Blues go marching on to close on promotion spots
LEEK Town continued their superb form by winning 1-0 at Prescot Cables – their 10th victory in 11 games.
Leek came under early pressure, and Taylor Brickell was clean through from a Lewis Buckley flick-on, only for Danny Roberts to make a good save.
Sam O’halleron also had an effort cleared off the line as the home side belied their lowly status.
The Blues regrouped after the break and they took a 59thminute lead. Billy Reeves was the man on the mark, tapping home from close range.
The result leaves Leek in fourth place, but only three points from the top of a very congested league table.
The Cables had drawn with Leek earlier in the season and coming into the match in some good form after overcoming Bootle, 1874 Northwich and 0 1
Newcastle in the past month.
Manager Neil Baker mixed his squad for this tough away game, he started with the experience of Reeves, Olly Harrison, Tim Grice and had promising young players Ammar Dyer and Mitchell
Glover on the substitutes bench.
Both teams started brightly in blustery but dry conditions, with Blues forward Tim Grice having a great early chance that was well saved by home keeper Jed Ward and then on five minutes, Cables’ striker Sam O’halleron was denied by a fine save by Blues keeper Roberts.
In an end-to-end first 30 minutes that offered few clear cut chances, Leek continued to move the ball quickly but failed to fully test the home defence apart from a Will Saxon scuffed shot from 10 yards out.
Then, Prescot Cables had some chances of their own with O’halleron again showing up well on 38 minutes, and near the end of the first period Roberts made an another good save for Leek, after some fine build up play from home skipper Liam Hollett.
Towards the end of the half, Blues wing back Louis Keenan picked up a nasty head wound in a collision near the home dug out, bravely he returned to play after some first aid from Blues physiotherapist Cameron Brown.
Leek immediately went on the attack from the restart, with Rob Stevenson and Grice combining well, a cross flashed across the box just eluding Grice.
The home team also had a clear chance from Lewis Buckley pushed away by Roberts.
A change now came from Baker with ex-port Vale player Dyer replacing Saxon and the away team continued to press for the first goal with Reeves and Davidson beginning to dominate the midfield.
Finally, it was Leek that scored on the hour mark, following some great play by Stevenson, a low cross flashed across the home goalmouth and skipper Reeves was on hand to get the crucial goal.
Cables looked for an immediate response and O’halleron forced a fine save from the away keeper Roberts on the 70th minute but the away defence held firm with Harrison and Ryder again clearing with confidence.
There was no let up from either team in the final minutes of the second half with Dyer, Grice and substitute Lewis Short at the centre of Leek’s attacking creativity.
Towards the end, it was Harrison of the Blues that threatened the Cables goal but home keeper Ward saw the header fly just past the woodwork.
In injury time, instead of trying to find the Cables net Dyer sensibly took the ball into the corner and won a corner off a defender’s legs to eat up the remaining injury time and allow the Blues to close out a narrow victory.
When the referee blew the final whistle it was the away fans that cheered as the Blues had battled to another away win.
Leek Town now move on to their next league match at home to Ramsbottom FC on March 5, 3pm, in good spirits after this promising result.
BLUES: Roberts, Bavanganga, Keenan, Davidson, Harrison, Ryder, Wara, Reeves, Grice, Saxon (Dyer 50), Stevenson (Short 84). Subs unused: Booth, Glover, Lake
ATTENDANCE: 591