Match Report | Les Taylor

Garstang were unlucky not to take a share of the points in this fiecely contested derby. The conditions were attrocious at kick off time and deteriated as both teams battled against one another and the elements.

Although Wrens looked the more capable of the two sides in the early stages, it was Cropper who almost opened the scoring direct from a corner, Kennerley just managing to claw the ball out from under the bar. Garstang did, however, take the lead in the 19th minute, Fawcett poking the ball home following a goal mouth scramble. The lead didn't last long though as Wrens broke down the right, the ball was fed in, Cropper could only stop the cross but in so doing set the ball up for Pickering who was left to pick his spot.

Ireland picked up a booking for bringing down Corless who had been causing problems from the kick off with his runs and good control. Brindle had to go full stretch to keep out the resulting free kick from Greenhall. Wrens were having a good spell. A good piece of play by Taberner left three Garstang players on their backsides but the midfielder shot wide then Brindle had to be quick off his line to block a shot from N Corless. Wrens really should have gone in front on 43 minutes when a Sharples free kick was blocked. The ball fell to Corless again but he screamed his shot over the bar.

It was Garstang's chance to go in front at the beginning of the second half when an Ireland free kick looked to have found the head of Wilson but the striker made little or no contact. On 63 minutes Wrens replaced Greenhall with Bingham. The play was end to end as both teams ploughed their way through the muddy pitch. Kilifin came closest for the home team, firing one just over the bar from distance and then Cropper almost scored a second goal from a corner, but the Keeper managed to keep it out. Some of Wrens approach play had been good but Cropper, Baker and McEvoy had defended brilliantly to keep them out.

Unfortunately they could do nothing about the goal that won the game when Butler handled a cross in the penalty area for which he was dismissed, presumably for a second yellow. Brindle made a valiant effort to keep the ball out but it wasn't to be.

In a last ditch attempt to get something out of the game Richard Wilson replaced Kilifin who had put in a good shift, and Cox replaced Ireland. With only two minutes left Cropper, who would have been a candidate for man of the match, crashed a free kick against the bar. Fawcett was first to react but he could only head the ball over the bar, leaving Garstang pointless for a second week.

Garstang: Brindle, Cropper, Baker, McEvoy, Kilifin, Fawcett, Ireland, Butler, G Wilson, Cummins and Horton.
Substitutes: R Wilson (Kilifin), Cox (Ireland), A. Taylor Snr.

Wrens: Kennerley, Kitchen, Greenhall (rep. Bingham), Methven, A.Pickering, Tabbener, N. Corless, D. Pickering. Sharples, Tobin, C.Corless.
Substitutes: Bingham (Greenhall), Deurden, Davis