Droylsden F.C.-The bloods on the net!

FARSLEY CELTIC 0 - 3 DROYLSDEN

Nationwide North, Saturday 12th August 2006

Report by Gary Owen

The Bloods hit top form and top spot on day one of the Nationwide North season with this resounding victory at Throstle Nest on the outskirts of Leeds, in which debutant Steve Daly also faired well.

It was an excellent team performance in this potential banana skin of a fixture against last season's winners of the UniBond Premier League play-offs, but the Bloods were a class apart in all departments.

However, it was the home side who created the first chance, but Craig Midgley fired wide, before Paul Phillips had to dive low to cut-out a dangerous cross from reaching the feet of Gareth Grant.

Droylsden then took full control with Jody Banim firing wide before he turned Andy Shields to clip a beautiful ball across the face of goal, which skipper Steve Halford gratefully thundered home with a close range header on 17 minutes.

Halford again went close from a Gareth Morris corner kick, but on the half hour Phillips was able to smother an effort from Simeon Bambrook.

Jimmy Williams then saw a shot fly over before Grant could again only shoot straight at Phillips.

Farsley's failure to make more of what few chances they had created cost then dear when Chris Denham left former Blood Carl Serrant in his wake, with the home defenders appealing for a foul, to shoot across Paul Cuss and into the far corner of the net on the stroke of half time.

Almost straight from the re-start, Droylsden made the game safe as the tireless Banim again hassled the home defenders and an attempted clearance cannoned off the Bloods' front man and beyond the bemused Cuss to make it 3-0.

Banim then beat three Farsely defenders to shoot at goal. His shot was defelected, but Terry Fearns failed to capitalise from 8 yards out as the ball suddenly appeared at his feet.

Droylsden substitute Ian Fitzpatrick then twice went close, as did fellow substitute Robbie Talbot, with the Bloods looking to turn the screw, and Banim also saw a late effort fly just wide of the mark.

Farsely's only effort of note in the second half was a stinging 25 yard free kick from impressive home substitute Roy Stamer, which Phillips gathered at the second attempt.

So boss Dave Pace could ask for little more, with three points and a clean sheet away from home on the opening day of the season.

FARSLEY CELTIC: Cuss, Stabb, Serrant, Shields, Crossley, Midgley, Knowles, Bambrook, Grant, Reeves, Watson.

SUBS: Dunne (for Shields, 56), Morgan (not used), Hotte (not used), Sansay (for Watson, 65), Stamer (for Bambrook, 56).

DROYLSDEN: Phillips 7, Williams 7, Warner 7, Halford 9, Ruffer 8, Morris 7, Rapley 7, BANIM 9, Fearns 7, Daly 7, Denham 8.

SUBS: Talbot 7 (for Fearns, 75), Gibbins (not used), Jagielka 8 (for Rapley, 67), Fitzpatrick 6 (for Daly, 59), Robinson (not used).

ATTENDANCE: 342

REFEREE: Mr. Richard West (Beverley, East Yorkshire)