Hat-trick of wins see Saints on the up

ROCHDALE St Clements made it three wins from their last three games with victory against Tyldesley in Saturday’s Lancashire Amateur League fixture.

Saints started well and should really have scored a bagful but had to make do with three goals from Jordan Matthew (2) and Matt Buckley. What should have been an easy win ended 3-2 as result of a couple of defensive errors.

Before that game, newly promoted Chaddertonians were the next visitors to Burton Park.

Saints gave a competent display without really excelling and two goals from Simon Chapman were enough to clinch a 2-1 win and all three points.

Horwich St Mary’s also left Burton Park empty handed, Chapman scoring the only goal of the game in a slender win.

Those victories steered Saints back on track after the first two games of the campaign yielded just one point.

Saints started their league programme against Old Boltonians and had the best of the game at Turton only to find themselves on the wrong end of a 3-2 reverse.

That game was followed with a night match against newly promoted Wardle.

Saints, with several players still away or injured, were forced to change their set up for this local clash.

Wardle played well with their short passing game, but it was Saints who shaded the first half and took the lead thanks to a neat header from Michael Alexandridis.

It seemed like Clements would come away with three points, especially when Wardle were reduced to ten men, but in the closing minutes Saints gave away a silly foul and Wardle grabbed a late and deserved equaliser from the free kick.

Clements seconds have had a difficult start to the season. As the only second team in Division One, playing two games a week proved difficult with so many players on holiday, injured and still involved in summer sports.

The first game was at home to Castle Hill and Saints were at the wrong end of a 2-3 scoreline. The game was as close as the score suggests and the difference in the end came down to defensive frailties.

Saints then went down 1-3 to Accrington Amateurs at home and then Whitworth Valley, 6-1, away.

The seconds then entertained Oldham Hulmeians. After a fairly close first 20 minutes, Saints gave away a goal due to a handling error and thereafter Clements night went from bad to worse and a heavy defeat ensued.

Saturday’s game saw Clements demonstrate resolve and team spirit in an away game at Farnworth Town.

With one or two additions to the team, Saints played some controlled and good quality football.

The defence was a tighter unit with Scott Pickup, Tom Beal and Michael Lord doing well.

Sam Clayton returned to midfield and he had a good game. Clements went ahead through Marc Holt in his first game of the season and Saints looked comfortable and likely to take three points until the referee gave a dubious penalty against Clements keeper.

The game finished 1-1 but confidence was greatly improved by their fine performance.