RADCLIFFE BOROUGH 1 – 3 DROYLSDEN

EvoStik NPL Division One (North)

Saturday 9 April 2016

By Gary Owen

The Bloods took all three points after these two struggling sides met for the second time in as many weeks, and this time did not let their three goal lead slip, despite some late scares!

Tom Hulme and Daniel Lafferty both went close for the hosts, playing up the first half slope, but it was Droylsden who took the lead through a Matty Burke penalty following a foul on Dan Parkinson.

Parkinson and Mike Pino both had efforts for the visitors, and Lafferty again saw a header fly just over the Droylsden bar, but the half ended with Dave Pace’s men holding the narrowest of leads.

Just before the hour mark, Droylsden doubled their lead when Parkinson stooped to head home James Hampson’s pin point cross.

\A loose ball by Luke Dalyw as almost punished by Radcliffe, but Lewis Fielding saved Hulme’s shot at the second attempt after turning the initial effort onto the post, but as Radcliffe pressed to get back into the game, they were caught on the counter attack.  Droylsden susbstitute, Brandon Zibaka collected the ball on the half-way line, held off the attentions of Nathan Valentine and then rounded Chris Cheetham to slot home.

Borough pulled one back from the spot through Sam McMahon after a foul by Burke, and a speculative volley from Hulme flew just wide of Fielding’s right upright before matters were brought to a close in the teaming rain.

RADCLIFFE BOROUGH:   Cheetham, Forbes (Ashburner, 60’), Walters, Valentine, Lafferty, Smith, Giannotta (Daniels, 79’), Crook (Bainbridge, 32’), Hulme, McMahon, Rokka.  Subs. not used – Hindle, Landregan.

DROYLSDEN:                      Fielding, Clarke-Adams, Samuels, Hampson B. (Murphy, 45+3’), Rouse, Burke, Daly (Lattie, 66’), Pino, Hampson J., Rouse-Edmondson, Parkinson (Zibaka, 64’).  Subs. not used – Bove, Hunt.

Referee:                                 Mr. G. Hilton (Wigan)

Attendance:                          125

Category: Match Reports