Morecambe 1 Preston North End 2

Preston duly beat Morecambe 2-1 at the Globe arena, the match being played in sweltering temperatures. An entertaining first half with just the right amount of niggle to keep it interesting saw the home side begin brightly with Redshaw missing a glaring hance in the 7th minute running past most of the North End defence before over running the ball. More Morecambe pressure before North End broke away and scored, Browne brushing past a tackle in midfield feeding Hayhurst on the right whose inch perfect cross was nodded home by Garner. (0-1)
The next few minutes North End could have added to the total, Gallagher and Garner both going close. Substitutions a plenty at half time made the game disjointed, the home side drew level through Williams. His 35 yard free kick dipped and swerved deceiving Stuchmann in the North End goal. (1-1)
Morecambe really should have been in front but Ellison, Drummond and Redshaw all missed good chances.
With the sun dipping below Broughton Fell near Barrow North End got the winner, Davies' canny pass saw Keane clear and he lobbed keeper Aristidou to claim the victory.
Not a lot to really go on except the sun tan was enhanced.

Morecambe 1 Preston North End 2 Att 1364

All over for another season

As half time approached with Rotherham leading Preston 2-1, came the moment in my view which decided the two leg play off semi final, John Welsh launched a speculative shot towards the Rotherham goal, keeper Collin spilled the ball, which flew narrowly the wrong side of the post for Preston fans. Going in at 2 all may have changed the outcome of the match, sadly for Preston it didn't.
A lovely spring evening in Yorkshire saw a packed New York stadium witness a pretty entertaining game, North End took the lead in the 16th minute after a scrappy opening period when Gallagher curled in a free kick from wide on the left, the ball evaded everyone and end up in the back of the night. (0-1)
The Millers could have levelled almost immediately but Revell's goal bound header was superbly saved by on loan keeper Rudd. Not to be denied within 3 minutes the Millers were level, Pringle's cross from the left found Thomas at the back post, scored with ease. (1-1)
Ten minutes later the game had turned around another Pringle cross and Frecklington got in front of his marker and headed home via the post. (2-1) 
The second half was just all out attack by both sides, the very impressive Pringle crashed a 20 yard effort against the bar, thought the game had turned towards North End in that moment but Agard put that theory to bed when some hapless North End defending led to Rotherham scoring a third, Agard sliding the ball in off the post. (3-1)
With nothing to lose North End threw everything at Rotherham, Garner had good chances, then with time slipping away King launched a speculative shot from 40 yards, it took a deflection cannoned of the post and rolled to safety as did Garner's shot 10 minutes later which also fired across the face of the goal after hitting the woodwork.
With the game lost the Millers nearly added a fourth but Tom Clarke's magnificent block put an end to that.With time almost up Rotherham fans began to get closer to the pitch, which at the final whistle was engulfed in celebrating fans..
In the play offs you need a bit of luck, the Millers had that in the second leg but to be fair they did deserve to win the tie.

Rotherham United 3 Preston North End 1 Att 11576

For North End a decent season although think we ran out of steam in the latter end of the season, regroup and come again next year, however the lack of pace in the side needs to be addressed, compared to last season, this hasn't been a bad year 80 plus points as the Westley used to say Onwards, and Upwards only.

Wonder goal keeps tie alive

Level pegging after the first leg between Preston and Rotherham and to be honest Rotherham probably should have won it, they didn't though thanks to a goal of stunning quality by Preston's Joe Garner.
A raucous atmosphere from 17000 fans on a soggy Saturday afternoon, after an initial Preston flurry Rotherham started to dominate, chasing, harrying and closing down every thing that moved in a white shirt. Long throws and well placed corners peppered the home defence who in fairness did well to keep them out. Just as the storm appeared to have been weathered the Millers scored, ironically from a North End corner. Garner had gone close but the corner was cleared to Revell on the left wing, he shook of a tackle from King advanced into the penalty area and slid the ball under the advancing Rudd. (0-1) North End were hanging on by the fingertips and half time could not come quick enough and survive they did.
Early stage of the second half were even then came Garner's goal, possibly up there with the best I've ever seen, ball in from the right, chested upwards, flicked it round a defender and blasted it home from 25 yards absolutely stunning.
The goal powered the home side on but the Millers should have gone ahead when Frecklington who looked yards offside advanced on goal only to be denied by a brave Rudd save. 
Milsom powered one wide when well placed and Rudd made a fine save from substitute Vuckic at the end. Yes the Millers should have won but all to play for in the second leg.

Preston North End 1 Rotherham United 1 Att 17200

A return to the crease Dire

In the annuals of cricketing history this game will long be remembered as possibly the most inept I have ever played in. Let’s start with the wicket, turgid was not the word, to say it was slow was an understatement. The game was played on a school ground in Kendal, great scenery, with the hills of the Lake District rising high above the town.
We won the toss and as last week lost a wicket in the first over.
A bit of a partnership took us into the 20′s but soon wickets started to tumble, some of the shot selection would have Peter Moores going grey.
Lots count of how many players were out chasing balls that were so wide they were almost on another ground, the bowling was interesting to say the least.
Eventually yours truly went in with the score 60 – 6, got off the mark first ball, then had too face a leg spinner at the other end, played forward to the first ball, almost played five different shots before piopping the ball up in front of the wicket, luckily there was no one there. Then majestically ping one of the bat to cover only to be dropped by the fielder. Eventually succumb to the only ball of the innings which popped up from a length for a mniserable 1.
The innings limped along and we were all out for 81.
More than enough we thought, wrong the two very young openers put on 49 and the writing was on the wall, we didn’t field well, dropped some easy catches and it was left to yours truly to end the match with a head high full toss which was swatted away for four.
A game to forget.

Galgate A 81 Burneside 3rds 83-2

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