THE opening day of the East Lancashire League programme saw Division One new boys Whinney Hill Res travel to Worsthorne for a lesson in top flight survival - and they almost passed the initiation with flying colours.

For despite an obvious chasm in both skill and experience between the two teams, the young Whinney Hill side kept their nerve and produced a battling performance that restricted the home side to one goal.

And they almost snatched a dramatic equaliser in the dying minutes.

Not that the Worsthorne management team would see it quite like that.

Worsthorne had a bag full of chances to sew this game up long before the final whistle, but a combination of poor finishing and some excellent goalkeeping from Whinney Hill's Stuart Dean almost made a mockery of Worsthorne's aspirations of lifting this season's championship title.

For the first half hour both teams laboured to make any real impression on their opponents goal.

Whinney Hill, who seemed to have surprised their opponents with their hard work and tenacity, grew in confidence and a quick throw by Andy Taylor almost paid dividends as Paul Prestage latched onto the loose ball and fired just wide of the post.

This seemed to shake the home side into action and there followed a spell of intense pressure either side of the break from the Worsthorne side.

A great effort from 20 yards by Nathan Forrest flew inches wide, followed by Whinney Hill's David Blackburn, clearing Mick Tregay's shot off the line.

Then, seconds from the break, Craig Wilkinson's corner found Tregay and he was unlucky to see his flashing header miss its mark by a whisker.

Straight from the restart, Worsthorne were at their opponents again and should have opened their account when Craig Wilkinson hit the post with a great shot on the run and Mick Tregay squandered the rebound opportunity, skying the ball high and wide with the goal at his mercy. And it came as no surprise when the over-stretched Whinney Hill defence were caught flat-footed in the 52nd minute by a Graham Evans cross that was headed on by Tregay into the path of Craig Wilkinson.

From 10-yards out Wilkinson made no mistake crashing the ball home despite a brave effort by defender Danny Lee to clear the danger off the line.

Worsthorne, now firmly in the driving seat, should have seen off their visitors, but further chances that fell to Edwards and Tregay went begging and a good save from Worsthorne keeper Phil Wild to prevent Paul Prestage equalising on the break, only emphasised the fragility of a one-goal lead and growing frustration of one Worsthorne's player in particular.

In a moment of sheer stupidity, Damian Hartley lashed out at Whinney Hills Franny Deroza and was immediately deposited to the changing rooms by referee Newcombe. Hartley's irresponsible action in the 81st minute led to hasty reorganisation in the Worsthorne midfield and Whinney Hill almost capitalised on their extra man advantage.

In the 87th minute, Danny Lee's 40 yard pass released Prestage in acres of space just outside the Worsthorne penalty area. With Mick Rogan unmarked on the right side of the box, Prestage opted to pass instead of going it alone and Rogan made no mistake shooting into the far corner and sparked wide celebrations on the Whinney Hill bench.

These were short-lived as the referee acknowledged the linesman's offside flag and a relieved Worsthorne side played out the last few minutes knowing that this had been a victory incorporating a valuable lesson they just can't afford to ignore.

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