BROUGHTON DOWN TO EARTH

Freeland Res 2 - 2 Broughton & NN Res

Freeland hosted Broughton in this top of the table clash. Freeland were hopeful of gaining another three points after beating them in the first game of the season to aid their title charge.

The hosts were boosted by the return of long term injury victim AJ Longford and emergency loan signing Dave Cooper. The first ten minutes were contested in the centre of the park with neither side having any clear cut chances. The first to come was from Andy Salkeld after he rose like a salmon to meet a free kick only to see his header fantastically saved when most in the ground thought it was in.

Salkeld then tried his luck from thirty yards only to see his shot squirm past the post with the keeper scrambling. With barely twenty minutes on the clock Freeland were dealt a blow when that man again Salkeld had to limp off with a ligament injury. The early signs do not look good, but the classy centre back will hopefully be back with us soon.

Broughton were not really posing a threat and were happy to use long ball tactics over the top. But it was to be the visitors who drew first blood, with some poor defending in the Freeland box leading to striker Jackson being given a simple tap in. This then led to Broughton having some sustained pressure and Freeland were happy just to consolidate with the Broughton strikers holding the ball up well and linking up with cricketing hero Jimmy Phillips.

It was left to leading scorer and party animal Paul Salty Dog Salter to bring Freeland level with a well struck shot after some excellent work from Gilkes on Freelands left.

The second half started with both sides looking to push for a vital second goal and it was again the visiting team who got it after yet another mix up in the Freeland back line, Craig Hale accepted the gift and fired home past Leach from eight yards.

This seemed to spur Freeland into life for the first time in the match, and they looked like they wanted the game more and were pushing for that all important equaliser. They were given a lifeline when they were awarded a penalty, only to see defender Sam Symonds balloon the spot kick high and wide for his first ever penalty miss of his distinguished career.

Super sub Darren Paton nearly found himself on the score sheet with an audacious lob from forty yards only to see the keeper tip it over the bar. Striker Gilkes also went close with a delicate chip which rolled down the back of the net, and some of the crowd thought it was in.

With fifteen minutes to go, Freeland finally got a deserved equaliser when Gilkes low shot beat the keeper from ten yards. From then on in it only looked like Freeland would get the decisive goal as they pushed men forward. Unfortunately this never came and a draw was not ideal for either sides championship aspirations.