Garswood travelled to the lion’s den (well it is close to Knowsley Safari Park) for their Sunday afternoon kick off against 4th in the table Westgarth. The visitors knew that they were in for a tough match as Westgarth had produced a battling display during the reverse fixture earlier in the season. The hosts needed a win to give themselves a chance of promotion whilst Garswood needed to avoid defeat to go through the season unbeaten so the stakes were high for both teams.

After a bright opening the visitors forced a corner down the right flank and when James Haswell clipped the ball towards the penalty spot Captain Nathan Moore chested the ball down and swivelled to hit a first time volley into the roof of the net from 10 yards out. Less than 60 seconds later the hosts were back on level terms as some hesitant defending saw the ball fall to Westgarth’s centre forward who drilled home from 10 yards out. Five minutes later Garswood regained the lead when Cameron Davies raced onto a through ball and despite his first effort being parried by the keeper, he followed up to smash home the rebound. Again the visitors could not batten down the hatches after scoring as Westgarth went straight up the other end and equalised less than 60 seconds later. Although the entertainment being served up on the pitch was fantastic, the blood pressure of both coaches and managers was rising faster than Everton’s goal tally at Old Trafford.

The visitors started to find their passing rhythm and five minutes before half time James Haswell charged down an attempted clearance and raced through on goal to calmly stroke the ball beyond the keepers despairing dive. Garswood increased their lead just before half time after Nathan Moore went on a mazy run down the left channel beating three players before cutting in and shooting goal wards; the home keeper made another great stop but Ryan Eden was on hand to slot home from 6 yards out to send Garswood into the break with a 4-2 lead.

The visitors introduced Cameron Ashurst and Josh Aspey for the second half and both slotted into the back four immediately. Five minutes in the visitors produced a fine passing move as Mattias Lokuta played a fine ball into James Haswell on the overlap and he sprinted beyond the full back and played the ball across the box for Cameron Davies to prod home from six inches out. The visitors introduced Josh Aubrey Williams and Matty Marsh in an attempt to freshen things up but Westgarth continued to pour forward and were rewarded for their efforts with a well taken finish to make it 3-5. Tackles were flying in from both sides and the visitors tempo was affected and within the space of five minutes the hosts were level as two almost identical goals were scored from inside the box as the visitors struggled to clear their lines. With a couple of minutes left Westgarth had a man sent off, and Garswood seized the initiative as a counter attack saw Josh Albury Williams score what was to be the winner as he drove the ball across the keeper into the bottom left hand corner.

Credit to both teams for the way that neither refused to let their heads go down and for a game of football that had everything really, it had to be seen to be believed!

Team – C McCall, O Roberts, C Guerin, B Wilson, L Dixon, N Moore (capt), M Lokuta, J Haswell, L Hilton, R Eden, C Davies- Subs – J A Williams, M Marsh, J Aspey, C Ashurst

Scorers – C Davies (2), N Moore, J Haswell, R Eden, J A Williams

Man of the Match – Mattias Lokuta – won tackles and headers all day long against much bigger opposition; inspires other lads around him with his work rate and determination.

The hosts were quickly into their stride and after only 2 minutes Mattias Lokuta played a lovely square pass outside for Ryan Eden to overlap and fire a dangerous ball into the area which Cameron Davies hit right footed into the corner of the net from 8 yards out. Five minutes later Ryan Eden again combined with captain Nathan Moore and a cross from the right hand side was converted by Liam Hilton who volleyed the ball into the roof of the net from 10 yards out.

After 15 minutes James Haswell sent in a fantastic corner from the left hand side which was half cleared to the edge of the box by a brave Rainhill defender; Nathan Moore was alert on the edge of the box as he fired in a superb right footed volley which almost broke the back of the net to put the hosts 3-0 up. Garswood poured forward at every opportunity, but only a brave rear guard showing by the visitors prevented any more goals in the 1st half.

The wind had picked up considerably and was taking effect on the match in the 2nd half with Garswood becoming hemmed in and they were relying on counter attacks to try and extend their lead; James Haswell was unlucky to strike the bar from the edge of the box with the visiting keeper well beaten on one such sortie forward. Midway through the 2nd half Rainhill got the goal their performance deserved after a goal mouth scramble saw the boal go into the back of the net off the far post after some brave defending from the home side which saw Liam Dixon and Matty Marsh both helped off after receiving knocks in the build up to the goal. Garswood held firm in the final 15 minutes to record their fifteenth win of the season against a strong and commited Rainhill team who impressed with their attitude in the later stages of the game.

Team – C McCall, J Aspey, B Wilson, C Guerin, O Roberts, M Lokuta, N Moore (capt), J Haswell, R Eden, L Hilton, C Davies – Subs – C Ashurst, B Berry, L Dixon, M Marsh.
Scorers – C Davies, L Hilton, N Moore
Man of the Match – N Moore – Fine display by captain Nathan who dominated the midfield in the 1st half and was a constant menace with his driving runs forward.

The visitors got into their stride early on and pressed the hosts high up the pitch and it was no surprise when Liam Hilton opened the scoring 10 minutes in with a poachers finish after the Highfield Grange keeper spilled an effort from the edge of the box. Garswood continued to attack and scored a second goal when Cameron Davies hit a rasping left foot volley from 20 yards out which the keeper parried and Liam Hilton made no mistake from 8 yards out. Garswood were in dreamland 5 minutes before half time when Cameron Davies scored from close range with another poachers finish to put the visitors 3-0 up at the break.

Garswood made a couple of changes in the 2nd half and continued to try and assert themselves on the game but it was the hosts who scored midway through the half after a free kick was sent into the box from 25 yards out which bounced once before nestling in the back of the net. The hosts then made it 2-3 as they scrambled the ball home after a corner was only half cleared, and Garswood knew they had to dig in and fight for the last ten minutes if they were to emerge with a victory. Highfield Grange continued to attack and look for the equaliser, although the visitors had a couple of chances on the break to extend their lead; although a few fingernails were bitten on the side lines, Garswood’s defence held firm to gain a hard fought win on a difficult pitch in freezing conditions.

Good luck to Highfield Grange for the rest of the season, they never let their heads go down and fought back gamely in the second half.

Team – C McCall, B Wilson, C Guerin, C Ashurst, L Dixon, N Moore (capt), M Lokuta, J Haswell, L Hilton, R Eden, C Davies- Subs – O Roberts, M Marsh, J Aspey
Scorers – L Hilton (2), C Davies
Man of the Match – Liam Dixon – Strong in the tackle and excellent positional sense in a couple of different positions in the back four.

The home side started off at a great tempo and got their reward 5 minutes in as Ryan Eden hit a shot from 12 yards out which the keeper saved with his feet before captain Nathan Moore followed up to slot home from the edge of the six yard box. Just two minutes later Owen Roberts hit a through ball into the left hand channel that Liam Hilton ran onto before cutting in and beating 3 defenders before firing low into the bottom corner with his right foot. Garswood continued to pour forward and after some clever play down the right wing, Ryan Eden cut the ball back to Nathan Moore who fired the ball goalwards only to see another fine save by the keeper, this time Liam Hilton was on hand to tap the rebound in from a yard out. Liam Hilton then secured a superb first half hat-trick as he chased a long ball deep into the visitors half and got the luck his constant running deserved as a mix up presented him with the ball 20 yards out which he made no mistake in converting to put the hosts 4-0 up. The visitors responded just before the interval with a sweetly taken free kick that stand in keeper James Haswell could only get a hand to despite a brave attempt.

Garswood continued to press high up the pitch at the start of the 2nd half, and after a corner was cleared by the visitors Owen Roberts caught the ball sweetly from 20 yards out and drove the ball through a cluster of defenders into the top corner. Liam Hilton then added to his tally with a well taken left foot finish after the visitors off side trap was breached from a free kick from Ryan Eden. Liam Hilton then burst through the visitors defence and unselfishly laid the ball square for James Haswell to tap into an empty net. Nathan Moore then hit his 2nd goal of the game after a fine run in behind the visitors defence saw him round the keeper and slot home with his left foot. The hosts continued to attack with real purpose and Liam Hilton slotted home from close range after a goal mouth scramble in the 6 yard box presented him with a chance he was never going to pass up. A few minutes from time Liam Hilton scored his 6th goal of the game with a great finish to put Garswood 10-1 up.

A huge amount of credit must go out to Parkdale Sidac who battled until the final whistle without letting their heads go down; despite the scoreline their goal keeper had a fantastic game and made some fine stops. This was probably Garswoods best performance of the season, the football they played was simple and easy on the eye.

Team – J Haswell/C Davies (one half each), O Roberts, B Wilson, C Guerin, J Aspey, L Dixon, N Moore (capt), B Berry, J Haswell/C Davies (when not in goal), L Hilton, R Eden- Subs – M Lokuta, M Marsh, J A Williams, C Ashurst
Scorers – L Hilton (6), N Moore (2), O Roberts, J Haswell
Man of the Match – Liam Hilton – Constant menace to the opposition defence with his tireless movement and awareness of team mates coupled with some fantastic finishes.

Garswood started the match playing against the wind, and re-shuffled the pack to start with a five man midfield, looking to keep things tight and hit the hosts on the counter attack. Ten minutes in Cameron Davies held the ball up well in the centre circle before playing in Ryan Eden who had made a fine overlapping run down the right wing.

Ryan collected the ball at pace before beating two defenders and firing in a low cross from the touch line that the hosts centre half could only deflect into his own net. Both sides continued to attack in an entertaining match, but half time soon arrived with the visitors 1-0 up.

Garswood made 3 changes at the break, and reverted to two up front, as they now had the initiative with the winds at their backs. They only had to wait ten minutes into the 2nd half before they extended their lead as Mattias Lokuta thumped the post from a tight angle before the ball ended up at Cameron Davies feet and the striker slotted home with great confidence from 10 yards out.

Five minutes later, Cameron McCall launched a long kick up field which cleared Appleton’s back line and found Cameron Davies who steadied himself before slotting the ball underneath the keepers despairing dive. Appleton kept pressing forward with some menace and only some solid defending and excellent saves from the Cat kept the hosts at bay.

Garswood then wrapped up the win after some excellent play from Liam Hilton in the middle of the park; he held the ball up superbly and played in Cameron Davies who chipped the keeper from 20 yards to complete a fabulous hat trick. The lads deserve a massive pat on the back, as Appleton is never an easy place to come and win; every member of the squad dug in and played their part in a great win.

Team: C McCall, M Marsh, L Dixon, C Guerin, B Wilson, M Lokuta, R Eden, J Haswell, N Moore, J A Williams, C Davies. Subs: O Roberts, L Hilton, J Aspey
Scorer’s – C Davies (3), Own Goal

Man of the Match: Cameron “the Cat” McCall –The Cat made a couple of fantastic stops and was as brave as a lion when throwing himself in front of the Appleton centre forward near the end of the match; improving week in week out.

The home side started slowly on a difficult playing service, but midway through the 1st half Mattias Lokuta scored with a screamer from the corner of the box that whistled into the top corner giving the keeper no chance. Garswood increased the tempo and were unlucky not to increase their lead after a scramble when the ball was poked goalwards and looked a yard over the line, but the referee waved play on after a clearance from a retreating Newton defender.

Chances in the second half were few and far between for both sides but massive credit must go out to Newton who battled until the final whistle with only 10 players, and Garswood had to battle for every ball to ensure they finished with the three points in the bag.

Team – C McCall, O Roberts, B Wilson, C Guerin, C Ashurst, L Dixon, N Moore (capt), M Lokuta, J Haswell, L Hilton, C Davies – Subs – J Aspey, M Marsh, J A Williams,
Scorer – M Lokuta
Man of the Match – B Wilson – Dominant display in a physical encounter from a player who is improving week in, week out.