Sportspy reports from Pleasington, Blackburn watching Quilligans FC play the Station FC. A place in the last eight at stake of the Lancashire Sunday Trophy.
Despite the heavy overnight rain the conditions in Blackburn were very good. A river runs through the middle of all the pitches at Pleasington allowing for quick drainage. By the kick-off time of 10:30am the rain had stopped. Two in-form sides on show today. Quilligans had enjoyed nine wins on the bounce and the Station FC had gone top of the Blackburn league last Sunday after beating rivals and current Lancashire Sunday Trophy holders Mill Hill FC.
The joint Station management team of Mick O’Hara and Kevin Reed reported that they more or less had their best squad out as did Quill’s manager Mark Spedding. Today’s referee was Craig Walsh and he got the game underway about five minutes late with the home side kicking off.
Station FC, Blackburn
Quilligans FC
Scott Sugden (Blue)
Station FC keeper Kevin Reed.
The game started tightly as expected. Quilligans had the ball more in the opposition half but no real chances were created. On fifteen minutes Station took the lead. A good break down the left resulted in a cross from Joe Ginley. There was a half hearted shout from the Quilligan’s defenders for offside but Crofty’s flag stayed down. An attempted clearance from Chris Taylor resulted in a horrible slice that flew in off the post past the stranded Forsyth. 1-0.
Ten minutes later and the home side almost extended their lead. A fee kick was floated over to the far post and hesitation and confusion from Foster and Butler almost resulted in the Station striker converting but the ball went wide.
On thirty minutes Quilligans equalised following the best fifteen seconds of Sunday football seen so far this season. Pickering showed the necessary commitment in midfield by riding past a couple of challenges before playing the ball into the feet of Broadbent. He showed the vision when laying off a first time ball for Danny Whittaker who’d made a great run off the ball. He took it on into the box and smashed it past the keeper into the bottom corner. Great football resulting in one of the goals of the season. 1-1.
On forty two minutes Pickering (Pictured above) gave away a free kick on the left edge of the box. The ball was played in and it eventually fell kindly for ex Kirkham player Mashiter who unleased a powerful effort that bounced back off the bar. Just before the break poor defender allowed Whittaker to advance into the box but his low drive just whistled past the post. Both sides very unlucky but at half time the score remained at 1-1. Anybody’s game.
Ducky the bookie makes light work of a bacon barm during the half time interval.
Quilligan’s striker Lee Broadbent.
Some of the Quilligan’s away contingent have their say about what’s going right and what isn’t.
Good chances and pressure ensued at either end but on sixty five minutes Quilligans made the breakthrough. The umpteenth free kick given away in a dangerous area by both sides was this time carried out on Broadbent. He picked the ball up and blasted it through the wall into the bottom corner (See above picture) 1-2.
“Surely you don’t mean me ref ?”
“You’re exactly who I mean”
After the goal Quilligans sat back. For the last twenty minutes the Station tried their utmost to get the equaliser and only a great block at the feet of Mashiter by keeper Foster kept Quilligans in the lead. Quills were reduced to playing the long ball on many occasions. Mark Beattie, introduced after seventy minutes, played well alongside my man of the match Lee Broadbent. Quilligans defended well and at full time they celebrated wildly knowing that they’d had to play well to overcome a very good side.
Final score : Station FC 1 – 2 Quilligans FC.
It’s been a number of season’s since we last had a team through to the Quarter Finals and now we have one. The best of luck to Quilligans in the next round when they’ll play Rochdale champions D&P Copperpot FC. Commiserations to the lads from Blackburn.
Sportspy 2005/06