Richmond need solution to pull away from danger
RICHMOND really do need to take stock after this defeat, the Burscough side now sitting perilously close to the bottom of the league.
It isn’t for want of endeavour that Richmond can’t seem to win games, they do play some good football in the course of matches.
But with losing several players in key positions, especially in defence, this is where the newly promoted side are being found wanting, that and not taking their chances after some excellent build up work from midfield.
Richmond welcomed the Blackpool side to Richmond Park for this West Lancashire Premier league match, on a unusually warm afternoon for mid October.
Richmond started the proceedings and found themselves against a side that were full of running and in the first five minutes of the game causing the hosts some concern.
Richmond created a couple of chances shortly after when Jordan Lorde made the Thornton goalkeeper Mark Smith work, but the Richmond strikers shots lacked venom and accuracy.
On ten minutes, Jack Golding brought another save from Smith, but once again the shot was too near the keeper, the Richmond midfielders playing their part in the build up play.
Typical of football, Thornton took the lead on 16 minutes just when it looked liked Richmond where getting into their stride.
A good ball into the Richmond box from a wing position found Dom Lawson who wasn’t marked tightly enough, the Thornton striker connected with an excellent right footed volley from eight yards out leaving the Richmond keeper Lowe stranded.
It was Thornton again five minutes later who went close from a free kick, the ball just inches wide of Lowe’s left hand post.
Richmond rallied and created several chances via Lorde and Golding, the latter looking to even the the game up only to see Smith’s outstretched hand forcing the ball to safety.
The Thornton keeper it could be said was doing his job well.
Richmond went into the changing room at half time knowing that they really needed to up their game.
Substitutions were made after the halftime break, Saul Gruffogg and Nathan Martland being brought on.
Disappointingly Richmond conceded again shortly after the restart.
A headed goal on 47 minutes from a corner kick at a second attempt, that in all honesty should have been cleared, which compounded the frustration for Mike Clandon and his management team.
The goal left the home side with an uphill task.
Richmond did up their game as the match progressed into the second half, culminating in a well worked goal on 65 minutes by Jordan Lorde.
Substitute Nathan Martland was instrumental with the goal, finding the Richmond striker inside the six yard box, who then lifted the ball over Smith and high into the net, if only Richmond could emulate that move more often.
The home team did try very hard to get an equaliser, the most notable effort from Ryan Giller, the midfield man battled to try and guide the ball over the line but just could not get enough weight on the ball, which was cleared just a few yards short of the goal line.
The sucker punch came minutes from the end of the match.
Thornton scored a third, with Richmond fighting for a second goal they’d left themselves vulnerable to the counter attack, taken advantage of by George McCauley for the visitors.
Richmond created a couple more efforts from Martland and full-back Anderson before the final whistle, who like many shots in the match was fired straight at Smith in the Thornton goal.
Manager Mike Clandon couldn’t fault his side’s contribution in the second half, the manager knows where his problems lie, hopefully he can come up with the answers.