MSB Woolton moved to within a point of top of the table Thornton Cleveleys in a fiery 2-1 win that saw the visitors reduced to nine men, writes Phoebe Ross at Jericho Lane.
This was a stark difference from the previous North West Counties First Division North meeting between the two that saw the Liverpool side lose 5-0 to the Blackpool based team.
The match began with both sides having their fair share of chances and runs into the opposition’s box, but a chance for Woolton in the 19th minute lifted the home side’s spirits. Then, just seven minutes later, a fantastic pass from keeper Charlie Jones put Matthew Robinson through. Thornton’s Franz Eselbock made a decent save, but could do little with the follow up from Danny Harvey.
The weather may have been cold but the temperature on the pitch was fiery, with the officials stopping the game multiple times to calm the players down.
Woolton doubled their lead in the 42nd minute when a scuffle between MSB’s Harvey and Thornton’s Daniel Stoney ended up with the team in white being awarded a penalty that was calmly converted by Daniel Ventre.
The second half was end to end. As thvisitor’s looked to get back into it, Woolton went closest to extending their lead forcing Eselbock into two good saves.
However, Thornton pulled one back in the 66th minute when Luke Harris was played through one-on-one with Jones, slotting it into the corner.
The visitor’s chances of getting anything from the game were seriously compromised when they were reduced to 10 men. Captain Oliver Wilkinson received his second yellow card just 10 seconds after his first, yelling at the ref on his way to the sin bin.
It all seemed downhill for Thornton from here and the ref was quick to reach into his pocket to card one of the players sitting on the bench, sending him into the car park as punishment.
Extra time gave Thornton an opportunity to try and level the score but instead they were reduced to nine when Adam Summer was sent off for further dissent and Woolton held on.
Thornton remain top with MSB moving into fourth just one point behind in what is shaping up to to a tight title race.
