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

DROYLSDEN 2 - 1 WORKINGTON

Nationwide North, Saturday 20th January 2007

Report by Gary Owen

Droylsden extended their lead at the top of the Nationwide North to eight points with this win over their visitors from Cumbria.

All of the goal came in the first half, and all three were quality strikes.

The first came after just seven minutes when Jamie Tandy's cross-field pass was dummied by Jody Banim and Chris Denham, returning from injury, let fly with a looping volley that beat Adam Collin all ends up to nestle in the far corner.

Matt Henney threatened twice for the visitors before the Bloods doubled their lead on 28 minutes. Workington were looking for an offside decision against Terry Fearns, but he was not involved in active play and so Carl Ruffer's ball fell to Jody Banim, who hammered past Collin from 14 yards.

Just after the half-hour mark, Paul Phillips came to Droylsden's rescue with a top class save to keep out Henney's equally impressive overhead kick.

Kyle May then headed over for the visitors when perhaps he ought to have worked Phillips, but from the resultant goal-kick, Droylsden gifted possession to Workington, and Steve Birks exchanged passes with Craig Johnston on the edge of the box for the latter to curl his shot around the stranded Phillips.

The second half was a rather frustrating affair, with neither keeper having a save to make, except for Phillips who held on to Johnston's free kick twelve minutes from time.

Workington enjoyed much possession in the second half, with the wind at their backs, but the Bloods held on to secure another vital three points to their promotion campaign at the expense of one of their challengers.

Bloods' boss Dave Pace afterwards praised his players. "This was a massive game for us" he said "but we battled well after once cruising it at 2-0."

"I am now looking forward to next week's challenge at Kettering" he added.

DROYLSDEN: Phillips 8, Vaughan 6, Halford 6, Robinson 7, Ruffer 7, Jagielka 6, Tandy 8, KELLY 8, Fearns 5, Banim 7, Denham 7.

SUBS: Williams 7 (for Denham, 90), Burke (not used), Daly (not used), Rapley (not used).

WORKINGTON: Collin, Hopper, Wright, May, Gray, Henney, Hewson, Birks, Johnston, Nicholson, Douglas.

SUBS: Edmondson (not used), Anthony (for Hewson, 48), Carmichael (for Douglas, 66), Gordon (for Nicholson, 53), Summersgill (not used).

SCORERS:

DROYLSDEN - Denham (7), Banim (?)

WORKINGTON - Johnston (28)

REFEREE: Mr. W. Trott (Liverpool, Merseyside)

ATTENDANCE: 394