A return to the crease, the first one for 19 years

Having last played competitive cricket in 1995 decided at the ripe old age of 59 to start playing again, so it came to pass on the recreation field in Galgate, yours truly made his debut for Galgate A in Division 5 of the Westmorland league against Morecambe 3rds.
Morecambe won the toss and put us in, and with the score at 3-3, I wandered majestically out to the wicket to share the batting with Malc who at the age of 67 made me look a youngster. The last time I batted with Malc we put on 49 for Great Eccleston against Harris Park in 1994.
Did not reached that epic but we did put on 12 before failing to get my foot to the ball missed a straight oine and had my off stump knocked back. Didn’t get a duck managed 5 including a well places shot for 4.
Enjoyed batting although had problems with my protective box which seemed to have a mind of its own and everytime I ran it ended up next to my right knee cap.
Eddie was soon out and we were 17-5, Danny the captain and Malc steadied the ship and the score edged slowly up, Danny was out with the score on 42-6 when Stuart the wicket keeper arrived with his uncomplicated batting method, slog it to leg, doesn’t always work, on Saturday it did.
He blasted 38 and put on over 50 with Malcolm and we started to post a respectable total, eventually ended up with 121, Malcolm batting through the innings for an undefeated 35.
After the tea Morecambe batted, they had some experienced players plus a fair smattering of useful youngsters and also an umpire who didn’t give not outs.
We managed to get the young lads out but the elder players were a different matter, they had reached 98-6 with one of the older blokes on 35 and looked well on course for victory when a brief but heavy downpour brought the game to a premature close.
Disappointing finish but still undefeated after 1 game.
It was good to play again, at the moment we’ve only nine players for next week but Burneside will get a hard game.

Taming of the Shrews

As easy as you like, Preston duly strolled to a 5-2 victory over relegation threatened Shrewsbury Town at a warm Deepdale. A Paul Gallagher hat trick in the second half confirmed the home sides superiority.
Apart from a couple of pieces of sloppy defending this could have been a far bigger victory. North End were on the front foot for the majority of the first half, the home side should have taken the lead half way through the half but Beavon's close range shot was blocked by keeper and a defender.
Ten minutes before half time the home side did lead, Gallagher whipped in a great cross, Holmes headed home. A couple of minutes later a Gallagher corner ended up at the feet of Wright whose volley sped home. The Shrews then pulled a goal back when Laird and King conspired to cock things up between them leaving Miller with the task of pulling a goal back. (2-1)
A lethargic start to theb second half by both sides until North End upped gear and scored twice within minutes, Beavon chased down a lost cause fired a ball across the face of goal, Gallagher lurking at the back post fired home. The fourth was a penalty, Browne being brought down in the box, Gallagher powered home the spot kick.
Shrewsbury reduced the arrears thanks to an error in midfierld by Browne, Parry's cross was perfect for Summerfield to head home at the back post.
Another mazy run by Browne was halted on the edge of the box illegally, Gallagher did the rest bottom left corner.
Little else happened in the remaining minutes as North End eased home for a very comfortable victory.

Preston Nort End 5 Shrewsbury Town 2 Att 9600

Slipping away

Lancaster City’s play off chances hang by a thread after dropping two points against Padiham in a game they dominated. An early goal for Padiham was not in the script but 42 year old Lee Ashcroft found himself in acres of space in City’s penalty box to side foot a cross from the right into the net. (0-1)
Ashcroft who once cost over a million pounds when he was transferred from Preston to West Brom, looks to have piled on the pounds in the intervening years but still has the touch of a top professional.
City were level wihin minutes, Elderton pile driver arrowed in from 15 yards out. (1-1) City were nearly in front shortly afterwards but Kilfin’s chip hit the post.
From that moment onwards it was Lancaster against Padiham keeper Davis, have to say he played really well, he denied Kilfin and Wearing, the first save wastremendous.
Padiham were struggling at the back and were kept in the game by the keeper.
Lancaster went all out for a second goal at the start of the second half again Davis could not be beaten. Halfway through the half City had a glorious chance to take the lead when awarded a penalty although harsh.
Dodgson took the kick, sent the keeper the wrong way and sent the ball out of the ground, with it went City’s last chance.
Probably the last non league action of the season, perfect symmetry, first non league game was the reverse fixture and that too ended in a draw.

Lancaster City 1 Padiham 1 Att 238

All too easy

26/12/1972 a Boxing Day, a bright but chilly day in Carlisle as Preston travelled to the northern outpost only to return with tails between legs as the home side handed out a 6-1 thrashing, I was there that day and the mental anguish of that hammering has now finally been erased as North End hammered a woeful Carlisle side 6-1 at Deepdale today.
North End took a 10th minute lead, when Gallagher's free kick was headed home by Beavon, ten minutes later it was two as Lee Holmes weaved his way past five United defenders only to be denied by the keeper, the ball ran loose and Browne had the easy job of tapping in from two yards out.
North End were starting to play with confidence and were only denied further goals by Carlisle keeper Pickford. Two goals down and seemingly out of the game Carlisle reduced the arrears five minutes before half time when Madine headed home from a corner with North End's defence sadly lacking. The goal spurred United on and North End managed to avoid further mishaps before half time though it was a close run thing.
Within three minutes of the restart, Carlisle had gone further behind, hapless goalkeeping by Pickford presented the home side with what should have been an easy chance eventually Holmes netted. (3-1)
Nine minutes later it was game over as Craig Davies's scruffy finish made it four, although it has to be said the build up was superb. (4-1)
Carlisle fans started to leave at this point.
With the game dead and buried North End turned on the style, Pickford stopping a stunning effort from a Gallagher pile driver. Another scruffy finish by Craig Davies made it 5, eleven minutes from time after a sweet passing move, before he completed his hat trick with a fine individual goal three minutes from time, flicking the ball past the centre back before blasting home from 20 yards. (6-1)
There was still time for the Davies Craig and Kevin both too go close but can't complain too much about today's performance.

Preston North End 6 Carlisle United 1 Att 11428

Fair result in the rain

A dank spring afternoon in the County town of Lanacashire, saw Lancaster City and Farsley share the points in what turned out to be a entertaining match.
Both sides bossed a half each, with Farsley deservedly leading by 2 – 0 at the interval, the visitors looked sharper to the ball then the home side. The two goals were similar one at either end of the half. The first came after 15 minutes when Farsley sliced the City defence wide open, Hale saved the first shot however only succeeded in pushing the ball back to Young who slotted home.
City flicked briefly hitting the bar from an Elderton free kick before Kilfin fired narrowly wide, but Farsley were soon back on the front foot, they should have doubled their lead before half time but Hale saved well. Not to be denied Farsley doubled their lead on the stroke of half time when City’s defence disappeared, again Hale saved, Savory scored from the rebound.
Rain got heavier as City staged a second half comeback, Kilfin had already been denied by a great last ditch tackle before being played in by a great pass from midfield, Kilfin sliding the ball past Morgan.
15 minutes later parity was restored as Kilfin again left the Farsley back line for dead before sliding the ball past Morgan for the goal.
City piled forward sensing an unlikely win, Hunter clipping the bar and Kilfin narrowly firing over. Not to be though, both sides ran out of steam on the heavy pitch and settled for a point each.

Lancaster City 2 Farsley 2 Att 203