LYTHAM really needed to follow on from their impressive display a week before against the National League side of Formby, but unfortunately this was a poor display from a side which is capable of so much more. Lytham started well and for the first 10 minutes of the game dominated, with much possession and a few chances on goal. Oxton then had a break on goal, with the centre forward managing to escape Justin Latham who had a good game at the back.

The captain, playing sweeper, managed to get across and make an excellent tackle only to have a short corner awarded to Oxton to the dismay of the Lytham side. This was converted to change the emphasis of the game considerably. Lytham found themselves under pressure for the rest of the first half and were lucky not to be further behind thanks to a fantastic display by the Lytham keeper, Dafyd Jones, who denied Oxton on a number of occasions.

The second half was very much the same with Lytham not managing to keep possession for long periods which resulted in only a few chances at goal. Oxton scored again midway through the second half with a well-taken deflection, and this was when Lytham really tried to gain something from a game which they never seemed to control. It was very much a story of too little too late. Lytham are lying mid table and will have to start picking up some points if they are to escape a relegation battle later in the season.

Oxton 2 Lytham St Annes 1st XI 0

LYTHAM began very shakily and struggled to find their form on the very fast astro at Stanley Park. They were taken by surprise by a young, determined Blackpool side and very quickly went 1-0 down. After that Lytham started to concentrate and had numerous chances to score only to be denied by some great goalkeeping by Clare Turner in the Blackpool goal.

In the second half Lytham looked more determined and, following a number of good passing movements, some powerful running from Anne Preston resulted in her first of two goals. Gilli Cooper scored a great goal immediately followed by a neat second, and finally Preston put the result beyond doubt. In a way the score did not reflect the talent of a very young Blackpool team who will be a force to be reckoned with in the future.

Lytham Ladies 1st XI 4 Blackpool & Wyre Ladies 2nd XI 1