Hanley brace offers boost for St Mary’s

WEST LANCS LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION HAS ST MARY’S .......... 2 BLACKPOOL WR.......... 0 STEVE BAYES HASLINGDEN St Mary’s took last week’s improved performance into their home match against Blackpool Wren Rovers and a goal in each half from Lewis Hanley brought a morale boosting win.

St Mary’s started the match well and pressed Wren Rovers back whilst at the other end the eager St Mary’s defenders forced Wren into several mistakes.

On 15 minutes St Mary’s forced four corners in a row with Wren clearing one headed effort off the line.

A Hanley shot came off the bar and post and away from danger but on 32 minutes St Mary’s pressure finally told when an attack down the right saw the ball crossed into the area to Hanley in space. He controlled and fired home from eight yards.

St Mary’s finished the half strongly, causing further problems for the Wren defenders.

The second half started as the first had finished with St Mary’s carving out two early chances that probably should have brought another goal. But on 53 minutes the second goal came as the lively Jamie Hart crossed from the left and Hanley volleyed home.

The final 20 minutes saw Wren put on some strong pressure with the ball and physically, but some wayward finishing and some resolute defending – with the vocal Joe Sipocz playing his first game of the season in goal – kept the score at 2-0.

In the dying seconds of the match a pin point Jordan Hilton corner was met by a fierce header from Alex White but the ball crashed against the bar and away to safety with the keeper well beaten. The match ended bringing a very welcome three points for St Mary’s that lifts them off the bottom of the table, and the all round team performance must have been an encouragement for both the players and management going forward.

Saturday sees St Mary’s make the long trip to Barrow in Furness for an away match against Vickerstown with a 3pm kick off.

St Mary’s reserves remain rooted to the foot of the table after going down to a 3-1 away defeat against Tempest United Reserves.