Last weekend's trouncing at the seaside was a distant memory as we arrived at QEGS this afternoon - as we knew the challenge that lay ahead. We were going over to take on our old foes Old Blackburnians who were in fine fettle and currently unbeaten in the league - and with these being the only team that took six points from us in the last campaign, this really would set down a marker. The same could be said of Lymm and Old Rivingtonians - the other sides we failed to beat last season but have already overcome this - so the boys were full of optimism as they started filtering into the changing-rooms...

The pitch as always looked plush - and the recent rains had made it even nicer - so it really was set up to play our football. We had a full squad today - with good players also left out - and as they went through their warm-up's, the likes of Keegie and Spencer were back amongst the ranks. The starting 11 were announced and it saw no changes from the team that began the LFA Amateur Cup game sewen days ago. The gaffer wanted to give them a chance to redeem themselves - so then bench consisted of the returning duo, Rav, Marcus and Logan. We were good to go - albeit with a slight tweak to the formation - and as the referee blew his whistle bang on 2.30pm, the game got underway...

The sun may have been shining but there was a definite nip in the air - and that coldness seemed to see us slow off the mark - as the home side began the brightest and were pushing forward from the off. Their No.11 was working hard to get to everything in middle of the park and with the wind most definitely at their backs, the hosts were looking the more likely. Some of our passing was wayward and we were guilty of playing everything rushed - with the Old Blackburnians side having a flurry of long-throws and corners launched into the box - and Mitch was being forced to kick it long into the bluster as there didn't appear to be anything short that was on. We just needed to relax a little and settle into the game now...

We saw our first chance of note come on 21 minutes -although it didn't trouble their keeper - as our skipper hooked a volley over his head from a long-throw from Ben only to see it wide of their left-hand post. At least we were seeing more of the ball in their half now and with the attacking prowess we have within our ranks, we'll always be dangerous. And on 25 minutes, we took the lead - and what a well-worked team goal it was. Lewis won the ball on our left and looking up, he calmly rolled it into the feet of Robbo who had a man right up him - but our No.10 managed to jinx this way and that to leave his marker dizzy before clipping a delightful ball into Charlie -who had already spotted Ste making his run - and our striker managed to flick his header into his path and Ste did the rest - turning inside and as their defenders felt they had it covered, our No.14 waited for the precise moment as the gap appeared - and he caught their keeper unaware as his slotted it back towards the far post and the ball rolled into the back of their net. The United fans were jubilant and as the lads turned around and celebrated, they knew there was still a lot of work to be done here. 1-0...

The goal seemed to raise our shoulders and give us an extra spring in our step - and the next chance saw Alex and Robbo combine well before the latter let fly from about 20 yards out only to see his shot fly over the bar. We were looking dangerous now though and Charlie working hard to close them down - ably assisted by Ben and Ste who were keeping their full-backs really busy - when we got the ball forward, we were just lacking that final touch. The hosts were battling and their No.10 was at times getting in behind - with the United fans screaming for offside on a few occasions that never saw the flag raised - and with the gaffer waiting for that half-time whistle to go, the referee awarded them probably their 10th corner of the first-half. It came in wickedly with the wind - but once again, we defended solidly and as the ball was whacked clear, so ended the first-period. We had something to look after here now...

Half-time: Old Blackburnians 0-1 BREIGHTMET UNITED

We stayed out for the break and as the lads came in for their drinks, they were buzzing. Wayne set about his team-talk - and reminded them that we were ahead but we still hadn't started our own game. Every time we got the ball down and moved it quickly, we were ripping them open - and playing at 70% and beating a previously unbeaten team was good - but imagine if we played our football for the whole second half? The wind would be with us now as well so it was about game management, making the right choices and making sure that we came off in 45 minutes with the results as it was right now. No changes were made and as the lads made their way back out, could this prove to be a pivotal moment of our season?

We started the second period brightly and it didn't take long to realise that they had made a change at left-back - and everytime Ste got the ball, he was reeking havoc on their No.3. He managed to get past him only to be pulled down on 52 minutes - and from the resulting free-kick, Alex Williams curled a great left-footed shot in that their No.1 did really well to fingertip over the bar. So close - but that second goal would need to come soon...

We thought it had on the hour-mark when we won yet another challenge at the back and fed the ball to Liam - who looked up and picked out a wonderful 45 yard pass into the space between their defenders and goalkeeper. Ben was onto it in a flash and as he side-footed it over their No.1, we all thought we'd see the net bulge with a birthday goal for our No.12 - but the ball dropped over the bar rather than under it and the chance was gone....

All of the good work was coming from the team in white and black now and on 65 minutes, that man Ben rattled their crossbar with a fine effort following yet more good work from Robbo and Charlie and in truth, the defence were marshalling their top-line so well that Mitch wasn't really having too much to do. - and with Ste constantly terrorising their left-back, even the Old Blacks fans were making comments around illegal it was the way that Mr Palin was 'ripping' him - and that they were going to call the Police after the game! We were looking good but really did need that next goal...

And only a few minutes later we thought we'd seen it as Nathan Bancroft collected the ball on the right and as he drove forward, the Old Blacks defence seemed to part - showing our right-back just enough of the target to make him want a nibble. Oh he had a nibble alright - rocketing one with his left-foot that looked destined for the top corner until it wide agonisingly wide of the mark. That would have been a peach that's for sure...

As the minutes ticked away, both teams knew the importance of the next goal and it was becoming a feisty encounter out there - but the referee seemed to have a good grip on proceedings and was allowing the game to flow as much as he could. We made our first two changes on 74 minutes - with Spencer coming on to replace Charlie who had run himself ragged up there and put in a proper shift for the team - and Marcus came on to replace Liam in the middle of the park. Our No.8 wasn't happy with that decision and made his feelings known as he came off - but that shows the passion and desire these lads have to be on that pitch and fighting for points. Almost immediately Ste put a great ball through their defence that saw Spence clean through - but the flag had been raised on the opposite side of the pitch to signal offside and the chance was gone...

Things were getting tense now as we edged into the final 10 minutes and it appeared that the hosts were beginning to throw more men forward in search of the equaliser - but as they had done all game, our back-four were dealing with whatever they threw at us. And on 82 minutes, they saw a man sin-binned to the bench for firstly a bit of a naughty challenge but then for telling the match official what he thought of his eye attire - and that meant they were going to be down to 10 men for the remainder of the game. Desperate to secure these points, Wayne and Brian didn't make any rash decisions and it looked as though they wanted to keep hold of this slender lead and get back to Bolton with all three points. That meant that the instructions being barked out were all about keeping possession of the ball and not giving them any more chances near our goal - which we did extremely well - and when the man in the middle did decide to blow for full-time, we'd done it. We'd played Old Blackburnians and won - for the first-time ever! That's exactly what we wanted when we woke up this morning - so it was mission accomplished - and as the handshakes were done with pride, both teams knew they'd been in a battle there...

Strangely, there was some unsavoury scenes amongst the United ranks at the end - as the substitutes that didn't get onto the pitch made their feelings clear to the boss - but as was explained here and at the start of the season, this was going to happen this time around. At 1-0 up, away to a team that we'd never beaten before and with a chance of staying joint-top of the league, there was no way changes were going to be made for changes sake - and that debate rattled on back at the Clubhouse for hours after. This is a squad game - and that squad went to the home of last season's Premier Division winners today - so we must be doing something right that's for sure...

Onto the next one then. Old Mancunians Reserves come to Moss Park next Saturday and if we do not follow this great win up with another three points there, then there will be questions to be answered. Be interesting to see who turns up for training in midweek now...

Once again, a massive thank-you to the United fans that came over and braved that chill to cheer us to victory and as always, we're so proud to have such an army of travelling supporters wherever we go. Keep it up people and we'll keep doing our best for you...

Another Saturday. Another three points. That's always the plan isn't it?

#OnceUnitedNeverDivided