Match Report: Stewart Taylor
Pictures: Jim Lockwood
There is an old saying in football that it is “goals that count” and that was, as ever, the story at Surrey Street on Saturday but by no means the whole story.
With a new management team, many new players and a successful pre-season, hopes were high at GNE as the new North West Counties League started with the visit of the “Yellows” from Ashton Athletic. The visitors were also much changed from last season with a new manager in Jay Foulds who had brought many of his young side from Wigan Robin Park to play in the Yellow of Ashton Athletic.
A good crowd saw the match kick off in bright sunlight with a strong westerly breeze moderating the temperature. The home side were in the ascendancy with good passing and movement through midfield but no real clear cut chances on goal. It was against the run of play as Athletic midfielder Joe Hull was fouled in the box by a combination of GNE defenders. Captain Steve Latham made no mistake from the penalty spot to give the visitors the lead.
Into the second half and the game started to open up just a little as the Hillmen pressed forward looking to find the finishing touch to some constructive midfield play. On 58 minutes Tom Bailey, on his return to Surrey Street after a couple of seasons away, was put in on goal by a clever free kick but his effort was well saved by Foulds in the Yellows goal. Two minutes later it was Bailey again who got on the end of a fine cross from the left and converted confidently to equalise the scores.
At this point there looked to be only one winner as the home side continued to force the game in their opponents half in search of further goals. Captain Lincoln Adams went close with a header which came back off the bar but it was the visitors who scored next to regain the lead. A poor clearance from defence fell for James Lawrence-Forbes who had time and space to knock the ball into the unguarded GNE net.
GNE introduced Lee Morris and Nathan James from the subs bench and set to the task of getting back on level terms again but the Yellows defence, lead by the impressive Luke Holden, were determined not to be outdone. Daley Rothwell went closest for the Hillmen in the last few minutes as his stinging shot was well dealt with by Foulds down to his right.
Overall, a good performance from a young visiting team but the better football was played by the Hillmen. The home supporters would have been disappointed with the result but a penalty and a defensive howler made the difference on the score sheet. Nil desperandum!
