Fernhill 0, Maroons 1

Fernhill are perennial whipping boys, but not by us. Last season their only win came ended our run of five straight wins at the Hogs. A season earlier we battled to overcome their nine men, only hitting the front in the second half when their missing players eventually turned up.
Although they regularly ship goals they have enjoyed a promising start to this season with three wins - two more than the previous two seasons combined.
We arrived in a lashing rain storm and without a goalkeeper, held up in traffic. Missing regular forward Ant and the attacking midfield talents of Fergus, our side looked a bit unbalanced.
Running with the strong wind early we pushed too many passes but had total domination of the game in the first half.
The only goal came midway through the half. Graeme D played the ball into space down the right, won the race to the byline and cut back well for Shaky in the box. He shanked his shot and it caught the keeper off balance, sneaking in under his grasp at the near post.
Pete touched the ball just twice in the half, neither was a shot, and we were in no danger as the defence did a fine job to nullify any threats.
Fernhill appeared boosted by the addition of a couple of former Coniston players, including one who was very crafty around the middle of the park, but it was a strange first half with neither team creating much at all.
Sunshine at the break turned again to slannting rain early in the second term and this time it was the Waves who were pinned back for long periods.
Fernhill won several freekicks around the area and pinged the ball at goal, only for our defence to stand rock solid in the way.
As Fernhill committed players forward we had our chances to seal the game and should have a couple of times. TH10 beat his marker and then was presented with a golden opportunity as the onrushing keeper spilled the ball. He tried to toe poke it in from 16 yards out on the left but it skewed off the boot and missed the empty net.
Phil C, playing up front just failed to control a ball as it whizzed by in front of goal and Shaky fizzed a header just over the top from Tom's corner. (Shaky heads it harder than TH10 can kick it).
With time running out, Dave D surged forward and took a pass which put him behind the back four. He sent a ball across to Shaky who took control 25 yards out with the keeper to beat but could only scuff his foot into the ground as he shot.
Exhaustion was taking its toll into the strong wind and there was concern that we might be made to pay for our lack of edge up front.
Fernhill had a penalty shout waved away, the striker turning a defender in the box and falling theatrically (TH10 and Graeme P are considering giving lessons) and there were a couple of strong shouts for handball, one leading to a yellow card against them for dissent.
The home side finished with a series of corners swung deep into our box.
"They're not a top two team, they're crumbling," shouted one expectant Fernhill player as they pressed near the end.
We never crumbled. We are still a top two team.