Today Hesketh Bank faced fellow promoted team Lostock St. Gerards at the CSG. With goalkeeper Gabriel Chiles still out injured it was Henry Heighton who came into replace the young Aussie. New signing Daryll Grant replaced skipper Kevin Cox at right-back who switched to left-back and young Jack Brierley moving into left midfield while 17 year old Frazer Hitchings was relegated to the bench due to a pulled muscle, Matthew Bowers was also benched due to injury sustained last weekend.

Game kicked off well for both sides but it was Lostock who drew first blood on 6 minutes after a free-kick was volleyed in by Gavin Edmonds after he was allowed to be left open in acres of space to smash the ball in past the despairing hands of Heighton. Hesketh Bank however pressed for the equaliser with both strikers testing the goalkeeper including a disallowed goal for an apparent foul on the goalkeeper by John Ascroft. However, a Lostock attack was broken down by Jack Cocking with Grant taking the ball and playing in Steven Cannon who's lovely bit of skill found John Ascroft with just the keeper to beat, and he did just that to get his 66th career goal for Hesketh Bank with 2 minutes left of the 1st half.

On the stroke of half time Lostock were denied what looked like a clear penalty after Jack Cocking wrestled down Luke Berry in the 18 yard box however referee Bob Richards waved play on. After the interval Hesketh Bank had Henry Heighton to thank for as his fantastic one handed save kept the score level after a free header came in from a free-kick. By far one of the best saves I have ever seen! Heighton was then kept busy with a few low saves as Lostock pushed for the 2nd goal. They did score eventually after Jack Brierley got caught in possession with the Lostock striker finding Luke Berry open in the box to head past the dive of Henry Heighton. It was 1-3 on the 77th minute mark after a corner came in Heighton getting there first then he was fouled by one of the Lostock player causing Heighton to drop the ball at his feet, made no mistake from 4 yards out.

Few moments later controversy struck again as Matthew German went in 2 footed and the was stamped on by a Lostock player. Perhaps both should of received their marching orders as it's dangerous and violent conduct. Another controversial decision came 5 minutes from time as a Lostock player looked like he was in an offside position headed another past Henry Heighton to make it 1-4. With 4 minutes added onto the 90 it was time for Lostock to score another as the striker buried a low shot into the corner for 1-5.

But despite getting beat 1-5 the lads showed professionalism until the final whistle. It's a performance which shows the squad is progressing and will achieve wins this season in the battle to stay up.

Squad: Heighton, Grant, Cocking, Sergeant, Cox(c), Abdullah(Hitchings 71'), Lulat(Jones 78'), German(Bowers 84'), , Brierley, Ascroft, Cannon.

Scorer: Ascroft 43'
Bookings: Lulat 50', German 82'

Managers Man of The match: Daryll Grant
Supporters Man of The Match: Henry Heighton

Match report written by Wiktor Pamfil, thank you for reading!