, Chris Lowe, Andrew Justin

Abbey Hey - Steve Downs, Keith Wedge, James Marsden, Mike Jeffries, Aaron Dennis, Dominic Lillet, Paul Massey, John Maloney, Danny Doherty, Danny Heffernan, Louie Scott Subs Gage Eme, Astley Mulholland, Paul Taker, Mike Brown, Ashley Brown

LR progressed to the next round of the FA Cup after an entertaining game at Dinnington. The home side came out in determined fashion and in the early stages took the game to LR, but the Atherton side soon pulled themselves into the game and won two consecutive corners which Dinnington struggled to clear. Paul Crewe had a shot go over the bar for LR while a free kick for Dinnington was hit over the bar. The ball moved from end to end, LR winning another corner while a strong run from Gavin Allott for the home side took him to the edge of the LR area, but the team mate he passed to was in an offside position. A good passing move by LR ended with a shot from Phil Howard which forced keeper Brad Mimms into a diving save. A curling cross from the left from Dinnington's Danny Lindley was just too far ahead of Liam Cartledge while a long ball sent Allott on a run at Atherton's goal, but keeper Paul de Garis came out quickly to clear the danger. Crewe went on a run for LR down the right side and went past two defenders as he cut inside the area, but after a couple of attempts, the home defence cleared the danger. There was a heart stopping moment for LR supporters as a home player went on a run at goal and was brought down from behind. It looked from the other end of the pitch as if it was inside the area and there was the possibility of a red card if the official felt that a goalscoring opportunity had been denied. However, a yellow card was shown and a free kick given just outside the area. The free kick was well taken and the ball was curling into the top right corner when de Garis pulled off a magnificent save. An Atherton free kick on the right side was headed into the side netting, but on 28 minutes Dinnington took the lead. You may have spotted by now that the official was somewhat whistle happy, regularly stopping play for firm but perfectly fair challenges throughout the game which at times led to frustration amongst the players and supporters. It was yet another in the long line of free kicks which was sent into the area and Grant Allott rose above everyone else to head the ball back across the goal and in. LR's Dominic Smalley hit a shot wide from a tight angle and when Phil Howard won a challenge, he ran into the area before forcing a good save from the home keeper but as the ball was pushed away, the linesman's flag went up. Towards the end of the half LR had a good spell of possession and the home defenders began arguing amongst themselves. However, they always did enough to keep the Atherton side out.

A majority of the second half was played in Dinnington's half with LR having by far the better of the game, but the home side were still dangerous on the break. Danny Smith hit the post early in the half from a very tight angle and while the ball was cleared out of play, the resulting corner was cleared. A good passing move from LR ended with Crewe hitting a shot which seemed to be sneaking inside the post before home keeper Mimms got down and pushed the ball clear. Dinnington were having trouble keeping hold of the ball at this stage and LR kept pressing but couldn't find a way through, the nearest was a shot from Smith which went straight into the keepers arms. A long goal kick from Mimms caused problems at the back for LR as Gavin Allott ran through, but with only de Garis to beat, he shot straight at the keeper. With LR playing well but not managing to get the breakthrough they needed and the clock ticking down, supporters were starting to will the management team to make a change, but they stuck with the team on the pitch and with fifteen minutes remaining, LR drew level. Dominic Smalley received the ball on the right side well outside of the area and there appeared to be no danger to the home goal, but he floated the ball into the box and somehow Mimms was nowhere to be seen and the ball went straight into the net. Crewe had the chance to put LR ahead when defender Brad Elam made a mistake and the Atherton man nipped in, collected the ball and went on a free run at goal. However, Mimms made a brave save at his feet. At this stage it was all Atherton, but suddenly a through ball set Dinnington substitute David Fredericks running goalwards unchallenged. This time it was de Garis who made a great save at the feet of the forward. With six minutes of the game remaining LR took the lead. A free kick was given for handball which was quickly taken by Phil Howard, squaring the ball to Chris Lowe well outside of the area. The youngster, who has forced his way into the first team from the reserves, hit a powerful strike which flew into the back of the net for his first ever goal for the first team. With so little time left, the home side picked up the pace and pressured hard to rescue the game. They thought they'd equalised just a few minutes later when a shot from Fredericks was well blocked by de Garis but the loose ball was blasted into the net. However, the linesman had his flag up for offside. A left sided cross reached Simon Mirfin in space inside the Atherton area, but he controlled the ball with his arm and a free kick was given. LR had a penalty appeal turned down by the referee when Phil Howard ran into the area and appeared to be brought down from behind, but the official waved away the appeals. The home side worked hard to find the equalising goal but the Atherton defence played well and kept them out and at every opportunity the LR side tried to keep the ball in the Dinnington half. It seemed, from the Atherton point of view, that the referee would never blow the final whistle, but eventually he did and the biggest smile was quite rightly on the face of young Chris Lowe whose first goal for the first team was the winning goal in an FA Cup tie.

A very good performance by LR against a side that will clearly soon find the form that won them promotion last season. The Atherton side dominated most of the second half and deserved to go through. Away from the pitch, the travelling LR contingent was smaller than usual, especially for a match at a club we've never played before. Such games are normally popular. The few who did travel found a very friendly club at Dinnington who treated us all with respect and made us very welcome.

Teams

LR - Paul de Garis, Craig Ward, Louis Edwards, Chris Lowe, Ross McNair, Keiron Halliwell, Dominic Smalley, Danny Smith, Phil Howard, Paul Crewe, Andrew Justin Subs Ben Hyde, Jake Patton, Simon Howard, Scott McGowan

Dinnington - Brad Mimms, Brad Elam, Jon Somerset, Gary Hibbert, Grant Allott, Danny Lindley, Martin Wade, Simon Mirfin, Gavin Allott, Liam Cartledge, Michael Blythen Subs Greg Ramsden, Tom Stubbs, David Fredricks, Mat Haigh, Jack Gregory

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