In their second Pre-Season Friendly, Charnock won 3-0 against Squires Gate of the Vodkat League with goals from Carl Grimshaw, Ike Williams and John Sanderson.
Charnock Richard 3 Squires Gate 0 (Friendly)
Saturday 17th July 2010, Pre-Season Friendly.
CHARNOCK RICHARD 3
SQUIRES GATE 0
Scorers : C.Grimshaw, Williams, Sanderson.
Attendance : 54
SQUAD : Baldwin, Battersby, Banks, Pendlebury (Williams 73), Jackson (Dashti 45), Roberts (Morgan 58), Fletcher, Robinson, Prout (Sanderson 56), Burrows (Craddock 68), C Grimshaw.
HT 1-0
This friendly against a team from two Leagues above Charnock Richard showed what a good team Andy Westwell has assembled with this 3-0 victory. The home side dominated most of the game, apart from the first 10 minutes and reached half time leading 1-0. Following the introduction of Charnock substitutes early in the second half, Squires Gate produce some good scoring opportunities, but Charnock regrouped later in the game, playing some neat passing moves and scored two further goals without reply.
Charnock elected to kick off playing towards the Mawdesley Plantation end into a strong breeze and found difficulty in putting passes together which allowed the visitors to press forward and gain two corners which were dealt with by the strong Charnock defence. Playing a 3-4-1-2 formation, Charnock almost opened the scoring after 8 minutes when a cross from Burrows evaded the foot of Grimshaw by inches, which if connected would have been a certain goal from two yards out. Robinson then delivered a free-kick which once again evaded Burrows, Grimshaw and Roberts when a tap in would have opened the scoring. Fletcher and his opposite number then had a bit of a fracas but the Referee quickly calmed the situation and allowed them both to stay on the pitch. From the free-kick Roberts found Burrows who centred for GRIMSHAW to score the opening goal from four yards. This goal gave Charnock a confidence boost as they took complete control of the game with the midfield dominating play, whilst the back three dealt with the long wind assisted clearances from the visitors. Later in the half, Squires Gate had an attempt on goal from a free-kick which Baldwin gathered comfortably. Burrows then came up with a mazy run but his shot deflected for a corner. Despite all the flowing football Charnock could not increase their lead and had to be content with a one goal half-time lead and the satisfaction of their standard of play.
With the wind behind them in the second half, the home team pressed forward and created chances but the visitors defence whilst under constant pressure did not allow many goal scoring opportunities with their no nonsense clearing of the ball from danger areas. A back pass to the Squires Gate keeper who picked it up allowed charnock an indirect free-kick from 14 yards but Charnock were unable to convert the free-kick. With the Charnock defence joining in the attack they were caught out by a long through ball but the Squires Gate winger fired well wide of Baldwins goal. Two substitutions by the home side appeared to briefly upset the Charnock rhythm and Squires Gate enjoyed their best football of the afternoon bringing out two good saves from Baldwin and two very wide shots at goal from good positions. Charnock then regrouped and began to dominate as the substitutes came more into the game with Grimshaw heading wide from a Pendlebury cross. Minutes later, the visitors cross bar was hit during a goalmouth scramble before WILLIAMS converted a Jordan cross after neat play between Robinson and Morgan. A brief break from the constant Charnock pressure saw a poor back pass enabling a visitors forward a scoring opportunity but once again the shot was well wide. In the last few minutes a throw in on the left to Craddock was headed on to Grimshaw whose cross from the by-line was blasted home from five yards by SANDERSON to give the home team a well deserved victory.
