Match Report | Les Taylor

Garstang were without seven members of their First Team squad for the second of the back to back fixtures with Euxton Villa. Manager Somerside did, however, pull two rabbits out of the bag when his team was announced. Ben Perry-Acton made a welcome return from Clitheroe on a loan basis and new signing Seydou Bamba, who is on Chorley's books, took up a place on the bench. Hunt and Kippax were promoted to the First Team, rewarding them for good perfomances with the Reserves.

Euxton almost took the lead with only four minutes on the clock when Atherton split the Garstang defence, but Craddock's shot didn't match the pass as the striker screwed his shot wide. A dangerous inswinging free kick taken by Kippax was well punched away by Bibby in the Euxton goal and then Cummins should have done better when he latched on to a long clearence by Brindle, but his shot was comfortably saved by Bibby. On 25 minutes it was Brindle's turn, doing well to palm out a speculative effort by Woodward.

The game swung controversially in Euxton's direction in the 34th minute. Baker was seeing the ball out for what appeared to be a goal kick, when the referee awarded a corner. From the resulting corner a melee saw the ball rebounding out of a ruck of players, Andy Ireland instinctavely stuck out a hand to prevent the certain goal and was dismissed. Sam Bolton made no mistake with the spot kick. A man down and a goal down with an hour to play and the task looked a big one, but Garstang reorganised and within minutes Perry-Acton had floated a free kick on to the bar.

New signing Bamba replaced Kippax, in a positive move to get something out of the game, for the start of the second half but it was as a defender that Bamba made his first contribution, clearing a strike from Cooper off the line. With 52 minutes gone Garstrag drew level. A Perry-Acton free kick on the right eluded everyone and it only needed the slightest of touches by McEvoy to see the ball home. Euxton responded by replacing goalscorer Bolton with Clitheroe before Perry-Acton, who had been very involved, earned himself a booking.

The game had been far from a classic, with the visitors unable to make their numerical advantage pay, and with Garstang under strength from the start and understandably reluctant to throw too many men forward for the winner' resulting in a stalemate. Taylor was replaced by veteran and Assistant Manager Dave Porter. Euxton then substituted Cooper with Zeverna.

The last real chance of the game fell to Cummins who blazed his effort over the bar after some good battling in the box by Hunt who had worked an opening. In the final minute Baker was booked more for showing his frustration at the afternoon's proceedings, which was probably the way most of the crowd felt. A special mention for Adam Kilifin, who worked tirelessly all afternoon down the right hand side, and for a useful contribution by Hunt, who was making his first team debut.

Garstang: Brindle, McEvoy, Kippax, Baker, Ireland, A.Taylor Snr., Kilifin, Fawcett, Cummins, Hunt, Perry-Acton.
Substitutes: Horton, Bamba (Kippax), Porter (Taylor)

Euxton Villa: Bibby, McAlister, Bolton, Davies, Dickinson, Woodman, Cooper, Heald, Craddock, Atherton.
Substitutes: Salisbury, Briggs, Clitheroe (Bolton), Zaverna (Cooper)