Match Report | Les Taylor

Garstang returned to action for the first time in six weeks and were made to fight all of the way to secure all three points. Manager Scott Somerside had to call on a number of his reserve squad to fill the holes left by his skipper Wilson, on honeymoon, Cox with flu and Perry-Acton, who could be on his way to UniBond North, Clitheroe.

The home team made a bright start, a Cropper free kick narrowly clearing the bar after only four minutes. The Referee, Mr. McStay soon stamped his authority on the game, booking Baldwin as early as the eighth minute for what could only described as a strong challenge on the visitors keeper and then Richard Wilson found himself in the book for a strong tackle.

There hadn't been much goalmouth action until the only goal of the game came in the 18th minute. Garstang were awarded a freekick about 35 yards from goal. Andy Ireland hit what looked an innocuous strike from the right hand side and the ball found it's way into the back of the net through a ruck of players - to the astonishment of everyone. Although Dalton maintained a fair share of possession they couldn't break down a very resolute Garstang defence, reducing the visitors to only one real shot at goal up to the half-time break.

With an increasingly strong wind against them, Garstang were under the cosh straight from the kick off. First, Gareth Jones skimmed the bar from a narrow angle for the visitors, then Coombs hit the bar with a good strike. In a rare Garstang attack Baldwin did get the ball in the net only to be ruled offside, but it was Dalton who were dominating proceedings. On 60 minutes, Kippax replaced goalscorer Ireland. Garstang were dealt two major blows in the last twenty minutes when first, Fawcett, who along with Baker, had been magnificent in repelling the visitors attacks, had to withdraw through injury to be replaced by Twiname. Then, in the closing minutes, Niall Cummins sustained an injury which necessitated a hospital visit. Fortunately, A&E diagnosed ligament damage and so, although he will be side-lined for a least a couple of weeks, the injury is not as bad as first thought.

Try as they might, Dalton couldn't break down a Garstang team who had defended from the front in what can only be described as a never say die attitude. Dalton's fate was sealed in the 86th minute when star man Leach was sent off for dissent in a game that was always competitive, but never dirty.

Garstang: Brindle, Kilifin, Baker, Fawcett, McEvoy, R.Wilson, Cummins, Cropper, Baldwin, Coar and Ireland
Substitutes. Twiname (Fawcett), Walton (Cummins), Kippax (Ireland), Hunt and Swanwick.