Greetland ran out 3-1 winners as they took on Linthwaite in difficult conditions in Division III of the Under 13 section.
A mixture of wind, sunshine and icy rain blasted across Stainland Recreation Ground prior to the visit of Linthwaite for a second league meeting of the season with Greetland.
The two sides met in the first game of the season when Greetland edged a narrow 3-2 victory at Linthwaite.
Thankfully the ground held up well and the game was played without further interference from the weather.
George Gledhill established himself as Greetland’s play-maker and Linthwaite keeper Josh Robinson was soon called into action as Aqib Kamran and Will Kirwin threatened to give the home side an early lead.
Despite spending most of the first 20 minutes pinned in their own half, defenders George Hodgson, Nathan Woodward and Malakai Bland worked hard to keep Linthwaite in the game and relief arrived in the form of Jay Cyrus and Josh Robinson, who began to take the pressure off the defenders with some searching runs.
Greetland were beginning to feel the strain as the visitors threatened and Linthwaite hopes were raised when Charlie Hill was bundled over in the penalty area but the referee deemed it was a fair challenge.
Minutes later Hodgson’s promising run through the middle was halted by a clumsy Gledhill challenge, but Linthwaite were unable to capitalise from the resulting free kick to leave the game all square at the break.
Greetland’s dominance finally paid off five minutes into the second half when Woodward’s through ball found the ever dangerous Gledhill and his right wing cross was turned into the Linthwaite goal by Kirwin.
Finlay Firth almost produced an equaliser when his pass found Adam Gallagher, but the striker’s shot was straight at keeper Jacob Wilkinson whose quick thinking set up an immediate counter-attack where Hugo Illingworth provided the pass for Max Haigh to double Greetland’s advantage.
Cyrus, Gallagher and Nathan Wadsworth pushed forward as Linthwaite searched for a goal but they were unable to take advantage as Jamie Tomlinson, Illingworth and Jack Smith remained solid in the home defence.
Smith all but sealed the result with a speculative 25 yard effort that flew into the top corner of the Linthwaite net giving keeper Robinson no chance.
Kirwin looked certain to score a 4th for Greetland when he rounded the keeper but, seeing the danger, Hill moved quickly to clear the danger for the visitors.
With just 10 minutes remaining the visitors, who kept on battling, were eventually rewarded when Dean Rangeley’s angled chip over the keeper nestled in the back of the Greetland net to give Linthwaite a deserved goal.
Both sides deserved praise for entertaining their hardy supporters with some exciting football on the worst day of the season so far.
