Middlewich Town 1 Pilkington 1

Mid-Cheshire League Division One

IN this highly entertaining game at Seddon Street on Saturday, Middlewich started at a terrific pace, and had their opportunities to open the scoring.

Mike Twite had the first, after a glorious ball from Simon Evans. Twite was one on one with the Pilkington keeper, but he hit his shot straight at the goalkeeper.

Langley went close with a thunderous shot from the edge of the box, then full back Ostrowka went on a run which ended with a strike which clipped the post.

At this point it was all Town, with Dave Coleman in Town's goal isolated only to back passes.

The goal had to come and it did on 25 minutes. A ball from Wilson found Langley, who attacked two Pilk's defenders, beat both of them, and then superbly chipped the outcoming keeper to put Town one up.

From the re-start, Middlewich immediately won the ball back through Ingham and he played Langley in on goal again. This time he squared for Moss, who smashed in a shot, but saw it well stopped by the keeper.

After a breathless 45 minutes, Middlewich went in at half-time 1-0 up, but it could and should have been at least three.

The second half saw Pilkington's create their first attack which saw Dave Coleman brought into action.

But again it was the home side who were calling the tune, and again Twite went close with an effort.

With 60 minutes played Pilkington's defence were holding out to Middlewich's onslaught, and they caught Town with the sucker-punch. With Middlewich attacking on all fronts, Pilkington cleared long and Jump and Wilson were caught two on two but a great tackle by Jump stopped the first effort.

But Pilkington's Riley followed up to poke the equaliser. This goal stunned Town and it took them a further 10 minutes to get to grips with the game again.

Nicholson replace the injured Langley and Hitchen replaced Jump and it was Nicholson who should have sealed victory for Town. Moss slipped a lovely pass to Nicholson who danced passed Pilk's defencers, who tried to chop him down. But to his credit he stayed on his feet, even though he was in the penalty box, and with his chip he cleared the keeper, but also the crossbar.

Man of the match Andy Ostrowka.

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