Boss thrilled by Nomads’ endeavour

SECOND place met third on Sunday in the Newbold Tyres Premier Division as Rochdale Nomads entertained Littleborough.

Nomads employed an adventurous 4-3-3 formation, but the first 15 minutes were cagey, despite a couple of forays into each other’s half.

The key battles were taking place in the centre of the park as the midfield trio of Schofield, Travis and Kane Irvine looked to get a grip on proceedings.

Nomads opened the scoring with 20 minutes on the clock, the ball pinging around in the Littleborough area led to a snap-shot from Alton who fired into the back of the net.

Parity was restored five minutes later, a well worked and clever free kick brought the away team back level.

It was Nomads however who took a deserved lead into the half time break, Briers the Nomads centre forward latched onto a through ball, his shot taking a wicked deflection and looping over the goalkeeper.

After the interval Littleborough equalised, a brilliant diagonal ball found the full back whose low cross was swept home by the Boro forward.

Nomads were forced into an early substitution when centre half Will Kelly was carried off following an innocuous challenge, the veteran Chris Porter replacing him.

Within five minutes, a glorious free kick to the back post by Travis found the head of Schofield who headed the ball back across the goal to give Kane Irvine a tap-in, his second goal in two games.

Fifteen minutes remained on the clock and Briers took the chance to put Nomads 4-2 up, taking the game beyond doubt.

Michael Thomas, The Nomads manager, said: “It was a really good match with both teams playing excellent football in front of a large crowd.

“I have to say the work rate and quality my players showed today was top drawer stuff and very pleasing, to be not only competing but beating teams like Littleborough shows how far the club has moved forward in the last two seasons.”

North Star relived the highs of last week’s win with a 6-3 victory against Sportsmans in The Sun Chemical Division One.

Sportsmans were quick off the mark, firing their first shot on goal into the back of the net.

Despite this, Star were having the majority of the ball, creating several chances in the process.

Star’s wastefulness in front of goal was punished on the half hour, Sportsmans winger getting down the right and whipping in a good cross, to be met by a superb volley.

Before long Sportsmans were 3-0 up following an unstoppable strike, it was going from bad to worse for North Star.

North Star did pull one back, Liam Flynn’s whipped corner was met by Daniel Hewitt’s header providing his side with a life-line.

Five minutes into the second-half, Star drew level, the first goal from a Flynn penalty, then James Martin broke away and rounded the goalkeeper before sliding the ball home.

Some delightful build-up play gave Flynn his second of the game, James Martin setting him through on goal as he calmly finished to give Star a 4-3 lead.

A James Martin second rounded off the game and Flynn completing his hattrick before the whistle was blown.

Delighted North Star manager Lee Grey said: “From 3-0 down, we were courageous to come back and win 6-3, we really blew our opponents away second-half.

“It really was a great performance.”