The UCLan 2nd team went down 6 – 2 at home to Lancaster 2nds in the Lancashire Cup. Despite leading 2 – 0 and the opposition being down to ten men UCLan somehow managed to throw away their big advantage.

The home side made the brighter start and took an early lead when Jack Bartley poked home from a corner. Lancaster were reduced to 10 men on the half hour mark, when one of their players was deservedly sent off for lashing out off the ball.

UCLan then doubled their advantage with a well worked move that was finished off by Liam McGivern from outside the area. The game appeared to be as good as over, but two goals before half time brought Lancaster back into the game.     

The second half was a disaster for UCLan, who struggled to break down a determined Lancaster outfit. The away side took the lead for the first time in the game when a low cross from the right was tapped in at the back post.

Lancaster then made it 4 – 2, when a long ball over the top exposed the UCLan defence allowing the Lancaster striker to smash the ball past the keeper.

Lancaster looked more like the team who had the numerical advantage and they made it 5 – 2 when a free kick from the right hand side was headed home at the back post. The rout was completed when poor UCLan defending saw a well worked move finished off by a tap in on the goal line.

Meanwhile the UCLan 3rds got the better of their Lancaster counterparts. The home side managed a 1 – 0 victory thanks to a first half John Gallagher goal. Gallagher poked home a perfectly executed corner to give his side, what proved to be the winning goal.

UCLan were great value for their victory and although they were always the side looking the more dangerous, it was a laboured effort from the team.

The wind made it very difficult for both sides but UCLan played with real grit and determination and looked as if they wanted victory that ever so more.

Lancaster threw everything but the proverbial kitchen sink at UCLan in the second half. However, UCLan’s defence held firm and it was them who were left celebrating at the final whistle.