Garswood travelled to St. Helens in good spirits after a hard fought win the previous week, and with several of the squad returning after a week’s break were looking forward to having a full squad to choose from. The hosts had visited Birch Grove a few months earlier and had come away with a point in a hard fought contest so the lads knew that there would be no easy pickings gained at the Beeches, home of Penlake.
The weather was cold to say the least with a freezing wind and driving sleet making conditions tricky underfoot, Garswood needed to earn the right to play football on a narrow pitch. The visitors had the better of the early exchanges and could have gone a couple of goals up early doors but for some last ditch defending and snatched efforts on goal. The deadlock however was broken ten minutes before half-time as Liam Hilton raced down the left and unselfishly cut back for Jay Herring to apply the touch after getting to the near post ahead of the defender with a smart finish.
Five changes were made at the start of the second half and the next goal was going to be crucial to the outcome of this match. Thankfully it went the visitor’s way as Ollie Kennedy bravely headed home after a corner from Ryan Eden was only half cleared. Aaron Beavan then got his name on the score sheet as he prodded home from another great corner delivered from Ryan Eden. Alexi Mellor added a fourth soon after as he spotted the home keeper off his line and lobbed him with a tremendous shot from 30 yards out. The visitor’s were pouring forward at every opportunity and after another corner was cleared to the edge of the box Ethan Apter took a touch to get the ball out of his feet and curled home a beauty from just outside the edge of the box to put Garswood 5-0 up.
With ten minutes remaining Cameron Ashurst stroked the ball home from 20 yards out as he side-footed past the keeper from the edge of the box to put the visitor’s in dreamland. Penlake grabbed a consolation with almost the last kick of the game with a well taken finish.
Final Score – Penlake Juniors 1 v Garswood Hawks 6
Team – D. Finney, B. Wilson, J. A. Williams, C. Davies (Capt), J. Perrat, O. Kennedy, R. Eden, L. Hilton, A. Mellor, J. Herring, L. Dixon
Man of the Match – Ryan Eden – A constant threat down both lines and has a dead ball delivery as good as anyone in any league. Took his fair share of punishment but never shirked a tackle all day long, a tremendous display from the young man.
Credit to all of the lads on a gutsy performance in truly foul weather, a result like this will stand them in good stead for the remaining five games of the season.