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Development Squad Draw at Brighouse

Development Squad Draw at BrighouseAs the first team prepared to take on Stafford Rangers, the Development Squad crossed the Pennines to take on Lancashire League Eastern Division Title rivals Brighouse Town. This just ten days after the Yorkshire side had been sent from the Nicholls Academy with a 5-0 beating. With that fresh in their minds FC were always going to find them with a much sterner task. A goalless draw proving that to be the case left the reds disappointed but still in pole position. Brighouse are now 11 points behind with three games in hand.



Not surprisingly Brighouse started the game at a much higher tempo, concentrating on denying FC the space to play. As such, there weren’t many clear cut chances. Danny Moreton, man of the match for the home side was the first to get an effort on target, on 5 minutes which was more of a cross than a shot and it was a further ten minutes before Frank van Gils responded in kind for FC.

In the middle third of the first half FC had some possession and forced a number of corners, without an end result indeed the home defence always seemed to be able to clear the ball and look to create a threat of their own. It was a game in which the defences were the best feature of both sides; FC’s man of the match was Charlie Doyle playing at right back and being perhaps the calmest head in an FC shirt.

James Billington in the home goal produced two top quality saves in the first half, a shot on the run from Jon Poizer, breaking from left back on 32 minutes and a Mike Taylor free kick 10 minutes later. Both efforts seeming destined for the top corner of the net.

The second half followed much the same pattern as defences dominated and neither side truly opening up the other to fashion clear cut chances. It was however Brighouse who had most of the attacking possession. Moreton probably still not sure how a free kick from around 35 yards out on the left wing didn’t go in the top near post corner. Chris Taylor, having appeared to take a step to his left in anticipation of a cross into the box had to race back to turn it out for a corner.

The game finished goalless and that owes much to the back five of Chris Taylor in goal, Charlie Doyle at right back, Jon Poizer, who started the season scoring for fun and now finding himself providing the threat to the first team left backs, and central defenders Sam Dee and Mike Taylor. Match reports for the Development Squad have not given these positions enough credit in the past, not easy considering results but as Chuks is always keen to point out, one mistake at the back can, as was the case against Nelson can be enough to lose the game.

Based on the ninety minutes this was probably a point gained but given the earlier result the lads have to learn to see it as two dropped; the chance to clinch the title delayed. With four games to go, the next being when Liversedge come to Manchester on Saturday, only four wins will do.

Does such an approach sound familiar?

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First Posted ~ 08:28 Wed 19 Mar 2014
News ID ~ 5416
Last Updated ~ 16:00 Fri 19 Feb 2021