Daisy Hill FC 3-1 Pilkington FC
Saturday 30th November, North West Counties Division One North
After the euphoria surrounding the midweek cup win against Marine it was down to earth with a bump as Pilks succumbed tamely to a dominant Daisy Hill side.
On a very heavy pitch Pilks failed to adjust to the conditions and Daisy Hill took full home advantage. They had the first shot at goal on 10 mins but Warburton’s effort was gathered safely by Pilks keeper Sam Tickle. But it took only a further 3 mins for Daisy Hill to take the lead when captain Howell fired home from 13 yds after Pilks had failed to clear a corner.
3 mins later and Tickle was forced into another fine save, again from Howell. Pilks first effort came after 20 mins via Callum Laird who could only fire over the bar from 10yds out.
Tickle was called into action again on 29 mins when he denied O’Brien with a fine save, tipping the ball over the bar.
Pilks had been under pressure for the first half hour but were beginning to find their feet in the game. But it was much huffing and puffing and Phill Marsh had the last meaningful word of the first half when on 43 mins he shot from distance only to find keeper Williams perfectly placed to collect.
Pilks started well after the break with the first opportunity being a Marsh a free kick from 25 yards out but his shot went wide. 3 mins later a corner taken by Marsh found the head of Gillam but the golden opportunity was wasted. On 57 mins Callum Laird met a Giglio free kick with his head, the effort rattling the cross bar and then somehow rebounding back over the bar for a goal kick.
That proved to be a defining moment in the game.
Matty Taylor replaced Phil Marsh on 59 mins as Pilks pressed for the equaliser but it was Daisy Hill who had the next best chance 2 mins later, when Ramwell played a neat one-two with O’Brien whose shot was well saved by the feet of keeper Tickle.
Pilks resistance was breached in the 64th min when James Bateman’s low shot found the corner of the goal to make it 2-0.
Pilks now looked a little deflated and though Giglio and Laird combined on 69 mins, Laird’s shot could only finds the keepers feet which was deflected for a corner.
Meadows had meanwhile replaced Gillam in the Pilks back line.
Jamie Ramwell added to Pilks misery on 70 mins when he added a 3rd by slotting the ball calmly passed they advancing Tickle.
There was no way back from 3-0 but there was some consolation for Pilks when on 73 mins Matty Taylor chased a long clearance from his keeper, calmly nodding the ball past the last defender and slotting home unopposed.
2 late cautions for Jack Cunliffe and Callum Laird added to the Pilks misery on the day. They can have no complaints about the result though the management might review the reasons for the under par performance.
Pilks now travel back to the Marine Travel Arena on Tuesday night, this time to take on AFC Liverpool in a PlayerMatch.com second round cup tie.