MENS
1ST XI VERSUS ALDERLEY EDGE
PLAYED AT MORCAMBE
LOST 6-3
Lytham started this match superbly, playing at a high pace, yet managing to play controlled passing hockey. They looked the more likely team to open the scoring, but their familiar mid half lapse was capitalised on by their opponents, who scored two goals before the break, following two poor umpiring decisions. It may have been worse after keeper Daf Jones brought down the Alderley Edge striker and conceded a penalty stroke. However, he redeemed himself with a well-watched save to give Lytham a lifeline.
This save was just what Lytham needed, and they stepped up a gear for the last ten minutes of the first half and continued at this pace during the second half. This pace led to short corners and David Hans marked a fantastic performance with a good deflection to score past a stranded keeper.
Alderly Edge scored again, but Dave Robbins decreased this advantage back to one after another short corner move paid off. Lytham pushed up the pitch to try and get an equaliser, but were always susceptible to the counter attack, and Alderley Edge scored in this way.
Robbins converted a penalty stroke to bring Lytham back into contention, but Alderley Edge converted 2 goals in the last ten minutes to give Lytham no chance of salvaging a point. Despite the result, Lytham played some excellent hockey in spells and deserved much better than to lose by three.
MENS
2ND XI VERSUS ULVERSTON
PLAYED AT ULVERSTON
LOST 2-0
Playing
in bad weather, Lytham’s first half performance was very
solid, with the whole team defending well along with
tireless hard work in attack. Neither team could break the
deadlock before half time.
Ulverston
scored early in the second half as the Lytham defence seemed
to be still in the dressing rooms. Lytham’s hard work
continued throughout the second half, and they earned
several short corners. However, the lack of a well-practiced
routine meant there was no reward.
A
last well-taken goal by Ulverston flattered them slightly,
but Lytham continue to miss a strong cutting edge up front.
MENS
3RD XI VERSUS TIMPERLEY
PLAYED AT STANLEY PARK
LOST 2-0
Lytham
started well at Stanley Park and put continuing pressure on
the Timperley defence for the entire first half but with no
breakthrough. Many shots were fired on the Timperley goal,
but no one could make them count.
The
second half started as well as the first with Lytham playing
good passing hockey throughout. Timperley broke away to
score a good goal against the run of play, and this was
followed by David Burns’ yellow card which meant it was
harder for them to come back.
Lytham
continued to pressure the Timperley defence, but they also
had to defend well against the numerous short corners they
conceded. Things looked worse when Timperley were awarded a
penalty stroke, but keeper Joe Craig saved superbly.
Timperley’s second came from a well taken short corner,
but this final score line did not reflect the match as a
whole. Michael Satterthwaite, David Bleasdale and Joe Craig
were the pick of the Lytham team.
MENS
4TH XI VERSUS CREWE 3RDS
PLAYED AT CREWE
LOST 2-0
With
a man down and uncertain what to expect of a Crewe side who
recently joined the same League as them, Lytham performed
credibly throughout, and Crewe’s extra player did not seem
to count due to the quality of Lytham’s play.
The
whole team worked tirelessly, with the Waby brothers, Stuart
and David creating a lot of good attacking moves from the
midfield. The team was unlucky to be a goal down at half
time, but came out after the break stronger and determined
to get a good result. On the right, Tim Killick and Danny
Cottier-Brown caused the Crewe defence many problems and
worked equally hard to defend. The turning point in the game
was the dismissal of a key defender 15 minutes into the
second half for dissent. Lytham dug deep, but were unable to
find an equaliser and were caught on the break and conceded
a second. The other Waby, Kevan was Lytham’s man of the
match with a solid performance in defence.
MENS
5TH XI VERSUS LEIGH
PLAYED AT LEIGH
WON 5-2
Lytham dominated this game from the start and the score line should have been closer to nine, but for a few wasted chances. Neil Mallilieu scored two in a good performance and Oliver Ashworth, Mike Brown and Nigel Seddon added their names to the score sheet in a comprehensive victory.
BEAVERS
XI VERSUS BLACKPOOL
PLAYED AT ANSDELL ARENA
LOST 3-0