Pre-Season Friendly Lifton Vs Castle Loyal @ Launceston 3G

 It only seems like a few weeks ago that the season was ending and now we are here for pre-season friendlies.  And what a busy old inbetween season it's been for Lifton FC. They now have a second team, who will  play in the  Ducky East 2 League. The last time these 2 teams played was in a cup match, at Launceston, back in November. Lifton overwhelmed Castle Loyal, 6-0 or it could have been 7-0, I forget.

However, under the barmy mid 20 tempreatures both teams took on a very different look. Lifton fielded a mixed team of 1st and 2nd team, Castle Loyal looked bigger and stronger than last year. They have also moved leagues and will play in the same division as Lifton 2nd tea,

There are no facilities for fans, no stands, no shelter, the pitch does have dressing rooms but apparently they cost a lot per hour, so both teams made use of the car park to get changed.

Both teams played with energy that defied the rising tempreatures and midway through the first half, a penalty was handed to Lifton and up went XT to take it. With a calm head, up he stepped and slotted it home, although the keeper did get a hnad to it, he wasn't kepping it out. I couldnt watch in the build up, so we have no footage of the maiden goal-for which Im in the dog house for.Anyway more on the game from the players prospective later.

Not long after, Lifton were 2-0 up, Blair scored from outside the box.

The second half saw Lifton wilt a bit as before long Castle were back in it at 2-1, quickly followed by the equaliser. Which was followed by a castle shot that whacked the bar and bounced the right side oif the line, as far as Lifton were concerned.

The heat finally took its toll and the game dropped in tempo, however Sam managed to snatch a winner for Lifton towards the end of the match to make the final score 3-2. Which is quite impressive as the back 4 were all teenagers, plus the first scorer is also a teenager, suggesting that Lifton are building a decent squad for the season ahead.

Castle Loyal were muched improved from last season and they will also no doubt come on for the match.

I enjoyed the game, getting my first start, a full 90 minutes and my first goal. After feeling too nervous to take a penalty back  in our cup quater final against Week St Mary, I told myself i needed to be more confident and I take the chances i get. I saw no one claiming the penalty after the ref blew his whistle so I went a grabbed the ball and put it down on the spot. I did think, what if i blast this over but when it went into the top left hand corner, I was relieved and happy to have scored my first goal for Lifton. For the majority of the first half we were on top and getting a lot of chances, going into the break 2-0 i felt didn't really flatter our performace. During the second half Castle Loyale managed to claw two goals back, which they did have some luck in order to get them. They were unlucky to not get a third not sure if Jakob in goal got a hand to it but the ball hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced out. Sam then got our third to put us back in front and we managed to hold on for a narrow win. I would also like to say well done to Will and Isaac who both made their mens debuts both putting in good performances. No looking forward to the rest of the season and I can get some more goals.