Squires Gate Football Club Match Report

squires gate football club

Match Report

Atherton LR 1 - 1 Squires Gate

Squires Gate faced a tough test away at Atherton LR who at the start of the day sat 10 places below the visitors in 19th place. Squires Gate Player/Manager Russ McKenna looked to this game to rectify the previous league defeat where he had not been happy with the level of performance although Gate had created a host of chances that on another day may have gone in.

It was to be another frustrating day for Gate who for the majority of the first half were again a shadow of the side that had performed well in the first half of the season before the extended winter break.

With the playing surface far from adequate for this level of football both sides found the pitch hard going and the unevenness and muddy surface did not allow for an attractive game of football. Atherton started the game at a higher tempo than the visitors and were first to the ball on numerous occasions putting Gate on the back foot for the majority of the half.

It was Atherton who went closest on 13mins when a short back header by Kevan Ford allowed Atherton a shot at goal forcing Speight into making a comfortable save. On 22mins Gate's full back Dave McCann was forced to make a last ditch tackle as Atherton's striker looked to have broke clear from Gate's Benfield giving away a corner that turned out to be costly.

From the resulting corner Atherton took the lead direct form the corner as the ball was whipped into the near post with Speight and Thomas both seeming to misjudge the flight of the ball which ended up in the back of the net. The goal was probably reward for Atherton's performance at this point although very fortunate to get it this way as they had not really threatened much at this point.

On 41mins, Tom Benfield showed the grit and determination that was needed when he blocked an attempt at goal with a well timed sliding tackle.

Gate having found themselves finally getting into the half with 5mins to go created a shot at goal from McKenna although his attempt went wide of the goal. Gate's next attempt came in the 2nd min of injury time at the end of the first half, Paul Ryan's corner was met by Louis Mayers who from 3yds out turned the ball into the back of the net.

With a team performance far from acceptable Gate came out for the second half looking to put in a more respectable showing.

With both sides seemingly unable to create any clear chances at goal when an opportunity did fall to Atherton they were only able to put the ball into the hands of Speight who had come out to close the striker down on the edge of the box.

Chris Bennett looked to create several opportunities for Gate as he drove at the Atherton defence although he was not able to get the final pass away. It was Bennett who should have had a penalty during the half when he cleverly flicked the ball into the box only for the Atherton full back to handle the ball with the referee and his assistant seemingly unable to see the incident.

Gate's Osborne who had been pushed into a more attacking midfield role, looked to push Gate forward, the midfielder proving why he had been playing at a higher level of football for most of his career. His efforts were not rewarded though as the game ended in a 1-1 draw.

Gate's next game is at home to Bootle on Saturday 13th Feb, 3pm KO. Gate will be looking to revenge a heavy defeat at the hands of Bootle before Christmas.

Team: Speight, McCann, Benfield, Ford, Thomas, Richards, Ryan, Osborne, McKenna, Bennett, Mayers. Subs: Horrocks, McKendrick, State, Harvie, Jo.

Att: 30

Match Photos February 6th 2010

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