Two late first half goals from Carl Grimshaw and Chris Robinson secure a valuable three points at Garstang.
Garstang 0 Charnock Richard 2
Saturday 23rd January 2010, West Lancs Premier Division.
GARSTANG 0
CHARNOCK RICHARD 2
Scorers : Robinson, C.Grimshaw.
Team: Kevin Baldwin, Phil Jackson, Mark Kerr, Liam Hayton, Jimmy King, Andy Battersby, Alex Randall (Mark Chester 70), David Prout, Chris Robinson (Matt Mawdesley 58), John Sanderson, Carl Grimshaw (McFaydon 75), Sub: (Not Used) Mark Edmeads.
After six weeks of inactivity Charnock travelled to a murky Riverside Ground to meet Garstang hoping to upset the league leaders and gain revenge for the 5-1 defeat by a well organised and professional Garstang at Mossie Park last October. Charnock started well and kept the pressure on their hosts for most of the first half. They efforts were rewarded with two goals just before the interval. The second half saw Garstang up their game but the Villagers held onto their two goal lead and with better finishing, late in the game, could have won by a more convincing margin.
Charnock were still without their skipper Any Roberts due to a knee injury and Damian Dashti was suspended. Of the team that beat Coppull United back in December, James Price was absent so Alex Randell started with three of the club’s youngsters Matt Mawdesley, Jordan McFayden and Mark Chester on the bench. Andy Battersby continued in midfield with Liam Hayton reverting to the centre of defence after starting all his other appearances in attack.
Charnock kicked off defending the River End, it was a grey misty afternoon with no wind advantage whatsoever. Charnock started the brighter of the teams and they were camped in the Garstang half for the first five minutes but failed to threaten the Garstang goal. Garstang used the long ball looking for their two tall strikers and an equally tall left winger to cause disruption to the visitors’ defence but Liam Hayton and Mark Kerr were not unduly troubled by these tactics.
As the half progressed Charnock had shots from John Sanderson and Robinson but neither were on target. Chris Robinson, when fed by a superb ball from Randall, fired across goal when perhaps pulling the ball back to his onrushing forwards might have been more fruitful. Charnock were applying all the pressure and receiving no reward mainly due to some good defensive work by the home side. Sanderson almost gave Charnock the lead when he controlled the ball, turned swiftly and unleashed a shot, which with the keeper beaten, passed narrowly wide.
Charnock continued to have the majority of possession with their neat passing game but had little success on opening their account. From a rare corner Garstang should have opened the scoring but the free header was placed wide when it looked easier to score.
David Prout found Carl Grimshaw but his shot was straight at the keeper then Andy Battersby fired well over the bar from 25 yards.
With two minutes to go to the interval John Sanderson found CHRIS ROBINSON who, despite being fouled in the penalty area, stayed on his feet and coolly placed the ball past the keeper to give Charnock a well deserved lead. In the dying seconds of the half Robinson forced a fine save from the keeper and when he took the resulting corner CARL GRIMSHAW once again rose above all others to head firmly past the keeper and give Charnock a two goal advantage at the interval.
Garstang obviously came out for the second half with all guns blazing but the visiting defence with Hayton and Kerr dominant were rarely troubled. Play was more even and Garstang made their substitutions but the formula was still that of long ball to the front men but Charnock’s defence was rock solid. John Sanderson was unlucky when his shot was deflected over the keeper but came back off the crossbar. Grimshaw then pole axed a defender with what appeared to be a certain goal whilst at the other end Baldwin was waiting to make his first save as the Garstang attempts so far had been wide or blocked but finally he had to push a shot onto the crossbar and then dive low to collect a goal bound shot.
Play was end to end with both teams’ moves breaking down when approaching the penalty areas. With Garstang pushing forward looking to get something out of the game it left Charnock, on three occasions, with numerical advantage on breakaways but the end result was disappointing and they should have put the game beyond all doubt.
Garstang did eventually have the ball in the net in the 93rd minute but Baldwin was fouled and had to receive lengthy treatment before the referee blew for full time after 97 minutes.
This was a superb display against the league leaders and must rank up there with Charnock’s best with everyone from the solid defence to the ball playing midfield and the two tireless strikers emphasising that Charnock are still looking to retain the league title despite having the disappointment of three points deduced due to confusion over the new player suspension rules.
Credit must go the manager Andy Westwell and his staff who have worked hard with all three teams to try and maintain their fitness during a spell when outside facilities have been very limited because of the ground conditions. It was difficult to believe that this excellent performance came after a six week break!
