Match Reports for 14th January 2007

1st XI vs Thornleigh – Won – 5 - 0
Scorers – Coogan, Clarke, Lee, OG, Twinkle Toes

Full report from Lancashire Evening Telegraph:

4th XI vs Oldham Hulmeians (Res) – Won 4 - 2
Scorers – Maxwell, Kay, Bullen (2)
The 4th XI travelled to Oldham looking for win to stop the string of unfortunate results, and also try to get their first win of the season on the road.

On a heavy and uneven surface we started well, and after about 10 minutes we won a corner. Maxwell made a run from the edge of the box, and when Upton swung the corner towards the front post he met it with a glancing touch and saw the ball fly passed a static keeper for 1-0.

The continued pressure told 5 minutes later when a Woodford cross was picked up by Kay, who turned and neatly put his shot into the bottom corner for 2-0.

Oldham then got one back from free kick which was poorly defended allowing the home teams centre forward the freedom of our box, and he guided his header over Heckingbottom for 2-1.

This seemed to lift Blacks as Bullen went on to score two well taken goals to extend our lead to 4-1. Oldham did get one back before the break when yet again Blacks were guilty of switching off, no doubt after thinking the game was already won.

The second half saw no more goals, but Blacks could, and probably should have extended their lead as many chances were not taken.

Never the less it was Blacks first away win of the season and a well deserved 3 points.

5TH XI vs Oldham Hulmeians (B) – Won 3 - 1
Scorers – Robertson, McCarthy, Cranage (J)
The 5th XI ensured a weekend double over Oldham with a good 3-1 win at home – although it did not seem that was going to be the case 15 minutes in when Blacks defence stopped to appeal for offside when clearly it wasn’t, and the Oldham forward put the visitors 1-0 up.

With few chances developing the scoreline remained 1-0 till halftime, but shortly after the break Robertson headed in for 1-1, shortly followed by what was described in many different ways by many different people as a great lobbed finish from McCarthy.

This settled some nerves and we began to dominate the game a little more. James Cranage then picked the ball up and ran at the Oldham defence, and just when some were thinking his chance of crossing had gone he struck a fine shot which beat the keeper for 3-1.

Oldham did hit the bar once, with Blacks also hitting the bar twice towards the end of the game but the game was won and the points were ours to keep the 5th team top of division 7.