WEEK TWELVE Burnley College 17th FEBRUARY 2016

Wednesday League Review
League Week Twelve
17th February 2016
Burnley College
-----------------------------------------------------------
The Salmon 1 - 0 Nottinyermums Forest
-----------------------------------------------------------
Current PSL Wednesday League Champions The Salmon came up against their old adversaries from the PSL Thursday League Nottinyermums Forest who managed to pip them to the PSL Thursday League title two seasons ago.
The game had obvious links to previous meetings but it also held ramifications for the current season where Forest were in a great position to challenge for the title whereas current champions Salmon have had a somewhat indifferent season currently sitting in mid table after storming the previous season.
The fact that Salmon had already lost five of their opening eleven games was in complete contrast to the previous season where they remained unbeaten and tore up all before them. Salmons' performance in the current season points again at the increase in standard.
Forest on the other hand were making their debut in the PSL Wednesday League and making a good fist of it as they sat in third place just three points off the top with a game in hand.
The game started as you would expect with teams that know each other in a very tight fashion with the majority of the play in the middle third becoming a scrappy affair with opposing star strikers Craig Metcalfe (Salmon) and Chris Landon(Forest) respectively struggling to get a clear shot on goal that was until mid way through the first half when the game burst into life.
Firstly Metcalfe was put through on goal as he raced onto an Adam Ridehalgh through ball only to be thwarted by a great Steve Gill save low to his right as he tipped it around the post. The resulting corner came to nothing and as the ball bobbled in midfield Aaron Simcoe ran at the Salmon back line before cleverly laying the ball off to Landon and after giving keeper Pete Dalton "the eyes" he slotted what looked like a goal destined for the bottom right corner only for Dalton to somehow adjust his position in mid air and save with his legs.
That save was important but it doubled in significance when Salmon took the lead only moments later.
Ian Scott was holding the defence together and from his out ball landed at the feet of Scott Ridehalgh who after quick interplay with Metcalfe was able to release him on the shoulder of the Forest defender, still with a lot to do he turned inside and lobbed the ball into the top corner for a brilliant goal from just inside the area giving Gill no chance.
Forest immediately went on the front foot but although they played some decent football they weren't able to break down the stubborn Salmon resistance.
The result had an immediate affect on the league table with Salmon all of a sudden on the fringes of the title race as they closed up on the teams above them just three points behind fourth placed Forest.
All to play for as we hit the half way point in the season with both teams proving they will be there or there about's in the final shake up for the title.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------