(4-4-2)

Andrews, Evans, D Rogers (Moore, 60), Smith, Chan, Ameri, Kane (Griffin, 20), Newman, Fulton (Eyre, 55), Tejada, Kuczynski

A game lost which could, and probably should, have been won.

The match kicked off in bright, warm sunshine on a bumpy, rutted pitch which did neither side any favours. The home side started brightly, and within 10 mins had almost carved an opening with a cross which flew across the face of the CPR goal.

However, as the match went on CPR probed the home defence and found them a trifle panicked under pressure. Simple, long balls to Stuart and Alvaro resulted in corners or free kicks which allowed CPR chances. Liam came very close with one free kick on 20 mins. Unfortunately the CPR playmaker pulled his hamstring shortly afterwards and had to go off.

Lancaster had the edge in possession and the ball spent most of its time in the CPR half, but there was no real cutting edge to round off their play. However, they went ahead on the half hour with a simple goal: their striker challenged for possession on the edge of the CPR box, the loose ball bounced up kindly for him, and he poked out a foot to loop a shot into the top corner.

CPR came back strongly, and both Alvaro and Stuart came very close to an equaliser. On both occasions the Lancaster defence had been caught with a through ball and the CPR beat the keeper to the ball: Stuart pushed his shot just inches wide of the post, then Alvaro tried a lob which took a wicked bounce underneath the goals and somehow went over the bar.

However, CPR finally got the goal they deserved just before the break. Garry sent Alvaro clear down the left and Lancaster conceded a corner. Alvaro swung in a beautiful cross and Alex rose high to head the ball into the net from the penalty spot.

At the start of the second half there was no indication of the way the match would go. Both teams were competing hard, and although Lancaster had most of the ball they still looked suspect at the back. It was clear that the next goal would be decisive, and unfortunately it fell to Lancaster. Their Viera-like midfielder, who’d been impressive throughout, drove to the bye-line and just managed to hook a cross into the 6-yard box. Alex challenged just as the Lancaster striker connected with the ball, and the resultant mis-hit shot somehow squirmed into the net past John’s dive.

The goal was a blow to CPR and provided their opponents with a real lift. CPR tried to come back into the game and put the home side under pressure with a series of long throws from Steve Newman which had the defence all over the place. The Lancaster keeper, however, pulled off two or three brilliant saves, and when he was beaten there was a man on the line to clear.

The failure to score was soon to become even worse for CPR, as Lancaster broke from a CPR corner and their forwards quickly raced upfield. With most of the team stranded upfield the CPR defence was stretched, but again there was an element of luck about the move. The Lancaster striker mis-read the crossfield pass and the ball went straight through his legs into the path of a supporting midfielder on a late run, who beat John from just inside the box.

CPR continued to push forward to get back into the match, but this just played into the hands of their younger, fitter opposition who by now had their tails up. Scott and Stuart were again thwarted by great saves from the home keeper, but it wasn’t long before Lancaster went further ahead. Again the goal came from their right-winger getting to the bye-line and putting in a deep cross which seemed to be going out until their striker stretched out his boot and hooked the ball into the opposite corner.

CPR desperately pushed for a goal, and eventually they got something when Amir sent Stuart clear down the right, Stu pushed it round the keeper and put in a shot from a wide angle which may have been going in anyway, but Alvaro was there to help it home. However, it was to prove too little, too late. Despite some more late pressure from CPR, the home team soaked it up and saw out the time left to earn the win.

Final score: Lancaster West Res 4, CPR 2

Match Reporter: Garry Griffin