Match Report 

As we enter the cold English winter months we could have been forgiven for thinking that we were still stuck in August looking at the beautiful luscious green surfaces at beeches, had it not been for the slight frost in the still shadowed area of the pitch. The Beeches pitches are something that the club and players are proud of, and the fantastic playing surfaces only help to serve up a footballing treat allowing the teams to play their pass and move football to entertain the crowds. What better way to thank the committee, ground-staff and helpers than to win the game, but win the game playing football.

Penlake started the game like a house on fire with fast flowing football moving the ball from wing to wing with fast counter attacking football.

With Captain John Cunliffe unable to make the game through illness Kane Grant dropped in to Centre back alongside Jordan Pilling. Cam Tunstall came in at left back and Jordan Wright regained his place up front with Man of the moment Harry Caton taking his place on the bench this week. Total domination of the first half by Penlake resulted in a host of chances which were well saved by the visiting keeper. Cadisheads only chances came from set pieces, something Penlake were all too aware of and which later in the game provided Cadishead for the second time this season a lead over Penlake. Penlake eventually found themselves leading at the break 1-0. Having started the second half more slowly they were suddenly 2-1 from two set pieces. Luckily the team rallied and provided us with 20 minutes of some of the finest football seen at beeches in a long time.

Eventually running out 6-2 winners.

One of the teams many strengths in recent weeks has been its strength in depth with its squad. Allowing the manager to make changes not necessarily to ‘give a lad a game’ the changes are being made to do a job, to change the game. It’s not nice being on the bench but the team are lucky to have players showing that maturity to come on from the bench and follow instructions for the team and put great performances in week in week out. The team keeps changing each week but each and every player is giving 100% and playing well as a team. Let’s keep it going lads.

With 1/3 of the season now gone, Penlake now find themselves 5 points clear at the top with a game in hand on 2^nd place Eagle, and 6 points clear of third placed Haydock who have played the same amount of games. Not a time to become complacent but a time to finally believe in your own abilities and push on from here.

Jack Field – 9 not an awful lot to do for the ‘keeper, his distribution from balls laid back to him has improved dramatically over the past year which has helped the team out no end. His organisation of his wall at set pieces was spot on Sunday and we can see that he has been working on being more dominant at set pieces, something that he acknowledges he still needs to improve on, but as most premiership keepers will tell you it is a very difficult job. As a ‘keeper myself (apparently) I was impressed by some of the things that he made look simple on Sunday. Must keep that hunger for wanting to improve constantly.

Craig Leadbetter – 9 Fantastic first half performance marred only by what he will admit himself, some poor distribution, but on a positive note was not afraid to keep trying and was one of the main driving forces behind the teams attacking play in the first half. The lad is as strong as an Ox and reads the game so well. He was always looking to provide an outlet to the players around him and linked up well with Danny G. His distribution was much better second half, which again shows his determination to put things right, a credit to him! Sensibly, with being on the opposite side of the pitch, as the Cadishead team started to attack more and more down their left Craig was more disciplined in the second half and provided a solid defensive wall, choosing the correct times to support the attack – well done!

Cam Tunstall – 9 was asked to do certain job today and followed it to the letter. Defended solidly throughout and matched some of the bigger opponents for strength and power. Always difficult for him to express himself fully going down the left with being predominantly left footed but never stopped him trying. Positioning was excellent again.

Kane Grant – 9 Solid at the back and he even won a header – although he spent the rest of the match walking around holding his head!! Unlucky not to score late on when pushed in to midfield but the rebound resulted in a goal.

Jordan Pilling – 9 Defended well and impresses me with his calmness in possession and his skills even if it does leave me with some heart in mouth moments! One poor free kick in the first half will not deter from a very good performance in the absence of his partner in crime at the back. Very good performance in the air and always looked to play the ball.

Tom Davies – 9 Another good display by Tom. Very clever performance by the midfield enforcer, covering in different positions and starting quick attacks. Again another player who followed the managers instructions well and looked really comfortable during the game in that position. Allowed other players around him to express themselves creatively in a selfless role.

Jordi Smith – 9 ¾ - The more I watch the lad the more he impresses me. He has a very low centre of gravity and travels across the floor well, and always seems to have the ball under instant control. One case in point was at the edge of the opposition box when he had 4 players around him all trying to take the ball off him, and rather than panic and try and kick the ball away he danced around them like a young ‘Anton Du Beke’ and turning on a sixpence this way and that way and finally getting free and calmly passing a nice easy pass off to the side…. I mean who the hell teaches him how to do that?!?!?! Class!! Another good well worked goal, and always available for the ball, fast becoming one of the integral cogs in the Penlake machine!!

Luke Watkin – 9 ½ - Together with Jordi they work together so well, like they are being controlled by the same controller on FIFA 12 or something, if Jordi doesn’t get you then Luke will and Vice versa!! Drove the play forward well and always looking to get the ball in to space and the wide areas. In possession in and around the box just needs to compose himself slightly more to allow him to get his shot off under control, which is something he knows but sometimes his all action explosive style doesn’t allow this.

Danny Gerrard – 9 Fantastic first half performance tearing the Cadishead defenders inside out and back to front and upside down, working hard down the right. Linked well with the other forwards and Craig. Did his fair share defensively and I think over the past couple of weeks we have really seen the G-Bomb come in to his own, playing with a new confidence and worked hard. Always sulks after the game or when he comes off but wish he could watch his performances back because he has been pure class… needs to play with a smile on his face and a daft hair cut on his head!!

Jordan Wright – 9 ½ Wrightys back… back with a bang!! The lad was class today, okay he scored two fabulous goals but it was everything else he brought to the table today as well as that. He seems to have struck a fantastic relationship up with new striker Alex Stott and they link up brilliantly and they both got their just rewards Sunday. Unlucky not to score more but I was told (by fans behind the goal) that his first goal, when put clear on goal he rifled the ball from all of 40 yards which was a much more difficult finish than we give credit for, and his second goal was only from a few yards out but it was his determination to get there and his link up play earlier with Alex that was most impressive. Long may it continue!

Alex Stott – 9 ½ - The lad has definitely come out of his shell and improved , in my opinion so much, since when he joined us. He is fast becoming a great all round player for us and is currently the leading goalscorer without being greedy about it as he is linking up well with the other forwards. Let’s talk about his first goal… first of all he had the drive and determination to get there before the keeper and defender, and worked so hard… then he had the presence of mind to not try and kick the leather of the ball, instead he used the outside of his left foot to nip in front of the other players and gently stroke the ball through the tiny gap and in to the bottom corner of the net, it had Thierry Henry written all over it!! If things couldn’t get any better his second goal was something of the Sublime to the Cor Blimey… from all of 20 yards he lofts this deft chip over the keeper and defenders (not quite a Rory Patterson!!) and dipped under the crossbar and into the far corner of the net… I would go as far as to say that due to the trajectory and the pace it entered the net it was basically unsaveable!! Brilliant – Well Done!

Subs:

Ryan Roberts – 9 again another lad who was asked to do a job and performed it to perfection. Added an attacking dimension down the left hand side in the second half as the team dominated the last 20 minutes. Showed some lovely touches and movement and linked up with the forwards well. One lovely ball laid forward setting up a goal, and seems to be playing with more freedom and confidence. Again he just needs to keep that intensity up week in week out and keep putting the effort in.

Oscar Billington – 9 Looking better and better each week and desperately fighting for a starting berth in a very strong midfield. Doesn’t look out of place and yet again performed his duties splendidly well and to the instructions from his manager. His all action style of play and range of passing is a good strength to have added to the game when looking for a different way to break a team down.

Harry Caton – 9 ¼ Unlucky to find himself on the bench but came on for the last 30 minutes and carried on where he left off the previous weeks. So comfortable in possession and a nightmare for defenders as he can go both left or right and has pace to burn. Scored a fantastic goal as well from an impossible angle to put his seasons goal tally up to 7 – averaging a goal a game!

Charlie Burdekin – 9 - back from international duty in Italy the lad was given the choice of positions and chose centre mid, coming on and displaying some excellent touches and linking up well. Just needs to wait for his chance and snatch it with both hands.