Addingham 5

CLITHEROE 2

HAVING progressed to the Semi-Finals in this competion last season, Addingham were looking to do well again.

The draw had been kind giving Addingham a home tie against the Division Two leaders Clitheroe United.

With one of two key players missing the home side lined up with Tim Marriot replacing Jermey Parker as the only change to the previous week's winning side.

With one or two hold ups Addingham were late changing and took to the field seconds before kick off.

This was to prove costly as they failed to get going and Clitheroe took full advantage. After only four minutes a long throw eluded everyone except the Clitheroe skipper who headed home.

Still in dissaray Ridley failed to deal with an awkward ball when facing his own goal and the striker nipped in to put the underdogs in to a two goal lead with only ten minutes played.

Despite this early setback, Addingham knew time was on their side and their overall superiority began to creep in. Not rushing into hasty balls forward they picked out passes and kept possession as the quality, so lacking early on, began to return.

In the 35th minute Jamie Barrow pulled one back. The ball was scrambled around the six yard line before Jamie fired home at the second attempt.

A positive talk at half time left the players in no doubt that this game was theirs for the taking and in the second period they showed real class.

Straight from the re--start Addingham roared forward with Smith, Palmer and Philips goiong close before Barrow made it two-all with another simple finish. The Clitheroe players now looked jaded as their early lead was wiped out.

A tactical change saw Jez Parker come on at left midfield, but just when all seemed to be going well disaster struck.

Addingham's influential midfielder Phil Smith picked up another ankle injury that forced him to off.

Walker took to the challenge and within minuted was ruling the midfield and ultimately setting up number three for Addingham, Simon Collins the scorer.

Now the defection for Clitheroe was all too appparent as Addingham started to up the pace and force plenty of chances and corners, skipper Dickinson having a bullet header turned away by the keeper.

Goal number four was down to the two substitutes. Andy Collins belied his tender years with a magnificent run and a perfect through ball to the veteran Jeremy Parker who finished with real class from 18 yards out.

After a shaky start Ridley was now commanding the defence with a renewed authority and all through the team Addingham were begining to stroke the ball around with supreme confidence.

It was left to the two young strikers to steal the show. Firstly, Barrow completed his hat-trick with a beauty. He collected a neat pass from the impressive Greg Palmer and drove in a fantastic strike from 12 yards.

The finale was provided by Simon Collins. Having felt aggrieved at the keeper's rash challenge and his failure to earn a free kick, Collins, in full view of the referee, gave the keeper a non too friendly slap.

Having raised a hand to an opponent, Collins received the statutory red card that reduced Addingham to ten men for the final ten minutes.

With Collins's dismissal leaving a sour taste in the mouth, the closing stages were rather muted as Addingham ran out deserved winners.

This Saturday Paul Chapman and Matt Steer return to the side, but with Phil Smith injured, this could not be more timely.

Addingham are away to Rothwell in the County Cup, players to meet at The Crown at 12 noon.

Team from: A Dobson, R Walker, A Collins, S Collins, P Smith, P Chapman, M Steer, R Mills, G Dickinson, M Ridley, J Barrow, G Palmer, J Parker, A Philips, T Marriot.

Addingham Res 5

Cowling Res 2

The reservesstarted off brightly, putting pressure on the Cowling defence. Cowling fought back and scored after 20 minutes following a defensive error. To the surprise of onlookers this seemed to lift Addingham and put them back in to possession which led to a shot from G Johnson, only to be punched out by the 'keeper into the path of P Sunderland, who chipped the ball towards goal and beat the helpless 'keeper.

Both teams were trying their best and then Addingham got a penalty. M Dale walked up to take the penalty and smashed it in to the back of Cowling's net, to bring the score to 2-1.

Addingham chose not to simply defend their lead and started to pile the pressure on, and following many attacks the ball fell to the feet of G Johnson, who slid the ball in to the path of Dan Holbrook, who slotted the ball home. Credit to Cowling, who fought back and following an error from the goalkeeper made the score 3-2.

Following this, Addingham yet again applied the pressure, during which time history was made when 15 minutes from time Addingham made a substitution when Les Perkins (senior) came on for the hard-working Craig Adams, which left the youngest and oldest players on Addingham's books, father and son, Les Perkins (senior) and Les Perkins (jun) on the Park together.

Addingham went on to score two more through volleys from both M Dale and D Holbrook. The defence remained solid through 70's style ball and man tackles, which kept the Cowling attack at bay and made the final score 5-2 to Addingham.

Match Point went to D Holbrook for a superb performance in centre midfield.

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