Match Report | Les Taylor

Manager Somerside was forced into more changes for the visit of Coppull United. Perry-Acton had been re-called by Clitheroe, Kippax and Hunt were ill and, with skipper Wilson not available due to suspension, Butler, Cropper, Richard Wilson and Horton all made the starting eleven.

Garstang took the lead with only five minutes gone. Almond had done well to palm out a Kilifin shot but unfortunately for him the ball came out to Horton. His shot was punched up into the air but the striker was the quicker to react and headed the ball over the line. The nearest that Coppull had come to a goal was a free kick by Duckworth that Brindle did well to tip around the post. Brindle again had to be at his best from the resulting corner, punching away the dangerous inswinger.

What the game lacked in quality was made up for in effort and determination. Coppull had had no more than two half chances as the game swung from end to end. A piece of real quality by Fawcett left his man standing before he crossed from the left, but Almond was equal to it punching the ball to safety. As half time approached Coppull did have a good opportunity to draw leve,l but Pickstock didn't make the best of a cross by Masterson, heading wide.

Garstang started the second period brightly. Cummins did well on the right, putting Fawcett through on goal, and he was unlucky to be pulled up for offside. Then Horton blazed over when he should have hit the target. Not for the first time this season Cropper, Baker and McEvoy had reduced the opposition to a minimum of chances, so providing the team with a platform to go on and win the game. Coppull's right midfielder Baten was booked in the 65th minute more out of frustration as his team's attacks came to nothing.

Somerside replaced the tiring Horton with Carlo Maticheccia with 20 minutes still to go. The game was finally put out of reach for the plucky visitors in the 74th minute. The diminutive but capable keeper, Almond, Coppull's busiest player, was forced into punching clear a ball that had been fed into the box and the ball fell to Richard Wilson who quickly returned it into the path of Cummins who cleverly hooked the ball over the on-coming keeper. In a last ditch effort to get something from the game Coppull relaced Dewitt and Masterson with McLeod and Lilley, but it was Garstang who came closest to going further ahead when Fawcett headed over from a Cropper free kick.

As the game drew to a close Vaughan earned himself a booking for bringing down Kilifin. Jonny Baldwin replaced Cropper, and Coppull made their final substitution when Grimshaw replaced Rimmer.

Garstang's latest success moves the club up to seventh position in the league with games in hand and, who know,s with the the work ethic shown in recent games, a top three finish can't be ruled out.

Garstang: Brindle, Cropper, Butler, Baker, McEvoy, R. Wilson, Kilifin, Fawcett, Cummins, Horton, Ireland.
Substitutes: A Taylor Snr., Porte, J Baldwin (Cropper), C Maticheccia (Horton)

Coppull United: Almond, Rimmer, Vaughan, Duckwoth, Derbyshire, Taylor, Baten, Fletcher, DeWitt, Masterson, Pickstock
Substitutes: Grimshaw (Rimmer), McLeod (DeWitt), Lilley (Masterson)