Manor get a bout of the Blues, despite fightback
Reporter: John Gilder
Date published: 04 March 2011
Manor FC 3, Blue Club 4
AMATEUR FOOTBALL: MANOR FC’s relegation worries in the D and J Builders (North- West) Ltd Oldham Sunday League Division Two continued with a home defeat at the hands of Blue Club on a glue pot of a pitch at Oldham Edge.
Despite the conditions on the pitch, which included a significant stretch of surface water on one side, both teams contributed to an entertaining encounter on a day when one of the league’s lower divisions gave an excellent account of itself.
And credit should be given too, to match referee Steve Roberts, who officiated in exemplary fashion to help maintain the free-flowing game that it was.
This was a relegation battle for both sides, as Blue Club were too close for comfort to the bottom of the table.
But it should be remembered that Blue Club were late additions to the league following the resignation of Famous King George, and this was only their sixth league match of the campaign.
Blue Club outlined their attacking intentions from the start, with Craig Butterworth’s fifth-minute free-kick from 25 yards whistling narrowly over the angle of bar and post.
A minute later, Mark Dixon’s similar length drive tested Manor goalkeeper Ricky Diveney.
Yet it was Manor who opened the scoring just past the half hour mark with a goal from the industrious Ian Burns, whose controlled hold up play throughout the first period allowed his side to defend from the front.
Manor could not capitalise, however, and despite holding a first half lead, went on to concede four goals in 19 minutes in the second period as Blue Club ran riot.
Yet there was a grandstand finish from the hosts.
The experienced Michael Ashworth came off the bench (not that there is a bench on Oldham Edge, but you get the drift) to steady the ship at the back.
That allowed Manor to attack more freely and two late goals gave the scoreline a respectable look.
Ashworth said: “We deserved a bit more because they were panicking at the end and a draw would have been a fair result.
“I think we could have snatched a point if the game had gone on any longer.”
Blue Club manager Keith Tickle, whose three sons David, Adam and James all play, said: “The two goals they got at the end meant we had to hang on a bit, but it was a great win for us.”
Goals: Manor FC – Burns (32), D Johns (76), Tupman (82). Blue Club – Dixon (51, 65), Greenwood (58), D Tickle (70).
