Lonsdale bake a late comback

Lonsdales pre-season continued its magnificent form, by managing to rescue a draw from being 2-0 down to league counterparts May & Bakers Res. After impressive debuts Jack Marston and Tez Wilson, there were mixed fortunes for both players Jack kept his place in the starting line up while Tez had to settle for a place on the bench. Lonsdale welcome back now married man James Devoir, and there was also a place for new summer signing Danny Byrne.

First half began as it did last week; Lonsdale came flying out of the blocks ready for war! Early possession and movement gave Lonsdale the edge, not many chances were created, this game was certainly up to the midfield, and whoever won that would surely win the match!

As the game went on neither team could break the deadlock, one fierce shot from May & Bakers saw Enifer pull out an outstanding save, when surely it all but looked certainly a goal. Lonsdale battled there way back and the few chances the strikers had they couldn?t convert. This game was turning into a chess match, one wrong move and it could spell disaster!

OH NO!

The ball was played up to the feet of the May & Bakers striker, Danny Byrne seemed to have him under wraps, but he turned him like he wasn?t there, only for captain Baker to get in the way and trip the striker up. PENALTY!! Up stepped the May & Bakers penalty taker puts the ball down calmly. Enifer then decides to play some mind games with the attacker, he walks up and down his goal, and complaining that it wasn?t in line and moving the goal right a bit then left! Enifer finishes his antics and takes his position. With no real conviction with the penalty the attacker coolly strokes the ball down the middle of the goal.

Lonsdale?s heads were all down by now, it was the shock of going a goal down, just when they were looking comfortable, urging the team on Baker did try a little to bring the spirit back to the team, he surely did not want to lose. Trying there hardest Lonsdale kept the attack up, but still no breakthrough. It was becoming a little disappointing watching from the side lines.
Going through the game Lonsdale manage to win back possession and start to control the game again. Angliss gets hold of the ball weaves in and out of tackles, before passing the ball out wide to Albert, he comes inside like regularly he does passes back to Angliss who tries to go down the line, but pulls up short! Injury has forced Angliss out of the game, he says 'I felt my knee give way, its not good'

Sub - Mark Angliss OFF - Tez Wilson ON

Lonsdale go on the attack and with a few good passes, the break down the right side with Nicky Singleton, he manages to go past his player and find Tez Wilson, Wilson passes the ball to good friend Jack, who hold up the ball, back out wide to Nicky who swings in a beautiful cross, to find Tez and the back post, he strikes the ball with a lot of power only to see fly inches past the post! Wilson has made an instant impact. As half time approaches Lonsdale still cannot score

Half Time 1-0

Second half started off well for Lonsdale controlling the game, and trying to get the goal which they crave. Much pressure has led to nothing, after the team talk at half time; the gaffer asked if they play the ball much wider, in so doing they play the ball wide at every opportunity, creating chances but not many that the strikers could convert.

A few chances are spurned by both teams; it is a very tight match! Lonsdale go close with the ball whipped in from a cross by Korogi, to be met at the far post by Nick Singleton but shamefully he couldn't convert what surely looked like an easy chance.

Major incident then happened! Lee Singleton what looked like he has holding his man off with the ball at his feet tried to turn him and subsequently brought the defender down, which should have been a free kick the referee ignored it, and the game carried on. While all this was happening, the sup[posed defended got up and headed straight for Singleton, the May & Bakers player then raised his hands looking to hit the Lonsdale striker, Lee pushed him away and with this both players came together, heads together.

The Referee quickly saw this and stepped in. he gave both players a red card and now the match was down to a merely 10 a-side. With this sending off it made the pitch bigger so Lonsdale can then play there football.

Sub - Nick Singleton OFF - Mark Reed ON

With the substitution, there was a bit of controversy with the manager and his assistant. Manager Mark Trimby wanted to put the experienced player at right back and move Luke Gabriel to the right of midfield, but assistant Ian Scott thought otherwise, 'Let's put Reedy in the middle and Tez out wide, I think Reedy can do a good job there with his experience'. So Manager Trimby decided to go with his assistant, and hoped it will pay off!

Disaster struck as Lonsdale went 2-0 down. It started from a corner which captain Garry Baker had conceded. The corner was floated in a cleared towards the edge of the box; Baker chased the ball down and managed to get a bit of the ball which bobbled its way towards another May & Bakers player. In usual fashion Baker still chased the ball down, and somehow he got a foot to the ball first, he took it around the player and went to look for fellow team mate Marston, with Marston on his heels he never read the pass, and was easily intercepted, one big ball over the top and it took one touch and a glorious finish to beat Enifer who was in goal. Damn 2-0 down and time running out!

Ten minutes of hard battling, then Korogi gets the ball and weaves in and out of the May & Bakers midfield, riding three tackles before being bought down. Free kick to Lonsdale 22 yards out on the left hand side of the pitch. Reedy yells to the skipper ?Get in the Gal on your head!!? Baker heads towards the back post waiting for the kick. Reedy deliver's a delightful ball...one that Beckham would be proud of! The ball flies through the air but going no where near Baker in which Reedy exclaimed. Hang on! The ball is dipping under the bar! It's a goal! Reedy has scored an audacious free kick, to get Lonsdale back in the game! 2-1 GAME ON! Reedy is now on fire, and wants more.

Ten minutes to go and Lonsdale still cannot find that equaliser! They push forward and still try to make something of the game, but nothing is coming of it. A chance! the ball is played around the middle of the park, great football by Lonsdale, the ball is played through towrds Korogi, who takes one touch then has a shot towards goal it flies across the face of the goal and narrowly misses the goal. That should have been 2-2!

What a come back! Lonsdale finally get what they deserve, brilliant play by Lonsdale cutting the May & Bakers defence wide open, playing the ball wide towards Korogi, he cuts in and tries a cross it is half cleared, and lands to the feet of former captain Devoir, who cooly lays the ball back towards Reedy who smashes the ball first time into the roof of the net...... thats it Lonsdale have done it 2-2. What a come back!!!

It finished May & Bakers 2 v 2 Lonsdale

M.O.M - Mark Reed
Att:15