Match of the week: Poulton (Under-12) 2 Lytham (Under-12) 2
Lockhart unlocks the defence to save the day point
IMPROVING Lytham hope this 2-2 draw which damaged Poulton’s title charge proves a turning point in their domino division season.
Foxhall’s defeat by Fleetwood meant Poulton could have gone top with victory at Cottam Hall, but valiant Lytham clearly hadn’t read the script and twice took the lead.
And it needed equalisers late in each half to deny them maximum points.
Poulton had won both previous meetings this season but their slender 1-0 home win a fortnight earlier suggested that Sunday’s match would be a close encounter.
And this cracking contest was no surprise to Poulton manager Nick Johnson, who reckons it more a case of Lytham fulfilling their potential than his own side having an off-day.
Ally Harper opened the scoring for Lytham midway through the first half, latching on to Chris Connell’s through ball to fire home.
Clinical striker Will Lockhart pulled Poulton level five minutes before the break, when he was well placed to volley home from close range.
Lytham regained the lead after the interval, when Max Reid finished a fine move started in defence. He blasted home from the edge of the area following a through ball by Will Holton.
It was Lockhart who saved the day for Poulton with his second goal with five minutes remaining.
The striker’s initial shot was saved by Will Powell, one of a string of fine saves by the impressive keeper, but the ball rebounded to Lockhart who gave Powell no chance after beating two defenders.
The equaliser was a reward for Poulton’s late pressure and there were other close calls.
Billy Joyce’s free-kick was headed on by Olly Kelly and tipped against the post by Will Powell, one of a string of fine saves by the impressive keeper. The ball rebounded to Poulton’s John Connolly, whose shot was cleared off the line.
But Lytham had further chances of their own, with Ronan Stott’s shot shaving the post after he had controlled the ball well.
Poulton manager Johnson may have seen his side drop a place to third as YMCA seized the opportunity to go top, but he knows there is still everything to play for.
“We still have to play YMCA twice and the teams are taking points off each other. It’s a very competitive league.”
Besides the outstanding Joyce, the Poulton boss was also impressed by battling fellow midfielders Sam Wilson and Will Blundell.
Lytham’s midfield duo Peter Hollowell and Chay Curry also stood out, as did centre-halves Steve Hardman and Connor Cuthbertson.
Lytham boss Dave Powell felt his side were rewarded for their positive approach. He said: “We never intended just going there to defend. We have been playing well for half a game but have struggled to keep it going all match. On Sunday we did just that.”
THE MANAGERS’ MATCH VERDICT
NICK JOHNSON (Poulton)
IT’S two points dropped and we are disappointed but fair play to Lytham. They are a better side than their league position suggests. We were always chasing the game and we struggled to get going.
DAVE POWELL (Lytham)
This was a good performance and all the players encouraged each other. We competed well in all areas against a formidable side. We almost did enough to win and showed great resilience under pressure at the end.
MEN OF THE MATCH
BILLY JOYCE (Poulton)
IN a hard-working Poulton midfield, Billy was the central figure in every sense and was instrumental in most of his team’s best moments.
PETER HOLLOWELL (Lytham)
PETER’S tenacity and endless energy were particularly impressive on a day when all his fellow central midfielders also caught the eye.
Blackpool (Under-10) 3 Burnley 0
BLACKPOOL FC girls’ Under-10s stretched their unbeaten run to 11 games with a 3-0 victory over Burnley.
Burnley were no pushovers in this top v bottom clash, although Emma Hickson gave Blackpool and early lead.
Player of the match Charlie Henderson and Jordan Dixon needed to be in fine form at the back as Blackpool reached half-time 1-0 up.
Substitute Caitlin Green gave Blackpool breathing space but they still had to defend strongly until Georgia Lambe fired home a free-kick won by Rebecca Shaw.
Thornton Cleveleys 1 YMCA (Under-13) 3
YMCA reached their fourth consecutive North Valley League Cup final with a battling display.
They had the better of the first half and Millie Gallagher’s 18th-minute goal made it 1-0 at half-time.
Stephanie Vickers doubled the lead although Thornton pulled one back three minutes later through the pacy Rebecca Harper.
Vickers clinched YMCA’s place in the final with an excellent run and finish.
Bromley Cross 2 Fleetwood Town (Under-13) 1
Fleetwood missed out on a place in the final of the North Valley League Cup after this agonising extra-time defeat.
Meg Brown gave Fleetwood the lead with a shot on the rebound only for a Bromley equaliser to force extra time.
Em McCarthy went close but it was Bromley who scored the winner in the first extra five-minute period.
Blackpool (Under-15) 10 Manchester City 2
Blackpool returned to winning ways in crushing style as Erim Wilby scored four.
There were two apiece for Carla Broom and Alice Jackson, while Emma Perril and Becky Preston also found the net.
Blackpool were two up inside 10 minutes but City pulled one back before Blackpool took control.
Gabriella May and Emily Whatmough were excellent in defence, with wingers Perril and Hannah Woodbridge also in fine form.
Alex Cherry, Holly Roberts and Kelly Barlow also stood out.
YMCA (Under-17) 4 Thornton Cleveleys 3
YM won through to the cup final with this thrilling win at Holt House. They lost Amy Crossland in the second minute to a hamstring injury and fell behind three minutes later.
But YM showed their desire to draw level on 15 minutes when Robyn Taylor looped home a header from Millie Brown’s corner.
However, Thornton were back in front five minutes later and it remained 2-1 at half-time.
Winger Louise Gibbins equalised with a fine shot with 15 minutes remaining and YMCA hit the post and crossbar before captain Amanda Pendlebury fired a ferocious free-kick into the roof of the net with less than five minutes left.
Substitute Charlie Carr found struck the winner deep into injury time as both keepers – YM’s Hannah Anyon and Thornton’s Natalie Carter – won their respective player of the match awards.
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