S & A Saturday Senior Reserves had a tough afternoon today as they welcomed Middleton & Overton FC to the Ainsdale Club.
The home side suffered a blow when the leagues second top scorer Jack Osborne pulled out after the pre-match warm up. With a strong record this season of having only suffered one league defeat all season S & A started well in pretty poor conditions as an extremely strong wind threatened to spoil the game.
S & A went close on numerous occasions with Conor Bligh and Charles Lunt going close. Winger George Carrington was especially creative as he dominated the Middleton full back. Carrington went close himself but found the visitors keeper tough to breakdown.
S & A took a deserved lead on 19 mins when Bligh tricked his way into the box and from his pass Lunt converted.
Bligh then had a fantastic long range effort tipped over by the agile keeper.
The Middleton stopper was having the game of his life as he collected crosses at ease as S & A pushed a second. Full back Robson Baldwin also went close when his in-swinging corner looked destined for the far corner before the keeper managed to somehow touch it around the post.
Middleton offered very little in the first half as they battled against the strong wind.
Ht : 1-0
The second half was going be tough for both sides but as the wind increased it was a leveller in someways as Middleton created a few half chances. S & A still had the majority of the play but could not find that final touch to double their lead.
Again the visitors keeper was strong as he kept out anything S & A could throw at him. Without really troubling Cole Wood for the whole game Middleton equalised in the 88th minute with a bizarre goal.
Yet another long punt into the S & A box was headed upwards by the home defence but as Wood came off his line the ball looped over him and just hit the Middleton striker on the back and went in.
Overall it was cruel on S & A but the only positive for S & A was gaining another point and adding to a long unbeaten run.
The wind played its part today plus an unusual lack of creativity from the home side as they move on to next weeks away game.
Ft : 1-1
S & A ‘Player of the match’ was George Carrington for his overall wing play certainly based on his first half performance.
David Stroud
(Manager)