Great Harwood suffer another league defeat following a bruising battle with league title favourites Pro Future.
The second game of the season in the top division was always going to be difficult against a hand-picked team of players chosen from Football Academies from around the area but the lads started well and almost opened the scoring when striker Joe Blackledge shrugged off his marker and looped the ball fractionally over the bar.
However, it was Pro Future who opened the scoring from a soft penalty and then dominated the game for a 10 minute spell. The defence and keeper Marc Smith worked hard to keep the lively forwards at bay and following a corner the returning Jack Hargreaves headed the equaliser from a great corner. Pro Future were soon ahead again following some nice work through the middle of the pitch, and extended their lead with a good finish from distance. Just before half-time Arron Phillipson delivered a fantastic free-kick from his own half which beat the keeper into the roof of the net to bring the lads 3-2 down at half-time and the game was all to play for.
Pro Future stepped up a gear in the second half and as the Great Harwood lads tired from their midweek game and some horrific challenges which went unpunished by the referee the game fizzled out with more goals from the ex-Academy players and finished 7-2.
A lot of the lads are playing in new positions this season and this will take time to re-adjust to but with confidence, belief and determination they will get back to their best in the next few weeks and will start picking up league points.
Danny Smith earned his second Man of the Match award in successive games following a decent performance today, but in truth none of the lads played at their best and were punished by a good side. Jack Hargreaves, Dominic O’Brien and Karl Sutton put in good shifts and worked hard.
Keep it going lads – things will come good soon and you’ll start picking up points.
