Match Report | Ian Wormleighton

After two disappointing post Christmas results, the First Team's postponement, and a relegation battle looming, manager Bailey rang the changes for the visit of lowly Freckleton. Earlier in the season Garstang beat the visitors 6 – 1 away but, with the Reserves having only scored twice from open play in the last three months, this looked certain to be a rather cagier affair. Over the last few games Garstang have exerted pressure in patches and have looked threatening without making a breakthrough. In the majority of recent fixtures if an early goal had been scored it would be fair to assume that the Reserves would have gone on to comfortable victories; this however has not been the case. Although there was a helping hand from a sprinkling of first team players, Saturday's game proved how the Reserves can, and should, play on a weekly basis.

An early goal was the key. The returning Kippax broke what was to be a poor Freckleton offside trap within the first ten minutes and slotted coolly past the young visiting keeper. Confidence came seeping back throughout the side and, with McEvoy and Fawcett dominating the centre of the park, there was some lovely football played from back to front. Kippax soon doubled the home side's lead with a glorious lobbed finish, after once again breaking through the visitor's backline, and debutant James Horton added a third from close range after good work from Southward and Walton on the right. That combination came to the fore again when the increasingly impressive Southward played a wonderful through ball to Walton to composedly slot pass the 'keeper for his first of the day. Walton added his second before half time, side footing the ball in after the pirouetting Fawcett became dizzy in the box.

The damage had been done in the first half and Fawcett and Cox gave way to Twiname and Hunt. It had been a welcome return to action for Chris Cox who has only taken part in three games for the First Team so far this season – his presence is likely to galvanise their push towards the end of the season.

The second half began as the first half had ended with Garstang pouring forward. Twiname announced his arrival with a series of crunching challenges and a good header that flew wide of the goal. Hunt was equally as impressive with an assured touch and good strength on the ball. Garstang's sixth was added by Horton, who raced clear from the defence to finish calmly and the scoring was concluded by the pick of the goals, and the completion of Walton's hat trick, when he finished first time from all of thirty yards leaving the Freckleton 'keeper completely stranded, making the final score a comprehensive 7 - 0. Walton then gave way to Swanwick who also gave a good account of himself with a number of marauding raids down the right flank.

Overall a wonderful Garstang performance. Here's hoping that the lads take great confidence from this and finish the season strongly. MoM sponsored by Collinson: Paul Southward – for the second week in a row Paul put in a cracking afternoon's work – solid at the back and quality going forward.

Garstang: Maycock, Southward, Miller (c), Baldwin, Butler, Walton, McEvoy, Fawcett, Cox, Horton, Kippax
Substitutes: Twiname, Hunt, Swanwick, Bardsley, Waite