RELEGATION dog fights are never the prettiest of affairs especially when both teams admit that they are likely to go down.

So with more of an emphasis on strain rather than skill and brawn rather than brilliance this was a game more about pride than anything else - a game to decide who would come bottom of the league in their own mini cup final.

And while there is still a fair way to go it was Lord Raglan who emerged victorious on the day after coming from behind to grab a hard fought victory.

And it was no coincidence that in gale force conditions it was the two smallest players on the pitch, with the lowest centre of gravity, who were to be the most influential. However at one stage it looked as if Raglan's Neil Hayhurst and Norman 'Noddy' Wilcox were going to get blown away by the raging Bull.

For within the first two minutes, Paul Yates gave White Bull the lead with a rasping volley from just inside the area that left Ian Hartley little chance in the Raglan goal.

White Bull bossed the opening quarter of the game urged on by player/manager Paul Brown who was making his usual mark in the centre of the pitch.

And at this stage, Noddy's close ball skills were letting him down while Hayhurst's ranting and raving fell on deaf ears.

So this was a time when Raglan's back five had to hold firm and in 14-year-old Dave Ingham they have a defender who belies his tender years. In fact his biggest problem was not rampaging forwards but taking throw ins as he time and time again gave away false throws.

Back to the training ground with that one Dave!

However it was White Bull who came closest to scoring a second when Jens Hanbrich crossed and Steve Rogerson rose above the static defence but headed over the bar.

Raglan's Steve Newton showed that it was not only his little teammates who could perform on the day when the gangly winger was unlucky to see his effort hit a post and rebound to safety.

And it was Hayhurst who was to make the first significant impact on the game for Raglan when Trevor Holden did well to get a cross in and the diminutive midfielder fired home a crisp volley from the edge of the area.

Holden then almost found the net himself but after doing everything right he stood on the ball as he cued up his shot and the danger was cleared.

By now Raglan were getting the upper hand and Newton underlined his team's determination when he chased and tackled Rob Maddock and set off on another mazy run that lead to a free kick.

And the next attack caused chaos in the White Bull defence and before anyone knew what was going on Noddy sneaked in, rounded keeper Paul Wright and slotted the ball home. With the wind on the backs, White Bull thought they were still in with a chance in the second half but Noddy and Hayhurst had other ideas and they took complete control of the game.

Kirkwood, clearly frustrated by what he saw in front of him, decided to take matters into his own hands but his long range shooting failed to trouble the keeper.

But it was the captain who had the best chance of an equaliser when he pushed up front after substitute Sean Litherland slotted into the back four. However he somehow managed to spoon Craig Bagley's superb through ball over the bar when well placed.

The moment was gone for White Bull and it left Newton to seal the points with a superb run and shot across Wright.

Noddy nearly sealed his fine individual performance but after beating the last defender and drawing the keeper he managed to hit the post from six yards out.

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