Lancashire FA overcame West Riding FA on Saturday 28th November at The County Ground, Leyland to climb back level on points with their opponents at the top of Division One of the Northern Counties Championship.
After a scrappy start to the game, it was Lancashire who started to take control of the first half with plenty of possession, creating numerous chances.
Jordan Holmes came closest to opening the scoring, but his powerful header was tipped over the bar by the West Riding goalkeeper. Only a few minutes later West Riding failed to clear their lines, allowing Nathan Martland to pick up the ball on the right and work his way across the penalty area, before calmly slotting the ball beyond the keep with a neat left footed strike. (17 mins – Lancashire FA 1-0 West Riding FA)
The Lancashire side continued to press forward looking to build on their spell of dominance. Jordan Wilson headed over following a neatly worked short corner, and in the next attack he fed Michael Galliers whose 12 yard strike was denied by a fantastic stop from the keeper. Great work down the left flank by Ross Ainsworth & Alex Kenyon provided a glorious opportunity which just escaped three on-rushing LFA attackers. Alex Kenyon himself went within a whisker of doubling the lead when his 25 yard effort flew just the wrong side of the post. Moments later a burst down the right and superb cross by Mark Chester was headed over by Ross Ainsworth.
In the second half, Lancashire were made to pay for their missed opportunities & were caught out immediately after the re-start. West Riding’s lively winger, Alex O’Keefe, cut in from the left side to fire a shot beyond Lee Novak into the far corner. (46 mins – Lancashire FA 1-1 West Riding FA)
The early goal gave West Riding FA a boost and saw a more evenly matched second half with very few chances being created at either end, Fleetwood Town’s Jordan Holmes and Jack Duggan commanded the centre of Lancashire’s defence excellently to reduce any West Riding threat going forward.
However, it was the lively Nathan Martland who proved to be the difference for Lancashire yet again, a change of pace saw him race clear of the West Riding defence, and he coolly rounded the keeper to roll the ball into an empty net. (83 mins – Lancashire FA 2-1 West Riding FA). Four goals in his two appearances for the Southport FC striker, and a minute later, Martland almost claimed his hat-trick only to see his effort deflected wide.
Team: Lee Novak (Ashton Athletic FC), Mark Chester (Charnock Richard FC), Alex Kenyon (Myerscough College FDC), Jack Duggan (Fleetwood Town FC), Jordan Holmes (Fleetwood Town FC), Jamie McKernan (Southport FC), Michael Galliers (Croston Sports Club FC), Jordan Dix (Furness Cavaliers FC), Jordan Wilson (Charnock Richard FC), Nathan Martland (Southport FC), Ross Ainsworth (AFC Fylde)
Subs: Ike Williams (Ashton Athletic FC) - on for Ainsworth 81 mins, Bart Thomas (Newman Youth FC), Matt Mawdesley (Charnock Richard FC), Josh Holland (Brigg Youth FC), Matty Baygot (Old Blackburnians Lammack FC) - on for Galliers 70 mins, Donvan Chinemhute (Winstanley Warriors FC) - on for Wilson 64 mins
Lancashire’s next fixture sees them travel to Middlesex FA in the FA County Youth Cup Third Round on Saturday 12th December 2009.