Cheshire Plate 2007 1/4 Final

Neston crashed out of the Cheshire Plate competition at the first hurdle (also the quarter final, but there you go, in some competitions it is a sprint not a marathon!).

After mixed fortunes in 5 pre-season friendly games against higher league opposition, Neston entertained Lymm, a side currently stationed in division 6 of the North West League. The home team knew they would be no push over however, with their blend of experience and well, more experience really. With a near full strength, if not fully fit side available, Neston were still confident of progress into a money spinning semi-final against one of the ‘big boys’, and who knows, even yet another final at the ‘Wembley of the North’.

In a game that worryingly followed last season’s pattern of Neston having lots of the ball, but not always making the most of it, Lymm took the lead midway through the first half when good work down their right led to the ball being slipped across to an unmarked striker at the far post. Neston huffed and puffed and Musty cracked a couple of trademark reverse stick slashes across the visitors goal, but generally, most of the build up play was snubbed out by the hardworking visitors.

Neston created more clear cut chances in the second period, and the skipper finished a clever penalty corner routine to put the Shrimps level. With Lymm tiring somewhat, the men in pink piled forward, but were denied by good goalkeeping and errant finishing as they pressed to grab a winner. With roughly ten minutes left, Neston failed to mop up after a regulation short corner from the visitors, and were punished as the ball was prodded home. A frenetic final few minutes saw Neston come close again, but the sands of time were against them as the whistle went and Lymm and their travelling army went wild.

A disappointing result, and although the ‘OPTA Hockey Stats’ will probably show that Neston had much more possession, corners and shots than their opponents, until the ball starts flying into the net it all sounds slightly hollow !.

Report by Greg Brooker