Season curtain raiser is ideal way to honour John

Clifton 3 Intack 2

IT was a game fitting to remember John Haydock.

He may well have winced at a few of the challenges flying about or raised an eyebrow at the choice of language.

But there was no doubting the competitive nature of annual pre-season curtain raiser - a match renamed in honour of a man who did so much for the league spanning 40 years.

Both teams, supporters and officials broke in to spontaneous applause during the minute’s silence held to remember the former secretary who sadly passed away in May.

But as soon as the whistle went, it was down to business. John wouldn’t have had it any other way.

It what was a re-run of the Blue and White Rosebowl final, Intack were clearly out to avenge that 2-0 defeat to Clifton.

They tried to unsettle the cup holders - winners for the last two seasons - and they made all the early running.

But they were up against Clifton’s exceptional centre back pairing of the Khan brothers, Aaron and Jordan, the latter rightly going on to be named man of the match by former Blackburn Rovers and Bolton ace Mark Patterson.

However Clifton were indebted to keeper Josh Knowles who produced a fine point blank save to deny Jack Barnes.

It proved to be vital because a few moments later Clifton went ahead.

Graham Perkins played a superb, defence-splitting pass to release the impressive Liam Hoyle down the right and he cut the ball back inside for Dominic Mulkerrin to sweep home.

Clifton should have doubled their lead when Ian Hargreaves spilled a shot from Sam Morris but Mulkerrin slipped with the goal gaping.

Hargreaves went on to make amends soon after with a flying save to push away a strong effort from Morris.

But Intack were always a threat especially with the lively Liam Bullen up front - an early introduction for the injured Scott Carlton.

He didn’t give the Khan’s a moments peace and finally got the better of them when he raced on to a Cory Cook through ball, rounded Knowles and hammered the ball in to an empty net.

Intack were clearly buoyed by the equaliser and despite it coming late in the half, they took that feel good factor in to the second period and took an early lead, captain Stephen Berko - who had been rock solid in the Intack defence in the first half - rising to head home a corner from Matt Haworth.

Now it was Clifton’s turn to be under the cosh and it could have got worse had David Stafford found the net instead of firing just wide following a sweeping move involving Ryan Hyslop and Haworth.

But they weathered the storm and as the match ticked in to the last quarter, a Hargreaves spill was finally punished when Morris turned in the loose ball.

Morris’ next involvement was equally as important as he was in the right place to clear an acrobatic effort from Hyslop off the line as the match swung from end to end.

He was also involved in what proved to be the winning goal when his free kick caused confusion in the Intack area and Mulkerrin hammered home the loose ball.

There was one last twist in the tail when Carlton, who had re-entered the fray, thought he had levelled matters with a towering header only for Knowles to pull off a superb reflex save.