Malpas 2
Lostock Gralam 2
Mid Cheshire League
Division Two
Saturday, March 10
ALTHOUGH they were happy with an away point, Lostcok blew a two-goal lead which should have been at least three before half-time.
Paul Lightfoot was just over the bar with a header in the fifth minute before he gave Lostock the lead, pouncing after Pete Gibbon had charged down a clearance.
Gibbon almost added a second when he headed over Lightfoot's cross, while Paul Littler's pace down the right was causing Malpas all kinds of problems.
Lightfoot turned provider for the second, deftly heading the ball out to Paul Henrietta, whose drive to the far post was drilled in by Littler.
However, this was one of his last contributions, as on his next foray down the right he was cynically hacked down by a defender and limped out of the action. A deserved red card reduced Malpas to 10 men.
This should have been the springboard for Lostock to press home their dominance, but without Littler they lost the attacking impetus and their two-goal lead.
Evans was fouled in the area on the stroke of half-time and Nicholas converted the penalty to make it 2-1.
After the interval, Malpas took control of the game as the 10 men searched an equalizer, which arrived on the hour.
Lostock failed to clear their lines and when the ball broke to Hewitt on the edge of the box, he made no mistake from 18 yards.
In the end, Lostock were glad to hold out for just a point as they too were reduced to 10 men, as Bellamy, following a tackle on Roberts which resulted in a fracas, was given his marching orders.
Lostock: Wyatt, Carter, Peers, Bellamy, Kimber, Izzard, Littler (Crawford), Lightfoot, Henrietta, Alcock, Gibbon. Subs not used: Aleks, Kaye.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article