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Middleton Boys 1 Bunswick 5

George Dodds
21/ 2/2008

GOALKEEPER Matt Williams found himself on the scoresheet as Brunswick moved joint second in Division Two.

Williams stepped up to send his opposite number John Collins the wrong way from the penalty spot, but he also had to be on his toes at the other end as a battling Middleton side played with a spirit which, at times, belied the fact that they have taken only a point from the season so far.

Amazingly this was Middleton’s first home match since October and the lack of wear and tear on the pitch is probably why it was the only one in the league to be ruled playable on Sunday following heavy overnight frost – although the decision by veteran referee David Anderson did not win universal approval from players and officials.

Conditions were tricky underfoot and that may have led to an incredible mix-up in the Middleton penalty area inside the first minute when the home defenders failed to take any of a string of opportunities to clear their lines from Brad Hough’s cross and Colin Brown fired Brunswick ahead from a tight angle.

Brunswick won the corresponding fixture between the sides 9-1 on the opening day of the season, and with Brown, Hough and Dave Connell a constant threat they must have had high hopes of a repeat scoreline.

As it was they didn’t add to their tally for the rest of the half as Middleton defended bravely – Ian Jackson throwing himself to block after the lively Brown had turned well and shot.

Dave Donnelly saw his flying header from a corner bounce back to safety off the inside of the post, and Tom Crossley had a golden opportunity after good approach play by Kal Burgin but sliced his shot badly.

It wasn’t one-way traffic, with Antony Rowe making some good runs down the middle for the home side and striker Gaz Lilley latching onto a good through ball only for the outstretched leg of Dave Townsend to deny him.

Simon Wilkinson began to dominate the midfield area for Brunswick, snapping into the tackles and distributing the ball well, but still the goals didn’t come.

Brown had a big appeal for a penalty turned down minutes into the second-half, but the referee had no doubt when Jamie Lilley brought down Dave Connell after 49 minutes and Williams was called forward by his team mates to successfully take the penalty kick.

Four minutes later Wilkinson powered down the middle and sent a cracking drive past the dive of Collins for number three.

That goal seemed to free Brunswick from their shackles and they produced some good football, with Wilkinson and substitute Lee Done prominent.

Middleton hung on gamely, with Ged Fahey, Kevin Rowe and Jamie Lilley all making important blocks.

They remained a threat going forward too, and struck after 73 minutes when a good run by Gaz Lilley saw the ball worked across the face of the Brunswick six-yard box to where Shaun Pope appeared to score from an acute angle.

Williams produced a flying save as Middleton pressed, but it was the visitors who wrapped up the points with two goals in as many minutes.

The first, after 78 minutes, was the pick of the match as Dave Townshend connected sweetly from 30-yard, the ball flying in via a post. Two minutes later Burgin wrapped it up when he met Hough’s cross sweetly and left it nestling in the back of the net.

Middleton Boys: John Collins, Jamie Lilley, Ged Fahy, Keiren Flaherty, Kevin Rowe, Ian Jackson, Antony Rowe, Steve Walsh, Gaz Lilley, Alan Cleweth, Andrew Connors, sub Shaun Pope.

Brunswick: Matt Williams, Brad Haugh, Dave Donnelley, Simon Wilkinson, Mark Grainger, Neil Jibson, Tom Crossley, Dave Townshend, Kal Burgin, Dave Connell, Colin Brown, subs Paddy Eaton, Lee Done, Warren Hughes, Dave Bramwell, Mike Redmond.