Scorers: HUGHES 1, TINKER 1

As much of the North West is covered in snow we find ourselves in the fortunate position of having a game as the pitch at West Didsbury is fit for play and a decent crowd has braved the weather to watch this local derby.

West Didsbury kick off. 9mins MIKE BURKE loses the ball in a good tackle for JAMES FLYNN to pick up the loose ball and find MATTHEW STRUMINSKYJ out wide left, MATTHEW STRUMINSKYJ makes a good run and puts a low ball across the 6 yard box and finds MATTHEW MORGAN at the far post but the shot goes wide. 12mins a good pass behind the defence from JACK LANGFORD and a well-timed run to beat the offside trap from CONNOR HUGHES gets him away and one on one with the West Didsbury keeper and CONNOR HUGHES calmly slots the ball into the back of the net (0-1). 14mins a good run from MIKE BURKE whose cross finds the chest of JACK LANGFORD just inside the box but it was too difficult to get the ball under control and the danger was cleared. 16mins No.4 for West Didsbury is booked, a quick free kick sees MATTHEW MORGAN and CONNOR HUGHES combine releasing MATTHEW MORGAN down the right wing but the cross drifts out of play for a goal kick. 20mins RORY BRESLIN picking up a nasty knock to the ankle is replaced by JAMIE ROE. 22mins JOHN MASON picks up a yellow card. 24mins West Didsbury have the ball in midfield and with no apparent danger the No.8 hits the ball low from 30 yards straight into the bottom corner catching everybody by surprise for the equaliser (1-1). 25mins having just scored the No.8 picks up a booking for a poor tackle on JACK LANGFORD. 35mins West Didsbury pick up their third yellow card as the No.6 is booked. 40mins sees West Didsbury go ahead in controversial circumstances as the No.7 takes a free kick and hits well wide only for the referee to blow his whistle after the ball had gone dead as a West Didsbury player is down injured. The retake and the No.7 doesn’t make the same mistake as he strikes the ball superbly into the top corner leaving keeper RYAN LIVESY no chance (2-1). 42mins and the No.6 is lucky to be on the field as the referee bottles the decision to send him off for a 2nd yellow as he deliberately kicks out and trips MATTHEW MORGAN as he runs beyond him, in fact it could have been a straight red as he was last man and MATTHEW MORGAN would have been clear away on goal.

Half time: 2-1

49mins good play out wide from the No.7 finds the No.9 in the box but the shot goes over the bar. West Didsbury come out at 100mph for the first 5 minutes but can’t improve on their lead. 53mins MIKE BURKE gets a decent chance at the other end but the shot lands on top of the netting. 55mins JOSH TINKER on the ball just inside the West Didsbury half delays play as he has no options and decides to cut inside and go himself. He plays a one two with MATTHEW MORGAN on the edge of the box and gets beyond the defence to go one on one with the keeper. The keeper comes out quickly but JOSH TINKER strikes well to beat him only for the ball to hit the post but quick reactions from JOSH TINKER as he slots home the rebound for a well-deserved equaliser (2-2). 58mins a dangerous run and shot from the No.9 is well saved by RYAN LIVESY. 63mins MATTHEW MORGAN beats the offside trap but the keeper gets there first but spills the ball as MATTHEW MORGAN pounces but the angle is too tight and the ball goes agonisingly past the far post. 72mins a CONNOR HUGHES free kick is spilled by the keeper but he just manages to gather before MIKE BURKE gets his foot to it. 76mins MIKE BURKE is replaced by NICK ALEXANDER. 80mins the No.2 is booked for kicking out. 83mins and a perfectly timed pass from CONNOR HUGHES puts NICK ALEXANDER clean away and one on one with the keeper should have done better as the shot is scuffed well wide. 84mins ANDY THORPE picks up a yellow card. 86mins MATTHEW MORGAN is replaced by JAMES ROTHEL. The final chance of the game fell to Maine Road as MATTHEW STRUMINSKYJ hit a great long pass with the outside of his foot straight into the path of CONNOR HUGHES whose shot was well blocked by the keeper as he came out quickly to close down.

Full time 2-2

Team: - LIVESEY; TINKER; THORPE; MASON; FLYNN; STRUMISNKIJ; BRESLIN; HUGHES; MORGAN; BURKE; Subs:- ROE; BARNETT; ALEXANDER; ROTHEL.