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Quilligans reached the Lancashire Cup quarter finals today by overcoming Rochdale visitors Rochdalians at Collins Park.
The pitch was great nick considering the amount of rain we've had in the last few days and Quilligans had the wind in their favour in the first half. They managed to miss a number of easy chances and really should have gone in at half time with a handsome lead.
Half-time 0-0.
With the wind in their faces, as proved many times before Quilligans tend to play better as the ball holds up and the midfield is then able to link in with the forwards. Mickey Evans put Quilligans 1-0 up from a corner as he lashed in the knock down from close range.
Steve Palmer then superbly linked up with Jordan Spedding and fired Quilligans in to a two goal lead with 25 minutes to go. Once more Quilligans were guilty of missing chances as the game should have been put away.
However, Rochdalians pulled a goal back with 5 minutes to go from a corner. It all looked all in vain as the game entered the 93rd minute, when Rochdalians played a short corner. A shot took a deflection off a Quilligans defender and spooned in to Speight's net to spark scenes of joy from the visitors.
Full-time 2-2.
The first half of extra time was a non-event as Quilligans defended the wind comfortably. In the second half it was a different story as Quilligans built up the pressure on the visitors goal, pushing more men forward to get the winner and avoid the penalty shoot out.
Phil Thompson broke the deadlock, as he turned in the box superbly and fired in with his left foot to give Quilligans the lead in the 112th minute.
Jordan Spedding then broke down the right and fed strike partner Lee Broadbent for him to finally put the game to bed and put Quilligans into the quarter final.
Final Score 4-2.
In summary, a below average performance from Quilligans. They were in control of the game for long spells today but the finishing and final ball was poor.
Rochdalians are a young side with plenty of energy and they never gave in the fight. Their central defenders were terrific the whole game as they stemmed the constant pressure, and found themselves just ten minutes away from forcing a penalty shoot out, and then it's anybody's game.
Quilligans will need to step their game up a few notches in next weeks quarter final if they want to progress to the semi-finals.
Team
Speight, Porter, Ford, Thompson, Morris, Greenall, Boal, Taberner, Palmer, Broadbent, Evans.
Substitutes
Spedding, Baird, Cook, Slater, Smith.
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