30/10/11 – Garswood 4-0 Highfield Grange
Garswood welcomed Highfield Grange A Team to Birch Grove for their top of the table clash for a noon kick off in perfect conditions for football.
Both sides were sizing up their opponents in the first 10 minutes, not suprisingly as a number of players from both sides attend the same high school in Upholland, but Garswood opened the scoring midway through the 1st half as James Haswell turned sharply in the box and guided a shot into the far corner with his left foot.
Both sides continued to push forward at every opportunity in an entertaining match, but despite a host of chances for both teams none were converted and the hosts went into the break 1-0 up.
Ten minutes into the 2nd half Garswood doubled their lead after Cameron Davies turned and hit a beauty into the top corner from 10 yards out. Highfield Grange started to push forward in search of a goal that would bring them back into the game, and Cameron McCall produced two stunning saves; one from a long range shot from Highfield that was destined for the top corner, and another from a stinging free kick that he parried round the post low to his right hand side.
Nathan Moore then threaded a superb through ball into the path of Cameron Davies who made no mistake by firing low into the keepers bottom corner to make it 3-0 to the home side. Highfield pressed again though and Garswood’s back four had to be switched on as Owen Roberts cleared off the line before sub Ben Berry slotted home from two yards out to put the game beyond doubt.
A great display by Garswood and massive credit to the visitors who produced some great football; the match was a glowing endorsement for junior football with a great hunger and desire shown by both sides and was played in a tremendous spirit by both sets of players.
Team – C McCall, L Dixon, C Ashurst, C Guerin, O Roberts, M Lokuta, N Moore (capt), J Haswell, R Eden, L Hilton, C Davies – Subs – J Aspey, B Berry
Scorers – J Haswell, C Davies (2), B Berry
Man of the Match – C Guerin – Excelled in the 2nd half with a dominant performance at centre half
