Off target Unsworth

Unsworth...1 Tintwistle Villa...1

AFTER the previous week's demolition of leaders Highfield United, the only result Unsworth haven't produced this season is a high-scoring victory.

This has haunted Unsworth from the first game of the season and it came back to haunt them again on Saturday.

That missing result should have been inflicted on Tintwistle. How they escaped a resounding defeat is amazing. If Unsworth had notched up double figures, no-one would have been surprised -- not even the visitors.

However, football does produce strange results and while Tintwistle awaited their fate, Unsworth got to grips with a terrible Hillock pitch.

How they managed to play the football they did is a credit to them. They laid siege to the Villa defence and only goal-keeper Darren Holdson and a string of missed chances stopped them running up a cricket score.

The back four in front of Holdson was run ragged by the home side, especially Thomson and Smith. To dwell on how many missed chances went by would require some writing, but somehow Holdson and his uprights survived to the interval.

There was no change in the second half. Tintwistle enjoyed a brief spell with the wind behind their backs, but it was short lived and Unsworth resumed their endless pursuit of an opening goal, driven on as usual by Hannan and Lyons in mid-field.

Getting that opening goal became like waiting for a bus which doesn't turn up, but with 20 minutes remaining, Whitby -- who can count himself unlucky to be on the bench for the last two games -- was introduced and with almost his first touch found Smith in space who chipped Holdson to finally make the breakthrough.

The goal which should have dismissed the thought in everyone's mind that the game would end in a draw was quickly squashed when, on a rare visit to the Unsworth penalty area, Lowman's hooked cross looped over Hassall and onto the far post before spinning across the line.

Unsworth mounted more pressure, but needed the rub of the green -- or mud in this case -- to score as, once again, Holdson, the post and the wrong boots failed to produce the result Unsworth deserved.

UNSWORTH: Hassall, Morley, Brimelow, P. Lyons, Harrington, Truelove, C. Lyons, Hannan, Smith, (Lynch), Thomson, Hunter, (Whitby). Substitutes: Welch, Rushton, Kitson.

Manager Nick Woods described the match as the most frustrating this season, and said: "The players are bitterly disappointed, they gave their all. I thought the way they handled the pitch and tried to play football was superb.

"Everyone gets games like this, but we deserved to win comfortably, it was just one of those days.

"Eventually this season they will have one match where they will fly in, because they are playing well at the moment and our sights are firmly fixed on next season, so to finish the last ten games strongly is important to us".

On Saturday, local rivals Warth Fold visit Hillock. Like Unsworth, this is Warth Fold's second season in the league and they have begun to find their feet, producing some eye-catching results.

On a tricky Hillock pitch there is bound to be chances going begging, so an interesting match should be on the cards.

Unsworth look more than likely to recall Sol Whitby to the starting line-up. Kick-off 2pm. Further details on 07950 102307.

UNSWORTH U-15S...2

DOBBIES U-15S...1

UNSWORTH's under-15s marched straight to the top of the league with this result last Saturday at Hillock, but had to overcome a stubborn Dobbies side.

Charlie Lynch rested several players for this game but still had enough strength in depth to come through, despite a man-of-the-match performance from goal-keeper Daniel Riley.

Unsworth took the lead through David Molloy -- his first for the club -- only for Dobbies to equalise. It was once again captain, Luke Smith, who produced a winning goal for his side, to maintain their good season.

On Sunday, Unsworth visit Heywood side, Roach. They will have goal machines Nathan Kennedy and Brendon Cranshaw, plus Michael Lynch, back in the fray.