Report

Penlake 3- 3 Highfield

The final game of the season was played in the worst conditions we have had in 5 years of Warrington league football. The normal perfect pitch at Penlake was litterally a “lake” by the end of the game making conditions unplayable.

However the game was on with conditions the same for everybody with Highfield looking to secure at least a point to get 3rd place. With no subs it was a reshuffled side once again, with the worst possible start.

With only seconds gone a move down the Penlake left was converted with many of the Highfield fans looking in the bags desparate for extra things to keep warm.

After the early set back Highfield stepped up a gear and K Sproat had a couple of runs down the left but he could not get a killer ball in to set up a goal. L Ward was getting down the right and Highfield looked likely to get a goal.

Another chance went when a K Sproat shot rebounded off the post and away to safety. A couple of M Pennington corners went straight accross the box with nobody on the end.

At the back J Devlin looked well in control of his area and J Rimmer cleaned up with a number of tackles. J Rodgers and D Grimshaw were not greatly troubled and with J Carter and M pennington winning the midfield battle we remained hopeful.

Eventually the goal did come. A fine ball from M Pennington fed M Langley who set himself up and drove a powerful shot passed the keeper.

With everyone looking for Highfield to push on the conditions and cold disrupted the flow. K Sproat lost his impetous down the left and N Twiss needed another shirt. T Littler was also frozen up front. After a couple of scares a typical Highfield goal was conceded with a mix up in defence. A ball through was cleared by J Devlin against the on rushing N Twiss with the ball rebounding off him and into the net to put Penlake 2-1 up.

Highfield kept going, although some lads were not enjoying the game at this point. An equaliser was gained just before HT when M Langley hit a shot that the keeper could not hold and L Ward followed in to score from close range to make it 2-2 at HT.

The HT whistle saw the fastest moves of the day as everyone dashed for the shelter of the changing rooms. The hot tea was passed round without spillage as the lads looked to warm their hands.

The conditions for the second half were worse than the first. Highfield looked the better side and more likely to score with MOM J Carter making some driving runs from midfiled with some good passes through to the forwards. There was some good link up play down the right with D Grimshaw putting L ward in a few times and L Ward also making some runs past the fullback. T Littler created a chance when he beat a couple of players and set up a shot that was saved by the keeper.

A K Sproat shot was cleared off the line from a great header by the defender.

Highfield continued to press for a winner and eventually it came. The final goal of the season was converted by M Pennington with a fine strike to the top corner of the net from a L ward pass. 

At 3-2 the conditions made it impossible to close the game down and the match went end to end as Penlake pressed to get an equaliser. Despite great effort from J Rimmer, N Twiss and fullback J Rodgers and D Grimshaw another goal was conceded with a shot over the head of J Devlin.

The end to end nature of the game continued with J Devlin forced to make a great save to secure the point to gurantee a third place for the season.

Overall this was a good point in a game that probably should not have been played, but thanks to Penlake for the use of indoor facilities to help the lads out. A draw was a fair outcome for all and brought the season to a close without losing the game.

Well done to all players and parents for a good season and hope we can improve again next year with a couple of players to ensure we have a big enough squad to complete the season