Bowen is head boy as Lairds stun Clitheroe

Dec 5 2012 by Our Correspondent, Birkenhead News

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CAMMELL LAIRD moved to within six points off a play-off spot after toppling second place Clitheroe in a five goal thriller at Kirklands.

Boss Tony Sullivan said: “I thought we battled today and it’s a fantastic result for us.”

It was the start of a new beginning at Kirklands on Saturday with the presence of 7 Waves Radio (Leasowe based community radio station) covering the full 90 minutes live on 92.1fm and also on the internet via their live streaming facility and the station will be in attendance at the stadium for the remainder of the club’s Saturday home fixtures.

With that, Cammell Laird could not have asked for a better start.

Handed a set piece on the left hand side of the penalty area, Joe Evans delivered into the box and following a flick-on by Lee Atherton, Freddy Potter arrived on the back post unmarked and was able to simply volley home from no more than four yards out.

Just six minutes had passed and Clitheroe who going into this game had recorded six straight wins and were placed second in the table, suddenly were a goal down at Kirklands.

Lairds continued to press and created one or two half chances and were certainly the better side and so in the 39th minute of the game, it was a surprise when Danny Bell stroked home the equaliser from inside the penalty to hand Clitheroe a boost heading in to half-time.

The Clitheroe midfielder Daley Woods slalomed his way down the right wing, before playing a low ball in to the penalty area, Clitheroe forward Chris Mason stepped over the ball, which caught the Cammell’s defence off guard and Bell simply caressed the ball home past the helpless Kevin Atherton in goal.

And if that was a surprise, what followed five minutes later was unbelievable, a simple ball played to left winger Danny Bell on the half way line was held up, and following a deflected pass, the Clitheroe left back Will James who had continued his run, found himself bearing down on Kevin Atherton’s goal, and James who is no slouch, leaving Laird centre back Ferrigan in his wake, coolly slotted home the ball to send Tony Sullivan’s men 2-1 down at the break.

Following the interval, Lairds came out determined on getting something back from the game, something they more deserved for their performance, and just like the first period, they had the ball in the back of the net within the first six minutes of the half, this time it was Freddy Potter delivering a ball in to the Clitheroe penalty area and Joe Evans was felled in the box as he challenged for the ball and the referee pointed instantly to the spot. Jamie Henders stepped up to net his 15th goal of the season.

For the remainder of the game it looked like only one side were going to win it as Lairds hustled and harried.

On 87 minutes, substitute Aaron Bowen was on hand to nod home Lairds’ winner, and it was by far the goal and move of the game.

Joe Evans received the ball just inside the Clitheroe half and switched the play form left to right with a delightful pin point ball to the feet of Man of the Match Freddy Potter who took one touch to control, look up and deliver a fantastic ball right footed on to the head of the Laird centre forward Aaron Bowen who claimed his 5th goal of the season and with it another three points and extends their latest unbeaten run to four games now.

NEXT up for Lairds is a trip to top of the league Mossley on Saturday followed by a home match against 2nd in the league Skelmersdale United on Tuesday.