FREE KICK SINKS LAIRDS

3:52pm Tuesday 26th August 2008

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Cammell Laird 0 Ossett Town 1

THE competitiveness of the UniBond Premier division was in evidence at Kirklands on Saturday when Cammell Laird went down to their Yorkshire rivals.

Bouyant after a midweek victory over FC United of Manchester in front of 600 fans Lairds were confident going into the game.

A string of last-minute injuries disrupted Ken McKenna’s plans though and a tough task was in store.

An end to end first half saw Ben Hardy hit the bar for the Yorkshiremen early on. Lairds took the ascendency and were unlucky not to gain the advantage through Mark Reed and Neil Black.

Ossett were undaunted by the home pressure and it was a goalline clearance from Matty Holt which prevented Aiden Savoury from getting his name on the score sheet.

The best chance of an exciting first half fell to Black when his head connected wo a perfect Eddie Jebb cross, only to rebound off the underside of the bar into the hands of Town keeper Liam Richardson.

The second half was equally well balanced with Luke Holden skimming the visitors' bar.

It was Ossett who took the lead on 77 minutes when a free kick from the edge of the area ricocheted off defender Matty Holt's knee to bounce into the net.

Liam Richardson in the Town goal preserved the advantage with a further save from Black and despite pressure from Lairds it was the men from Yorkshire travelling home with the three points.

Disappointed Following the game McKenna was still upbeat about Lairds' chances in the UniBond Premier.

He said: “We know the standard is high in this league and I have been impressed with the quality of football at this level. I know my boys are up to the task I am setting them. I am disappointed with Saturday’s result but the guys did well and were more than a match for Ossett. I think we will do well in this league.

“It's a step up for a lot of the lads and when they find their feet we'll be right up in the mix for promotion, I'm sure.”

Lairds travelled over the water to take on Marine on Bank Holiday Monday and are on the road to Derbyshire on Saturday when they take on old adverseries Buxton.

The next match at Kirklands is on Tuesday, September 2, when Ashton United are the visiotrs, kick off 7.45pm.