Littleborough progress in Champion of Champions Cup

Littleborough FC, champions of the Rochdale amp; District Sunday Football League travelled to play Junction FC, Champions of the Ashton amp; District Sunday League in the first round of the Champion of Champions Cup, on Sunday 29 October - Littleborough, with seven first team regulars missing, expected a tough match.

With an excellent playing surface and the sun shining on their backs, both sides attempted to play the ball around and the first fifteen minutes were quite even as the teams tried to work out the opposition strengths and weaknesses.

Both sides created reasonable chances with Littleborough keeper Dunn and his opposite number Crossley making good saves.

Littleborough opened the scoring when the pace of Winward took him past defenders for him to finish well with a cross shot that beat the Junction keeper.

Littleborough had the better of the next ten minutes, Nash and Hurst working hard in midfield and the pace of Aadaahl creating good chances that should have been taken.

Against the run of play, and due to hesitation in the Littleborough defence, a shot from Dean beat Dunn to equalise.

This goal gave Junction the confidence to play higher up the field but Kelly and Holt in the Littleborough defence easily dealt with anything Junction had to offer.

Aadaahl finished a great move with a goal from outside the box to give Littleborough the lead again but it was short lived as a lapse in concentration allowed Blundell in to equalise with a delicate chip over Dunn.

At half time 2-2 was not a reflection on Littleborough's dominance but the half time talk by managers Kelly and Sewell certainly had the desired effect, the effort work rate and movement of the Littleborough team increased with Mark Hurst and Steven Holt leading by example and Lee Kelly marshalling his makeshift defence.

Their efforts were rewarded when Kirby left the keeper with no chance to put Littleborough in front.

The tactic of switching wingers worked well as Littleborough began to play good disciplined football with confidence.

A goal from Littleborough's ever improving Nash settled the game created by nice interplay by Winward, Hurst and Aadaahl.