Promising
Lytham men's first team picked team picked up a much needed three points to give them breathing space from the drop zone with this 4-1 win over Neston. The side included the return of Simon Middlemass back from injury and he added the balance the team has been missing for a number of weeks. Within ten minutes Lytham were 1-0 up from a quick break. Dave Robbins stole the ball from a Neston attack and delivered an inch perfect pass to Chris Simcock who bravely chipped the ball over the keeper for Tom Atkinson to slot the ball home. Lytham's third was nicely finished from Simcock at close range after more pressure around the Neston goal. A penalty stroke was awarded and Robbins sent the keeper the wrong way, placing the ball high into the right hand corner. Neston got a late consolation after a well worked break. Lytham will hope Middlemass has no reaction to his injury from the game and that the in-form Tom Atkinson are available to provide the balance their side needs if they are going to take another three points against Durham University on Saturday. Once again troubled Lytham mens seconds let themselves down by conceding too many sloppy goals in their 6-2 defeat by St Helens. Defensive uncertainty following a penalty corner saw them go 1-0 down. But they equalised soon after through some good play from Chris Hadley, Charlie Batho and Gareth Gettings, Hadley striking the ball home. Although conceding another goal before the break Lytham had periods of domination with several chances to score. But St Helens ran in three more goals before Graham Shaw scored from close range after a second attempt. Lytham mens thirds weathered a first half storm to claim a 1-1 draw against Alderley Edge. Lytham suffered a poor start and conceded a goal to a rather scrappy penalty corner move. Grit and determination then held a stretched defence together along with some outstanding saves from the evergreen man of the match Joe Craig. The second half saw Lytham: enjoy more space and create more chances as they gradually took control of the match. Young Michael Satterthwaite, and stalwart Bruce Turner supported by promising youngster David Waby posed endless problems for the opposition. An equaliser was only a mater of time. It came from David Nuttall with Alderley Edge ending the game grateful to escape with a draw. On a pitch sodden after heavy rain Lytham mens fourths' clash with Bebbington was so even it could have gone either way before Lytham went down 3-2. Bebbington tool the lead after a goal-mouth scramble, but -Lytham were quick to reply. Andy Pothecary played a precise through ball to Tim Killick. He turned on a sixpence and fired home a fierce drive which gave the keeper no chance. The game went from end to end before Bebbington took the lead with another rather scrappy goal. Just after half time saw Lytham defenders engaged in an "after you George" situation and a Bebbington player nipped in to score an easy goal. Back came Lytham with a number of good attacks by Mike Gannon and Killick before Pothecary once agaon became the provider for Simon Gardiner to cause the keeper to make a great save. However Kevan Waby was on hand to calmly slot the ball home. Unfortunately Lytham couldn't find the equaliser and were unlucky to come away without any points. Despite going down 3-2, Lytham men's fifths did very well to contain a very experienced Liverpool Sefton thirds team containing several ex county players. Sefton went 2-0 up by half time, although Lytham had quite a number of chances which they failed to take. Liverpool scored again shortly after the break and perhaps thought they could cruise to an easy victory. Not so and they had not taken into account that Lytham's expert poacher of goals was about to pounce. Twice in the space of ten minutes a good through balls into the circle saw Maguire strike. Drew 1-1. Mattew Edwards scored two for Lytham but one was disallowed.Unfortunate
With Lytham Ladies first team drawing a bye in the first round of the Lishman Cup, the second team crashed out 4-1 to a very powerful Garstang side. Lytham managed to dominate the first half with excellent team work leading to a goal from Jane Kelly. Unfortunately after half time they seemed to tire significantly and Garstang had equalised just before the break. Despite some first class defending from sisters Amy and Lorna Leach, and Claire Roberts the rest of the side seemed to lose interest and Garstang scored three more times before the close. No Report No Report