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Walton le Dale v Southport Trinity reserves

7pm  10 May 2016

Mid Lancashire League, Division One
Walton le Dale 1 Southport Trinity reserves 2 (att 10)

Once it gets towards mid May the choice of games is thinner, particularly those reachable after a day at work, but the Mid Lancashire League helps by scheduling kick offs at 7pm, making them manageable even factoring in Manchester's rush hour traffic.

Lucky I made to this one in good time though, as on a damp and dreary evening we got underway about 10 minutes early. And the visitors wasted no time, going in front before the advertised kick off time.

Southport Trinity had the better of a decent first half, and by half time should have led by more than the two goals they managed.

Walton le Dale were better after the break, and pulled a goal back, but they were unable to find an equaliser. Their case wasn't helped by a late red card, after a player reacted badly to being fouled.

The venue, King George V Playing Fields in Higher Walton, on the edge of Preston, is more interesting than it appears at first sight. These days it's a pleasant tree-lined public park, with space for a couple of pitches, but 120 years ago football matches here attracted much larger crowds.

An information board, behind the far goal, explains that it was the home of Victorian-era side Higher Walton, who played in the FA Cup and hosted the likes of Preston North End and Blackburn Rovers in the early days of organised football.










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