Another cup game, another win, another team performance.

(photos are here)

A windy day down at Fleetwood Road. Watching the Institute backroom staff have to fork and sweep the puddles from the pitch early doors gave us the first indication that they fancied this game. Conveniently they left a cheeky 2 foot puddle right on, what was looking like, our first half goal line. In the end they needed a lot more than a puddle to give them the edge.

Changes in the side again. With no Mills, John or Andy Mac 4-4-2 was, after much 11th hour discussion, our best option. Ross in sticks, Clarkey, Steve Mac (great to have Stam back), Scholes and Neil "Harropp" in the back line. In the engine room Mercer, George, Fiss and Danny. Upfront the returning Wozzer and Sean.

Toss up lost and the genius captain offers to switch ends. No problem, we found our solution to the 2 foot puddle.
We clearly didn’t get out of bed early enough, again, for the second week running. We were 1 down before we knew it, from what can only be described as a goal mouth scramble. What were we doing? Here we go again, playing a bunch of kids who want this cup about a million times more than we do.

The onslaught lasted a full 5 minutes and then we came to life. With every Excelsior challenge that flew in a piece of Institute spirit was crushed and on around 10 minutes Wozzer had brought us level with a drive that hit Mach 3. If the net hadn’t been there someone would have picking the ball out of the River Wyre.

More Excelsior pressure followed. With Danny constantly threatening down the left it was only a matter of time before he’d score. The shot was tame but when you have a 2ft puddle under the opposing keepers nose anything can happen, seeing the ball bobble over the hapless stopper was no surprise.

2-1 us.

Winning the challenges and the headers kept the young Institute side quiet. Some sterling work from centre halves Steve Mac and Scholes in the first half ensured they were limited to half chances and gave us the confidence to push on for the game killing goals.

Sean Lonsdale would be the man to find them. The first one a left footed pea roller past the keepers left hand and into the far post put us 3-1 up. Not the prettiest but in the back of the net.

One more before half time and it would be game over for the Institute. Craig Worrall for his second made very light work of their back line, skipping past a few then cutting inside to apply a text book finish.

We went in for the break 4-1 up. Looking at the Gaffer you’d have thought he’d just invented wa*king, he was so happy, his side being 4-1 up at half time and he did his best to hide his half smile. Never the less the team talk was as full of swears as ever and we were ready to confirm our club status as contenders.

We picked up where we left off. Challenging hard, chasing down the ball, winning the headers and playing the ball. It paid dividends, we carved out a chance for Sean Lonsdale with an over the top ball that tempted the Institute keeper off his line. A race he was never winning, Sean lobbed the ball up and over the stranded goal keeper to grab his second.

"We all going to Wembley"

We had a minor scare as Layton Institute got themselves a consolation, what struck me in the events after the goal confirmed these boys were never getting back into the game, they weren’t interested. Not a single player rushed the ball to the centre spot and we took our time in re-starting the game. A lesson for them to learn.

As the game was beginning to die down 5-2 was looking the probable score line. In the closing minutes Sean Lonsdale zipped a 35 yarder into the Institute box that somehow found Mercer free and, after missing a couple of easy ones, he tucked his last chance of the day away cleanly past the keeper.

Full Time 6-2 us.

Man of the Match – A really hard decision this week. Everyone did all they could in their allocated position on the field. For me it goes to Danny, his first goal and a great game. This lad will only get better.

Scholes was up there again with Steve Mac, Wozzer, Sean, Clarkey and myself but I just feel Danny nicked it.

Top moment – Neil confirming the fact that playing in glasses is dangerous.

Great to see us all enjoying the buzz of winning, is there a better feeling in the world? We’re looking like a different side; the improvements made to the side from recent signings are starting to turn our season around.

Like I always say "lets not get above ourselves" - I feel we can improve further and that we are capable of much more. Lets get ready for the next one on Sunday – Waterloo. Let’s see how far we have come against these. They beat us first time out 5-4 with a make shift team. Let’s treat them to 90 minutes with our current team.

Well done lads
Fiss