Lairds beaten by Ossett Town in Evo-Stik League Division One (From Wirral Globe)

Lairds beaten by Ossett Town in Evo-Stik League Division One

2:31pm Monday 17th September 2012 in Sport By Gary Langley

MANAGER Tony Sullivan was fuming after his side gifted Ossett Town three points in a difficult away day on Saturday slipping to tenth in the Evo-Stik League Division One (North) in the process.

This game was billed as Laird’s chance to shake off a hefty 5-0 defeat in the FA Cup six days earlier at FC United, however the performance would not have done much to ease the sides gripe as Ossett took advantage and more importantly, their chances, to bag the win.

Ossett got off to the slightly better start and clocked up three shots on target within the first 15 minutes; David Brown and Simon Baldry both going close and it was the latter who gave the home side the lead on 19 minutes when a defensive slip allowed the player to strike the ball into the net.

Laird’s were not without threat though with manager Sullian clearly audiable from the touchline about what he expected from his players whom prior to the FC United defeat were looking steady at the back but mischevious up front. Aaron Bowen was a threat throughout and went very close just after the half hour mark forcing the Ossett Keeper Conbey into a great save at his near post.

Jamie Henders, another player who has been prominent this season went close before the break but again the keeper did well to shut him out and the sides went into the interval with the game poised at 1-0 to the home side.

After the break both sides were playing to win with Bowen shooting just wide shortly after the re-start and Shane Kelsey doing the same on 62 minutes after rounding the keeper.

Laird’s seemed to tire as the game progressed and it seemed to be a factor in the second goal as Kelsey found himself in space on 81 minutes after a through ball from Caldon Henson and he struck home to all but seal the game.

Just to rub it in, five minutes later Simon Baldry also found room after losing his marker and put away a harsh third goal to make the scoreline look rather more convincing than perhaps the performance of both sides merited.

After the match, gaffer Tony Sullivan stated that he was disappointed with the periods of defensive pressure that his side put themselves under and that some of the players needed to take responsibility for that.

The next game for the Rock Ferry club is away at Burscough on Tuesday night in a local derby and they will be keen to regain the momentum and more importantly get three points to push them back towards the mix at the upper echelons of the league table.