SMJFL - Division 1 - Under 15's Sunday 14th March 2004 Venue: Away

Ladybridge County	1 - 3	Hazel Grove U 15's
		E.Clegg(3)

Eric has now scored a hat-trick in back to back matches and given real hope for a successful end to the season.

Grove won the toss and decided to play with the gale force wind at their backs for the first half. We started the game without Andy Mac and Jack, therefore no subs, and also with Marcus and Robin carrying injuries. Great credit must go to both these lads for playing this morning given their personal circumstances. Ten minutes into the half Eric collected the ball from Carl on the right and drifted in field before sending a rather soft and harmless looking low shot into the area. Remarkably the big Ladybridge keeper dived too late and the ball went into the net. Grove went on the attack but then again so did the home team and we were treated to an exciting first half with both sets of lads fighting hard for every ball. Grove hit the bar and post after shots from Luke, Robin and Babba but just couldn’t get another goal. Ladybridge had some good attempts including a shot blocked near the line by Gary H. With 15 minutes left in the half Gaz Wood got injured in a tackle and had to leave the field. Marcus had also been in the wars and his injured ankle was beginning to weaken. Fortunately the Cavalry, or rather Jack and Macca , arrived to bring us back up to full strength.

Now, playing into the wind, would be a real test of the team sprit. Grove attacked from the start of the half but came up against the woodwork again and again as three more shots beat the defence and keeper only to rebound off the posts and two off the bar. Ladybridge were also attacking all out and were testing the strength and determination of the Grove defence. The back three not only held firm but set up many new attacks for Grove. It was a real end-to-end thriller. With 15 minutes to go Ladybridge got a free kick 30 yards out. Their well hit shot gathered pace and bounced just in front of Matt who spilled the ball which was tapped in by the attacker following up. With five minutes to go things were looking bleak just before Eric took a pass from Macca on the left just inside the Grove half. He went speeding down the wing controlling the ball beautifully then turned into the box before firing a low left foot shot to the near post which the big keeper failed to hold. It was now 2-1. In the final seconds of the game Ladybridge got a corner which their keeper came up for. Robin controlled the low cross well before passing the ball to Eric who was 15 yards inside the Grove half. He set off on another strong run beating two defenders before banging in his third of the game before the keeper got back.

This was a real thriller where once again every boy played a strong part in earning this result. Whilst Eric will correctly take the accolades from this game special mention must go to Robin and Marcus for playing whilst injured, and for the back three who defended extremely well under a lot of pressure against a very strong wind in the second half.

(Match reporter: Rob Hawthorne)