Derby defences prove to be the winners

Photo: Paul Sterritt

MAKING A BREAK . . . Springhead's Ryan Fagan (white strip) runs with the ball against Avro.

AVRO 1, Springhead 1

AVRO and Springhead shared the spoils in a dour local derby in the Premier Division of the Manchester Football League at the Lancaster Club.

And it isn't the first time that encounters between these two sides have failed to live up to expectations. There is, however a reason for that, as is often the case with derbies at any level.

While Oldham Athletic endured a somewhat surprise postponement, four miles down the road towards Manchester on a gloriously sunny but increasingly chilly afternoon, the three pitches at the Lancaster Club were what one might call 'pitch-perfect'.

SETTING

The main pitch was the setting for the meeting of two of the Premier Division's big boys, both of whom were keen from the start not to give anything away. That caution, that desire not to lose and therefore not being able to claim the bragging rights, led to an austere showing in both penalty areas.

Defences were definitely on top, with Avro's Reece Lyndon a commanding presence at the back and Steven Slack an utterly reliable performer in the Springhead back-line.

The dismissals of Springhead's Ryan Fagan for dangerous play and Avro's Ryan Cook for violent conduct right on half-time led to a fraction more space on the pitch and the advent of two goals in the second period.

It was Avro who edged ahead two minutes after the restart when Michael Stockwell's pace and sheer determination allowed him to fire the ball home from 16 yards.

Avro had the momentum now and could have extended their lead but for the heroics of Springhead goalkeeper Kristian Ventress, who denied first Liam Ellis and then Carlton McIntosh in the game's final quarter.

As Springhead's dynamic duo of Eastmond and Stephenson failed to scale any phoney walls with equally phoney ropes, so it was left to Matty Russell to evade his marker with the swift, angular turn of a cat (woman) before guiding the ball into the far corner of the net to preserve his side's unbeaten record.

Avro manager Rob Fuller said: "I thought we were unlucky and deserved the win, but I'm not too sure about the sending-off of Ryan (Cook)."

Liam Boden, stepping up to the manager role with assistant Lee Walsh in the temporary absence of Lee McAllister, said: "It was a tight, solid game and it has always been that way against Avro.

"I thought the two dismissals were deserved."

The Adam West inspired Batman TV series of the mid-1960s used onomatopoeia to embellish the action scenes, but there was little in the way of 'Vronk', 'Splatt' or 'Bam' here!

Avro maintain a mid-table position in the Premier Division, but Springhead slip to fourth.

AVRO: Edwards, Lyndon, Jackson, Beresford, Fuller, McNally, Edge, McIntosh, Ellis, Stockwell, Cook. Subs: Charlton, Stewart.

SPRINGHEAD: Ventress, Slack, Minnock, Byrne, Ashworth, Harrop, Fagan, Russell, Stephenson, Eastmond, Monks. Subs: Fletcher, Shaw, Jackman, Beckett.

STAR MAN: Steve Slack (Springhead) - Rock solid and polished game at right-back.