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First-half goals secure win for Media

6/ 3/2008

ABACUS Media travelled to play Old Ashtonians in a Lancashire and Cheshire League match.

Media were missing key players, including Nick Bracken, Liam Sweeney and Tom Fraser, and this resulted in a jumble of positions for the starting line up.

Media started the game well against a strong wind, and it didn’t take long for them to take the lead. A corner was whipped into the box and eventually fell to Matt Clarke who poked home his third in two games after being unable to find the net in four years.

It wasn’t long before Media doubled their lead. An intricate phase of passing in the Ashton half led to a defence-splitting pass from Richie Lowry to scorer Nick Sullivan.

Media were not finished for the half and continued to attack. A counter attack left the Ashton defence outnumbered, and a clever ball from Andy Cannon played in Steven Holden who fired across the keeper and into the net.

The second half saw Media sit back on their lead, and Ashtonians pulled one back to give themselves a glimmer of hope.

They were denied a second when Martin Byrne tipped over a free kick then stopped a good effort from the edge of the area.

Media seconds suffered their third defeat on the bounce. They went down 6-4 at home to Irlam Steel.

MIDDLETON Colts under 16s started slowly against Georgians but then gave their best performance of the season as they ran out 6-1 winners.

Skipper Liam Mott was in fine form at the back, while Ellis, Duffin and Burgoyne played some great football in midfield.

Callum Duffin put Colts in front, and Fitton made it 2-0 after good work by Sam Vines.

Second-half goals came from Fitton, Louis Ellis, Jake Green and George Walker.

It was all over bar the celebrations when Georgians bagged a late consolation goal.

Colts’ player of the match was Jamie Greenwood.

MIDDLETON Boys under 11s B defied the blustery conditions to beat Radcliffe Boro C 7-2 in a North Bury Junior League match.

The opening goal came when Corey Goodey’s through ball found Tunmise Ojo sprinting through. He drew the keeper and drove a shot into a corner of the net.

The second goal also involved Goodey when his cross was fumbled into the net by the keeper.

Goodey moved onto a crossfield ball from Luke Anderson to round the keeper and make it 3-0.

Two more goals came just before half time. Radcliffe reduced the deficit from a freekick, then Simon Riley went on a great run, beating player after player, before crossing for Ojo to smash home.

Radcliffe were first to score in the second half, but from then on Middleton spent most of the time trying to break through a stubborn defence.

Only 10 minutes were left when John Ezard laid the ball off for Luke Barry to hit a thunderbolt. Barry then turned provider when his deep cross found scorer Bradley Ashton.

Josh Gorton rounded off the scoring.

Player of the match was John Ezard.