West Lancashire Supplementary Cup
Coppull United followed up their opening day draw away to Garstang with a much-improved performance (although that wasn’t hard from last weeks hard) yet still had to settle for a share of the spoils against a Lostock team that played their part in a highly contested game!
Coppull started with Liam Higginbotham in goal, a back 4 of Conor Whitaker, Dave Parker, Jordan Wilson and Ben Morris, with Nathan Bibby and Nat Lindley occupying the holding midfield positions. Aaron Evans started on the right of midfield with Matt Bulcock on the left and finally Scott Hendy supported Danny Marland in attack. On the bench was Jimmy McIve
r, Jack Ramshaw, Jonny Hawman and Martin Kershaw.
The game began with Coppull in the ascendancy, and it was night and day difference from the start to last week’s game. Coppull passed the ball around the pitch with a certain confidence moving the ball from left to right and through the lines with real purpose. Bibby and Lindley where seeing a lot of the ball in central midfield and kept possession really well throughout the game. Coppull’s domination of the ball resulted in them taking the l
ead after just 4 minutes. Jordan Wilson found Bibby in midfield who played a square pass to his midfield counterpart Lindley, who in turn played a first-time ball into Scott Hendy who had picked a great position up between the lines before playing an inch perfect through ball to Aaron Evans cutting in from the right side, who rounded the keeper and slotted home confidently. 1-0 Coppull.
Lostock adopted a fairly straight, yet very effective, game plan of getting the ball forward at the earliest opportunity. With the busy Ollie Evans and Morley in attack, the Lostock pair caused the Coppull back four numerous problems throughout the game. It was from a ball over the t
op that ultimately resulted in Lostock equalising with barely 12 minutes on the clock. Lostock’s number nine got in behind on the left-hand side and he drifted past a couple of Coppull defenders before centring the ball to a team mate who calmly slotted home. The game then became a bit of a battle of styles with Coppull looking to progress through the zones keeping the ball on the floor, Lostock adopted a more direct approach but as previously stated this continued to cause problems throughout especially with their midfield players supporting the attack and winning the second balls and knock downs.
Coppull restored their lead on 38 minutes when another good team move involving Bulcock on the left moving the ball in field to Lindley who found Aaron Evans out wide on the right before releasing Danny Marland towards the touchline and his centre found Hendy un-marked in the box where he took a touch before finishing with aplomb. 2-1 Coppull and that’s how it stayed until the Half time whistle.
Kershaw and McIver entered the field of play for the start of the second half replacing Bulcock and Hendy and both impressed with what they did throughout the second 45 m
inutes. Lostock made a slight formation change at half time going 3 at the back and 3 up top in search of an equaliser. It looked as though Coppull had learned their lesson and where dealing much better with the Lostock attacks and as the game opened up more and more, it seemed as though Coppull would be able to counter with the pace of Mciver, Kershaw and Marland in particular. Lostock had a series of corners that Higginbotham in the home goal dealt with comfortably under pressure. Unfortunately for Coppull, it was a strange effort from th Lostock winger which resulted in them getting back on level terms. The wide man drifted in from the left-hand side and then seemed to loft his shot high into the air with no real power however it seemed to deceive Liam in the Coppull goal and dipped just under the cross bar to draw them level.
More changes were made on the hour mark with Marland, Evans, Wilson and Whitaker all replaced, with Hendy, Bulcock, Hawman and Ramshaw all entering the field of play. Both times had chances to get a winner in the last half hour, Bulcock and McIver both had efforts from distance that went narrowly over whilst Lostock had a couple of headed opportunities which where wide of the mark and Ollie Evans had a couple of shots from outside the box where he didn’t quite connect properly.
As it turned out the points would be shared, and Lostock proved themselves to be a well-equipped side with a lot of experience and quality in their ranks. Coppull’s next game is a friendly against Clitheroe Under 21s next Saturday.
Man of the match: Nathan Bibby – did exactly what was asked of him, and showed great quality and composure in central midfield.
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