Broughton Amateurs A 4-3 Hesketh Casuals B

The seasons and manager Paul Hames reign finale turned out to be a dead rubber match away at Broughton Amateurs. After four years of leading his beloved Cassies B team, Hames has decided to leave the agro to somebody else next year and wanted to bow out in style with a victory. Unfortunately, the Southport based side let a 3-1 lead slip and ended up undeservedly losing, but the depleted side performed heroically and almost snatched the three points. Had the visitors been able to match the home sides number of substitutes, or if they even had one sub, they might have emerged with at least 1 point from this enthralling encounter. As with the previous four years, however, Cassies were forced to field a bare eleven, which included the injured Carl Forshaw and Paul Hames, who each completed 90 minutes. Furthermore, Michael Lloyd returned to play his first game in three months and it looked like he had never been away.

On a surprisingly warm day Broughton looked up for it and took an early lead when their striker beat the defence and lobbed the ball home. Minutes later, however, Justin Parr flicked the ball through to the hobbling Paul Hames whose first touch was a delicate right-footed lob from the edge of the area over the keepers head to score his third goal in two games. With the game delicately poised Cassies increased the pressure and Dave Walkers tireless efforts kept Broughton on the back foot. A neat one touch move between Fellowes and Hames fed Carl Forshaw on the right wing who delivered an inch-perfect cross to the far post. He picked out Justin Parr who crashed a first touch left footed volley into the far corner, which was surely a candidate for goal of the season. Before the interval Matt Valentine pulled off a sublime save to keep Cassies in the lead.

As the second half began the defence of Chris Hames, Ian Langton, Dave Tomlinson and Neil MacGregor kept Broughton at bay and allowed Cassies to put the pressure on in the offensive half. The visitors doubled their lead when Parrs cross was met by Hames at the back post who knocked the ball across goal where man of the match Barry Fellowes thumped a right footed shot into the empty net. The 3-1 lead looked unassailable but Broughton introduced their three substitutes while Cassies looked dead on their feet. The injured became more injured and the tired grew more tired. Chris Hames cleared an effort off the line but Broughton clawed their way back into the game after capitalising on an error by Valentine.

With five minutes to go Cassies looked to have snatched the three points but they were running on empty and Broughton took advantage by stealing two late goals. The result was disappointing but the team spirit and effort was there to see and was the most pleasing aspect of the game from a managers perspective. It has been a rollacoaster four years but the future is looking bright for Cassies fourth elite.