Today’s game was in the LFA Sunday trophy, a competition that the black and white army had under achieved in the past few seasons. As always the AFC Lostock backroom staff had done their research into our opponents with the help of modern technology like the Internet. PSN Mabs Cross were mid table in the Wigan Sunday League 1st division and to the majority of the Lostock lads that gave the green light for a night out to Squires.

Lostock lined up with Moffatt in goals, Greeny, Baldwin, Bridgett and Will Yates in defence. Roddy, Randell, Jamie Sanderson and Chris Hornby in midfield leaving Stead and John Sanderson up front. Lostock started brightly and were ahead after 10 minutes when STEAD headed home from 8 yards. 1-0. There were a few of the Lostock lads with their heads up their A****.and still suffering ill effects from the previous night. Mabs Cross didn’t let going a goal behind rile them and they took the game to Lostock and had the upper hand until some great individual work from Alex Randell to get into the box and unselfishly square the ball to JOHN SANDERSON who made it 2-0. Lostock were flying now and looked like they had finally woken up, it was soon 3-0 with STEAD getting his 2nd of the game. With Lostock looking to add more goals to the tally, they were undone down the left when some poor defending let in the Mabs Cross player to pull a goal back just before half time. 3-1.

The 2nd half started with Lostock looking to push forward and get more goals. It was soon 4-1 with STEAD getting his hat-trick with the game looking to be dead and buried. Lostock made some changes as Roddy went off for Kebab and George Melling replaced Will Yates. Lostock took their foot off the pedal and some poor casual defending from George let in the Mabs striker to pull another goal back for them. At 4-2 down Mabs Cross seemed to get a lift and were full of running as they sensed they could get something from the game. With 10 mins remaining their hard work paid off when a great strike from just outside the 18yard box dipped passed Moffatt in goal to make the score 4-3.

Lostock had numerous chances to make the game safe but none were taken. In the end the game finished up 4-3 with Lostock heading through to the next round with a home tie against Northern Care from Blackpool.

Once again Lostock made the game a lot harder for themselves by having a night on the town and turning up thinking they can play to their full capabilities when they’re all half cut! Two notable performances from today’s game though were from leading scorer John Stead and centre midfield maestro Alex Randell in only his 2nd game for the club.

SCORERS:
John Stead (10 min)
John Sanderson (22 min)
John Stead (29 min)
John Stead (51 min)

MOM:
Alex Randell