Reserves brush aside Moore

Pilkington Reserves 3-0 Moore United Reserves
Cheshire League Reserve Division, Saturday 9th February

After a great training session mid week Pilkington Reserves were looking for a big performance and they didn’t disappoint.

From the first whistle they were on the front foot. On 7 minutes a deep corner from Fraser glanced off the head of striker Tao. Moments later David Parry cut inside, played a neat pass into Tao he found Higham who drilled his shot into the palms of the keeper.

It was all Pilks, the assault on the Moore FC goal continued. Further chances came and went and on 25 minutes Edwards volleyed another Fraser set piece off the post. It was a matter of time before the breakthrough arrived. 10 minutes before the interval another Fraser set piece landed at the feet of centre half Edwards, he showed the calmness of a veteran striker and drilled the ball home left footed.

Half-time: Pilkington Reserves 1-0 Moore United Reserves

The second half started as the first half had ended, Pilks on the front foot and creating chances. A long clearance found Tao 1v1 with the keeper but he shot just wide. The lively debutant Ben Langley found Tao again in space but his left footed shot was again just wide. On 72 minutes the second goal arrived. Midfielder Fraser found himself in unfamiliar terrority, he broke the offside trap before sitting the keeper down and squaring to skipper Connelly who had the easy task to pass the ball into the empty net.

Pilks were in total control but did switch off to allow the visitors their first attempt on goal on 82 minutes. A dangerous corner was headed just wide.

Pilks continued to create chances and with a 2 goal advantage started to move the ball around. In injury time the goal of the game arrived, the ball was moved across the Pilks back 4, into midfield with one and two touch passing. The play was switched wide to Molyneux who’s cross found 16-year old Bickerstaffe who calmly slotted home to top off a great personal performance and his first senior goal.

Full-time: Pilkington Reserves 1-0 Moore United Reserves

Manager’s comments: “I thought we controlled the game from start to finish, on another day it could of been double figures. That’s my message to the young lads to be more ruthless In front of goal. Big well done to the back 4 who were tremendous and limited them to a few attempts at goal. We look forward to next week and a big test versus Vulcan.”

MOM: Jake Bickerstaffe