In a performance which was much improved from last week, Freshfield did well to contain the league leaders for much of this match. The game was closer than the scoreline suggests, although it was not difficult to see how Dell have been at the top of the table for so long. There were periods of the match, particularly the 20 minutes after half-time, when Freshfield took the game to Dell and looked the more likely to score. However, there was not a moment in the match when Dell were not competing as hard as they could and their application to the task was something that Freshfield would do well to learn from.
The first half was an evenly-fought affair for the most part, but whereas Freshfield kept possession well they lacked the speed of though going forward to create many clear cut chances. When Dell won the ball in midfield they moved it forward quickly and incisively. In midfield Simon Richards and John Armstrong in particular impressed. Even Chris Jones, still easing his way into the unfamiliar left midfield role, was seen making conspicuous and important tackles in his own penalty area. Dell's first goal came after 15 minutes when a break-down in communication between Nigel Power and Mike Kemp allowed a Dell forward to score easily. Freshfield fought back well and were unlucky not to score after a number of corners almost produced a clear-cut chance.
At half-time the tireless Tony Lynch and Tommy Smith asked for quicker service, and for the first part of the second-half they got it. A number of crisp passing moves nearly produced the clear-cut chances that Freshfield so desperately needed. With 20 minutes left, however, a long ball forward fell kindly for a Dell striker whose shot found the net courtesy of a Richie Kemp deflection. He had been introduced just before the break when Damian Nolan suffered a worrying hip injury, and one of his characteristic runs forward almost produced a goal. With 10 minutes left Dell, still running strong, produced a goal of real class when their midfielder Cliff turned neatly and curled a shot into the top corner.
This result means that Freshfield will almost certainly finish eighth in a league of eleven. Some performances have flattered to suggest that a much higher position was possible, and with the sort of determination that Dell showed in this match it certainly would be.
Freshfield attack from a corner in the first half.
Freshfield defend a Dell free-kick ....
... then break with Tony Lynch.
