Sportspy Reports - Sunday February 6th 2011

At an evil Commonedge Road, Blackpool this morning battling the heavy wind and rain to look in on a number of games that survived the weather. The famous drainage ensured that all eight matches went ahead as planned.

You can’t even begin to think about an improvement in the weather until February has passed and so it’s proved this last week with persistent rain and strong winds but at least it’s been relatively mild. This is when the Commonedge pitches come into their own. I’d bet that more games of Sunday football took place at Commonedge Road, Blackpool this morning than in the whole of the rest of Lancashire.

On Pitch 2, the Premier/Division 1 Cup match between Fylde Coast Gates FC and AFC Additions (Red) was being filmed for posterity. A good win for the Division 1 side who came out narrow 1-0 winners.

Referee Mark Hughes

Wrapped up against the cold

Over the ditch and on Pitch 8, No 4 Rangers in the stripes were at home to CTK FC

Wayne Taylor with the throw

The No 4 defence has him surrounded

A great morning for bending in in-swinging corners under the bar

‘HANDBALL on the line!

He had another swipe at it with his hand and it went in but the referee’s whistle had already gone.

Despair as the guilty defender is shown the inevitable red card

But the penalty is missed. Crucial, as when No4 turned around for the second half with the wind they went on to win this Division 2 fixture 5-0

The ball wouldn’t sit still in the wind so some improvisation was required. Aren’t you supposed to take goal kicks from inside the six yard area?

The trees, flags and netting bend in the wind

Also in the Prem/Division 1 Cup were the Shovels (Stripes) who were at home to the Gardeners Arms. If you’d told me two season’s ago that the Shovels would turn up with only nine men for a second round Cup fixture against the top of the Premier Division I would never have believed you. Unsurprisingly, they went on to lose the tie 4-0.

Well taken by the Gardener’s keeper

A penalty in the Division 4 game between Waterloo Pub FC and the No 1 Club FC

Good tackle

Teamsport 90 FC goalie Ant Jones thoroughly enjoying the Division 3 fixture away at AFC Bloomfield.

Low flying chopper over the DH Gas FC v Blackpool Catholic Colts FC match in Division 4

Windblown wags

Finally, in one of the games of the day, Real Burlington FC (Purple) were at home to Northern Care Colts FC. With the wind behind them the Colts raced into a 3-0 lead at the break but in the second period the Burlies fought back spiritedly to gain a valuable point in a highly entertaining 3-3 draw.