The Cheshire FA Youth team opened their 2008/09 campaign, with a Northern Counties fixture away against Lancashire FA, at the Lancashire FA Headquarters ground, which was in perfect condition, on a calm sunny afternoon, perfect for football.
Cheshire opened strongly and a early shot from left back Bryce was turned away for a corner by Daloub. But after just six minutes Cheshire were in front. A deep cross from the right was met by NATHAN SOUTHERN, who looped a glancing header over Daloub in the home goal.
The lively Hughes on the Cheshire right then shot just over following a good run.
It was almost fifteen minutes into the game before Thompson in the visitors goal touched the ball, from a Nightingale cross. Two minutes later his inactivity told, when he failed to hold a strong volley from 16 yards from Josh Hough, and the ball dropped inches over the line for a surprise equaliser.
Cheshire continued to press forward, and the home defence were lucky to survive a major scramble inside their penalty area, and survived again minutes later when Daloub saved low down after Hughes had wriggled his way past three defenders.
Lancashire, heartened by their surprise leveller, were beginning to show signs of danger on their rare advances into the Cheshire half, and after some slack defensive play, Bushell shot just over.
As half time approached, Cheshire were still going forward, and following a good run in the inside left channel, MATTHEW NEE, was adjudged to have been pushed over inside the penalty area, and the Cheshire number nine picked himself up, to blast the spot kick home to give Cheshire a deserved half time lead.
The second half saw Lancashire in the ascendancy for much of the half, with the Cheshire lads seemingly unable to maintain their first half superiority. It came as no surprise when Lancashire got on terms for the second time, after a long through ball caught the visitors defence napping Jamie Livingston rifled home from the edge of the penalty area.
Lancashire continued to apply pressure, and the visitors defence looked uncomfortable for long periods. Gary Knight replaced the labouring Nee on 65 minutes, but the Cheshire front men were not receiving the service that they had enjoyed in the first half.
With fifteen minutes remaining Lancashire went in front for the first time, when a deep cross from the right was met at the far post by the unmarked Livingstone, who made no mistake with a perfect downward header.
There was a flurry of activity in the home penalty area as Cheshire fought back to try to rescue at least a draw, but it all came to nothing, and indeed Lancashire came the closest, with a rasping 25 yarder from Nightingale which crashed against the joint of post and crossbar, with Thompson well beaten.
CHESHIRE FA YOUTH
Chris Thompson ( Upton AA), Declan Wakefield (Altrincham), Daniel Bryce ( Stalybridge Celtic), Adam Oldman (Cammell Laird), Daniel Edge (Nantwich Town), Jonathan Clampitt (Cammell Laird), Luke Hughes ( Poulton Victoria), Josh Hancock (Nantwich Town), Matthew Nee (Stalybridge Celtic), Nathan Southern (Nantwich Town), James Bignall (BPR Leiria). Subs Used: Ray McDonald (Warrington Town, Gary Knight (Poulton Victoria).