Controversial spot kick robs Saints of point
WEST LANCS LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION HAS ST MARY’S .......... 1 SLYNE WITH HEST ..... 2 STEVE BAYES A GUTSY all round team performance from bottom of the table Haslingden St Mary’s was to no avail as they went down to a very close 2-1 home defeat to third placed Slyne with Hest.
The match started with two early corners for Slyne which were comfortably dealt with by St Mary’s defence, but the first sight of goal came on 10 minutes when a slick interchange of passes between Lewis Hanley and Scott Wylie saw Wylie’s snap shot saved by the outstretched foot of the Slyne keeper.
Slyne were quick on the break and on fifteen minutes they opened the scoring when a ball down the left was completely missed by a St Mary’s defender which left the Slyne striker one on one with St Mary’s keeper Ben Nutter, he rounded Nutter and fired home.
It could have been worse for St Mary’s as five minutes later the striker was again clear but this time Nutter got a hand to the ball and pushed it wide of the goal.
At the other end another goal bound effort from Wylie brought a last gasp save from the Slyne keepers outstretched hand.
St Mary’s finished the first half the stronger and some hasty clearances kept Slyne’s slender lead intact.
The second half followed the same ●● pattern as the first half with St Mary’s causing problems for the Slyne defence, but with Slyne dangerous on the break.
Substitute Tom Hulme, returning to the club from Padiham, almost made an instant impact when he got to the by line and cut the ball back and only a hasty clearance kept out the equaliser.
But the deserved equaliser did come on 75 minutes when a foul on the edge of the area saw Sean Pearson’s free kick met at the back of the six-yard box by substitute Henry Hindle, he headed the ball back strongly over the keeper into the far corner of the net.
But St Mary’s were dealt a cruel blow on 80 minutes when a Slyne player went over very easily when challenged in the area and referee pointed to the spot which was dispatched into the corner giving Nutter no chance.
St Mary’s powered forward in search of a second equaliser but despite all their efforts combined with some desperate defending it just wouldn’t come as the match ended with a cruel 2-1 defeat.
If the team keeps playing as hard as they did today the results will surely come and see them pull away from the bottom of the table.
St Mary’s are at home to Burscough Richmond on Saturday with a 2pm kick off.
St Mary’s reserves went down to a massive 7-0 away defeat at 2nd place Chew Moor Brook reserves.