NORTH WEST COUNTIES CHALLENGE TROPHY

Stand Athletic 2 Great Harwood 3

A HECTIC September brought Stand seven wins and a draw from eight league games; established them as league leaders; and, deservedly, won manager Nick Davis the season's first Manager of the Month Award.

Such an accolade warranted a performance fit for the occasion, but it wasn't forthcoming and, again, Stand proved

unable to reproduce their outstanding league form in a cup competition.

Mostly, it was disappointing, particularly after the comprehensive midweek victory over second-placed Formby.

Great Harwood did have the game's outstanding player in Graham Lightbown. The chunkier of their two strikers collected a

hat-trick from three, putting Chris Denham's two from two slightly in the shade.

It was noticeable from the start that Lightbown fell over less than anyone else and, when he finally went to ground after 10 minutes, he was sent there by Lee Anderson.

An attempt at a headed back pass from midfield sold Anderson short and left him little choice, but to physically thwart Lightbown's advance on the edge of the box.

Lightbown expertly bent the free-kick low inside Tommy

Allen's right hand post. The second half began with the return from injury of Neil Dawes, on as a replacement for Danny Norton, and an immediate doubling of the visitors lead.

That man Lightbown struck again with a neat 46th minute finish.

With an increasingly strong wind at their backs, now was the time for Athletic to press forward.

The search for fresh ideas brought Alan Dixon on for Mark Denham after 55 minutes, and Jordan Ashton for Mickey Bartholomew three minutes later, but the two substitutions were separated by another incisive Harwood move culminating in a Tripper drive which required all Tommy Allen's expertise to avert further damage.

With the hour long past, we saw the first sign of Stand as an attacking force as Ashton, Steve Carroll and Chris Denham combined to feed Warren Gallagher, only for the ball to squirt away at the crucial moment.

Within seconds, the visitors launched a demonstration of how it should be done as Slater escaped down the left wing to cross for the unmarked Lightbown to complete his hat-trick with a minimum of fuss.

A Dixon free-kick on 80 minutes offered Chris Denham the opportunity to reduce the deficit to 1-3 and, when set up by Stuart Telfer with two minutes remaining, the young striker fashioned an extraordinary header up and over the keeper to bring Stand back to 2-3.

Home hope flickered briefly, but it wasn't enough.

STAND ATHLETIC: Allen; Telfer Vine-Jones Anderson Gallagher; Norton Stott Carroll, M.Denham; Bartholomew C.Denham. Substitutes: Dawes (for Norton, 46), Dixon for M.Denham 55), Ashton (for Bartholomew 58).

Stand entertain Castleton Gabriels at Ewood Bridge tomorrow (kick-off 3pm) and travel to Cheadle Town on Tuesday night (kick-off 7.45pm).