Attracted to draws

The stalemate syndrome continues with Lancaster’s 1 all draw with localish neighbours Burscough. On a day more suited to watching the ball being dispersed to the boundary, City attempted to win their 2nd home match of the season after defeating Cammell Laird in their opening game.
City should have been ahead after 2 minutes but Jackson pass to the goalkeeper lacked any power not to worry within a minute Kilfin had given the home side the lead prodding home his rebounded shot from 6 yards. (1-0) The loud Burscough keeper protested that it was hand ball the referee took no interest in his claim.
City looked as if they would score at will but they missed several good chances but poor shooting and good keeping by Fog Horn kept them at bay.
On rare occasions Burscough ventured forward, a lone supporter with the Lancaster fans shouted YES, as the ball floated harmlessly past the far post.
On half time City were given a warning when Burscough had three chances to level in quick succession all were missed.
City never really got started in the second half and were second best, it was no surprise on 70 minutes when Roberts-Nurse fired home the leveller.(1-1)
Briefly City rallied and Marshall headed narrowly wide and Steel had a header cleared from the line. Back came Busrcough and only last ditch defending and a great save from McDonald kept them level.
Still unbeaten after 4 games but can play better.

Lancaster City 1 Burscough 1 Att 243

Well another Saturday and another draw, this time it was non league Padiham and Lancaster City’s turn to suffer from my stalemate syndrome.
At the quaintly named Arbories Memorial stadium both sides failed to find the target in a fairly entertaining 90 minutes football.
Before the game called in at the cricket ground next door to find the home side were struggling against Settle 2nd’s and were 34-3.(Decent cricket ground as well)
As to the match Lancaster dominated virtually the entire game without finding the killer touch to kill off the home side.
City now managed by ex England international Darren Peacock, passed the ball about in impressive style and looked to have taken on the managers mantra of playing the ball on the floor and to be fair to the home side they played the same passing football when they did get the ball.
Although dominating with the ball City were restricted to long range efforts, one from Elderton narrowly clearing the bar. The home side were extremely well organised and were proving difficult to break down although they caused City some problems this was mainly from set pieces.
Just before half time City almost took the lead following a good old fashioned goalmouth scramble both Jackson and Kilfin could not squeeze the ball over the line.
The second half followed the first in that City had the vast majority of possession however the best chance of the game fell to the home side, Allen managed to escape the City defence but his shot was well saved by MacDonald.
Taylor was narrowly wide for City as Padiham quite happily settled for a draw.

Padiham 0 Lancaster City 0 Att 211

Level again

In the end this was a good point for Preston especially as this was a game they could so easily have lost. MK Dons enjoying vast periods of dominance especially in the second half, however as per normal the Dons lacked a proven goalscorer and drew 2-2 when the result could have been so much better for them.
On a dank Northern afternoon, North End took an early lead when a Humphrys cross was diverted past his own keeper by Kay 1-0.
Davies with a shot and a header went close for the home side before the Dons had settled down.
But their smooth passing style soon began to cause the home side trouble, sadly their shooting was woeful, especially speedy winger Banton, two shots nearly hitting unsuspecting spectators behind the goal.
His third shot was slightly different, he picked up the ball 30 yards out and rattled home a super goal. (1-1) The lead was restored within 4 minutes when some hapless defending let in Garner to slide the ball past Martin.(2-1)
Holmes almost added a third a couple of minutes later when Martin's clearance went straight to Holmes whose chip towards the unguarded goal went inches wide.
Apart from an early Davies blockbuster which went narrowly wide, the Dons bossed the majority of the half, a triple substitution after 55 minutes only made them better with evergreen Luke Chadwick showing his quality. The Dons had taken off Banton, who rarely was applauded by the home fans for his performance.
It wasn't long before the Dons levelled, from the spot after Humphrys brought down Carruthers.
Williams cooly scored the spot kick. (2-2)
A brief period of home pressure, before the Dons took control again and they almost snatched the lead when Bamford was centimetres away from scoring. The home side had a goal disallowed for offside by Wroe but held on to nick a point.
An entertaining game for the 9944 who were there.

Preston North End 2 MK Dons 2 Att 9944

New York, Yorkshire style

Another Saturday without a goal at either end as Rotherham and Preston fought out a draw at the New York Stadium in Rotherham. Personally feel satisfied with the point although if the Whites had had another forward along side Davies felt we could have won the game.
A dire journey on th ecoah due to a caravan which decided to block a couple of lanes of the M62, meant that the 90 minute journey turned into a 3 hour marathon, a 45 minute section of that saw us crawl for 5 miles whilst getting ever closer to said caravan. Eventually arrived 25 minutes before kick off.
Millers stadium is quite smart although the vertigo inducing stands would test Chris Bonnington.
North End dominated the early stages playing some decent passing football, spending most of their time in the Rotherham half, lots of corners without an end product, ironic that the best two efforts came from the home side, some haphazard Preston defending gave Tubbs a great chance, he went narrowly wide as did Pringle minutes later.
As with the first half North End started well, forcing several corners one of which Wright headed against the bar. Humphrys then when well placed was robbed by the Rotherham defence.
The home side started to come into the game and a breakaway was only halted by a super tackle by Welsh. The home side bombarded the Preston goal in the last 10 minutes, some quality defending kept them out, with O Connor blasting narrowly over late on.
So another point, a clean sheet.
The antics of the home bench were quite entertaining as both Evans and Raynor protested against anything they didn't get, should be fun when they arrive at Deepdale.

Rotherham United 0 Preston North End 0 Att 8500

Local bragging rights

It's always nice to win a cup tie against higher opposition, however it's doubly sweet when the losers are your main local rivals from the coast 20 miles away.
TomClarke's header from a free kick two minutes from the end settled a tense encounter at Deepdale.
The victory was slightly spoiled by a few numpties who ran onto the pitch at the end, no doubt a fine from the FA will be on the way.
A tight first half with only three efforts from Blackpool's highly rated Tom Ince nearly troubling the home keeper. 
The Second half was more open with an early Martinez shot going narrowly wide, North End responded with a superb effort from Hume which was well saved by Gilks. Blackpool were hammered slightly by Ince being injured although he carried on playing. Pool looked dangerous from dead balls, twice Mckenzie and Broadfoot went close with headers.
As the game looked destined for extra time Holmes's free kick for once was perfect Clarke did the rest. (1-0)
Delirium in 75% of the ground, Pool pressed forward but could not find a way through the back 4 who were quite outstanding.

CLARKE IS FREE AND CLARKE SCORES, words from Sky, strangely all Pool fans seemed to be absent at work today.


Preston North End 1 Blackpool 0 Att 17700

The Wolves

A typical early season game inside a rather warm football ground as Preston North End and Wolverhampton Wanderers fought out a 0-0 draw at Deepdale in front of 16500 fans of which 4923 came from the Midlands.
In truth there was little in the way of goalmouth action with both keepers having a relatively easy afternoon. Wolves shaded the first half having a Griffiths shot headed from the line by Welsh and Ricketts hitting the bar direct rom the corner, North End contained the visitors without really creating much danger.
A flurry of injuries at the start of the 2nd half disrupted play, but Wolves soon were back on the attack when a misdirected Holmes pass sailed narrowly past his own goal which led to Wolves forcing a series of corners. Once this onslaught was over North End got on top with the evr impressive Kevin Davies leading the line for the home side, chances were few but Davies was denied by a great bit of defending.
The heat started to takes it toll as the game drifted towards the end.
Fair result both sides will be up in the mix at the end of the season, on a personal view, glad we've got Wolves out of the way, they will get better.

Preston North End 0 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0 Att 16500