Horwich 2 v U13's 4
Horwich started the brighter with 9 men for the first 7 minutes and played better with 9 than the 11 for the last 65 minutes today!! Horwich mustered two long range efforts, which whilst not troubling Deano, did encourage them early on. Horwich went deservedly had the first decent opportunity of the game when Deano went full length after a close range shot and as the ball spooned loose got up to smother the ball after 12 Minutes. Four minutes later a cruel deflection from a snap shot from the edge of the area was taken wide of Deano who had the ball covered to make it 1-0 to Horwich who deserved to be ahead. Billinge missing Fredders again today and Hamilton in goal again proved what strength in depth we have within the squad.
Horwich won a free kick on the left of the penalty area after 25 minutes and a delightful ball was floated over to the far post but the two Horwich forwards conspired to get in each others way and the ball went wide. Billinge were then reorganised and began to dominate the game and it was no surprised after a great deal of the game was played in the Horwich last third when Bradshaw, who was again excellent today deputising as Captain for the injured tope scorer Fredders, played the ball over the top of the Horwich defence for Leyland whose shot was placed over the keeper but onto the bar. Leyland’s despair turned to joy however as Rooke who had run 25 yards to follow the shot in, headed the rebound over the despairing dove of the Horwich keeper.
At 1-1 at half time the boys were told to get the ball down early and play it wide and attack both Horwich full backs and also hold in midfield when we played the ball forward to stop Horwich running at them which happened in the first 15 minutes of the game. Bradbury who played with flu, was replaced at half time by Hamilton.The second half started as the first for Billinge as Barron began to dominate the game now and after 40 minutes a great run down the right and a stunning cross bisecting the keeper and the centre backs was rammed home from a tight angle by Rooke at the far post to make it 2-1. There was only one team in it after that for all the hard work the Horwich players had put into the game. A spell of pressure followed from Horwich wih Bibby clearing a shot off the line after 53 minutes and a great Deano save from a free kick after 57 minutes. A fortunate free kick on the right for Billinge then ensued and Sinnott lashed the ball into the roof of the Horwich net spotting the Horwich keeper off his line from 30 yards to make it 3-1 after 43 minutes.
Calamity struck on 48 minutes however against the run of play as a long range shot from just inside Billinge’s half cannoned up off the bone hard surface and eluded Deano’s grasp to make it 3-2. Deano had been excellent all game however. Some 5 minutes later Barron was encouraged to release the ball early over the top of the left back as Leyland had made a cross field run and as the ball bounced Leyland looped the ball over the keepers head as he came off his line to make it 4-2 for Billinge and wrap up the points.
MOM – Leyland
Goals Rooke (2) 30, 40, Sinnot (1), 43, Leyland (1) 59