After last weeks superb result we knew that this game would be a lot harder and also a lot more physical but in truth only one of those statements is true! For so long we have been the scurge of Sutcliife beating them to consecutive tiltes in the last two years and having the better head to head between the two. Sutcliffe tried to change that statistic by starting off the brighter of the two teams but never really troubled Ben in goal. The opening 10 minutes was scrappy and you could see that neither of the two teams wanted to give anything away, that was until the twelfth minute when Bradley picked the ball up just inside the Sutcliffe half and slotted a superb ball through to Phil who waited and waited for the keeper to go to ground before chipping over him. A great start for us. After the goal we started to gain control and scored a second halfway through the first half when a floated Rooney corner was met with a near post header from Terry. We were in such confidence and felt like everytime we went forward we could score but a dodgy refereeing decision put the block on that. Wayne seemed to make a perfectly timed challenge on a Sutcliffe forward in the box but the ref thought different and awarded a penalty which was smashed home. The momentum was now with Sutcliffe leading up to the half time interval and they got the equaliser when another dodgy looking free kick was given on the touchline and they somehow managed to swing it through a whole host of players and ended up going in off the post. It was all square at half time and that was hard to take. We knew that the next goal after the break was vital and luckily it was us that scored it. A long kick down field from Ben found Rooney on the left and he skimmed through a few Orange shirts before curling low into the bottom right corner. A great goal to put us back in front. Sutcliffe had hardly had a kick second half and that was down to every player getting in their faces.The goals kept coming and Rooney doubled his tally for the game when a blatant handball gave him a chance from 12 yards which he placed home clinically. Dean got his second in two games when Phil found space on the left and chipped over a delightful ball for Dean to fling himself at and bury a header into the far corner.We ran out easy winners and have we now just put a nail in the coffing of 'mighty' Sutcliffe's title challenge? Us on the other hand are going from strength to strength but this Sunday is another tough game against Strickland who look like they will be up for a battle.Sutcliffe who normally offer so much more especially up top even the so called 'great' Joel Thompson hadn't had a sniff at goal all game and that was mainly down to Wayne and Sean at the back. Terry who after a dodgy moment in the first half picked his head up to score and also defend soundly and also the same must be said for Dean on the other side. Nick and Bradley an untried centre pairing until it was changed at half time were breaking up and setting up attacks with ease. Phil who possibly had his best game for the station was in fine form up and down the left and scoring the first. While Dean on the right after a few spats with the Sutcliffe defenders let his football do the talking and also got on the scoresheet. Ben and Rooney were a constant threat to the defence with the latter getting his eigth and ninth of the season and both must be in good shape to face Strickland this Sunday. Overall a superb performance but we must take this form into the next game as we try and keep this unbeaten league run going.
