Report: George Clandon

The first local derby with our near neighbour's Southport Hesketh at Richmond Park gave Richmond a win they'd been seeking for several weeks.

The club's always appreciative of the short drive, especially with Richmond having a ten to twelve hour day next Saturday with a game v Whitehaven

On an excellent day for football at Richmond Park, the home side kicked the game off following the customary minute's silence on Remembrance weekend, but it was the visitors who took a ten minute lead; a free kick found the Jack Ledson who headed home with the Richmond defenders a little dormant.

Richmond had a similar setback in the previous home game, but rolled their sleeves up and started to get back into the game.

Richmond fullback John Anderson forced a corner kick down the left side, the corner then taken by Jack Golding, finding the head of striker Mark Bailey whose headed effort was cleared on the goal line by the Hesketh defenders forcing a second corner.

The second corner kick once again taken by Golding was, it has to be said, a series of errors - the striker’s corner landed just under the cross bar finding a visiting defender's head, who at full stretch could only turn the ball against the head of a fellow defender which deflected into the net for an own goal.

Could Richmond's luck could be turning on 16 minutes?

Hesketh came back at Richmond and went mightily close to a second goal, a rearguard action by central defender Ash Disley clearing the ball off the line at the last moment, with excellent defending.

Hesketh had a second chance minutes later when a venomous shot from a Hesketh forward just missed its target by inches.

Richmond took the lead on 35 minutes, a long ball to a right wing position near the penalty area found Jordan Lorde in space; the tricky front man sent an inch perfect pass across the six yard box, that found fellow striker Mark Bailey, who with his back to goal unselfishly laid the ball back to the oncoming Ian McKinty, who exquisitely dispatched the ball into the top corner of the visitor’s net from the edge of the penalty area; he will not score a finer goal!

A couple of good strikes by Lorde lead to halftime, the first just the wrong side of the post, the second leading to the third Richmond goal in time added on after a free kick by midfielder Chris Jones seemed to totally confuse the opposition defenders...

A ball that should have been easily cleared found its way through a mêlée of opposing defenders, leaving Jordan Lorde clear to fire past Tom Williams in the Hesketh goal to make it 3.1. as referee Mr.Moosa blew for half time seconds later.

The first half belonged to Richmond, but it turned out to be long second half ... Richmond brought on Mario Kramny for Ash Disley, but it was Hesketh that had most of the play, but they lacked a cutting edge till time added on when Jack Ledson scored a headed second goal for the away.

Richmond keeper Mike Lowe once again earning his spurs with a fine tip over late in the game from a wicked shot and is gaining in confidence with every game, the Richmond keeper very close once again to gaining the man of the match.

Richmond had defended defiantly and worked hard to maintain their advantage, with young central defender Eddie Peglar having a mature game in his new role as centre half, gaining man of the match for his efforts.

The Richmond midfield having their work cut out with a very experienced opposition midfield, Chris Jones as always in the mix for Richmond.

A welcome for new boy, substitute Rory Middleton who it must be said played with authority for an eighteen year old In his first game for Richmond.

Well played both sides, close game.