Litherland Remyca Res Suffer Defeat Against Helsby

In a disappointing away fixture, Litherland Remyca Res faced Helsby at the Helsby Community Sports Club on 22 February 2025. The match, which kicked off at 3:00pm, ended with a scoreline of 3-1 in favour of the hosts, leaving Remyca with much to ponder as they look to improve in the league.

Litherland lined up in a 4-5-1 formation, designed to bolster their midfield presence while allowing for a solid defensive structure. Brandon Goldson took his place in goal, shielded by a back four comprising Josh Rice and Danny Cull as the right and left defenders respectively, with Sam Kearney and Michael McDonald forming the central defensive partnership. In midfield, Anthony Griffith operated on the right, while John Graham occupied the left flank. The central trio consisted of Callum Moffatt, Tom Carney, and Cameron Taylor, with Paul Cliffe leading the line as the lone striker.

The substitutes for Litherland included George Maddock, Joseph Forrester, Sean Keyes, Ethan Galt, and Rhys Maurer, who would be called upon later in the match as tactical adjustments were made.

The first half saw Litherland take an early lead when Cameron Taylor found the back of the net in the 25th minute, giving the visitors a glimmer of hope. However, as the half progressed, Helsby began to assert their dominance, and despite Litherland's solid defensive efforts, they were unable to maintain their advantage.

As the teams headed into the break at 1-0, Litherland looked to build on their lead, but the second half proved to be a different story. Just six minutes after the restart, Helsby equalised in the 51st minute, shifting the momentum firmly in their favour. The home side continued to press, and by the 54th minute, they had taken the lead with a second goal, leaving Litherland reeling.

In an attempt to regain control, Litherland made a substitution at the start of the second half, bringing on George Maddock for Anthony Griffith. However, the tactical change did little to stem the tide as Helsby scored their third goal in the 75th minute, effectively sealing the match.

Litherland made further substitutions in the latter stages, with Joseph Forrester replacing Tom Carney in the 61st minute, followed by Sean Keyes coming on for Paul Cliffe in the 65th minute. In the 76th minute, Ethan Galt was introduced for Danny Cull, and Rhys Maurer replaced Josh Rice, but the changes could not spark a revival.

Despite their efforts, Litherland Remyca Res were unable to find the net again, and the match concluded with a disappointing 3-1 defeat. The performance of Joseph Forrester stood out amidst the gloom, earning him recognition as the Player of the Match, but the team will need to regroup and reflect on their shortcomings as they prepare for their next challenge.