St Mary’s despatch bottom side

WEST LANCS LEAGUE DIVISION ONE HAS ST MARY’S .......... 3 DALTON UTD ............... 0 STEVE BAYES IT was top versus bottom as promotionchasing league leaders Haslingden St Mary’s hosted relegation threatened bottom club Dalton United on Easter Saturday, and with captain Mickey Saunders injured midfielder Sean Pearson took the armband.

Although the wellorganised bottom side defended well and looked quite good going forward they failed to force a corner or have a shot on target throughout the game, but St Mary’s made heavy weather at times before sealing three vital promotion points with two goals in the final five minutes.

The match was played in windy conditions with St Mary’s playing towards the clubhouse with the wind at their backs, the early stages the match was very even with St Mary’s passing the ball around but attacks being broken up by the keen Dalton defence, while at the other end the St Mary’s defence coped well with any threat from Dalton going forward.

The deadlock was broken on 20 minutes when a ball was played back into the Dalton area, it was picked up by defender Paul Wadsworth who fired the ball hard and low past the keeper to give St Mary’s the lead from an unlikely source.

The rest of the first half continued in the same vane with St Mary’s pushing forward and forcing several corners without adding to the score and the teams went in at the break with St Mary’s having a slender lead.

The second half started well for St ●● Scott Wylie Mary’s as they created several chances.

But the close scoreline seemed to lift Dalton for a time and while the game remained at 1-0 Dalton still looked like getting a goal if they could get a shot on target.

But St Mary’s turned up the pressure and the second and decisive goal came on 85 minutes when a brilliant run down the left touchline and across the byline from Nick Clemons, ended with a great ball back into the area to unmarked Scott Wylie 15 yards from goal, and his first-time effort flew into the top corner of the net to double St Mary’s lead.

The relief from the players and management was clear to see.

The goal broke the hearts of the Dalton players, and right on full time a super cross from the right from substitute Michael Robinson was turned into his own net by a Dalton defender to give a final score of 3-0.

Although not a classic match St Mary’s did enough to maintain their two-point lead at the top of the table and with the bonus of a clean sheet it puts them in good shape for Easter Monday’s trip to GSK Ulverston.

St Mary’s reserves had a good 3-0 away win on Monday night over Eagley reserves, St Mary’s scorers were Michael Boetang (2) and central defender Adam Nicholls.

On Saturday’s the reserves went down to a 3-1 defeat to Hesketh Bank Reserves. St Mary’s goal scorer was Matthew Reed.