After a week off due to no game, we were back in action this Saturday with Liverpool Ramblers travelling to a very wet Whitegate.
 

The weather didn’t affect the home side in the opening minutes with Kev Beresford forcing the keeper into a save after Jack Lanceley found the striker with a neat through ball. 
 

Unfortunately Ben Purdue hobbled off injured minutes into the game. He was replaced by Eithan Boulter-Ashcroft who made an instant impact finding Beresford at the far post for a tap in to open the scoring. 1-0 quickly became 2-0 with Lanceley involved again dribbling past a defender before crossing to the back post to Sam Ellwood who doubled Whitegate’s lead!

With Whitegate in full control of the game, the chances kept on coming this time Ben Duffy had an effort from long range which was destined for the top corner before Ramblers keeper pulled off an excellent save.

Whitegate were left to rue the missed chances as Ramblers pulled a goal back themselves catching Whitegate on the counter attack reducing the deficit with 10 minutes left of the first half. The goal didn’t affect the run of play with Whitegate almost regaining their two goal lead through Boulter-Ashcroft with Ramblers keeper forced into another excellent close range save.

 

Ramblers levelled the scores in the closing minutes after a defensive mistake sending the sides into the break level.

The away side took full advantage of another Whitegate mistake early in the second to take the lead for the first time in the game.The set back didn’t affect Whitegate as they took control of the game dominating possession and remaining patient with the ball. The chance came after a passing move ended with the ball falling to CJ who levelled the scores at 3-3 with a brilliant half volley from outside the box.

Full back Jonathan Bownes beat his man with a drop of the shoulder and a burst of pace we have never seen before. His cross almost found Ellwood to take the lead before a last ditch clearance from a Ramblers defender. On the hour mark, manager Gary Yeoster made changes and Whitegate’s performance didn’t falter showing the strength and depth in the team. Iñigo, one of the changes, latched onto a through ball from Lewis Williams, even though his first attempt was saved, he was on hand to score his second to put Whitegate back ahead.

Whitegate didn’t hold up and another substitute grabbed the 5th minutes later as Olli Emmerson found the bottom corner from outside the box. The game was ended with a sixth from Lanceley which capped off a excellent individual and team performance.

Whitegate dominated the game throughout creating a lot of chances and some excellent passing moves. Coming away with a deserved 6-3 win.

A credit goes to our opposition Liverpool Ramblers for travelling to today’s game. A very well organised side with the game played in the right spirit.

 

Our managers thoughts on today’s game:

“We started the game very well playing them off the park for the opening half hour. We could of been 4-0 up before we deservedly took the lead. At 2-0 we were comfortable before our basic errors which we must cut out let them back in the game leaving the game level at half time. Our depth in the squad showed in the second half as our quality on the field remained after multiple changes leading to us deservedly coming out 6-3 winners”.