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Match Reports
Rylands 1-2 Pilkington
Saturday 18th February |
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A welcome return to football action on Saturday saw Pilkington FC travel to Rylands, a ground where Pilkington have not won since 2007. Looking to avenge their cup defeat there earlier in the season, a well organised defence and the dominant midfield trio of Elias, Lawton and Sephton allowed a very determined Pilkington to settle into their game very quickly.
It was on 10 minutes that the first chance came for Pilkington when Parr crossed from the right and Green shot over the bar. With 20 minutes gone the breakthrough came for Pilkington when Lawton's pressing from midfield resulted in him stealing the ball from the Rylands centre half and he slotted calmly past the advancing keeper. With Pilkington looking very impressive it was only a lapse in concentration that would let Rylands back into the game. This came on 28 minutes when Tom White mis-controlled in the box and the ball fell to a Rylands forward who finished well. This stunned Pilkington for 10 minutes and Rylands tried to wrestle control of the game but the defence stood firm and it was Pilkington who finished the half stronger with Ste Hill being denied from a few yards out by a good save from the Rylands keeper. Pilkington came out in the second half looking the stronger and again it was Lawton who broke into the box and put Pilkington ahead on 60 minutes.
Rylands pressed for the remaining of the game but a well organised Pilkington side meant that they were restricted to only one opening but a fine save from Pilkington Keeper Cameron kept Pilkington ahead. Green could have settled the game with 5 minutes to go when a delicate through ball from Bennett put the Pilkington striker clear on goal but he failed to finish. But Pilkington held on to record a very impressive victory at a very difficult ground to visit. |
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Pilkington FC 1-0 Billinge FC
Saturday 26th November |
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It was derby day at Ruskin Drive and in very blustery conditions both teams served up a tense affair in which only one goal was only ever going to win in.
Pilkington started brightly and had most of the possession in the first 15 minutes but they were unable to convert this into any real chances. Billinge settled down and started to get into the game but the very impressive Pilkington defence made sure they were restricted in chances, the only noteworthy effort of the half for them was a speculative 30 yard shot. But Pilkington were also struggling to find their normal fluent passing game and their only effort of the half came after an impressive run down the right by Mitchell found him at the byline in the box and his cutback was met by Green who was unable to convert from a few yards out.
Goaless at half time Pilkington came out with more vigour and pressed heavily in the first few minutes but a lapse of concentration by the Pilkington defence allowed a chance to the impressive Hill but he also managed to miss from a few yards out. As the game went on, Pilkington took more control of possession and chances fell to Green, Mitchell and Lawton both none of them could find the answer to unlock a very resilient Billinge defence. But finally the deadlock was broken in the 75th minute when a ball from substitute Elias found Green who spun his defender and drove an impressive finish under the Billinge keeper.
The remaining 15 mins saw Billinge press for a equaliser and in the last minute could have levelled, but thier effort shot over the bar from 6 yards out. An impressive defensive display from Pilkington especially after conceding 5 in their last outing. |
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Pilkington 4-5 Grappenhall Sports
Saturday 12th November |
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The story of the day was the performances of the centre forwards, Pilkington's Graeme Green and Grappenhall's Tom Rutter, who bagged all the goals in this nine goal thriller.
Pilkington started very brightly and dominated play for the first 10 minutes with both Green and Mitchell forcing the keeper into excellent saves. But on the 11th minute, the first of a catalogue of Pilkington defensive mistakes let Rutter in for his first goal. Within 3 minutes Pilkington were level, when a neat ball from Mitchell saw Green break clear for him to slot home for the first of his four goals. The parity was shortlived when minutes later Grappenhall were ahead again as the Pilkington defence again failed to clear the ball and impressive Rutter got his second before completing his hat-trick on the 30th minute. Pilkington fought back and got a foothold in the game on the 41st minute as Green scored his second.
The second half saw a resurgent Pilkington performance in which they dominated play as they searched for the equaliser. Twice the keeper denied Mitchell and Mike Lawton's shot from 20 yards out thundered against the bar in the 50th minute. On 55 minutes, Pilkington were level when after being hauled back in the box, Green converted the penalty for his hat-trick. But again Pilkington showed no respect to Rutter who found himself with acres of room in the penalty box and he smartly finished his fourth on the 70th minute.
Pilkington's will to win was good to see and again they got back in the game when in the 86th minute a push on Lee Webber at a corner gave Green his second penalty which he again cooly converted. But the drama was not over and Pilkington didn't learn from their mistakes in this game and again failed to close Rutter down and he fired home the winner from 25 yards out in the 90th minute.
Overall, defensive mistakes cost Pilkington the points in a game where they dominated possession. |
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Pilkington 2-2 Middlewich Town
Saturday 29th October |
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Pilkington went into this game looking to build on last week's excellent performance but injuries meant there were 5 changes and the gamble to start the recently impressive Mike Lawton also backfired as he was substituted after two minutes with an hamstring injury. Pilkington started very brightly and the impressive Mark Evans in the middle of midfield took control of the game with some penetrative passing that saw Green, Hynes and Rogan have half chances.
Totally against the run of play, Middlewich took the lead on the 10th minute. A long range speculative shot from the Middlewich winger somehow found it's way under the Pilkington keeper. Within 3 minutes Pilkington were level. Greame Green broke free on the half-way line and as he was just about to slot home when the Middlewich defender tripped him up leaving the referee no alternative but to send him off. Evans smashed home the free kick from just outside the box. Pilkington then started to take complete control of the game with 10 man Middlewich being pressed back but on a rare break in the 40th minute they won a free kick on the edge of the Pilkington box and he low free kick seemed a easy catch for the Pilkington goalkeeper but again somehow it slipped under his body.
Middlewich sat back during the second period and Pilkington found it very hard to break down a very resilient and well organised opposition. On the 60th minute they finally found a way through when an Evans cross from the right was met by Mike Reid who headed home to make it 2-2. The last half-hour of this game was played in front of the Middlewich goal and in the 75th minute a cross from Lee Webber was met by Tony Scott whose clinical header from 10 yards out found the back of the net, however the Referee's Assistant somehow flagged for offside.
The last 15 minutes saw the Middlewich keeper pulling off a few great saves to earn his side a point. Although Pilkington stretch their league unbeaten run to 4 games and remained in second place, they will see it as two points dropped and a missed opportunity to close the gap on league leaders Knutsford who also dropped points. |
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Pilkington 3-1 Eagle Sports
Saturday 22nd October |
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Pilkington's went into this tough Cheshire League fixture looking to build on the excellent display at Styal last week. This determination was evident and Pilkington started the brightest and were 1-0 within five minutes. Some excellent work from Graeme Green forced the Eagle defender into a mistake with the ball breaking to Karl Elias to tap into an empty net from 10 yards out.
As Eagle started to settle down they had a few half chances but on the 20th minute Pilkington doubled their lead. A through ball from Mike Parr saw Green break clear and he finished sharply from 18 yards out. Eagle continued to battle away and it took some hard work from the well organised Pilkington midfield to take the 2 goal lead into the second half.
Two forced substitutions for Pilkington at half time allowed Eagle to start the half brightly as Pilkington struggled to settle down. But this vigour took a knock in the 50th minute when half time substitute Martin Hynes made it 3-0 after latching onto a pass from Green and his heavily deflected shot nestled into the bottom right hand corner. Eagle never gave in and thier accurate passing and high energy was pushing back a very hard working Pilkington team.
Finally in the 80th minute they found a breakthrough. What looked like a foul on Pilkington's Mike Lawton was not given and the Pilkington team switched off allowing Eagle's Craig Hall the space to unleash a 30 yarder that found the top corner. Pilkington saw the game out to gain vital points that keeps them in second place. |
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Styal 2-2 Pilkington FC
Saturday 15th October 2011 |
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Pilkington FC returned to Cheshire League action by visiting Styal on Saturday after going out of both the Liverpool and Cheshire League cup competitions over previous weeks. Looking to get back to winning ways this was probably not the fixture they wanted as they have not won at Styal since 2004. The gamble of a change of formation which saw Karl Elias starting as centre forward seemed to be paying of as Pilkington started very bright and took control of the game.
Playing some of their best football of the season, their slick passing created numerous chances within the first 25 minutes and it was only a lack of composure that prevented them going ahead. With Styal struggling to create any chances it was totally against the run of play that their lively centre forward Wheetman received a long punt out of defence and managed to feed Sam Glendon whose cool finish put Styal 1-0 up on 36 mins. Looking to get straight back into the game, Pilkington's Mike Reid broke clear down the right but once again a lack of composure saw his effort fly over the bar. Two minutes later, Styal broke away again and some sloppy defending saw Glendon get his second to make it 2-0.
Pilkington's resolve was being tested but finally on 42 mins they found a way through with Mike Parr getting on the end of a Mark Evans pass to fire home from 10 yards out. They should have gone in at half time 4 or 5 goals up but they were trailing 2-1. Composure was the name of the game in the second half but despite controlling the second half again Pilkington had little to show for their efforts. Craig Leigh did well to win the ball and dribble past three Styal defenders to find himself on the edge of the box with only the keeper to beat but again a lack of composure saw him fire his effort over the bar. As the game moved into the last 10 minutes Hynes saw an half chance go straight into the keepers hands but Pilkington kept believing. Styal's attempts to waste time became their downfall as the referee adding 5 extra mins on.
Finally in the 92nd minute, Pilkington got their reward, a Karl Elias cross was met by Tom White who headed home the equaliser. A well deserved draw and the spirit shown to get back in the game was good to see, but Pilkington really should have won but the draw takes them back to second place in the Cheshire League.
Next week they face another big test as Eagle Sports visit Ruskin Drive, kick off 3pm. |
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Rylands 2-0 Pilkington
Saturday 1st October |
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Pilkington travelled to Rylands FC in the Cheshire League Cup this week trying to break their disappointing record at this ground that has not saw them win there for 3 seasons.
In very hot conditions, the 2 sides started the game knocking the ball around well but both had litlle to show in the way of attempts on goal. Rylands were the first to show conviction with a shot from the edge of the box that keeper Cameron saved comfortably. Pilkington's only chance in the opening exchanges being when Hynes' hard work forced the keeper to spill the ball but Hynes was unable to capitalise.
The first goal came on the 30th minute from a Rylands corner kick. As the ball was crossed in Pilkington had nobody on the front post, and despite the keeper Cameron trying his best to keep it out the ball just slid under him. Pilkington had a chance for an instant replay as a few minutes later, Graham Green, was put through by Hynes as the Rylands keeper came to the edge of his area but he lifted the ball over him but it was too high and sailed over the bar. As the game drifted to half time, Pilkington's resolve drained out of them and they looked disjointed and lacking conviction as they went in 1-0 down.
The second half saw a spirited fight from Pilkington and they controlled most of the play but did not really threaten the Rylands goal. A couple of half chances fell to veteran striker Tony Scott in the closing stages but as Pilkington pushed for the equaliser Rylands broke away in the final minute and scored again to seal a 2-0 victory. |
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Pilkington 1-3 Fleetwood Hesketh (AET)C
Saturday 24th September |
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Pilkington went into this Liverpool Challenge Cup 1st Round game on a high after last week's good performance that moved them back into second place in the Cheshire League. With a few changes to the line up which saw Spanish Striker, Hugo Rodrieguez start his first game it took Pilkington 10-15 minutes to settle into this game against a well organised and efficient Fleetwood side.
Once settled Pilkington controlled possession and penetrative crosses from both sides saw Rodrieguez and young Mike Lawton miss half chances. Five minutes before half time, Mike Lawton finally broke the deadlock when his shot from the edge of the penalty box nestled into the bottom left hand corner of the net. This capped off a good first half performance by Pilkington and they went in at half time 1-0 up.
The second half saw a completely different Pilkington side when all their slick passing and composure from the first half disappeared and Fleetwood dominated the second half and were unlucky to be three or four up. They finally equalised in the 85th minute which sent the game into extra time.
Pilkington went into the extra period low on confidence and 10 minutes into extra-time saw the Fleetwood forward put clean through only to be fouled by Pilkington keeper. Fleetwood scored from the resulting free kick and Pilkington spent the rest of the extra-time period chasing a very good passing team who eventually sealed the game 5 minutes into the second period of extra time |
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Lostock Gralam 6-2 Pilkington FC
Saturday 10th September |
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With 18 players unavailable, Pilkington travelled to Lostock with a patched up team after the injury crisis beseiging the club continued. However, this was no excuse for the performance given by the players selected. Lostock sensed a wounded animal and went for the throat, peppering the Pilkington goal and hitting the bar within the first five minutes. There was no response from Pilkington and by the 19th minute they were 2-0 down.
A slight glint of hope appeared when Ste Powell headed home to make it 2-1 on 20 mins and Mike Reid levelled on 25 mins but Lostock hit back with a third, five minutes from the half time whistle. An eventful first half and Pilkington, who were very lucky to still be in the game, initially looked brighter in the opening exchanges of the second half with Reid and substitute Adam Worthington missing half chances. But the Pilkington challenge faded after Lostock struck again on 52 and 60 mins.
Things got worse for Pilkington when on the 73rd minute they lost their midfielder Gary Fellows to another injury and with no more substitutes left they had to play the remaining 17 minutes with 10 men. Lostock wrapped up the rout with a further goal, the final score 6-2. |
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Pilkington 3-0 Garswood
Saturday 3rd September |
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Saturday's game had everything you would expect from a local derby as the first team welcomed Garswood to Ruskin Drive. Pilkington's took control of the game early on when an heavily deflected free kick from Martin Hynes outfoxed the Billinge Keeper, Neil MCDermott after just 5 minutes.
On 15 mins, after same good interplay, Martin Hynes then smashed home his second. Pilkington built on this good start and were playing all the good football, with Mike Reid being a persistent thorn for Billinge down the right hand side. If it wasn't for the excellent performance of the Billinge Keeper the game would have been well out of sight.
Pilkington expected a tougher test in the second half and a fired up Garswood controlled the game for the first 15 minutes of the half and now the Pilkington keeper, Aaron Cameron had to perform a great double save to keep the scoreline the same. The introduction of Karl Elias, back from injury, with 30 minutes left gave Pilkington even more flow with their football and they gradually gained back control of the game.
On 80 minutes, a long through ball caught the Garswood defence flat footed and Chris Luby got his reward for all his hard way when he calmly slotted past the keeper to make it 3-0. |
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Pilkington FC 0-3 Rylands
20th August 2011 |
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Pilks played hosts to Rylands FC from Warrington on Saturday at Ruskin Drive. A patched up and injury ravaged Pilks side started strongly but after 10 mins striker Chris Luby jumped for a high ball and landed hard on his left ankle badly twisting it and had to come off. This left Hynes who was already playing with a badly bruised knee alone up front. It then started to rain heavy and the Younger Reylands team seem to adapt to the conditions better and played some good passing football, which led to their first goal after 20 mins 1-0 Rylands.
Pilks had little to offer in the way of efforts on goal so it remained 1-0 at half time. Rylands came out second half and started were they left off before half time, playing good quick passing football and soon scored again making it 2-0 .
Pilks players worked hard but the younger fitter side pushed home the advantage by scoring a third goal with 15 mins left to play. |
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Pilkington FC 2-1 Tarporley Vics
13th August 2011 |
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Pilkington FC did well on saturday to field two teams, due to the fact that no less than 14 players were unavailable for selection because of holidays, injuries and weddings!
The first team played hosts to Tarporley Victoria at Ruskin Drive. Tarporley scored first after 20 mins from a well taken corner kick which the Pilkington centre half Lee Webber got his head to, but the ball fell inside the box to a Tarporley player who smashed it into the back of the net. 1-0 Tarporley. Pilkington had most of the possession in the first 1/2 hour but lacked any real goal scoring opportunities. Then on 30 mins Pilkington were awarded a free kick just inside the Tarporley half on the right and Mark Evans cross into the far post where Webber rose above everyone to send the ball goalwards it hit a Tarporley player and went in 1-1.
Some nice football was played by both teams but again little in the way of scoring chances. At 75 mins sub Chris Murphy came on and made an immediate impact. He crossed a ball from the right wing to into the box and Mike reid sent a glancing header past the keeper. After 85 mins Pilkington were awarded a penalty for hand ball and Hynes stepped up to take it. It was a well struck penalty, but the Tarporley keeper, Paul Gregory made a great save.
Manager Ste Palfrey said the work rate from all his players was outstanding, and it was difficult to name an MOM. |
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