The hype had been building all week. Social media is a fine thing and with both sides promoting this game to the hilt, it was all going to come to a head at 2pm this afternoon. It was the buzz of the Cup again - and with this 2nd round of the LFA Amateur Cup tie to look forward to, no wonder the people had been talking. Today was going to see the guys from Castle FC coming all the way from Heysham so you can imagine the to-ing and fro-ing about whether the pitch at Moss Park was going to be playable. The heavens had remained open above the Breightmet skies all week and with today's visitors travelling all that way, it was only fair we let them know as soon as we did as to whether this was going to be on or not. Therefore the call from the Club Chairman at 8.20am to confirm it was 'Game On' was music to everybody's ears and with the visitors embarking on their minibus for the journey down, there was going to be a game off football to enjoy here...

The pitch was really good considering the water that it had endured all week but there were patches that were not the best - so when the opposing coaches arrived, Wayne and Brian took them straight out there to show them. There was standing water but we all agreed that we were here now so as far as we were concerned, we're playing. The referee however was a bot more cautious and fair play to Mr Mason - he gave us every chance to fork it and make it as good as we could - so when he confirmed it was going ahead, now it was time to get ready. We had a couple of injuries in training during the week - with Robbie twinging his hamstring and Spencer's leg coming apart again - but there was still a really strong 16 for us to choose from today. One of the first difficult things for the boss to decide was where best to warm up - as we didn't want to put the pitch under any undue pressure - but with the muscles stretched and the ballwork done, it was back into the changing-room to listen to the bosses' commands. Gatesie wasn't 100% so we were going with a back five of Mitch in net and Jack back joining Callum at centre-halves. Ste dropped back in to left-back for his pace and Nathan was on the right - with the same midfield trio of Mark and Alex just behind Tom - and our attacking three to start was to be Ben and Lewis on the flanks with Charlie tucked in between them. That meant we had Liam, Gatesie, Yatesy, Chris and Rav to choose from when we wanted to switch things about and as kick-off approached, the tension around the place grew. Who would start fastest? Were these any good? Would we play our football or revert to playing the same as the opponents? We were soon to find out...

The pitch was wet that's for sure - but the opening exchanges saw us managing to get the ball down and moving well - and with the first four minutes, we'd taken the lead. Some great work saw us feed the ball into the run of Charlie on their left and as he jinxed inside, he spotted Tom racing towards the box. He played him in and as their defender came to cut down the space, Tom dropped his shoulder to dart inside the box and as the goal approached, he drove his shot low and hard that saw their keeper somehow get something to it - but the ball went off his arm and rose high - thankfully dropping under the crossbar just in time and as it bounced into the back of their net, the Breightmet players were quick to rush over and celebrate with Robbo. He's been on fire of late and this was his third goal in three games - but more importantly, we were in front and looking like we wanted this. 1-0...

We were playing well already and with Mark and Alex linking up well, we were already bossing the midfield areas - which was going to be key today. With 8 minutes on the clock, we had the ball in the back of their net again after a fine strike by Charlie - but their linesman's flag had gone up to signal him offside and it looked dubious to say the least. At least the ball was being played in their half but on 11 minutes, the Castle lads put together their first good move of the game when their No.11 turned Ste far too easy and as he raced down our left, it looked as though he was going to get away from our whippet - but back sprinted our No.7 to cover the ground rapid and as he put in the tackle, he also won the throw. Great stuff...

Wayne had asked that our wingers worked more closely with our full-backs today and on 14 minutes, we thought we'd seen it when Nathan combined well with Ben in a move that saw him whip around his marker and as he approached the box, he curled a good effort in - only to see it rise over the bar from about 20 yards out. We were looking good at this point and some of our passing was proper 'on-point' - with one such move seeing Ste, Lewis and Robbo combine well down the left to cut them to shreds with ease - and with the latter bossing the tempo of play in there, we were definitely on top. We thought we'd doubled our lead on 17 minutes though when a great lofted free-kick into the box by our skipper saw Keegie rise highest at the back-post and as he planted his header goal-bound, it took a terrific save by their No.1 to keep it out. As always though, that second goal was going to be oh-so important...

The next time the visitors got near our box, there were huge cries for a penalty as their No.10 buckled under our defensive pressure - but as the referee waved away their protests, they bellowed - and as the play raced down the other end, Lewis dribbled it expertly to evade at three challenges on the edge of their box but as he snapped his shot away, it only hit their retreating defender on the back and went away for a corner. Charlie whipped it in but it came to nothing - and again the Castle lads showed how aggrieved they were with that earlier decision. So far it was a good battle between two teams that wanted to win - but you could sense it bubbling under the surface...

With Wayne urging his troops to remain focused on the task at hand, we kept playing nice football and on 29 minutes, our hard work paid off when we scored our second goal of the game. Ben worked superbly down our right to create just enough space to slide the ball in-field to Tom and he drove foward at speed - giving their defenders no options to tackle him as they would have to have brought him down - and he sprayed the ball inside the channel to find Lewis 1-on-1 with their keeper. Our Lew got his toe to the ball just before their No.1 and as he cut it back inside, he drilled it across the six-yard box to see Charlie charging in unmarked and from 8 yards out, he slammed it home giving their keeper no chance of stopping it. The Breightmet fans were delighted. The players were triumphant. Only Wayne and Brian seemed to know that there was still a lot of work to be done here. They couldn't moan though - we were 2-0 up and playing really well...

In truth, Mitch didn't have much to do in the first-half but when called upon, he was quick to come off his line and was playing some good passes with his feet into the midfield - and with that being our engine-room, it's always the best option. With 38 minutes gone, we thought we'd grabbed our third when that man Charlie once again nipped in front of his marker and drilled the ball home from about 15 yards out - but once again, the flag was raised high on the opposite side of the pitch when he looked clearly onside. That said, the Castle lads had a couple of shouts when they thought their strikers were onside but the decision was that they weren't - so it was the same for both sides really. With 40 minutes gone, we had to make an enforced sub when Mark - who had taken a big drag down the back of his Achilles and although he had tried to run it off, it was clear that this was hurting - so this shows the strength in depth we have nowadays as Liam was quickly stripped and ready to go. What a replacement to have eh? However just before the break, the visitors had a gilt-edged chance to get back in it when they did break through our offside trap - and as their striker raced towards Mitch, we all looked on in angst. He should have scored - but as he hit his shot, it went past Mitch and thankfully wide of the right-hand upright as well. It looked easier to score - and we were given a good reminder that this game was not over yet...

Half-time: BREIGHTMET UNITED 2-0 Castle FC

To be expected, the lads were buzzing as they came in for their drinks and almost immediately, Wayne asked them to stop talking and listen. The away side were being berated by their coaches across the pitch - and our boss urged our players to make sure that continues. We were playing some lovely stuff but we also needed to be concentrated. For yet another match, we were bossing things - but just before the whistle for the break, we were given a taste of what could happen if we let them score the next goal. We needed to sit in, defend solidly and remember that this was a Cup match - so 2-0 is a win - we needed to keep that now. Wayne asked for the wingers to inject a little more pace into their runs as we had acres of space in behind them - and we just keep doing what we've been doing as it was brilliant. No changes were made and as the lads regrouped and went back out there, what would these 45 minutes bring?

It was clear that the rocket the Castle lads had received at the break had fired them up and they came charging out of the blocks straight from the re-start. This is something that we need to get used to - and we need to find a way of sitting in and remaining compact for the first 10 minutes or so of second-halves - because this happens all too often to us. With 47 minutes on the clock, the visitors had worked the ball into their striker Jakub and rather than commit to the tackle, we stood off him - allowing him enough time and space to turn towards Mitch and let fly with his shot. It looked as though our No.1 had it covered though - but it took a nasty deflection that swung the ball the other way - wrong-footing our No.1 - and as it nestled into the bottom corner of our net, it was 2-1. The Castle lads were overjoyed - and our boss was sat in the dug-out wondering what he has to do in order to cut things like this out...

As we say every week, this team will create opportunities at will when we play our football - and on 53 minutes, we re-gained our two-goal advantage with another great goal. Receiving the ball deep in our half on the left, Ste set off on a mazy run that saw him dribble it past at least three challenges before the fourth one decided enough was enough and just swiped him out. Charlie went across to take the free-kick and as he fired it in, a clutch of players from both sides jumped to meet it - with it appearing to have taken an overhead kick from our Jack to force it into the back of their net. Some say it was a header, some say it was an own-goal - but for the massive whack to his back that he took, we'll credit it as a 'great' goal from Mr Holt! The important thing here was that we were now 3-1 to the good and hopefully that would calm us down and enable us to play our football again...

We can never make things easy for ourselves though can we - where's the fun in that? - and on 58 minutes, we saw the game swing for about 15 or so minutes as both teams decided it was time to see who was the 'hardest' as the tackles started flying in and the tempers started fraying. Tom was yellow-carded for something really innocuous - along with his Castle counter-part - and with Wayne urging his lads to keep their eyes on the prize, it was got pretty heated. Ben's race was run on 64 minutes as his ankle had worked really hard for over an hour or so - so we decided to bring Yatesy on down the middle and bring Charlie out onto the right-hand side - and on went the game. Our skipper then got himself in the referee's note-book for a silly foul and from the resulting free-kick, the Castle lads worked it well before the ball fell to their striker's boot just inside the area and as he blasted it goalwards, it slammed against Alex's arms when it didn't look like he could do much about it - but having just given the referee the need to put his name in the book, we all knew what was coming. The man in black pointed straight to the spot and with a little over 20 minutes remaining, they had a chance to get back into this game - again. The usual shenanigans took place in and around the edge of the box as we all knew the importance of this - but to Jakub's credit, he made no mistake as he fired it into the corner of our net and sending Mitch the wrong way in the process. 3-2 and the away team sprinted into the back of our goal to retrieve the ball, more small scuffles occurred. This was close now and both teams still really wanted it...

There was some confusion that followed when the away side tried to make a substitution but were informed by the referee that it wasn't 'roll-on, roll-off' changes - however they were adamant and even began showing him the 'rules' on their phones mid-game - but that's the benefit we have when we take 16 good players with us every week. They have said since that they would be putting a report in after the game - but we're hopeful that was just the emotions talking and they've woken up this morning realising that it didn't have much bearing on the outcome. Back to the action...

'Settle down!' came the scream from the United dug-out as all we needed to do was manage this game now. We had to be tight at the back and drop our midfield in five yards just to protect them a little. Alex's ligaments seemed to have gone on him in the earlier forays so as he had to come off, we brought Gatesie in at centre-half and slotted Jack into the midfield. That now meant that we'd had to swap two of the three starters in there - but to Liam and Jack's credit, they were both war-horses in there. Jack hadn't put a foot wrong all game so far and as the seconds ticked away, we managed to regain our composure and began playing the ball to feet again. Wayne's nerves started to settle a little, let's just say that...

And on 79 minutes, we scored the goal that was probably the clincher if we're honest - as you could visibly see the lads from Heysham's shoulders dropped. As they pushed up in search of the equaliser, they were leaving more and more gaps at the back - and you don't do that when Yatesy is about. We'd won the ball well on the left and as it was fed forward into the path of our Lewis, he sprayed a glorious ball into the gap between their defence and goalkeeper - and like a whippet, Yatesy was gone. He looked as though he had no chance of getting there before the advancing keeper - but our 'old-head' showed his pace and as he got there first, he simply toe-poked the ball past their No.1 and it arrowed into the bottom corner of their net. 4-2 and we knew how big this one was! The home fans were singing and dancing and the United players swamped their goal-scorer. Was that it then? Had we managed to do it? Well there was still loads more drama, don't you worry about that!

Charlie then received a yellow card for kicking the ball away and shortly after, he came off to rest his ankle in a move that saw Rav come on in the more advanced position of right-wing. God help us! Wayne told him to drive forward and shoot it as hard as he could whenever he could - but we were all so aware of the fact that if he scored, we'd never hear the last of it. We wouldn't, would we?

And on 85 minutes, we proper clinched it - and it was that man Lewis that got it! His performance today had been superb and although there was some strange words from the boss at the break, he knows exactly what Lewis can bring to the table and expects a lot of him - and this second-half display had shown that. Jack had won a good challenge in the centre-circle and looking up, he fed it into the space behind their back-line. Yatesy had done well to hold off the hustle and bustle of their centre-half before sliding the ball inside and there was Lewis to take hold of it, cut back inside and use his quick feet to evade the challenges before the space opened up and he slammed it inside the far post from about 14 yards out. A class finish - and that was surely that...

No it wasn't. Not by a long shot. For goals it was - but for incidents there was still a long way to go. On 88 minutes, there was a tussle in the central area that saw some pushing and shoving and culminated in a yellow card for Robbo and a red card for the Castle FC No.11 - who in fairness did come running in with a raised knee that could have done some damage - and as the temperatures threatened to boil over, it took a mix of the coaches and the referee to calm things down. With 10 men, the away side looked resigned to defeat now - but still we made some silly choices. A moment of history then came - as Lewis Cook received his first-ever yellow-card caution since beginning playing football at the age of 9! And guess what for? Something so silly as pulling their full-back's shirt sleeve. There were a few fines coming out of this game for both teams, that's for sure...

Lewis then had another chance to add to the tally but this time he could only put it just over the bar from the edge of the area - and then on 92 minutes, we saw a moment of madness from our Keegie that will come back and make us pay later down the line. The Castle side - to their credit - never gave up and they kept going from the first minute until the last - and this time, they got the ball into our box and as the shot came in, Keegie decided to do Mitch's job for him and made a fine double-handed save to put it over the bar. PENALTY! came the cry from the lads from up the M6 and quite rightly so. What we didn't need was for what happened next - as the referee had no choice to produce his red card and as Keegie trudged off the field, we all knew that it meant he'd be banned for the next round now. Choices lads. That's one thing we need to do better... Players from both sides hugged the semi-circle on the edge of the box and as their guy stepped forward and hit it, this time our Mitch guessed right and he managed to pull off a superb save to keep it out. The ball bounced into the mix again and we managed to defend it well and get it away from danger. Superb from our Mitch!

Then it came. The moment that Rav had been waiting for. The ball was fed out to Nathan on the right-hand side and with their defence pushed further up, he played it into the space in front of Rav. He charged down the wing, cut inside and it opened up in front of him. Glory. His name up in lights. History being made. The ball lined up lovely - but all he could do was side-foot it about a foot over the bar with their keeper beaten! We were all devastated for him as that really would have topped off a great day and as he turned away, he knew he should have done better with that...

We'd played 97 minutes now and with the referee still saying there was time to go, both sides' were showing how much that heavy pitch had taken out of their legs. So it was somewhat a relief when the whistle went to end the game and it was the name of Breightmet United that was going to be in the hat for the 3rd round draw! That's what the plan was when we awoke this morning so it was pleasing to have seen it come to fruition. The handshakes were done with respect and as both sides left the pitch, they should be proud of themselves as they had just produced a cracking game of football that provided everything for the spectator - good and bad - and we were all going to go home knowing we'd seen a great match here...

The lads were jubilant as they came into the changing-room and as expected, so were Wayne and Brian - so they praised their boys but also reminded them of the silly decisions we'd made that we need to stop and think more wisely about. Overall though, we'd played well today and Lewis was a very close-call for the ROMAC Logistics Man of the Match - but that award went to Jack Holt today for his work-rate and willingness to win his battles wherever he played today. All the lads can be proud of themselves and they now need to make sure that commitment and determination is there the next time we come out for a league game as well...

Fair play to the Castle FC players, officials and supporters as well for playing their part in this - and for stopping to have a drink or two with us in the Clubhouse after as well. You left your dressing-room immaculate as well - so nice one for today, we hope you had a drunken journey back and wish you all the very best for the rest of the season and beyond. Who knows? Our paths may cross again sometime soon...

So as the lights went off and sweeping brushes were put away, that was the end of another Saturday - and this one sees us into the 3rd round of the LFA Amateur Cup. That'll do eh? We thought we had a break now - but news soon filtered through that we are due to go to Bury GSOB for our league-encounter next weekend so training will be used to work on a few things and we'll be back out again looking for a similiar performance at Buckley Wells in seven days time...

A massive thanks to the Breightmet fans that came down to support us again today and if you keep an eye out, you'll see where the next round will take us. Could be Blackpool. Could be Blackburn. Could even be Breightmet again. Rest assured though - wherever it is, we'll be giving it our all to progress again...

This was a better day at the office than last weekend's, that's for sure...

#OnceUnitedNeverDivided