A depleted Reds’ Reserves side travelled to Preston on Thursday fearing the worst and came back with their heads held high.
Injuries and withdrawals left manager Steve Lee with just ten players for this Lancashire League encounter yet a bunch of sixteen, seventeen and eighteen year-olds came away with a morale victory conceding a goal at the end of each half. |
Simon B ragg |
They held firm for over forty minutes in the first half and were unlucky not to open the scoring. Skipper for the night, Simon Bragg – at eighteen, one of the ‘veterans’ of the side – saw a far post hooked volley strike the post following Sam Smith’s free-kick.
It took a controversial goal to break the deadlock when a couple of Reds’ defenders felt there had been a hand ball in the build-up. The referee saw nothing wrong and Phil Watson continued his run to slot the ball past ‘keeper Chris Batty.
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Greg Mitchell |
The second half was more open with chances created at both ends and Reds certainly contributing more to the game than expected.
Greg Mitchell almost equalised with one effort cleared off the line and was then thwarted twice when decent shots on target were saved by home ‘keeper Gary Knight.
Bridge saw Batty make a great save to deny Adam Greenwood and then Sam Smith made a fantastic goal line block to save a certain goal.
Brave Reds continued to press for an equaliser but were caught out four minutes from time when Sam Keates drove home the second to ease the homeside’s frustration.
A superb effort from the lads who will now have to re-group in time for Saturday’s game at Curzon Ashton.