Richmond recover to pick up much needed victory
THE first derby with near neighbours Southport Hesketh at Richmond Park gave Richmond the win they’d been seeking for several weeks.
The club is always appreciative of the short drive, especially with Richmond having a ten to 12 hour day this Saturday with a game at Whitehaven.
On an excellent day for football at Richmond Park, the home side kicked the game off, but it was the visitors who took a ten minute lead.
A free kick found Jack Ledson who headed home with the Richmond defenders a little dormant - Richmond having had a similar setback in the previous home game.
Nevertheless the home side rolled their sleeves up and started to get back into the game.
Richmond full-back John Anderson forced a corner kick down the left side, the corner taken by Jack Golding found the head of striker Mark Bailey who’s effort was cleared off the goal line by the Hesketh defenders forcing a second corner.
The second corner kick once again taken by Golding was, it has to said a series of errors.
The striker’s corner landed just under the cross bar finding a visiting defender’s head, who was at full stretch but could only turn the ball against the head of a fellow defender which deflected into the net for an own goal. Could Richmond’s luck could be turning? Hesketh came back at Richmond and went mightily close to a second goal, a rear guard action by central defender Ash Disley clearing the ball off the line at the last moment, with excellent defending.
Hesketh had a second chance minutes later when a venomous shot from a Hesketh forward just missed its target by inches.
Richmond took the the lead on 35 minutes, a long ball to a right wing position near the penalty area found Jordan Lorde in space, the tricky front man sent an inch perfect pass across the six yard box, that found fellow striker Mark Bailey, who with his back to goal unselfishly laid the ball back to the oncoming Ian McKinty.
The midfielder exquisitely dispatched the ball into the top corner of the net from the edge of the penalty area. Mr. McKinty will not score a finer goal. There were a coupling of good strikes by Lorde leading up to half-time, the first just the wrong side of the post, the second leading to the third Richmond goal in time added on.
A free kick by midfielder Chris Jones seemed to totally confuse the opposition defenders.
A ball that should have been easily cleared found its way through a mellee of opposing defenders, leaving Lorde clear to fire past Tom Williams in the Hesketh goal to make it 3-1 as referee Mr Moosa blew for half time seconds later.
The first half belonged to Richmond, but it could turn out to be long second half.
Richmond brought on Mario Kramny for Ash Disley, but it was Hesketh that had most of the play in the the second half, but lacked a cutting edge till time added on when Jack Ledson scored a headed second goal for the away side.
Richmond keeper Mike Lowe once again earned his spurs with a fine tip over late in the game from a wicked shot and is gaining in confidence with every game.
The Richmond keeper very close once again to gaining the man of the match award.
Richmond had defended defiantly and worked hard to maintain their advantage, with young central defender Eddie Peglar having a mature game in his new roll as centre half, gaining man of the match for his efforts.
The Richmond midfield had their work cut out with a very experienced opposition midfield, Chris Jones as always in the mix for Richmond.
A welcome for new boy, substitute Rory Middleton who it must be said played with authority for an 18-year-old in his first game for Richmond.