Match Report | Les Taylor

Make no mistake, this was a fine result against third placed, and in form, Freckleton. Without the services of no fewer than eight first team squad members, manager Scott Somerside had to dig deep into the second team squad for this holiday fixture.

The game started in glorious sunshine in front of a crowd in excess of 100 people. A long range effort by Kilifin on six minutes, that flew just wide, was the first opportunity, but it was only five minutes later that Freckleton took the lead when Horn headed home unchallenged from a corner. It looked like it was going to be a busy afternoon for the Garstang defenders as they were put on the back foot. Dickinson fired narrowly over, then a good passing move involving Dickinson and Watson resulted in the latter's shot skimming the bar. Baker did brilliantly heading out a Carroll cross from under the bar as the visitors piled on the preassure.

Manager Somerside must have been relieved to get his side in at half time just one goal down and to give him chance to re-focus his side. It looked like normal sevice had been resumed, and then Brindle had to make a smart save from Carey, who had led the visitors attack well. There was a now bit of niggle creeping into the game. Geoff Wilson earned himself a booking, as did Freckleton centre back Holliday, before a flare up in the 55th minute that appeared to alter the direction of the game. Garstang had been awarded a free kick just outside the box. It was taken by Kilifin, the ball was kept out, but fell to Fawcett who was blatently held in the penalty area. The kick was not given and Fawcett was brought down again, this time outside the box. This incident provoked a rather unsavoury fracas resulting in the dismissal of Geoff Wilson, and Burton for the visitors, and bookings for Fawcett and Watson.

From this point on, Garstang took control of the game. On 62 minutes. Fawcett headed a Richard Wilson corner narrowly wide before the home team were awarded a penalty. Bamba swung a corner into the far post, McEvoy headed it back only for the referee, this time, to notice a deliberate push. Kilifin made no mistake with the spot kick.

Not content with the equaliser, Garstang were now going for the winner. Horton hit the bar after being set up by Richard Wilson and then, with only seven minutes to go and with Freckleton rocking, came the "Goal of the Month". The industrious Richard Wilson slipped the ball to right back Kilifin, who had joined him down the right flank, and he hit the bye line before squeezing the ball into Fawcett whose great pull back was met by a thunderous strike from Wilson. 2-1. Game over and well deserved by a team who never know when they are beaten, and that moves them up to fourth place in the league.

Garstang: Brindle, Kilifin, Bardsley, Baker, McEvoy, Wilson R., Horton, Fawcett, Hunt,
Wilson G., Bamba. Substitutes: Miller, Porter, Baldwin J (Bardsley), Williams N (Horton)

Freckleton: Woods, Holliday M., Hartley, Holliday K., Horn, Dyson, Carroll, Burton, Carey, Watson, Dickinson, Substitutes: Cartmell, Camosi, Douthwaite