The last bowl of the season

The last cricket action I will see this season Simon Kerrigan of Lancashire bowling to Surrey batsman Tom Jewell

Game 11 Job done

Cansdell-Sherriff doubles the lead  

On a roasting hot afternoon Preston North End beat local rivals Bury 2-1 at Gigg Lane Bury in front of 5213 of which 2700 were visitors from Preston. The game wasn't brilliant but North End did what had to done to take the points.
North End dominated the early stages but without getting near scoring, a couple of early efforts by the home side were easily saved by Stuckmann in the North End goal. From a free kick however Bury went the close when the ball floated over the top Stuckmann and out of play by the far post with no home forward in a position to score.
On the half hour North End took the lead, a corner from the left found Sodje who headed in. (0-1) 
That was the score at half time, the early stages of the second half consisted of both sides passing to each other with great regularity, North End were denied a penalty when a defender clearly handled in the area but Mr Drysdale rejected the claim.
Mid way through the half North End doubled the lead when a corner from the left(sound familiar was headed home by Cansdell-Sherriff in acres of space. (0-2)
Game done and dusted, almost, Beavon had a chance to kill the game completely off but was well tackled in the area.
The game as a spectacle died until deep in injury time when the Shakers scored, corner from the left headed in at the back post by Skarz. (1-2)
Bury pressed for an equalizer but it was North End who should have scored but following some over elaborate play in front of goal, Amoo's shot from 10 yards out almost cleaned out a steward by the corner flag.
Not the best but job done.

Bury 1 Preston North End 2 Att 5213

Game 10 Points shared

On a mild Lancaster night, the home side and visitors Trafford played out a goalless draw in front of 191 resolute fans. The church bells from the church next to the castle rang throughout the first half only ceasing just before half time, perhaps they were ringing for the death of the game because the first 45 minutes were dull to say the least.
Left my glasses behind so couldn’t read anything, also made the mistake of having chips from the club diner, would possibly have been better if would have had raw potato, tasted exactly the same.
The crowd were lulled into a false sense f excitement when Kilfin hit the post for the home side within 30 seconds, apart froma shot from Carney after about 20 minutes which was well saved by Trafford keeper Read, that was the entertainment for the first half.
To be fair Trafford passed the ball about well, however it was like watching Spain in the early stages of the Euro’s they passed it along the back four, rarely venturing towards the City goal, whilst City harried about the pitch trying to get the ball back. The lack of crowd noise spoke values about the entertainment.
Spent the half time break wondering how Trafford had managed to score 20 goals in their first four matches including and 8-0 and 7-0 win obviously they had bored the opposition into submission.
Trafford showed more attacking intent in the second half although they failed to bring a save out of the City keeper.
The visitors missed a chance early in the half but City finally managed to start making headway towards the visitors goals being dangerous down the flanks were Wainwright was looking dangerous.
The visitors gave away numerous free kicks on the edge of their own area but these were dealt with by keeper Read and giant centre back Bayunu who really should have scored from a header at the other end of the pitch.
City brought on Clark and his pace kept the visitors defence on their toes.
City had the best chance of the game with virtually the last kick of the game but Swarbrick sliced wide with a volley when well placed.

a City corner clears everybody in the box. City in blue

Lancaster City 0 Trafford 0 Att 191

Game 9 Barcelona, not likely!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On Tuesday night, Swindon manager Paolo Di Canio describes his team's performance at Stoke as being like Barcelona, it's possible he described today's first half performance as being like the fictional side Barnstonworth United from Michael Palin's Ripping Yarns.
The enigmatic Italian saw his side demolished 4-1 at Deepdale by a rampant Preston North End, as the home side turned in a performance which the home support in a crowd of 10300 hadn't seen for years.
North End took the lead in 5 minutes, when Beavon charged down a clearance from visitors keeper Foderingham, the ball landed at the feet of Sodje who took his aim, fired and scored. (1-0)
Almost immediately Di Canio had his substitute keeper Bedwell warming up on the touchline.
Swindon came back into the game passing the ball neatly but apart from a Collins header rarely troubled the home side.
The second goal wasn't long in coming and a fine team goal it was, the ball was passed along the penalty area to Laird who's pin point pass found Wroe ghosting in to side foot the ball past the keeper. (2-0)
Following some more haphazard defending Di Canio made a tactical change, not one most managers would have done, he substituted his keeper. To say Foderingham was less than amused was an understatement, storming past his manager he headed straight to the dressing room only stopping to violently boot an energy drinks bottle into the middle of the pitch.
Swindon tried desperately to get back into the game but just before half time they were further behind, when a corner was headed into the six yard box by Huntington and new signing Beavon bundled the ball home from close range. (3-0)
Standing ovation for the home side, would have loved to be a fly on the wall in the visitors dressing room.
Swindon started brightly in the second half with Bostock another substitute having a shot deflected onto the top of the bar, understandably North End started sluggishly and were made to pay when Da Vita cut in from the left hand side beat Keane with ease and fired past Stuckmann to reduce the arrears. 
Sodje had a glorious chance to finish the game when a super left wing cross found him unmarked 10 yards out, his header missed the target by a distance, but it wasn't long until the home side further increased their lead when a corner fell to Welsh 20 yards out and his drive went through a sea of legs into the corner of the net. (4-1)
The game died as a spectacle from then but Stuckmann made a superb save to keep the score at 4-1 almost immediately after the fourth goal.
A fine performance to mark Preston's Guild year which happens every 20 years hopefully we won't have to wait that long for another performance like that.

Preston North End 4 Swindon Town 1 Att 10320

North End's new signing Stuart Beavon

Game 8 Palace put to the sword

A rare Palace attack

A hapless Crystal Palace were sent packing from the Capital One Cup by a rampant Preston North End, the 4-1 victory tells it's own story as goals by Wroe 2, Monakana and Sodje secured a place with the big boys in round 3.
North End started poorly with Laird's first pass finding an empty seat in the stand, but within 90 seconds they were 1 up, a cross from the left was headed back towards the penalty spot were Nicky Wroe was in the right place to smash the ball past ex PNE youth player Lewis Price. (1-0)
North End had other chances to increase the lead but fine goalkeeping kept the lead down until the 18th minute when after a spot of head tennis Sodje forced the ball home from close range. (2-0)
North End were in total command, with Wroe outstanding and Monakana on the wing giving Palace defenders nightmares with his pacy runs, but 10 minutes before half time completely against the run of play, Moxey who had a decent game for the visitors put over a cross from the left to the far post, personally think Simonsen should have dealt with the cross but he hesitated and Wilbraham out jumped Laird to head home. (2-1)
Palace were back in the game but only for four minutes when Monakana set off on yet another run, he left a couple of defenders for dead before firing a rasping shot past Price for the third. Stunning. (3-1)
A standing ovation for the home side at the break.
Palace made two changes at half time with the pacy Zaha and Moritz being brought and to be fair to them they started to become more of a threat. Zaha thought he should have had a penalty which was waved away by the referee, and Moritz effort brought a fine save from Simonsen in the home goal. 
North End increased their lead after 63 minutes with a fine team goal a series of passes down the left hand side ended with Wroe curling a shot into the net via the finger tips of Price and the inside of the post.(4-1)
Palace battled on and the unlucky Zaha may have been rewarded with a penalty. Palace had chances to reduce the deficit but great last ditch clearances by Wright and Buchanan saved the home side.
The final stages of the game were a bit tetchy as several crunching tackles were made, there was also a brief bit of handbags as Zaha reacted to a tackle from Laird, but take nothing away from the home side the scoreline didn't lie.

Preston North End 4 Crystal Palace 1 Att 5100

Irwell Valley Blues

Ramsbottom United picturesque ground is situated between the River Irwell and the East Lancashire Steam railway line. On a dank Lancastrian bank holiday afternoon.
The home sides re arranged FA Cup tie against Brigg Town from Lincolnshire was given the go ahead after the original game was postponed because of flooding on Saturday. A dry day yesterday had meant the river had retreated to it’s normal course and play was possible.
The cricket club next door was a different story as the second team game had been abandoned hence the number of cricketers attending the match.
An early chance to Brigg went wide before the home side took the lead from a disputed free kick.
The hopelessly inadequate one man wall could do nothing as the ball went over his head, hit the inside of the post and into the net on the far side, Stopforth scoring. (1-0)
From that moment it was all one way, Brigg could find no answer to the nippy Ramsbottom wingers, with the left winger causing mayhem down his side of the pith.
A second nearly arrived when the home centre forward was denied by a Last ditch save by the Brigg keeper, however it was soon to be two.
From a corner on the left Ayres powered in a thunderous header to double the lead. (2-0)
The visitors struggled to keep the score down as the home side played some super football.
The second half started and within four minutes the game was over as a contest when a long punt from the United keeper found the Brigg defence missing, two home forwards bore down on goal, one drew the keeper from his goal before passing Hulme who made it three. (3-0)
Carnage followed the home side had numerous chances, they hit the post missed a penalty and put several efforts narrowly wide.
Brigg thoroughly outclassed battled on a could have pulled a goal back from a header from a home defender which was heading for his own net but the keeper made a great save.
The only save Brigg from defeat was a comeback of epic proportions or the river flooding the grond, as the rain teemed down from the leaden skies the latter looked more likely but it was not to be

Ramsbottom United 3 Brigg Town 0 Att 203

The 2nd goal is just bout to hit the back of the net

One unique thing about this friendly club is you don’t get a trashy plastic cup with you pre match brew you get a mug. Quality

Game 6 Should have been a walk in the park

Brockstedes Park of Garswood saw my non league debut for the season with the home side Ashton Athletic playing Lancaster City in the Preliminary round of the FA Cup.
A rather stop start journey in the car due to mechanical problems due to driving through rather high flood water in the neighbouring village were I live.
After a couple of stops on the M6 managed to find the ground with only one wrong turning, not bad for me.
A neat little ground situated next to the M6 with what looked liked an excellent playing surface.
Lancaster were ahead within a minute when the home side failed to clear their lines and BUNNEY scored easily from CLOSE RANGE. (0-1)
City were dominating and should really have had the game sewn up within the first 20 minutes, with Clark hitting the post and the home keeper making several fine saves to keep out the rampant visitors.
But with their first shot on target Athletic scored with City keeper Holden being beaten on his right hand side by WARD's shot.
The goal gave confidence to the home side and they started to press forward and were rewarded with a second goal 10 minutes later.
A cross from the right being headed home by BAILEY. (2-1)
Athletic deservedly led at the half time whistle.
The second half was all one way Lancaster dominating but rarely looking like scoring although Elderton's header from a corner hit the bar.
The home side defended manfully throwing bodies in the way of all City's attacks.
It began to look like it was going to be Athletic's day but with 12 minutes to go Wilson's mazy run was halted by a foul and a penalty was give.
SWARBRICK sent the keeper the wrong way. (2-2)
Wainwright hit the side netting and Kilfin wasted a chance to win the game for City at the death but Athletic deservedly got the drawtheir efforts warranted.
The gate of 79 included a very vocal following from Lancaster, they have to do it all over again on Tuesday night.

Lancaster in blue attack in the first half

Ashton Athletic 2 Lancaster City 2 Att 79