First game of 2011 ended in a 4-4 draw at Parklands but we can count ourselves very unlucky not to have come away with all 3 points having taken the lead 3 times. With manager Gavin Heard away on holiday the responsibility of selecting the side fell to Tony Cosgrove who was missing a number of key names through injury and illness but the lads who came in never let him or themselves down. We couldn't have asked for a better start when Paul Langley aware that the sun would be a problem for the keeper curled in a free kick in the first minute, but the home side hit back just moments later when a free kick was floated into the box and the ball was headed past Phil Founds. The response was very positive and Liam Geordeson done well to force an error from one of the Speke defenders and Dean Judge very nearly caught the keeper out with an effort from long range. Speke themselves very nearly grabbed a second after 14 minutes playing in a dangerous corner which was flicked onto the crossbar but thankfully we cleared the danger from inside the box. The lead was restored after 20 minutes when Langley swung in another free kick which was met by the head of Kieran Dolan who netted his 7th of the campaign. We struggled to get any service into the front two and the game was turning into a battle of effort and work rate and just after the half hour the home side levelled the scoring when a through ball found their forward who kept his close to slide the ball into the corner. Kieran Dolan struck a fierce shot which was well saved which was the only other attempt at goal (half time 2-2)
The response in the opening stages of the second half was very positive, and after just 2 minutes Dean Judge turned superbly and put in a great cross on the left which found Dolan but this time his header lacked power and was comfortable for the keeper. Dolan was then involved again winning the ball in the middle and spraying a classy ball out to Langley who got to the by line and fired a low cross in which fell to Wesley Davies who fired over. It was a great chance to get back in front but the Speke defender may have just done enough to make the chance difficult to dispatch. It was only a matter of time that we would get a third goal and the breakthrough finally came after 56 minutes when Liam Geordeson picked the ball up and was allowed to run at the centre backs he noticed the gap and struck a fantastic low shot which crept into the corner for his 8th goal of the season. Two very poor decisions from the ref gave the home side the lead in the game for the first time when first he awarded a penalty when Brian Kerwin was deemed to have brought down their right winger and on 75 minutes a long ball played forward was headed into the empty net by a Speke player who was clearly offside. There was no doubt we were the better side in the 2nd half and certainly deserved to come away with something but with the clock ticking it was looking like that was going to be the only outcome especially when Wes Pitchford showed good strength to turn with the ball in the box and hit a low shot which cannoned off the post. With just 5 minutes remaining James Davies was the unlikely hero bundling in yet another Langley free kick, it was to be the final piece of action but the effort and work rate was superb and the point may well proove pivotal as the season unfolds.
Man of the match: a tough call as all 12 dug in deep and worked tremendously hard Neil Hunter and James Davies worked well together at centre back and John Marsh was outstanding for the second game running but with a goal and 2 assists (the 11th & 12th of the season by the way) it had to go to Paul Langley.
Subs not used: Shaun Kent, Tony Cosgrove, Jake Keegan, Darren Wessman
