Shawdale 1 - 2 Failsworth

Shawdale "Blow" this one…

What a weekend of shock results, Liverpool losing to Watford, Manchester City winning the Carabao Cup….and Shawdale losing at home in the Reporter Cup.

Well all-good things come to an end!!.... They say…

On a day that would have been better for flying bloody kites, as the wind was almost at gale force at times and a surface which was more adept for a mud sliding competition. As players on both sides struggled to keep their feet on the slippery surface.

With Failsworth taking the spoils in the encounter.

Coupled by the reliable Durrant missing a penalty in the dying seconds, left Shawdale licking their wounds, in a dull and un-enthralling fixture at Heyside Park.

You could also say, should this fixture of gone ahead at all? Not because of the result, just due to the conditions.

But it did and for the few chances they had, Failsworth took theirs and ended up victors.

Not really much to write about as the conditions effected the game so much, any ball in the air, either got held up in the wind, or with the wind , ended up nearly in the church yard.

Any passing on the ground either ended up sticking in the mud or with the player slipping as they touched the ball. It was a calamity at times.

Nevertheless, both teams tried to pass the ball around, Shawdale trying intricate passes and Failsworth trying the long ball over the top for their big Centre Forward to run on too.

Nothing really worked for both sides, however, both teams having chances, Holmes hit a couple of screamers and Dawson had a great strike.

Shawdale playing up the hill with the wind, that didn’t give them any advantage, nor did it for Failsworth playing down the hill against the wind.

It was only until the 42nd minute when Eastmond made an incisive run down the flank, crossed the ball, that fell at Durrant’s feet, who seemed to miss hit his shot and it ricochet off a couple of defenders into the back of the net.

1-0 at the break.

"The Rock" made some telling runs in the first half, only for the wind to play tricks with the ball. Barns also made inroads by knocking tacklers off at will, with his stocky frame.

The second half came around and it was obvious, who ever would got to grips with the conditions, would win the game.

And on 49mins Failsworth leveled the score, after a great free kick saw Ellidge fly into action and make a great save, only for the rebound to be slotted into the net.

Then on 60mins, the home sides defence seem to stand still, as the visitors blonde winger dinked the ball past Ellidge to take a 2-1 lead.

But to their due Shawdale piled on the pressure, but without any result. Time after time, balls were whipped into the penalty box, either to far or to short.

That was until the home sides were given a lifeline on 89mins, when they were awarded a penalty.

It looked as if Shawdale had done enough…. Up strolled Durrant …..

But it wasn’t to be,…

The keeper made a match winning save, to stun the home side and leave them thinking what might have been running through the veins.

Wylie wasn’t to despondent saying

“The weather was a great leveler today, Hey, even the best can lose. So, we brush ourselves down and prepare for next week.

I was just happy to get in the bath afterwards, it was so cold….

And ive put Durrant on a tutorial, on how to take the perfect penalty”