Date: Monday 24th August 2009
Competition: Vodkat NWCFL Division 1
Venue: Alder House, Atherton, Lancashire
Attendance: 072
Monday, often considered the worst day of the week and famously not popular with The Boomtown Rats. But the Monday blues are removed when there’s the prospect of a pint and football match in the evening. Tonight brings that prospect with what I suppose you could call a derby match between Atherton Collieries and Daisy Hill. It’s not the proper derby really because Atherton Collieries were relegated from the Premier Division of the Vodkat North West Counties League last season, thus separating them and Atherton LR. But with the two towns being separated by just 2 miles, there are local bragging rights at stake this evening that both teams will be keen on acquiring. Atherton Collieries start to life in Division 1 of the Vodkat League hasn’t been the smoothest as they have acquired only one point from their opening three league games, an enthralling 5-5 draw against Ashton Town in which they led twice and conceded the equalising goal in the depths of injury time.
Daisy Hill have had a far better time of it as they currently sit 7th in the league having acquired five points in their four league games, so tonight’s match is a pretty tough one to call. Atherton will be eager to bounce back from the victory they threw away on Saturday and Daisy Hill will be looking to continue their solid start, throw in the local bragging rights and this match has the prospect to be a cracker. Let’s hope it turns out that way. The setting sun manages to evade the few wispy clouds as kickoff approaches, absolutely perfect conditions for a game of football. I’m actually quite excited for a change as I can watch a game from a neutral perspective, it’s been a bit stressful watching the team I support of late so it’ll be great to be neutral for a match.So as kickoff time approached the two teams and the match officials made their way out onto the pitch, Atherton Collieries in their home colours of black and white shirts with black shorts and Daisy Hill in their home colours of all blue. The necessary is completed and it would be Daisy Hill to get the match underway. And what a way to get it underway, only three minutes into the match and the visitors had the lead. Westwell received a through ball on the edge of the penalty area and got behind the Atherton Collieries defence before shooting the ball past the keeper and into the corner of the net to get the deadlock broken early and send the visitors into a very quick lead.
Daisy Hill kept up this early pressure and came forward again in the 4th minute when they won themselves a corner from a well timed defensive challenge. The delivery of the corner was right into the danger zone but the Collieries keeper made a great punch on the ball to clear it from danger. Atherton Collieries then got a chance for themselves in the 14th minute when a run down the wing brought a low square cross that was turned behind the goal by a Daisy Hill defender for a corner. The resultant corner was played back into the penalty area and squared across goal with the keeper beaten but nobody could apply the crucial touch required to turn it into a goal. Approaching the 20 minute mark in the match it was a fairly even game, Atherton Collieries hadn’t allowed their heads to drop after the early concede and had done well to get themselves back onto a level footing with their opponents. On the 20 minute mark Atherton Collieries had another opportunity when they were awarded a free kick some distance out, the delivery was into the penalty area and an Atherton forward was able to get his head to it but he steered it wide of the target, but Collieries were now looking up for the match. Daisy Hill were the next to come forward though and in the 22nd minute they forced a save out of the Collieries keeper when some good hold up play on the wing saw a cross into the penalty area that was just palmed from danger and the Collieries defence was able to clear the ball away. Collieries then won a free kick in the 27th minute and the delivery into the penalty area was headed from danger from the Daisy Hill defence before being cleared downfield. Collieries kept the forward play coming though and won themselves another corner just after the half hour mark when some good play down the wing saw an eventual shot deflected behind his own goal by a Daisy Hill defender. From this Collieries forced another corner when a forward returned the ball to the penalty area and the keeper came to punch the ball away from the waiting forward, conceding another corner in the process. This corner was headed half clear before another Collieries shot deflected off a defender and another corner was awarded, but this corner was eventually dealt with by the Daisy Hill defence and they had weathered the storm well to preserve their lead. As the half drew towards its conclusion both sides had corners that failed to make a serious threat on goal and the referee sounded the half time whistle not long afterwards. 
Atherton Collieries have done well to not let their heads drop after the early concede and have competed well since it occurred. But Daisy Hill have just edged the first half for me as they’ve looked the more fluent and composed on the ball, and thus more likely to score. Collieries will have hill advantage in the 2nd half so let’s see what they can do with it.Half Time:
Atherton Collieries 0 – 1 Daisy Hill
Both teams came out for the 2nd half in determined fashion and the first chance of the half fell to the hosts in the 46th minute, but the forwards shot was tame and an easy save for the Daisy Hill keeper. Daisy Hill then had a chance in the 50th minute but the strikers effort from range was considerably wide of the target and of no threat to the keeper. Daisy Hill should have extended their lead in the 60th minute when they missed an absolute sitter, the linesmans flag went up and the Atherton Collieries defence seemed to stop but the referee waved play on. The Daisy Hill forward took the ball to the touchline and squared it for his teammate only for it to be put wide from six yards out. Things then got worse for Daisy Hill as they were reduced to ten men after a rash challenge and this allowed Atherton Collieries to start pushing forward in search of the equaliser. Daisy Hill were then awarded a free kick right on the edge of the penalty area as an attacking player was upended by an outstretched leg of a defender, an infringement that also earned the perpetrator a yellow card. The delivery was taken straight into the Collieries defensive wall and they were able to clear the remaining danger.
Atherton Collieries were now looking really likely to score the equalising goal and they came close in the 76th minute when a shot from the edge of the penalty area hit the post and the rebound couldn’t be turned home by the waiting forward as the Daisy Hill defence cleared the danger. It was at this point I thought it might not be Atherton Collieries night. Daisy Hill very nearly put the match to bed in the 82nd minute when a close range shot was brilliantly saved by the Atherton Collieries keeper before the ball broke across goal with the keeper still recovering from the save, the rebound was fired back in towards goal but a last minute block on the line from a Collieries defender kept his team in the contest. Collieries continued to come forward but found themselves being thwarted by the linesmans flag, but as hard as they tried they just couldn’t break through and the full time whistle sounded with the end result as a victory for Daisy Hill.I felt for Atherton Collieries at the full time whistle, the toil and effort they put into the fight back deserved some reward that they probably would have had were it not for their bad luck, but Daisy Hill’s defence was resolute and stood up to the task even with a man disadvantage.
Daisy Hill’s great start to the season continues whilst Atherton Collieries continue to struggle to adapt to life in Division 1. Congratulations to Daisy Hill.Full Time:
Atherton Collieries 0 – 1 Daisy Hill
