Road Outplayed on the Night

After last Saturdays good victory at AFC Liverpool, Road went into the game full of confidence

MAINE ROAD 1 PADIHAM 3 OWN GOAL
After last Saturdays good victory at AFC Liverpool, Road went into the game full of confidence. Calum Broady and Jack Poxon were unavailable due to work commitments, so Owen Pollitt and Rhys Clooney stepped up. Right from the kick off Road looked sluggish and tired and Padiham took full advantage, by pressing and not giving Road any time and space to play. It was no surprise when after 14 minutes Padiham took the lead, after a bout of pin ball in the area which resulted in the number 10 slotting the ball home. Previous to the goal Road had missed a glorious chance to take the lead when Jamie Roe latched onto a lovely through ball from Owen Pollitt only for the keeper to make a good save to deny Jamie. Slowly Road were coming into the game, but were still finding it very hard to gain any control. Rhys and Morgy both had chances but fired wide to send Road in at half time 1-0 down to a good Padiham side Morgy had 2 more shots just after half time one just wide and the other well saved by the keeper, but it was Padiham who increased the lead when Road`s defence was knocked off the ball and the number 8 scored to give Padiham a deserved 2 – 0 lead. Morgy (hamstring) and Jack Langford (sore back) were replaced by Jack Ryan and Ryan Smith. Louie Inniss strode down the left wing and put in a tremendous cross which forced a Padiham defender to turn the ball into his own goal. Road`s joy was shortlived when a minute later 16 year old Owen Pollitt went down clutching his chest with no one any way near him, he got up and chased the ball only to go down again. He was brought off and his father took him to hospital. (see next page) Tom Markham replaced Owen. Padiham scored a third goal, which seemed of little consequence ,but they fully deserved their victory.