Birkdale United AFC

Birkdale made a good start to this game and were ahead after only two minutes when Regan ran down the left wing, cut into the penalty area and fired a shot into the top left hand corner, 0 – 1.

The game ebbed and flowed with neither side able to create any real chances until after 16 minutes, a through ball was latched on to by one of the Trinity strikers only for N. Knight to make a brave save rushing out and diving at his feet to grab the ball safely away.

The score remained 0 – 1 until half time.

The second half started the same way as the first half finished with end to end football but neither side creating any real chances.

Then after seven minutes, another through ball split the Birkdale defence and Trinity grabbed an equaliser with a well taken goal placed delicately just inside the left hand post, 1 – 1.

This goal seemed to jolt Birkdale back into action after a lacklustre spell and after 12 minutes, they were awarded a penalty for a clumsy challenge just inside the box.   L. Jackson stepped up and calmly blasted the ball into the roof of the net to the keeper’s right, 1 – 2.

Birkdale quickly had the ball in the net again when L. Jackson slid the ball past the advancing keeper and G. Rawsthorne knocked it into the back of the net only for it to be ruled out for offside.

With just over 10 minutes to go, Trinity were awarded a dubious penalty which N. Knight brilliantly saved high to his left hand side pushing the ball over the bar.

From the resulting corner, Trinity were given a free header which luckily hit the bar and went over.

Six minutes from time, Birkdale finished the game off with a goal scored by L. Jackson after G. Rawsthorne had done all the work with a great run and beating the keeper and sliding the ball towards the goal, 1 – 3.

Despite a frantic last few minutes, Birkdale held out to come away worthy winners.

This was a good cup tie, not the best game of football you will ever see, but Birkdale gritted their teeth to grind out a result which was not helped by the very blustery condition.  

Joint Man of the Match this week were J. Young for a great man marking job on Trinity’s star player and B. Pike for a solid hard working performance in midfield.

Birkdale United under 11’s North today booked themselves into their second final in two weeks after a thrilling 2-1 win over rivals Crosby Stuart today.

 

The two teams, who mainly consist of players who represent their counties are currently sitting first and second in the West Lancashire Girls League, and are to meet in March in the League cup final. So this game was poised to be a tight and technical game.

 

The girl’s didn’t disappoint as the game started at a lightening tempo, with neither side really getting their foot of the ball. Chances were rare in the opening 10-15 minutes and what saves were made, were from long range shots being easy pickings for both keepers.

 

Crosby Stuart had the first real effort at goal with the captain smashing the ball inches past the post from 20 yards. This gave Birkdale a wakeup call and they started to dominate the play and kept Crosby Stuart boxed in their own half. Birkdale failed to put away their chances with some poor finishing and resilient defending.

 

Crosby Stuart opened the scoring after a Birkdale attack was stopped by the Crosby Stuart defence, Crosby Stuart quickly counter attacked and forced a great save out of the Birkdale keeper. The corner was driven in by the Crosby captain and found its way to the back post and a Crosby Stuart leg bundled the ball over the line.

 

Birkdale knew that they would have to be more clinical in goal, and they started straight from the restart putting the Crosby defence under pressure.

 

Birkdale went into the half time break 1-0 down but still full of belief that they could win the game.

 

Birkdale started the second half the same as they finished the first half, with the ball constantly in the Crosby half, and five minutes into the second half Birkdale equalised with a tap in from H. Aitchison after a well worked move involving K. Singleton and E. Ormerod.

 

The early goal made the second half a better game as Crosby had to try and score again to stop the game from going into extra time and even penalties. But Birkdale had other things on their mind, they wanted to score the winner in normal time and keep their treble hopes alive.

 

The last fifteen minutes were tense with both sides having opportunities to win the game. Most notably was E. Ormerod’s half volley which cracked the cross bar after a H. Aitchison cross.

 

The winning goal came two minutes from the endand was scored by A. Young, it came after a number of long range shots from Birkdale were blocked by Crosby Stuart defenders with one of the shots landing to A. Young who drilled the ball along to floor from 25 yards with the ball creeping inbetween the the post and the goalkeepers foot.

 

The last two minutes were tense and Crosby nearly equalised when the striker went through one on one with the keeper only for S. Kelly making a great last ditch tackle and kicked the ball out for a throw-in. With that the full time whistle blew and Birkdale United under11’s North reached their 2^nd final in 7 days