25/09/11 – Rainhill A 0-4 Garswood D
Garswood travelled to Rainhill looking for a hat-trick of wins in their first season in Division 2, and started the game at a high tempo.
They went ahead early on with James Haswell slotting from 8 yards out after Ryan Eden delivered a fantastic ball in from a free kick. James added his second goal of the game just before the break after racing clear of the defence and rounding the keeper, scoring from a tight angle. Nathan Moore added the third goal midway through the second half with a low struck drive that fizzed into the bottom corner, and then Mattias Lokuta struck the fourth with a well taken finish after a surging run and cut back by Liam Hilton.
The home team almost grabbed a goal at the end, but Cameron McCall performed a fantastic stop, tipping a thunderbolt of a shot onto the crossbar. Rainhill Utd deserve an enormous amount of credit for the way they performed especially as they only had 10 players, they battled and competed for every ball, and never let their heads go down.
A special mention goes to the referee Steve Burns; he talked to the players throughout, explaining decisions while also encouraging both sets of players.
Team – C McCall, L Dixon, O Roberts, C Guerin, C Ashurst, M Lokuta, N Moore (capt), J Haswell, R Eden, L Hilton, C Davies – Subs – M Marsh, J Aspey, B Wilson
Scorers – J Haswell (2), M Lokuta, N Moore
Man of the Match – L Hilton – defended from the front, and never gave the home defence a moments peace.
