Koronet Royals 2-5 Freshfield
29th September 2002
Against a better team, this Freshfield performance would have been very costly. Fortunately Koronet Royals were unable to punish a poor performance and found themselves yet again victim to Tommy Smith's deadly finishing. In four previous encounters against this team Smith had scored 4 times, this time he completed a fine hat-trick to earn the points for Freshfield.
The start of the match was slightly overshadowed by the news that Graeme Davies had been left to the substitutes' bench. In a yet to be resolved, Beckham-type mystery, Freshfield's most consistent player ever was left in a "dropped or rested" state of limbo. Although he has been carrying an injury for some time now, it seemed strange that there was not room somewhere in the starting line-up for him. After a bright start Freshfield found themselves under pressure and Koronet twice hit the post. A careless free kick minutes later was intercepted by Smith, who scored at the second attempt to give Freshfield the lead against the run of play. The remainder of the first half provided poor fare for the small crowd, who witnessed a game littered with hopeful long balls and many mistakes. Happily for Freshfield Tony Lynch made no mistake ten minutes before half-time, scoring with a neat headed flick after the impressive Brian McGlynn had headed a clearance goalwards following a corner.
Freshfield conceded soon after half-time, Richie Kemp and Chris Balshaw jumping into each other as they both tried to head a lucky shot away. Neil Makinson restored the 2-goal lead with a neatly slotted goal after an exquisite cross from Simon Richards. The lead was quickly reduced to one again when Nigel Power was beaten in true Seaman-style from long range, but that goal finally brought Freshfield to their senses. In the final quarter of the game, some neat interplay and controlled passing brought rewards. Davies, brought on at 3-2, was happy to see the lead extended twice. First Smith scored a fantastic goal, drilling home to the far post after a seemingly impossibly quick Cruyff turn had left the Koronet defence static. Then at the death, Smith headed home easily at the far post to complete his well-earned hat-trick. With Ainsdale and Formby Dons both losing this week, the First Division might just be more open than it first appeared, though points will not often be as easily won as they were against the bottom side.
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Team
Nigel Power |
Manager's Man of the Match
Player's Man of the Match
Supporter's Man of the Match
Attendance |