LYTHAM ST ANNES 1ST XI 2 CITY OF YORK 4

AFTER recent performances which have helped to consolidate the local team in the middle of the league table, LSA met the top of the table team full of confidence. York, however, took the lead from a breakaway goal after about 20 minutes, but Chris Simcock soon equalised and had it not been for a bad miss at a penalty stroke LSA could have been leading at half-time.

However, with York having a player yellow-carded for a period, Rob Jackson put Lytham ahead with a well executed penalty corner and Steve Perkins narrowly missed with a high lob over the goalkeeper. Unfortunately the last 15 minutes of the game proved that fitness is essential, defensive errors were made and York scored three times from penalty corners.

LSA 2ND XI 4

CHEETHAM HILL 2ND XI 0

PLAYING away at Cheetham Hill in the Berrymans Lace Mawer NW League, LSA turned in a good sound performance both in attack and defence. In the first half they controlled the game mainly because of the ability of John Pearson who reverted, most adequately to centre mid-field, from his normal striking role. Displaying a variety of skills, distributing the ball with either short or long accurate passes, the team gradually got their act together and were leading 2-0 at half-time with goals from Jackson and Batho. Shortly after the second half started Pearson demonstrated his top class ability with a dribble into the circle, beating off several tackles before calmly flicking the ball past a bewildered goalkeeper.

Cheetham Hill fought back strongly and went close to scoring on a number of occasions but LSA defended well, with Mott, Jackman and Green prominent. It was Bennington who put the result beyond doubt with about five minutes to go. His fierce shot from the edge of the circle was deflected off an opponent into goal.

LYTHAM ST ANNES 3RD XI 1

SALE 3RD XI 0

EVEN though Sale have dropped out of the Berrymans Lace Mawer NW League they still proved worthy adversaries in this friendly fixture. The first half was littered with good scoring ;chances as LSA moved the ball around well on a very slippery grass pitch. Such was the pressure that the Sale defence eventually gave way allowing Nuttall to fire a hard cross to Willis who scored quite brilliantly.

The second half again proved just as exciting with amazing runs coming from Burnett, Roberts, Willis and Nuttall. However, Sale managed to soak up the pressure until the final minute. LSA were awarded a penalty stroke but were denied a goal by a truly superb save by the Sale goalkeeper.

LYTHAM ST ANNES 4TH XI 0

CHESTER 2

THIS Berrymans Lace Mawer NW League Div 4 match, played at Kirkham Grammar School, turned out to be a very even game with each side fighting for midfield superiority. However, two unfortunate defensive lapses took their toll and LSA conceded defeat and with it the points to the top of the table team from Chester. LSA 5TH XI 1

BOWDON VETS 4

HAVING lost by a similar score to Bowdon Vets a few weeks ago, LSA had hoped to fair better this time.

However, the Bowdon side contains a number of very experienced players who know exactly how much energy to release before slowing the game down to their pace.

LSA started brightly enough with good midfield interplay by Cook, Bennett and Hall. Bowdon scored after 15 minutes against the run of play, but Isherwood equalised just before half-time.

The second half however was very much Bowdons' and had it not been for some sound goakkeeping by Mat Harwood the score might have been greater.

LYTHAM LADIES 1ST XI 2

GARSTANG LADIES 1ST XI 1

PLAYING away at the Penwortham Leisure Centre, produced a good solid programme with each player giving 100 per cent.

They scored just when a good pass from Gill Harrison found Anne Preston in the circle to propel the ball into goal.

However, Garstang fought back strongly and were rewarded with a goal that made the score 1-1 at half-time.

Gradually in the second half Lytham began to control the game and won several penalty corners.

With about five minutes to go a powerful accurate long pass from Carrie Bower found Preston just inside the circle and her first time supershot rocketed into the left hand corner of the goal, giving the keeper no chance.

Special mention must go to the acting captain Michelle Singleton and Harrison in attack, ably supported by Neave O'Donaghue who once again was a tower of strength in defence.

SOUTHPORT 1ST XI 1

LYTHAM 2ND XI 1

HAVING suffered a heavy defeat early season, Lytham can be well satisfied with a draw played on the Ansdell Arena.

Southport appeared to be surprised by the pace of the Lytham forwards and it was from a well rehearsed penalty corner routine by Fay Smith and Louise Herring which finally enabled Jo Martyn-Clark to score from centre circle, while Rachael Parzial's excellent dummy run off the ball helped to confuse the Garstang defence.

Lytham continued their good work in the second half but over confidence led to their defence being caught too far upfield and that led to a lucky break taking them by surprise and a rather soft goal being scored against them.

All told this was an excellent Lytham performance.

LYTHAM LADIES 3RD XI 3

PRESTON LADIES 0

PLAYED at Preston, Lytham started strongly and dominated the first half Lianne Atkinson opening the scoring.

Clair Hall then scored from a penalty corner, followed by Emma Higgs making it 3-0 by half-time.

The second half saw no more goals but still some good hockey was played by Lytham who held comfortably on to their lead.

All told a very good all round performance with Sarah Lloyd taking the player of the match accolade.

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