Lairds made the trip down to Gresley Rovers in Derbyshire on a sunny Saturday afternoon, hoping to continue the fine form that has seen them win the last 4 matches. A chance in goal saw Paul Moores return between the sticks in place of the injured Peter Crookes. Eddie Jebb was resigned to the bench, after seeing red at Warrington on Tuesday night.

The game started well enough for the Lairds, who where kicking down the pitch, as for those who have never seen or visited the Moat Ground, the pitch is on a slope!! After some good initial play from the kick-off, the Lairds won a corner kick. The ball was swung in, and Chris Nezyania rose above a static defence to have a free header which he duly put away. It was a perfect start for Lairds, and they continued to attack from the re-start. Michael Cole and Jamie McGuire bossed the midfield, and Michael Cole supplied the attack with some superb corners and free kicks, but unfortunately, the Lairds couldn't put any further chances away.

Rovers had opted to place the hit and hoof game, and used long balls hit aimlessly in the air to try and cause a problem, but these where bread and butter to a strong defence who had very little to do, and Peter Moores in the Lairds goal was a virtual spectator.

On the couple of occasions when O'Connor and Blenkinsopp, who was only signed by Rovers on Thursday night, tried to gain some ground, the Lairds defence was resolute, and closed everything down. With 5 minutes to go though, Aaron O'Connor broke free on the right wing and sped towards goal. Moresy saw the danger and came charging out of the defence, and in an effort to tackle O'Connor, injured himself. After a couple of minutes treatment, he was well enough to continue.

Unfortunately for Lairds, they couldn't hold out till half time, and right at the death, Rovers where awarded a penalty, after a late challenge felled a Rovers player. O'Connor duly stepped up and buried the penalty, much to the delight of the mass of fans behind the goal. There was no time left for the Lairds at the re-start to mount any form of attack and the half ended 1-1.

The second half started badly for Lairds with Nez having to be replaced after a couple of minutes into the half. It was a tale of two halves for Lairds though, who started to really struggle against the uphill slope, whereas Rovers took full advantage of the downhill advantage, and it wasn't long before David Blenkinsopp scored his first goal for the club, to make it 2-1 to the home team.

Mike Rimmer was brought on for Lairds to try and bring some width to the right wing, but it was Rovers who started to turn the screw, employing two wingers, who Lairds really struggled to cope with. Things went from bad to worse soon after with Lairds' keeper having to come off injured, and Lee Atherton taking his place between the sticks, with Eddie Jebb coming on in Moores' place.

Addo had barely got his gloves on, when another attack from Rovers saw a great centre come from the left hand wing, and Aaron O'Connor unleashed a ferocious shot, to score his second goal of the game, but to be fair, I doubt any keeper would have saved!. The Lairds seemed to just be going through the motions after that, as they couldn't gain any ground or mount any form of attack through a now, resurgent Rovers team.

The final nail in the coffin came right at the end of the second half, when sub Paul Edwards added to the Rovers total, to make the final score Gresley Rovers 4 - Cammell Laird 1.

Attendance :- 262

For the second time in a week, Lairds made the short trip up to Cantilever Park to face Warrington Town, this time in the league.

Town where still smarting after the 2-0 loss at the hands of the Lairds last week, and where determined to make amends.

In wet conditions, Lairds started off the strongest of the two sides, with good movement from Eddie Jebb and Mike Rimmer causing Town all sorts of problems.

For a while it looked as though Lairds where going to control the match but Town soon came back into it. Chances in the first 20 minutes where few and far between, and Lairds thought that they had a good shout for a penalty when Ronnie Moore appeared to be fouled in the box, but all appeals from the players and the bench where ignored by the referee Mr Bristow.

Lairds continued to press but all efforts where dealt with by a strong Town defence, and also some sloppy final play by Lairds. Just before the break a free kick was awarded to Warrington.

The kick was taken and swung over to the right hand side of goal where Eddie Jebb was covering the post. The ball appeared to be going out when it seemed as though Jebb had knocked the ball out of play. The referee initially gave nothing, but after consulting his linesman, Jebb was issued a red card, for deliberate handball, and to add insult to injury, he also awarded Town a penalty.

The resulting penalty was struck ferociously, but Lairds keeper Peter Crooks made a superb save and whilst the ball seemed to hang in the air for an age, it dropped harmlessly behind the goal for a corner, much to the delight of all Lairds players and fans. Nothing came of the resulting corner, and the referee blew for half time. Score 0 – 0

The second half started with a chance in personnel for the Lairds with Ian Cooke being replaced with Jamie McGuire who seemed to have overcome his injury sustained in last weeks win at Town.

Once again, Lairds started off the stronger with Lee Atherton making his presence known in the back four, and John Collins started to boss the midfield along with Jamie McGuire taking almost a holding role. Town started to press, but yet again, the Lairds defence and midfield let nothing through, and ‘keeper Peter Crookes was almost a spectator.

Lairds continued to press and brought Chris Nezyana on to add a bit more pace up front. It wasn’t long before he started to make an impact, with his pace catching the Town defence off guard.

With about 20 minutes to go, a long ball caught Nez up front 1 on 1 with a defender, and despite a poor first touch which seemed to take the ball away from him, a sweet half volley saw the ball lift up and drop behind the despairing, flailing arms of Town ‘keeper Richard Mottram. The Lairds fans where ecstatic, as where the visiting bench.

Some last minute changes to the team saw Tony McMullen come into the fray for a tired Michel Cole, and with the Lairds bench frantically screaming orders to their players, it seemed as though it was going to be a long 10 minutes for the 30 odd travelling Lairds fans, but they hung on for a very hard fought victory, which left a bitter taste in the Town fans and players mouths.

Full Time Score 0 – 1

A draw seemed to be the likely result after the sending off of Eddie Jebb, but a resolute performance from the Lairds defence and midfield, and an inspired lob from Nezyana saw Lairds take all 3 points.

LAIRDS FIGHT BACK TO KEEP TROPHY DREAM ALIVE

Cup Kings Cammell Laird made it 21 cup wins in two seasons with this fine comeback against their higher division opponents.

Mossley started brightly when Peter Wright's header went agonisingly wide. Their good start was rewarded midway through the first half when veteran striker David Eyres was at hand to tap in a parried Peter Crookes save from James Turley.

A few minutes later Lairds' John Couch felt he had been pushed off the ball in the box but referee Ian Edwards thought otherwise and ruled for a goal kick.

Peter Wright nearly doubled the lead for The Lilywhites but for a fine save from Peter Crookes in the Lairds goal.

The second half saw a transformation in the Lairds game and on the hour mark they deservedly drew level when Eddie Jebb pulled the ball back to Jamie McGuire who made no mistake in rifling the ball home.

In an entertaining spectacle, Mossley searched for the advantage whcih nearly came from Wright when one on one with Crookes only to fire the ball high over the Lairds bar.

Back down the other end of the field Collins connectyed with a Jebb cross only to head inches wide.

Wright replicated his rugby conversion a couple of minutes later which was copied by Lairds sub Nezianya after a fine run into the Mossley box.

As the healthy crowd were checking their diaries for the impending Tuesday night replay, Ronnie Morgan danced his way into the Mossley goalmouth and hit a Rocket through a crowd of legs to clinch the winner for the Birkenhead side.

A pulsating game which was a good advert for UniBond League football to the fair number of neutrals watching.

Paul Mcloughlin

Club & Press Secretary

Attendance 205

Cup kings Cammell Laird registered their 20th victory in knockout competitions in the last two seasons with a convincing victory at UniBond Premier outfit Frickley Athletic.

Lairds showed they meant business after just 80 seconds when skipper Anthony Lynch pulled the ball back for Jamie McGuire to strike home a sweet low drive from 25 yards out.

Veteran Ian Cooke was unlucky to see a glancing header go wide but made amends in the 8th minute when his pinpoint lob from the nearside touchline dipped into the top corner of the goal.

To be fair, Lairds didn't really have to move out of second gear against the Yorkshiremen, currently languishing towards the bottom of the division above the Boys from Birkenhead.

The blustery moors wind didn't help the fluidity of play but Lairds did make it three 5 minutes after the break when the busy Ronnie Morgan bundled the ball home following a goalmouth scramble.

Ian Cooke sealed Lairds progression to the 2nd qualifying round with a diving header at the far post in the 65th minute.

Frickley did have a couple of chances towards the end, Calum Selby rattling the abar from a 35 yard free kick and Lairds keeper denying Alex Callery with a fine double save.

Paul Mcloughlin

Club & Press Secretary

Attendance 127

Prior to the game this could have been expected to be a close affair as 3rd placed Lairds travelled to 6th placed Leicestershire outfit Shepshed.

The resultant draw appears to confirm these expectations but in reality this was a game Lairds should have won comfortably.

The Wirral side dominated the game from start to finish with fluid passing play and confident ball control.

Dynamo took a surprise lead midway through the first half when Darrul Thomas flicked a through ball past Lairds custodian Peter Crookes.

Undaunted, Lairds pulled level on the stroke of half time when a long clearance found Ronnie Morgan in the Dynamo box who made no mistake in rocketing the ball home.

The second half was all Lairds although the odd breakway from Shepshed had the a visitor's' 'heart in mouth'.

Johnathon Noon in the Shepshed goal had looked jittery and vulnerable on several occasions through the game, but he thwarted Lairds when he pulled off a fine save from a John Couch floating header that was dipping over him.

On the whole the game was a well mannered and competetive affair but it was marred by two late sending offs. Lairds defender Lee Atherton received two yellow cards and substitute Tim Wilkes saw red late in stoppage time, again for a second yellow card.

Lairds nearly stole it right at the end when a Jamie McGuire shot was saved well by Noon, rounding off a frustrating day for the Birkenhead side.

Paul Mcloughlin

Club & Press Secretary

Attendance 151

Cammell Laird, playing in their first ever FA Carlsberg Trophy tie recorded a comfortable win against UniBond league rivals Rossendale.

Rossendale tried hard. and indeed had their chances but it seemed that Lairds had a couple of gears to step up to if required.

As early as the 5th minute Lairds suffered a setback when top scorer Chris Nezianya was taken off with a groin strain to be replaced by equally prolific goalgetter Ronnie Morgan.

Two minutes later Ian Cooke drove a piledriver towards the Dale goal only for it to ricochet off Warrender to safety.

Shortly after, Morgan twisted and turned the Dale defence but saw his shot saved well by James Salisbury.

On the 20 minutes Salisbury, on saving a ferocious shot from Anthony Lynch, dislocated his left shoulder. This was the third time this has happened in this campaign and sadly means his season is probably over giving Dale huge problems for the future. James was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

With striker Phil Eastwood pulling on the number one jersey as his replacement the home speculators were pondering the prospective scoreline!

As it happened Eastwood proved to be perfectly competent, despite a bad start to his new role. Ronnie Morgan bustled through the area and gave Lairds a deserved lead on the half hour mark.

To give Dale their due, they kept Lairds closed down, Daniel Warrender constantly frustrating Lairds Goal Hungry forwards.

The second goal for Lairds came on the hour when Anthony Sheehan cut inside the box, his low cross-goal shot giving Eastwood no chance.

Lairds nearly made it three 10 minutes from time when a Michael Cole glancing header went just wide of the post.

So Lairds move on to meet Frickley Athletic in the next round leaving Dale having to regroup in the absence of their first choice goalkeeper.

Man of the Match...Tony Hallam (Cammell Laird)

Entertainment rating 2/5

LAIRDS SPRING BACK

Cammell Laird sprang back to form with a fine win at 5th place Alsager Town. Lairds took the lead after 11 minutes when Ian Cooke bundled in Chris Nezianyas cross goal pass. Lairds proving a cut above Alsager, doubled their lead on the half hour mark, when Mike Rimmer blasted another Nezianya cross into the bottom corner.

The second half started with Lairds sealing the game in the first 5 minutes with goals from Nezianya and Ian Cooke. Alsager grabbed a consulation goal from Glynn Blackhurst but too little to late as Lairds gladly take the 3 points back up the M6.

LAIRDS THROW IT AWAY

Cammell Laird missed out on a chance to keep the pressure up on the UniBond League Division One leading pack when they squandered a two goal lead at Kirklands on Saturday.

Lairds seemed to be coasting to victory against lowly Bridlington when they gave two goals away in the last four minutes.

A lively opening saw Eddie Jebb hit the post on 10 minutes. Brid took the ball up the field and Peter Crookes pulled off a fine point blank save from a Jamie Barnwell shot.

Jebb was again close after 25 minutes when he hit a screamer just high of the bar.

Lairds took the lead a minute later when the inspirational Ian Cooke stretched to reach a through ball from Cole, his lob dipping over Brid custodian Gavin Kelly.

Five minutes later Anthony Lynch launched a shot goalwards, Carl Giblins' attempted clearance bobbled backwards but Kelly was alert enough to switch direction and save Giblins blushes.

Lairds doubled their advantage on 70 minutes when a long low punt upfield from Peter Crookes saw Chris Nezianya slip his marker and cooly slot the ball home.

Plucky Brid were in no mood to lay down and die, Wayne Wallace hit the post but four minutes from time Jack Wilkinson scored with a fine shot from the edge of the Lairds penalty area to bring The Seasiders right back into the match.

Lairds nearly regained their two goal advantage shortly after when the alert Nezianya cut in and saw his strong near post shot parried out by Kelly.

Never say die Brid got just deserts for their resiliance a minute from time when Crookes was adjudged to have brought down Jamie Barnwell. Danny Buttle calmly converted the penalty giving Brid a valuable point in their struggle at the bottom of the table.

Paul Mcloughlin

Club & Press Secretary

Cammell Laird finally lost their unbeaten league record on Saturday in their top of the table clash at Bradford Avenue.

Lairds had a great start when Ronnie Morgan latched on to a long clearance from keeper Peter Crookes to stealthily fire the ball home on 10 minutes.

With Lairds holding most of the play, the push was on to get the important second goal. Chances went by the wayside for McGuire, Rimmer and Collins until a body blow equaliser from Gary Shaw whose header flew past the flummoxed Crookes.

After the restart Collins was unlucky to see a powerful header cannon back off the crossbar.

Everything went wrong for Lairds when, with ten minutes remaining, Shuttleworth turned Tony McMullen and fired a low shot past Crookes. Avenue twisted the knife in injury time as Tom Greaves took advantage, when Atherton stumbled, to steal the ball and fire it home.

Lairds faithful would argue that 5th place after playing 6 away games in their 8 league matches is no mean feat but Lairds need to regain the composure that has fared them so well in recent times.

Paul Mcloughlin

Club & Press Secretary

Rossendale United 0 v Cammell laird 1

After the disappointment of bowing out of the FA Cup on Saturday Lairds returned to UniBond League action last Tuesday with a trip to Rossendale United.

Lairds had the perfect start when John Collins volleyed home sweetly from a Hargreaves cross after just 3 minutes. From then on the game turned rather lacklustre with few chances for either team.

Lairds did have a purple patch midway through the second half with close calls for Nezianya, Morgan and McGuire, but in the end the early goal was enough to secure the points and take Lairds back into second place in the league.

Entertainment rating 2/3

Man of the match John Collins

In one of the big upsets of the round, Newcastle Benfield made the arduous trek across the Pennines witha degree of trepidation, this fuelled by their own Northern League midtable position and Lairds flying high in the UniBond League.

Benfield needn't have worried though as Lairds had a very bad day at the office.

The game started at a fast place with Rasmussen just firing over after 10 minutes, Lairds retorted with a close call for Sheehan and a shot curling agonisingly wide from skipper Derek Ward.

Then on 32 minutes the game tactics were turned on their head as Lairds' Jamie McGuire was sent off for a foolish retaliation following a strong challenge from Kevin Leighton.

From then on Lairds were on the back foot, and Benfield were all too happy to take advantage, this they did 5 minutes from the break when Rasmussen rounded Crookes to tap into the empty Laird goal. /p>

The second half saw Lairds desparately trying to recreate their league form but hitting dead ends left right and centre.

Benfield rubbed salt in the wounds 10 minutes from time when Richard Brodie screeched a free kick past the hapless Crookes to seal the game.

So Benfield deservedly go into Mondays draw whilst Lairds try to figure out what went wrong.

Entertainment rating 2/5

Star man Alu Bangura (Newcastle BBP)

Paul Mcloughlin

Club & Press Secretary

Lairds continued their onslaught on the UniBond First Division with a convincing win at Lincolnshire outfit Brigg Town.

Unbeaten Lairds started strongly with Ronnie Morgan unlucky to see a header fly over the crossbar. Veteran Ian Cooke forced a great fingertip save from the Brigg keeper with a glancing header on 25 minutes and the resulting corner saw John Collins see his own effort fizz just over the bar.

It was only a matter of time for the strong Lairds side and 5 minutes from half time Ian Cooke nodded a Michael Cole cross to Morgans feet who made no mistake in rocketing the ball home. The second half was more of the same as Brigg had no answer to Lairds fluid passing play.

Close chances for Chick Rimmer and Jamie McGuire were followed by the inevitable second goal when McGuire passed to sub Anthony Hargreaves on the edge of the box who thundered his shot into the bottom of the net.

Proceedings were concluded on the stroke of full time when Jamie McGuire latched on to a parried save from a Hargreaves shot to tap into the empty Brigg net.

Paul Mcloughlin

Club & Press Secretary

STROLL IN THE PARK FOR LAIRDS

Cammell Laird lie undefeated and top goalscorers in the UniBond First Division after handing Wakefield their fourth defeat of the season.

And a convincing one it was too. Lairds, playing with the gusty wind, went in at half time with all goals in the bag.

The first came on the quarter hour mark when new signing Chris Nezianya showed great skill in getting to the byline, pulled it back to Jamie McGuire who shot home with aplomb.

In the 36th minute Eddie Jebb jiggled his way into the Tykes area and hoofed the ball into the roof of the net.

It seemed the floodgates were destined to open for Lairds when Nezianya, playing in his first full game since returning to Kirklands from St Helens Town bagged a brace at the end of the first half.

The second half was played at a slower pace with Wakefield unable to take advantage of the wind against a resolute Lairds rearguard. Lairds captain Anthony Lynch was carried off with 10 minutes to go with a thumping knock to his shin, but thankfully the injury does not appear serious as Lairds prepare to launch their FA Cup campaign this coming Saturday.

Bamber Bridge 1 Cammell Laird 1

Cammell Laird continue their good start to life in the UniBond Northern Premier League with a creditable draw at Preston outfit Bamber Bridge.

In a tight game that saw both teams cancelling eachother out, it seemed that a 0-0 draw was the probable outcome. In the 80th minute the Brigg took a surprise lead through Captain Gregg Brickill.

Lairds went all out for the equaliser and had a seemingly legitimate penalty turned down and a minute later a shot cleared off the line. The equaliser did come in quite a bizarre fashion as the block from Ian Cookes' shot hit him in the face and went straight into the goal.

Cammell Laird came from behind to take the spoils in a feisty game which saw them play the last half hour with 10 men.

Lairds had most of the possession in the opening minutes with close calls for John Collins and Anthony Lynch.

It was Albion however who took first advantage on the 20 minute mark when Aaron Joseph's shot found its' way through a crowded area into the back of the Lairds net. Four minutes later Peter Crookes in the Lairds goal made a fantastic fingertip clearance from Dickinsons volley.

Undaunted, Lairds kept pressing Albion back, Jebb and McGuire had chance go close but it was Jamie McGuire who pulled things level when he won an arial challenge with Christian Simpson to nod the ball home.

The second half was equally fast paced, Ian Cooke poked the ball over shortly after the break but made amends 5 minutes later when, following a mix up between Simpson and his defenders, Jebb crossed the ball for Cooke to slot into the empty Ossett goal.

Lairds found themselves down to 10 men on the hour mark when Collins was dismissed for a high challenge on Albion sub Christopher Miller.

Despite this Lairds kept up the pressure, a minute later Eddie Jebb muscled his way through to the box only to be brought down by Aaron Joseph. McGuire converting the resulting penalty for his second. Final Score 3-1

Entertainment Rating 4/5

Star Man Jamie McGuire (Cammell Laird)

Teams

Cammell Laird 1 Peter Crookes 2 Derek Ward(c) 3 Anthony Lynch 4 Anthony Sheehan 5 Lee Atherton 6 John Collins 7 Jamie McGuire 8 Eddie Jebb (McMullen 67) 9 Ian Cooke (Nezyania 63) 10 Anthony Hargreaves (Cole 64) 11 Michael Rimmer

Ossett Albion 1 Christian Simpson 2 Luke Williams 3 Kyle Cook 4 David Syers 5 Gareth North 6 Stephen West 7 Michael Senior (c) 8 Craig Goodyear (Miller 60) 9 David Dickinson 10 Daniel Facey 11 Aaron Joseph Subs (unused) Andrew Seed, Kurtis Noble