REPORT BY WINNERS LAD

There must be something about playing at the Berry St Garage Stadium in Bootle that Leek Town like. Last season the Blues beat Bootle 3-0 at the venue and opened up this season with a 4-0 victory over them. On this latest visit they went even one better with a comprehensive 5-0 victory over a City of Liverpool side who are currently ground sharing with Bootle, the Blues goals coming from Tom Carr, Will Hugill, Dan Trickett-Smith and a brace from Tim Grice.

Manager Neil Baker chose to keep the same starting line up from last weeks win against Hanley and saw a cagey opening to the game with neither side able to impose themselves on their opponents. The cautious approach was only punctuated with a single chance for Rob Stevenson on 10mins who was presented with the ball by a stray City of Liverpool pass only for the Leek forward to curl his effort narrowly wide of the upright.

The Purps had a strike from Nathan Burke fly over Sam Booths bar on 14mins before the Blues started to get a stranglehold of midfield through the tireless energy and running of Will Hugill and the composure and experience provided by Marc Grocott and Billy Reeves. That, and the problems caused by Carr and Stevenson down the flanks meant that openings began to be created by the visitors.

On 23mins Stevenson and Hugill combined well down the Leek right to win a corner and when Reeves delivered it low to Grice at the near post in a similar move to the Hanley game the forwards flick on again fell to Olly Harrison in the box but unlike last week this time the centre half hit his effort over.

Then minutes later it was Carrs turn to break down the right as the City of Liverpool full back misjudged the path of the ball. Carrs first cross was blocked but his second found Hugill who pulled his effort just wide of the post.

The best chance of the game so far, however, fell to the home sides John McGrath on the half hour after two mistakes in the Blue defence allowed the City of Liverpool man a one on one with Booth but his driven left foot effort was wide, and it was to prove a costly miss as Leek took the lead moments later.

The ball was worked up to Grocott outside the area and he slipped a ball between two defenders to play in Grice, who took the ball around the keeper and slid it towards the goal where Tom Carr was running in to ensure the ball finished in the net before any defender could reach it.

For the final ten minutes of the half the Blues passing game reached its peak with even some of the home supporters expressing their admiration of the play. A move involving at least a dozen passes cut open the Purps defence once more and from Hugills cross Stevenson had another effort just curl over before a deserved second goal came on 42mins.

Hugill and Carr combined down the Leek right before the ball was worked to Stevenson in a central position just outside the area. He worked some room to shoot but instead slipped a lovely ball through to Tim Grice who finished first time across Ryan Hamer into the net.

And on the stroke of half time it should have been three. Grice played a ball inside of the full back to release Carr. As Carr bore down on goal he could have slid the ball past Hamer but instead chose to square the ball to Stevenson who seemed certain to score but saw his effort blocked on the line by a sliding Purps defender with strong suspicions that it was an arm that prevented the ball crossing the line but no penalty was given.

CITY OF LIVERPOOL 0 - LEEK TOWN 2 HT

The Blues made a sluggish and sloppy start to the second half and nearly allowed the hosts back into the game but appeals for a penalty following a coming together between Scott Wara and James Steele were waved away before an error by Harrison gave Stephen Milne the ball but Booth saved at his near post.

The travelling Blues fans nerves were settled, however, by a fantastic strike by Will Hugill on 57mins. It was a move that began with a Grice flick on header into the path of Carr who, together with Stevenson, battled for possession of the ball with a couple of Purps defenders before Carr was able to square the ball into the path of Hugill who hit a first time screamer with the outside of his right foot from the edge of the area that gave Hamer no chance.

Leek's fourth goal came on 69mins and it was again after a good period of possession ably controlled by Grocott, Reeves and Hugill. The ball was eventually worked down the left and laid back to Louis Keenan who produced a wonderful curled delivery into the box from out wide that Tim Grice met and finished with aplomb.

At this point, and with one eye no doubt on next weeks FA Trophy tie against Worksop, Baker withdrew Stevenson and Carr and brought on Lucas Baker and Dan Trickett-Smith and the two substitutes brought the fifth and final goal on 80mins.

Following an exchange of passes between the two Dan Trickett-Smith was upended just a yard outside the penalty area and he picked himself up to curl a sublime effort round the wall and into Hamers net to put the icing on the cake of a great away day for the Leek faithful.

CITY OF LIVERPOOL 0 - LEEK TOWN 5 FT

Next week sees the visit of Worksop Town for the FA Trophy First Round - this looks a tantalising fixture with both sides showing good form.

Leek Town line up as follows

1. Booth

2. Wara

3. Keenan

4. Grocott (c)

5. Harrison

6. Ryder

7. Hugill

8. Reeves

9. Grice

10. Carr replaced by Trickett-Smith (73)

11. Stevenson replaced by Baker (75)

Substitutes : Bavanganga, Tomlinson (unused)

Attendance : 256

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