Billinge Juniors 2 V Horwich 1
Billinge made heavy weather of a very good Horwich side tonight and the game was a very close affair and both teams looked tired at the end, Billinge had played some 7 games in two days the previous weekend in the North West Regional Tournament and Horwich fresh from the Cup Final after extra time.
The game started with efforts from Horwich and Billinge with long-range efforts from Horwich. Playing 4-5-1 with Leyland up front on his own and working tirelessly Billinge played some neat and tidy football but so did Horwich who whilst not as physically strong as Billinge, an issue the referee had trouble dealing with, did play football when allowed to.
Barron and Bibby and Saxon were excellent tonight but I have never seen a game littered with so many soft free kicks which disrupted the play of both teams.
Billinge went 1-0 up after 12 minutes with Leyland rounding the centre back after a Bradders through ball after excellent work on the left, and then drawing the keeper to finish to his right. Horwich, who had not had a shot on target at that point, got a corner and the resultant cross was hit clear to be fired back in past the unsighted Hamilton for a goal.
Billinge continued to play more penetrative football as they knew that whilst Horwich were working hard they would not get through the best defence in the League and that with 79 goals from Messers Frederick, Rooke and Leyland, we would score again.
At 1-1 at half time Billinge were now playing downhill and began to seize control of the game and although Horwich threatened with a series of generous long range free kicks Leyland, Barron and Bradbury were giving the wide midfielders of Horwich plenty to think about. Saxon at the heart of the defence was breaking the Horwich forwards hearts I am sure I saw one crying in frustration after 50 minutes after Saxon had shepherded him to the touchline after he was clean through!!!
Hamilton had seven shots to field ultimately all from outside the box bar one and Billinge managed 9 all in and around the 6 yard box today so it was fitting after a series of misses late on, that the Goal was scored by Vice Captain Bradshaw who was the first player to resign for next Season. He rose to meet a Bradbury inchy perfect corner to nod home majestically rising like a salmon from the spawning ground of many victories this season.
You have to go back to September 2006 to find the last defeat against an excellent Springview team when Billinge missed a penalty to lose 2-1.
This season has been a roller coaster but a nine point margin of victory tells its own story as we move on now to bigger challenges…..
MOM – Saxon Stylish, Tough, Fair and Decisive
Goals Leyland (1) 12 Bradshaw (1) 66