LAMERTON faced a Roche side who have been picking up points of late, and with a heavy pitch it looked like it was going to be a tricky match.

Things did not start well for Lamerton due to players not being available and injuries, but the home side were not fazed, with Dan Behennah grabbing the goalkeeper gloves and striker Graham Galway filling in.

In defence Lamerton looked strong and the first 15 minutes started off well for both teams. Good chances fell to Roche but Behennah pulled off some strong saves to keep them at bay. The first goal came from a superb free kick from Lamerton’s Paul Breyley who found Daryl Panter; he pounced on to the ball to loop it over the keeper. The game totally changed with the sending off of Lamerton’s Robbie Court but the team did not let it affect their football style of play.

It seemed like it was defenders versus strikers for the next 60 minutes, with Galway, Beyley and Glen Holmes battling and throwing their boddies in the way of everything which came there way, along with Daryl Panter, Blair Vanstone, Jamie Court and Paul Cowling who had to dig in. New signing Sam Hicks and fellow striker Nathan Panter had their work cut out trying to hold the ball up and score, but with all constant pressure from the away side Roche drew level from a curling strike giving Behennah no chance.

With Lamerton’s backs against the wall and against the run of play they produced some lovely counter attacking football but three chances were squandered with only the keeper to beat. It was not to be their day and a draw is how it ended.

Lamerton left the field with their heads held high with their soldier like performance.