The mid-week encounter between Cammell Laird 1907 FC and promotion-chasing Sandbach United saw the latter win an exciting fixture despite some baffling decisions by the match officials.
Those who attended the KRCT stadium saw Lairds competing well in the opening 20 minutes as Nunn, Smith, Downey, and Speed started brightly, but then a clumsy challenge in the box on 22 minutes saw the visitors’ captain Robbie Hatton rifle home the subsequent penalty and this after Lairds had a Joel Oguigo goal disallowed for a supposed offside and minutes later the same player was pushed and held by the throat by goalkeeper Eric Merner but he only received a yellow card.
Then in the 40th minute, United broke clear to increase their lead as Brian Barton finished a flowing move.
But Lairds refused to submit and after good work, Kieran Hamm deservedly netted in the 45th minute to keep them in the game. Half time 1-2.
Lairds started the second half well and had some good chances, but Kieran Frost saw his effort just go wide and Dean Nunn had his effort blocked.
As Lairds battled for an equaliser Frost was bundled to the ground by Merner in the box, but no action was taken against the keeper, which proved costly for Lairds as United beat a hesitant home defence to go 3-1 ahead in the 67th minute as Stanley Tatters netted after a brilliant save by James Dineley.
More poor decisions went against Lairds but they scored again when a bullet header by Richard Wincer in the 73rd minute saw them back in the game.
Alas, for all their tribal spirit and hard graft, they succumbed to a 3-2 defeat despite equalling their high-riding visitors.
As holders of the Wirral District FA Senior Cup, Lairds travel to Capenhurst Villa on Saturday to compete in the semi-final of the competition, with a 3pm kick off, in the hope of reaching the final yet again.
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