Cammell Laird 4-0 Radcliffe Borough

Aug 25 2010 by Our Correspondent, Birkenhead News

CAMMELL Lairds kicked off their Evo-Stik First Division North season in impressive style with a 4-0 win against Radcliffe Borough.

Radcliffe had the better of the early exchanges with Lairds goalkeeper Phil Palethorpe making two good saves and some last ditch defending from Anthony Gardiner.

After a slight tactical change by Lairds they soon took control, coming close through Phil Green and Tom McGill.

The breakthrough came in the 40th minute with a fine pass by Danny Andrews which saw the keeper spill the ball, only for Paul Wheeler to prod home from 12 yards.

The second half saw Lairds take control with Tom McGill making the goalkeeper produce a great save and in the 52nd minute Cammell Lairds took a two goal lead.

A header was cleared by the Radcliffe defender into the path of Anthony Lipson who took a touch and volleyed the ball back into the net from 20 yards.

It was one way traffic with Lairds producing some great passing moves and in the 61st minute John Corrigan headed the hosts three goals to the good.

A corner from the right was headed goalwards by McGill and Corrigan headed the ball past the stranded Radcliffe goalkeeper.

Cammell Lairds were not finished there.

Shaun Tuck came off the bench to score a good header after a pin-point cross from Danny Andrews and they were un-lucky not to get a fifth through both MaGill and Tuck.

The final whistle blew on a great team performance by Lairds and will go into next weeks FA Cup tie with Rossendale full of confidence.

Cammell Lairds manager Alex Hay said: “I am delighted with the result. There were some very good performances out there today for us, but it is only the first game of the season and we only get three points for it.

“I still feel we can move up a few gears in performance but I am delighted with the start.”

IAN THELWELL