Following Billinge’s run of poor results, they were able to welcome back team Captain Gaz Fletcher, Chris Tunstall and Martin Seddon, however the strike force of Sean Homer, Danny Murphy and Bobby Jones where all still unavailable due to injury or work commitments. So the changes needed to be rung yet again. At left back Mike Port was preferred following his impressive debut in previous game against Garswood.

The game started with Billinge playing very well, Chad Whyte started nervously but as the game progressed and he grew in confidence he started to look much more accomplished however in the first half chances were few and far between for Billinge although Gamesley did fashion one or two good chances, mainly from a predictable lump over the top that did catch the Billinge defence a little square from time to time but a mixture of solid defending and outstanding goal keeping from Jamie Scott kept the scores level.

In midfield the tussle between the Billinge trio of Goulding, Tunstall and Fletcher was matched by the Gamesley midfield lead by the impressive Andrew Heath. At half time the score was 0-0 and Billinge were looking much better defensively than they had of late, but problems were in the offing with Craig Homer feeling a twinge from his troublesome hamstring so more changes were necessary with Homer withdrawn, Fletcher dropping into defence and Shaun Abbott introduced into the affray.

As the second half commenced Billinge were starting to play some nice stuff, the lump over the top was less effective, but Gamesley managed to craft a couple of chances that Jamie Scott and his defence dealt with. Chad Whyte was wreaking havoc at the back and with the introduction of Chris English Gamesley were becoming under more pressure, the pressure told when a lovely move in which Adam Clare played a great ball in behind the Gamesley defence for Whyte to get after, he controlled the ball turned the defence inside and out then unleashed a fierce drive past the keeper.

In the final minutes another good move saw Shaun Abbott sprint past the Gamesley defence to find himself one on one with the keeper, he should have made it 2-0 but the keeper stood tall and made the save.

So with a well deserved 1-0 win in the bag and the first clean sheet since the first game of the season, hopefully the dodgy spell is behind us and we can concentrate on climbing up the league.

MOM: Jamie Scott Scott, Port, C Homer (45 Abbott), Ogden, M Seddon (60 English), Fletcher, Tunstall, Goulding, Clare (80 R Seddon), Whyte, Bradshaw