Game 39 Wacky

Another weird and wacky afternoon at Deepdale, first bit of wackiness was the team selected by Westley, six changes from the last home game abject surrender, he gave a debut to 17 year old youth centre back Ben Davies and then played him at left back!!!!!!!!
Then there was the pitch, all grass seemed to have disappeared from the surface, what was left seemed to be dried mud.
Then there was the game, they typical game of two halves, Coventry should have had the points sewn up by half time, but the second half it was the home side who looked more likely.
Coventry dominated from the off and looked like they could score when ever they wanted, Baker on the wing given acres of space every time Coventry attacked. Two fine saves by Stuckmann kept the home side in it, although King had had a header cleared from the line by a Coventry defender.
Against the run of play the home side took the lead, a fine cross field pass by Davies found Holmes whose over hit cross found Monakana, a bit of quality from the winger, ball into the six yards box and Cummings finished off the chance easily. (1-0)
For a few minutes North End played with a bit of confidence, then City equalised, a cross from the left found Leon Clarke who turned hid defender and scored with ease. (1-1)
All Coventry again as the impressive Baker hit the home post, but the home side managed to get to half time level and whatever Westley said to the players obviously worked because there was only one side in it in the second half.
Coventry gave away a needless corner in the first 30 seconds and that set the tone for their second half performance, North End were on the front foot, but as is the way Coventry re took the lead, Baker again caused chaos down the right hand side, getting into the area far too easily, his cross was majestically placed by his own keeper by Robertson. (1-2)
To give the home side credit, this setback spurred them on and just as the Coventry fans were sing, 'Your'e not singing anymore' North End equalised, another super cross from Davies was headed on by King into the path of Nicky Wroe who didn't miss. (2-2)
All North End as they piled forward, they really should have been in front as first Robertson and then Cummings missed great chances to take the lead, both were spurned.
As the game drifted towards the end North End had one last chance with a free kick at the very end of the game Coventry survived only just though.

Preston North End 2 Coventry City 2 Att 8474

Game 38 Taxi for Westley

As predictable as snow and ice in winter Preston slumped to yet another home defeat at the hands of Walsall. The 9823 who attended the family fun day to mark Graham Westley's first year as a manger of Preston will not be returning in droves after this shocker of a performance.
Once Brandy had opened the scoring for the visitors in the 18th minute, there was going to be only one winner.
North End had already had two warnings in the opening minutes but giant keeper Stuckmann had already made two great saves to keep the home side level. A Wroe shot at the other end was well saved by McLoughlin in the Walsall net.
The home side were unlucky in the 17th minute when Beavon squirmed free and squared the ball towards Garner who had the simple task of putting the ball in the net, well he would have done if he hadn't been pulled down by a defender, nothing was given, astonishing decision. To add insult to injury within a minute the Saddlers were ahead. Grigg easily dispossessed Foster at the edge of the box before squaring the ball to Brandy who scored from close range. (0-1)
Baxendale had two chances to increase the lead, he should have scored the first when he had plenty of time to lob the ball over the keeper but put it wide, thenalso narrowly missed with a 20 yards shot.
The second was soon to arrive, when Chambers cross was easily headed into the net by Downing. (0-2)
A Holmes shot went narrowly wide just on half time for the home side but that did nothing to lift the gloom.
An early shout for a Walsall penalty in the second half turned down but a third goal was soon to arrive following another Foster error, Grigg benefitting from the error squared the ball to Baxendale to hammer home the third. (0-3)
This was the sign for quite a few home supporters to head for the exit zone and to be honest who could blame them.
A great save from a Holmes free kick by McLoughlin kept out the home side, but Walsall always looked like catching the robotic home side out and Grigg really should have done better after more awful defending.
Deep in injury time Wright headed home a consolation, the ironic cheers summed the mood up of the home fans. (1-3)
As I said this game was a celebration to mark Westley's first anniversary, he should receive a card with a P45 in it.

Preston North End 1 Walsall 3 Att 9823

Game 37 All square

Lancaster City and Warrington Town shared the goals and points in a fairly lifeless encounter at the Giant Axe in Lancaster this afternoon.
Compared to last Saturday’s excellent performance at Burscough, City were extremely slowly getting started, they had had a narrowly escape when the Wires took the lead in the 13th minute McLachlan, whose tame shot dribbled past a host of play before crossing the line. (0-1)
Wires dominated the early stages although both sides spent the vast majority of the time sending the ball skywards, it took City about 30 minutes to finally get into gear and they almost fluked an equaliser when Hudson’s cross landed on the top of the crossbar before bouncing behind for a goal kick.
They came closer minutes later when Green curling lob from 15 yards was tipped superbly round the post by Wires keeper Robertson.
City were better in the second half and were finding space down either wing creating problems for the Wires defenc. They levelled the scores on 57 minutes when the ball fell invitingly at Swarbrick’s feet 25 yards out. His first time volley flew into the net, Robertson having no chance. (1-1)
The goal woke Warrington from their slumbers coming more into the game, however scoring chances were at a premium, as the temperature started to dip, so did the game.
Warrington should have snatched the points in the final minutes but when well placed a Wires player missed the target from 15 yards.

Lancaster Citry 1 Warrington Town 1 Att 183

Game 36 Convincing win

Lancaster City’s 4-1 victory at Burscough’s Victoria ground has to go down as one of their best performances of the season. Goals by Swarbrick 2, Green and Kilfin gave the scoreline an emphatic ring although it has to be added the home side hit the woodwork 3 times.
City got off to the best possible start scoring with their first attack, from Simpson’s cross the ball landed at the feet of Swarbrick who made no mistake from 10 yards. (0-1)
City then dominated proceeding, should have added more but twice spurned great chances when Kilfin couldn’t properly get the ball under control and then the same player failed to make contact with a great cross from Simpson.
The home side battled back and the old fashioned centre forward Cummins hammered a shot against the post and a free kick for the left hit the bar, you began to suspect it was to be City’s day.
Just after the half hour Burscough on the play deservedly leveled when Cummins found himself in space and found the net with ease.
Burscough piled on the pressure but on the stroke of half time City re took the lead, Swarbrick broke loose and should really have scored however he lost the ball, but the ball arrived 25 yards out at the feet of Green who looked curled the ball majestically into the Burscough net. (1-2)
Apart from an early Burscough header which went narrowly wide, the early stages of the second half were confined mainly to midfield.
Halfway through the half City added a third from a corner as Kilfin scambled the ball home from close range. (1-3)
Burscough rallied and again hit the woodwork for 25 yards as they went for broke.
City sealed the win five minutes from when Green broke away down the left squared the ball to Swarbrick who blitzed the ball into the net. (1-4)
City had chances for more goals but you can’t be greedy, top performance for the Blues.

Burscough 1 Lancaster City 4 Att 205

Top picture Darren Green nearest camera

Second picture City attacking

Game 35 Fair result

A quite entertaining local derby between Lancaster City and Clitheroe at the Giant Axe to welcome in the New Year.
After dominating the early stages Cltheroe fell behind after 9 minutes when Simpson and Kilfin combined to find Green unmarked 10 yards out, didn’t miss. (1-0)
Within two minutes from a free kick Higgins powered in a header at the back post to level the scores.(1-1) Winters went close with a header and Clitheroe also had a goal disallowed in the first 15 minutes.
The game settled down with Clitheroe probably shading the action and probably deserved to take the lead just before half time, when a wayward shot found Mason who looked suspiciously offside, he didn’t wait for the whistle and put the ball in the net.
Lancaster for the main dominated the second half as Clitheroe sat back on their lead, Green had the ball in the net but was blown up for a deliberate hand ball, apart from that effort Clitheroe defended their lead well with ex City player Mahoney putting in a tremendous shift all over the pitch.
As the City faithful egan to contemplate a undeserved defeat the ball bounced freein the area and substitute Gregson lashed the ball home. (2-2)
Cltheroe upped their game and had two chances which really should have been put away but both were missed, it was end to end stuff but neither team could conjure a winner.

Lancaster City 2 Clitheroe 2 Att 189

Although a bit blurred Higgins of Clitheroe just about to score 5th player from the left