Freshfield 2nd XI 5-2 Fountains
3rd November 2002

Graeme Rooney saw his side get back to winning ways, with a good all-round team display at a sunny Altcar Road on Sunday morning. An inspirational pre-match team-talk obviously did the trick as his side played good attractive football against a useful side in Fountains. The game started well for Freshfield when an impressive Paul Hayes hit a cross into the top corner of the net following a short corner on the left. This should have been followed by two or three more goals as Freshfield hit top gear with some incisive two touch football. Headers from Mark Wynne and Neil Makinson hit the woodwork when it looked easier to score. Paul Hayes tried a carbon copy of his earlier effort, but this time his familiar friend the bar intervened.

Fountains' best moment of the half resulted in a penalty, when Colin Knight misjudged a tackle on the lively left-winger inside the area. Steve Dwyer got down well for a big man to paw away the resulting penalty and save the rebound. The half finished with Freshfield one up.

The second half became an end-to-end, affair as both sides looked to get forward at every opportunity. Good work in midfield led to a fine left footed strike by debutant Chris Jones. Fountains then pulled a goal back with a classic sucker punch. This raised their spirits but Freshfield were not to be denied as within minutes they restored their two-goal advantage with a good individual goal from Neil Makinson. Fountains again pegged Freshfield back with a breakaway goal. Freshfield quickly restored control with two further goals from Chris Jones and Stephen Bradshaw.

There were good individual performances all over the pitch, notably Chris Jones and Neil Makinson who combined well upfront, and Paul Hayes and Mark Wynne who provided both steel and continental flair down the left hand side of the pitch.