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Quilligans finally lost a game for the first time this season, and it also ended an unbeaten home run stretching back to January 2006 when Dog and Partridge beat Quilligans 2-1 in the Lancashire Cup quarter final.
Quilligans had no less than ten players missing with Lee Catlow, Paul Cook, Steve Palmer, Danny Rowe, Jordan Spedding, Carl Spedding, Phil Thompson and Andy Nuttall joining long term absentees Lee Broadbent and Paul Roberts. Scott Sugden also pulled up in the game leaving Quilligans threadbare in the forward department.
Quilligans started quite brightly with the wind at their backs and Cook had to be alert in the Northern Care goal with a couple of smart saves. Northern Care took the lead in the first half against the run of play, with Quilligans being desperately unlucky as Dave Willoughby's 30 yarder cannoned off the bar with Cook beaten. Quilligans continued to press and ended the first half strongly
Half-time 0-1.
As the second half wore on it only looked a matter of time before the depleted Quilligans would get an equaliser, but far too often the final ball was poor. Although Quilligans had a big height advantage at set pieces, far too often the delivery was not good enough.
Northen Care took at 2-0 lead with 20 minutes to go as Quilligans conceded a silly free kick that was delivered to the far post for a tap in. They were then further handicapped as Sugden limped off and fellow striker Willoughby sustained a nasty head injury.
Pearson thenwasted a great chance to pull one back but his effort sailed over the bar as it looked easier to score.
Final score 0-2.
In conclusion a bad day at the office for the Champions, manager Mark Spedding worked miracles to actually get a team on the park with so many players missing including four pulling out on Saturday night. Without a doubt few teams would have managed to fulfil this fixture if so many first choice players would have been missing.
Credit to Northen Care who seized the advantage to finally beat Quilligans after 12 years of trying. They grafted hard for each other and took the chances when they came along.
From a Quilligans standpoint it was better that a defeat came along in the Premier Cup rather than the Gledhill or League. Hopefully there will be a full squad to choose from for next weeks fixture against Highfield Social.
Team
Clowes, Brooks, Bracewell, Gorrie, West, Boal, Pearson, Swallow, Willoughby, Ioannou, Sugden.
Substitutes
Blaney, Moore. |
