Local side The Crown and Anchor bowed out of the Divisional Trophy after losing to mid-table Seighford FC.
The Outlanes based club went down 4-2 after goals from captain Paul Williams and Jon Whalley started a rousing second half revival that didn’t quite get the result it deserved.
The sides were battered by gale force winds, which wreaked havoc on the flight of the ball and ultimately it was to be the team that used the wind better that would win the game.
The visitors made a solid start to the match, soaking up the earlier pressure from the Seighford star man, Craig Hulme.
Hulme quickly made his intentions known when he had one shot cleared off the line. He then forced a good save from the Anchor goalkeeper low down to his left.
The Anchor did, however, have chances of their own in the first 45 when Whalley began to get an eye for goal. His powerful shot forced a panicked save from the opposition ‘keeper who was relieved to see the ball rebound off the post and bounce forgivingly back into his arms after the venomous effort had squirmed under his hands.
Regardless of the Anchor’s pressure, it was to be the hosts who took the lead. A rash tackle on the edge of the box resulted in a free kick giving Seighford the ideal chance to make the wind work in their favour.
The effort from Matthew Capewell left the Anchor ‘keeper bewildered. The ball began drifting wide, but after some timely wind assistance it began to bend back towards goal before it nestled in the top corner of the net, leaving the Anchor feeling a little deflated going into half time.
The second half started well for the visitors as they began to exert some pressure of their own. Making the most of the wind assistance, The Anchor just couldn’t make the pressure count as chance after chance was wasted.
There was no such wastefulness from Seighford when a smart break and cross from the left by James Bullman picked out Kip Blakeman, whose close range effort beat the on-rushing goalkeeper to put the hosts 2-0 up and firmly in the ascendancy.
The visitors were not beaten yet though when Williams was on hand to cooly back heel the ball into the net, to give them hope, after a strong run through and shot by Tom Horton.
The Anchor were beginning to believe again but had their hopes dashed when a skilful run and cross from the left hand side by Hulme, picked out Clive Oscar unmarked at the back post who headed home with ease.
However the travellers battled back again when Whalley’s delicious low shot curled into the bottom corner of the net to make the score 3-2 straight from the restart.
It was the hosts, though, who would have the last say. Hulme was at it again with a wonderful solo effort as his cross-cum-shot was caught up in the wind perfectly to lift it over the head of the Anchor ‘keeper making the score 4-2 to Seighford.
At the final whistle both sides knew that they had been involved in a toughly contested match. It was handshakes all round and Seighford progress into the Semi-finals of the Divisional trophy.
The Anchor however, will be pleased if not with the result, then with the battling spirit that they showed.
Lots more information about the Crown & Anchor team on their website.
