A last minute equaliser for Eagley gave them a point after John Sanderson and Carl Grimshaw had given the Villagers a 2-1 interval lead.
The Reserves beat Haslingden St Mary's Reserves 3-2 with goals from Gibson, Travers and Alex Proctor.
Eagley 2 Charnock Richard 2
Saturday 27th February 2010, West Lancs Premier Division.
EAGLEY 2
CHARNOCK RICHARD 2
Scorers : Sanderson, C.Grimshaw
TEAM: Kevin Baldwin, Damian Dashti, Andy Battersby, Liam Hayton, Alex Randell, Phil Jackson, David Prout (George Craddock 90), Andy Roberts, Chris Robinson, John Sanderson, Carl Grimshaw (Jimmy King 68). SUB (Not Used) Mark Kerr.
Over the years there has developed the belief amongst the followers of Charnock Richard that their visits to Eagley have not produced the most rewarding results and this game, in which Charnock largely dominated but only came away with a point, only provided further proof. Examination of the statistics since the clubs first met back in the 1995/6 season largely substantiates the idea that Eagley is not Charnock’s most successful away venue. Of the 15 Games played to date Charnock have only won six and five have been drawn. Only once have Charnock won by a margin of more than one goal a 2-0 victory in the 2000/1 season. Eagley had visited Mossie Close only three weeks previously and left with all three points following a 2-1 win so Charnock were intent on revenge and if all things had been equal they would have left with all three points and with the strong smell of victory in their nostrils. But, however, football is not like that, neat football and plenty of possession does not win games, it is goals that count and Charnock failed to convert all their dominance into goals, often just because of rank bad luck, but that is the way that it goes.
Eagley scored first before Charnock, for the second game running, scored two goals in a minute to take control of the game. They should have been further ahead by the interval and they dominated most of the second half but some stout defending, aided by luck at times, by the home side resulted in the game still being on a knife edge almost until the final whistle and Eagley grabbed a point in the final minute with an equalising goal.
Based upon the defeat earlier in the month manager Andy Westwell reshaped his team in an attempted to counter the pace in the home team attack. He maintained his back three formation but Damian Dashti played in the centre with Andy Battersby and Liam Hayton either side of him. Randell started out on the right and Chris Robinson on the left. David Prout, Andy Roberts and Phil Jackson were in midfield. John Sanderson started up front alongside Carl Grimshaw, who was returning to the club where he had spent most of his career until this season.
It was an overcast day but there was no wind and the pitch was in reasonable condition considering all the rain on the previous day. Charnock started kicking towards the changing rooms end and the early exchanges were fairly even. Grimshaw met a left wing corner at the near post but the angle was too acute for his header to cause any danger. Andy Battersby, who had a rather erratic first half, sliced a clearance and Eagley had their first real chance of the game. Dashti got back to challenge but it was Baldwin coming out to dive at the forward’s feet that saved the situation. Having blocked the ball he then grabbed it from off an Eagley toe to complete the save. On 20 minutes however a similar attack saw Eagley take the lead. Dashti was caught one on one at the back and he appeared to be pushed over, Baldwin came out and made a partial block but the ball had enough on it to trickle over the line. Charnock upped their game and Chris Robinson was a constant threat on the left. The game turned on its head after 28 minutes. Grimshaw was fouled in midfield but ploughed on and appeared to be charging down on goal when the referee pulled the game back for the foul much to the dismay of the Charnock following. It did not really matter, however, as the free kick was rolled to Randell on the right and his diagonal cross to the back post was headed home by SANDERSON. A minute later it was GRIMSHAW, scoring against his old club, again it was Randell who set up the goal. He charged down the right and pulled the ball back for Carl to drill a powerful shot just inside the post. Charnock now really started to put their game together, a Robinson cross was almost touched home by Grimshaw although he may have been offside. Then another great spell of passing set up Roberts on the edge of the area, the keeper dived the wrong way but just managed to get a foot to the ball on the line. Another move than sent Sanderson clear but the keeper just managed to block the ball as John attempted to poke it past him. Half time arrived with Eagley lucky to still be in the game.
The second half saw Charnock dominate the play. Eagley defended well albeit with plenty of complaining the referee having to have several words with individual players before finally producing the yellow card. Charnock for all their possession never calved out a real clear-cut chance but there were plenty of shots and headers that were goal bound which either hit a defender or were straight at the keeper. The keeper twice had to use his feet on the line to stop shots. Carl Grimshaw, feeling a twinge from his hamstring, was replaced by Jimmy King with Robinson going up front. Eagley were able to exploit their pace on the break and a couple of shots just went wide of the post, Baldwin was called upon to turn a powerful shot around the post and Charnock with only three at the back often looked short of numbers in defence. As the game progressed and Charnock failed to kill it off Eagley began to realise that they may still get something from it and as often happens, when teams are defending a single goal lead, Charnock began to drop deeper. It looked as if Charnock were going to hang on to collect all three points but a towering header from a left wing corner in the 89th minute saw Eagley grab a point. Craddock replaced Prout in added time but in the end it was a case of making sure that Eagley, boosted by their goal, did not go on to pinch all three points.
There can be no criticism of the performance because for most of the game Charnock were the dominant side and at times Eagley’s defending was desperate but to be fair to them they were only sliced open once although there were shots that were only inches away from finding the net. On any other occasion the game would have been over well before the final whistle but this is Eagley and Charnock do not score many goals at this venue.
